V-Line Shooter Review Review
| Product: | Shooter |
| Manufacturer: | V-Line |
| Type: | Entry Level |
| Support: | 1 Year
warranty through V-Line, Lifetime support from POSGuys |
The V-line Shooter CCD Barcode scanner is designed for basic 1D contact scanning. The Shooter is an entry level scanner that comes in both PS/2 Keyboard Wedge and USB Interfaces. Economically priced, the V-line Shooter provides a convenient solution to low volume scanning needs.
Typical uses and environments: Featuring a unique glossy finish and a good resistance to light, the V-line Shooter is a prominent member of the entry level class of barcode scanners. As one of the most basic scanners, it is great for first time buyers and is ideal in low volume retail. It would also be suitable in exposure to lights, due to its hood that shields the barcode.
Unique Features & Advantages: One thing that sets the Shooter apart from other scanners is its shell. It has a highly glossed black body which is typically not found in most barcode scanners, giving the Shooter a unique look.
Some advantages of the V-line Shooter include swappable cables. Currently there are no cables available for purchase from V-line, but in the case that you had an extra Shooter with a cable, you could replace the extra Shooter’s cable. To do so, just stick a small pin or paperclip end into the pinhole at the heel of the handle and pull on the cable to get it to come out. The best way to use the V-line Shooter is in its Auto Sense mode, which allows you to scan without having to push the trigger.
Standard Features: The V-line shooter comes with almost everything you need. The interface cable is shipped along with the scanner. Once you plug the cable into the scanner and computer, you can start scanning right away.
The Shooter has a light on its top that glows red when the power is on and displays a green flash when a successful scan is completed. Along with the light, there is a scan tone that beeps whenever a scan is successful. The Shooter’s scan tone is fairly soft and would not be irritating after long periods of use.
Protected by a rubber strip on the hood, the Shooter is also able to protect merchandise and barcodes as well. The rubber feature is important for contact scanners because they usually come in contact with the barcodes, and in turn, the merchandise. Because it is in contact with objects, the lens is recessed to protect it from becoming scratched or damaged.
Drawbacks: There are a few shortcomings with the V-line Shooter, one of which is that it doesn’t come with a configuration guide or quick start guide. The guide is available online and can be downloaded for use. The glossy finish of the Shooter is slightly more susceptible to scratches, thus caution must be taken when using the scanner. The simple button trigger is not that comfortable since it provides minimal bounce and is flat with little shape.
Ideally, the auto sense mode would be used in a stand; however the Shooter does not have a stand available. If a stand is essential, the Shooter will fit in to any generic CCD stand. If used in the stand, you may need to bring the barcode fairly close to get it to read because of its limited scan engine.
Performance Testing: In testing the performance of the V-line Shooter, we ran it through a group of tests, including optimal scan range testing, dense, wide, and damaged barcode robustness, light resistance, as well durability. Our testing determined the scanner to fall in line with other scanners in its class.
The V-line Shooter successfully scanned from contact to roughly 1 inch. It did not do well with curved barcodes, but could read most of the other damaged barcodes. The Shooter read through 2 layers of plastic as well as blue and grey multicolored barcodes. The shooter did very well during our durability testing, only failing to scan after 3 drops from 13 feet. The greatest benefit of the V-line shooter was the results of the spotlight test. Its light resistance is very high with the spotlight coming as close as .5 inches before the scanner was unable to read the barcode any longer. The hood provides a shield against penetrating light that works the majority of the time. We do not recommend the Shooter in direct sunlight because while it would scan the barcode, it could struggle slightly and may only scan partial barcodes.
The biggest restraint that the Shooter faced was reading partial barcodes. On several occasions, only parts of the barcode registered, but the scan tone and green flash would have us believe that we had just completed a successful scan.
A breakdown of the V-line Shooter capabilities is listed in table and graph form below.
1D Results
| Highest Density Barcode Scanned | 9mil | Average |
| Widest Barcode Scanned | 76.2mm | Average |
| Shortest Barcode Scanned | 38 mm | Good |
| Range Ideal Conditions (Standard 100% UPC-A) | 0 inches – 1 inch | Average (for contact scanners) |
| Scratched Barcode | 2 of 3 | Average |
| Worn Barcode | 2 of 3 | Average |
| Warped Barcode | 2 of 2 | Good |
| Curved Barcode | 0 of 2 | Poor |
| Multiple Barcodes in close proximity | Relatively accurate, but dependent on distribution of barcodes relative to thickness of beam | Average |
| Scan through plastic layers | 2 Layers | Good |
| Multicolored Barcodes Successfully Scanned | Blue, Grey | Good |
| Multicolored Barcodes Not Scanned | Red, Yellow, Black on Dark Grey | Average |
| Simulated Sunlight Test | Correct scans until spotlight was at .5” | Great |
Conclusion: The V-line Shooter CCD scanner is a great choice for someone looking for a low volume retail, economy priced scanner. This scanner is recommended for environments that do not require much scan power as it works best with flat, standard UPC barcodes.
To Purchase this product, go to the V-line Shooter page.
To see our complete line of barcode scanners, visit our Barcode Scanners section.
For Additional Reviews, visit our Product Reviews page.
Testing and evaluation results for the V-Line Shooter Review
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