Corded 2D scanner with stand
Nexa ZED 2603 Corded 2D Barcode Scanner with Stand
A handheld imager that reads 1D, 2D and QR codes at 60 frames a second, down to 3 mil, and sits in an included stand for hands free scanning.
CMOS 2D imager
USB-HID or USB-VCP
Stand included
Reads phone screens
IP42
36 Months Return to Base
The Nexa ZED 2603 is a corded handheld 2D barcode scanner supplied in black under part number ZED2603USBB, and it arrives with its hands free stand in the box. The scanning engine is a 640 x 480 CMOS imager driven by a 32-bit ARM processor, with white LED illumination and a red LED aiming line, running at 60 frames per second. Being an imager rather than a laser, it reads a code at any rotation, on a curved or crumpled surface, and on a lit phone screen, which a single line laser cannot do at all.
This is the USB model
Part number ZED2603USBB is the USB build of the ZED 2603, and it is the version we stock. It connects to a standard USB port and arrives configured as a USB-HID keyboard wedge, which is what the overwhelming majority of point of sale packages expect, with no driver to install and no power supply to find. It can also be switched to USB-VCP virtual COM mode over the same cable by scanning a configuration barcode, for software written to listen on a serial port. There is no RS-232 connector on this model, so if your host only offers a 9 pin serial port, call us before ordering.
Why choose the Nexa ZED 2603
No driver, no setupIt arrives as a USB keyboard wedge, so the code is typed into whatever field has focus and the scanner works the moment it is plugged into a free USB port.
Twenty nine symbologiesTwenty two 1D formats plus seven 2D formats, covering EAN, UPC, Code 128, GS1-128, the GS1 DataBar family, QR Code, Data Matrix, PDF417, Aztec and MaxiCode.
Codes on a screenThe CMOS sensor treats a barcode as an image rather than a reflection, so a code displayed on a phone or tablet reads as easily as one printed on a label.
Sixty reads a secondAt 60 frames per second there is no pause while the scanner hunts for the code, which is what keeps a queue of items moving across a busy lane.
Damaged and dense codesDown to 3 mil on Code 128 and a minimum print contrast of 15 percent, so faded, crumpled and low quality labels still decode first time.
Three year coverSupplied with a 36 Months Return to Base warranty, which is longer than the usual twelve or twenty four months on an entry level corded scanner.
How it changes the counter
The reason to specify a scanner with a stand is that it gives you two working styles from one purchase. During a rush the scanner stays in the cradle and staff present items to it, which removes the pick up, aim, pull, put down cycle from every line on the docket. When something bulky arrives, a carton or an awkwardly shaped item, the scanner lifts straight out and is used as a normal trigger gun. Depth of field runs from 60 mm to 300 mm on a 13 mil Code 39 symbol, so there is real latitude in how close the item has to be, and ambient light resistance to 100,000 lux means a counter next to a shopfront window is not a problem. Setup is typically no more than plugging it in, because keyboard wedge mode needs no driver.
Specifications
| Brand | Nexa |
| Model | ZED 2603 |
| SKU | ZED2603USBB |
| Scanner type | Corded handheld 2D imager, supplied with a hands free stand |
| CPU | 32-bit ARM |
| Image sensor | CMOS, 640 x 480 pixels |
| Light source | White LED illumination, red LED aimer |
| Scan modes | Manual, automatic and continuous |
| Scan speed | 60 FPS |
| Scan precision | 3 mil or better on Code 128, 6 digits |
| Depth of field | 60 mm to 300 mm on 13 mil Code 39 |
| Print contrast | 15 percent minimum |
| Interface | USB (USB-HID keyboard wedge or USB-VCP virtual COM) |
| 1D symbologies | Codabar, Code 11, Code 39, Code 32, Interleaved 2 of 5, Industrial 2 of 5, Matrix 2 of 5, Code 93, Code 128, GS1-128, UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-8, EAN-13, ISBN, ISSN, GS1 DataBar (RSS-14), GS1 DataBar Limited, GS1 DataBar Expanded, MSI, Standard 2 of 5, Plessey |
| 2D symbologies | PDF417, Micro PDF417, QR Code, Data Matrix, Aztec Code, Hanxin Code, MaxiCode |
| Scanner size | 177 x 85 x 68 mm, 140 g |
| Stand size | 145 x 68 x 169 mm, 20 g |
| Case material | ABS and PC |
| Power | DC 5V plus or minus 5 percent, 207 mA working, 118 mA standby |
| Operating temperature | -10 C to 50 C |
| Storage temperature | -20 C to 60 C |
| Humidity | 5 percent to 95 percent, non condensing |
| IP rating | IP42 |
| Ambient light | 0 to 100,000 lux, sunlight included |
| Colour | Black |
| Condition | New |
| Warranty | 36 Months Return to Base |
How it compares
| Scanner | Engine | Connection | Best for |
| Nexa ZED 2603 (this scanner) |
CMOS 2D imager, 640 x 480, 60 FPS |
USB-HID or USB-VCP |
Counters that want corded 2D scanning with the hands free stand included |
| Nexa ZED 2601 (superseded) |
2D imager | USB |
Superseded by this scanner and no longer available, listed here for reference |
| Nexa ZED 2600 (superseded) |
2D imager | USB |
Superseded by this scanner and no longer available, listed here for reference |
| Nexa ZED 1600 |
Single line laser | USB |
Plain printed retail barcodes only, where cost is the deciding factor and no QR or screen scanning is needed |
| Nexa BL-8080 |
2D area imager, desktop | USB |
Counters that only ever present items and never need to pick the scanner up |
| Nexa ZED-2251 |
2D area imager, cordless | Bluetooth or USB dongle |
Stocktakes and shelf work where a cable will not reach |
What is in the box
- Nexa ZED 2603 corded 2D barcode scanner in black
- Hands free presentation stand
- Interface cable
- Quick start guide
Frequently asked questions
Is the stand included or is it an extra?
