Description
The Honeywell Voyager 1250G is a corded handheld laser barcode scanner for linear, one dimensional codes. It connects over a USB cable to a computer or other host system, reads 1D barcodes, and does nothing else. That narrow scope is the product: a simple, durable, well understood tool for retail checkouts and stock counting.
The 1D limitation is the first thing to check against a use case. This scanner cannot read QR codes or other two dimensional symbols, because a single line laser physically cannot capture a two dimensional pattern. Operations that need QR support should look at an imaging scanner such as the NETUM C750, and those wanting cordless 1D scanning can compare the Zebra LI4278 or the corded Zebra LS2208.
Scanning Performance
Honeywell states the scanner produces a single line of light that reads barcodes from up to 17.6 inches away at a resolution of 13 mm. The resolution figure describes the narrowest barcode element the scanner can resolve, and 13 mm here appears to be a transcription of a much smaller figure, since 13 mm bars would be enormous. Buyers who need to read dense or small barcodes should treat that number with suspicion and check Honeywell’s own specification brochure, which the listing itself points to for the complete specification set.
The 17.6 inch working distance is generous for a single line laser and useful in practice, since it allows scanning of items that are awkward to lift, such as a heavy box on a pallet or an item still in a cart. The scanner can be held in the hand or placed in its stand for fixed position use, where a product is passed across the beam instead. That dual mode operation is standard on this class and suits a checkout counter where both patterns occur during a shift.
CodeGate And Software Management
CodeGate is the most distinctive setting on this scanner and it deserves explanation. With CodeGate enabled, the scan line remains visible so the operator can aim, but the decoded barcode data is not transmitted to the host until a button is pressed. That separation prevents the scanner from firing data into the point of sale system every time the beam crosses a barcode, which is a real problem in a busy checkout with several barcodes on a package or several items in the beam path.
Honeywell also offers Remote MasterMind software, available separately as a download, which lets an administrator manage the device remotely. For a single scanner that is irrelevant. For a retailer running dozens across multiple sites, central configuration management is the difference between an afternoon of manual setup and a scripted rollout.
Durability And Physical Design
Honeywell rates the scanner for 30 drops of up to 1.5 meters, or 5 feet, onto a concrete floor. That is a specific and testable figure, stated with both the drop count and the height, which is better practice than the vaguer durability claims common in this category.
The unit weighs 133 grams, or 4.7 ounces, which is light enough to hold through a long shift without fatigue. Honeywell gives the dimensions in the description as 168 by 60 by 74 mm, which is 6.6 by 2.3 by 2.9 inches in height, width and depth, and helpfully spells out which measurement is which. The specification block gives slightly different figures of 6.69 by 3.15 by 2.36 inches, so the two do not quite agree. The housing is black.
Highlights
- Corded single line laser scanner for 1D barcodes over USB.
- Scans from up to 17.6 inches away per Honeywell.
- CodeGate button controlled transmission to prevent accidental scans.
- Handheld or stand mounted for fixed position scanning.
- Rated for 30 drops from 5 feet onto concrete.
- Light at 4.7 ounces for extended shift use.
- Remote MasterMind central management available as a separate download.
Things To Consider
There is a contradiction on this listing that buyers should be aware of, because it touches laser safety. The written description states that a 700 milliwatt laser produces the scan line. The single feature bullet on the same listing states Laser Class: Class II, Power Output: 1 mW. Those two figures differ by a factor of 700. A Class II laser is limited to about 1 milliwatt and is the normal classification for a retail barcode scanner. A genuine 700 milliwatt laser would fall into a far higher hazard class and would not be sold as a handheld consumer or retail device. The 1 mW Class II figure is consistent with the product category and the 700 mW figure is almost certainly a typographical error in the listing, but we are naming it rather than quietly correcting it, because a specification error of that magnitude in a safety related field should be verified against Honeywell’s own documentation before purchase.
The rest of the structured data is also unreliable. The Batteries field reads one AAAA battery required, on a scanner Honeywell describes as USB powered over its host cable. Language reads Italian. Department reads Barcode. Most notably, the Customer Reviews field contains a Best Sellers Rank string rather than a rating, which means there is no customer rating or review count available for this product at all.
Age is the other consideration. Honeywell first listed this scanner in October 2010, which makes it one of the oldest products in this catalog. It is not discontinued, and a mature design in a stable category is not automatically a bad purchase, but 1D only scanning is a shrinking niche as 2D codes spread through retail and logistics. Readers can compare newer options in the bar code scanners category, and businesses printing their own codes should look at the label printers category.
Who It Suits
The Voyager 1250G suits a retail counter, a small warehouse or a stock room that reads 1D barcodes on printed labels, wants a simple corded USB device with no batteries or pairing to manage, and benefits from CodeGate to avoid stray scans. Its light weight and stated drop rating make it a sensible choice for all day handheld use.
It is the wrong scanner for QR codes or any 2D symbology, for reading barcodes off phone screens, for cordless operation, and for buyers who want current generation hardware with a body of customer feedback behind it. Anyone specifying against a data sheet should get Honeywell’s brochure rather than relying on this listing, particularly on the laser power figure.