It is included. Part number ZED2603USBB covers the scanner and the hands free stand together, so there is no accessory to add at checkout. The stand measures 145 x 68 x 169 mm and weighs 20 g.
Can staff leave it in the stand and scan hands free?
That is what the stand is for. With the scanner sitting in the cradle, items are passed in front of it and read automatically, which frees both hands for bagging and payment. Pick it up and it reverts to trigger scanning for anything too heavy or awkward to lift.
Does it read QR codes?
Yes, along with Data Matrix, PDF417, Micro PDF417, Aztec Code, Hanxin Code and MaxiCode. The 2D formats sit alongside the full set of retail 1D barcodes, so one scanner covers both the EAN-13 on a product and the QR code on a loyalty app.
What is USB-VCP and do I need it?
USB-VCP is virtual COM port mode: the scanner appears to the computer as a serial port even though it is plugged into USB. Most retailers do not need it, because keyboard wedge mode works with the majority of point of sale packages. It matters when your software was written to listen on a COM port, which is common in warehouse management and in older bespoke systems.
Will it cope with the small barcodes on pharmacy packaging?
A 3 mil rating on Code 128 is the specification that answers this. Mil describes the narrowest bar in thousandths of an inch, and 3 mil is fine enough for the dense codes printed on medicine cartons, electronic components and small jewellery tags.
How tough is it?
The case is ABS and polycarbonate rated to IP42, which stops particles over 1 mm and dripping water at an angle. That is the right level for a shop counter, a dispensary or a trade desk. It is not a rugged scanner for a loading dock or a freezer, so talk to us about an industrial model if that is the job.
Does it need a driver or a power supply?
Neither in the usual setup. In keyboard wedge mode Windows, macOS and Linux all recognise it as a keyboard with no driver install, and the scanner draws its power from the USB port at 5V, 207 mA in use and 118 mA idle.
Can I change what the scanner sends after each read?
Yes. Prefixes, suffixes, a terminating Enter or Tab and the interface mode itself are all set by scanning configuration barcodes from the manual, so no software is needed on the host. If you want a particular behaviour matched to your POS, call POS Sales on 1300 026 062 before you order.
How long is the warranty?
36 Months Return to Base. Return to base means a faulty unit is sent back to us for assessment and repair or replacement, which for a counter scanner is usually the fastest route because a spare can be slotted in while the original is away.
Application use cases
- Supermarket and convenience lanes where the stand keeps the scanner in one spot and the operator simply passes stock across it all shift.
- Pharmacies and medical practices reading the small, dense codes on cartons and scripts that a laser scanner often has to be coaxed into decoding.
- Libraries and schools scanning spine labels, member cards and loan receipts, with QR support for digital membership passes.
- Trade counters and parts desks confirming picks and dispatches against printed job sheets within a 300 mm working range.
- Cafes and takeaway counters redeeming vouchers and loyalty codes straight from the customer's phone screen.
- Click and collect desks where the pickup code arrives by email or app and is scanned straight from the customer's phone screen.
The Nexa ZED 2603 (SKU ZED2603USBB) is a black corded handheld 2D barcode scanner supplied with a hands free stand. It uses a 32-bit ARM processor and a 640 x 480 CMOS image sensor with white LED illumination and a red LED aimer, scanning at 60 frames per second in manual, automatic or continuous mode, with a scan precision of 3 mil on Code 128, a depth of field of 60 mm to 300 mm on 13 mil Code 39 and a minimum print contrast of 15 percent. It decodes 22 one dimensional symbologies and 7 two dimensional symbologies including QR Code, Data Matrix and PDF417, and reads barcodes shown on phone and tablet screens. The scanner is 177 x 85 x 68 mm and 140 g, the stand is 145 x 68 x 169 mm and 20 g, the case is ABS and PC rated IP42, and power is DC 5V at 207 mA. It connects over USB, as a USB-HID keyboard wedge or a USB-VCP virtual COM port, and carries a 36 Months Return to Base warranty. Available from POS Sales Australia with delivery Australia-wide, or call 1300 026 062 for help matching it to your POS.
Brand: Nexa · Model: ZED 2603 · SKU: ZED2603USBB · Type: Corded handheld 2D barcode scanner with stand · Scan engine: CMOS 2D imager, 640 x 480 · Scan speed: 60 FPS · Precision: 3 mil · Depth of field: 60 to 300 mm · Codes: 1D, 2D, QR · Screen scanning: Yes · Connectivity: USB (USB-HID or USB-VCP) · IP rating: IP42 · Colour: Black · Warranty: 36 Months Return to Base · Retailer: POS Sales Australia
1300 026 062
