Quick answer: To Nextar, a barcode scanner is a keyboard. There is no driver to install, no port to configure, and — in Nextar's own words — “there is no configuration to be done within the Nex”. You plug in a USB scanner, it types the barcode into whichever field has the cursor, and that is the entire integration.
For most Nextar shops the NBBS-S30 (wired, 1D + 2D, USB-HID) is the sensible default. If you only ever scan printed product barcodes and never QR codes, a 1D laser scanner such as the NBBS-S10D does the job for less. Buy plug-and-play USB — Nextar recommends it, and it removes an entire class of problems.
Why there is nothing to integrate
A USB barcode scanner in keyboard mode — USB-HID — presents itself to Windows as a keyboard. When it reads a barcode it “types” the digits, then usually sends an Enter keystroke. The software receiving those keystrokes has no idea a scanner exists; it sees typing.
This is why Nextar's guidance is as short as it is:
“We recommend that you use a scanner with a USB connection that does not depend on a driver for operation” — and “there is no configuration to be done within the Nex. These are the necessary settings in the barcode scanner.”
Two things follow, and they are both good news:
- Compatibility is not really a question. Any plug-and-play USB scanner will enter data into Nextar, because entering data into Nextar means typing.
- When something goes wrong, it is the scanner's own settings. Not Nextar's. Scanners are configured by scanning setup barcodes from their manual — that is where things like suffix keystrokes and enabled symbologies live.
Where you use it in Nextar is equally simple: the scanner fills the product's CODE field when you register a product, and finds that product again when you scan it during a sale.
The one thing worth checking: which symbologies
“Symbology” is the barcode's format. Different formats look similar and are not interchangeable.
Nextar's documentation refers to two in the context of product codes:
- EAN-13 — the 13-digit code printed on manufactured retail goods worldwide.
- INT 2_5 (Interleaved 2 of 5) — numeric only, and only in even lengths of 4, 6 or 8 digits.
If your inventory is manufactured goods with printed EAN-13 barcodes, you are covered by any scanner sold. If you generate your own codes, note the constraint on Interleaved 2 of 5: numbers only, even number of digits. A code of odd length will not encode.
Now the honest part. A scanner in keyboard mode decodes whatever symbology it is configured to read and types the result as characters. Whether Nextar accepts and matches a given string is a question about Nextar's product code field, not about the scanner. We have described what Nextar's documentation states about product codes; if you intend to use a symbology beyond these two, confirm it with Nextar before buying anything. We would rather say that than guess on your behalf.
Do you need a 2D scanner?
This is where money is usually wasted, in both directions.
| You scan | What you need |
|---|---|
| Printed product barcodes only (EAN-13, Code 128, ITF) | 1D laser or 1D CCD is enough |
| QR codes — payment, vouchers, loyalty | 2D imager required |
| Barcodes shown on a customer's phone screen | 2D imager required |
| Damaged, curved or poorly printed labels | 2D imager reads these more reliably |
The screen point is the one that catches people out. A laser scanner reads by bouncing light off a printed surface; a phone screen emits light rather than reflecting it, and most laser scanners simply will not read it. If any part of your workflow involves a code on a screen, you need an imager.
In Brazil, where mobile payment QR codes are ordinary, that consideration is worth taking seriously even if today you only scan printed labels.
Wired or wireless?
Wired is the default and, for a fixed counter, the better answer. No batteries, no pairing, no re-pairing after a power cut, and it costs less.
Wireless earns its price in specific situations: taking stock in a back room, scanning bulky items that cannot be lifted to the counter, or a long counter where the till is out of reach. The NBBS-W35 uses a 2.4G USB dongle, which is important here — the dongle also presents as a keyboard, so nothing about the Nextar side changes. Bluetooth versions exist, but on Windows a 2.4G dongle is generally the less troublesome route.
One practical note on wireless and Nextar: because the scanner is only typing, an out-of-range scan produces nothing at all rather than an error message. Staff should be told to watch the field, not the scanner beep.
NETBYE models for Nextar
| Model | Type | Reads | Interface | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NBBS-S10D | Handheld, 1D laser | 1D only | USB / RS232 | Printed product barcodes, lowest cost |
| NBBS-S30 | Handheld imager | 1D + 2D | USB-HID / USB-COM | General shop counter — the default choice |
| NBBS-W35 | Handheld, wireless | 1D + 2D | USB + 2.4G (+ BT option) | Stock-taking, bulky goods, long counters |
| NBBS-S86 | Desktop omni-directional | 1D + 2D | USB-HID / USB-COM / RS-232 | High-volume counter, hands-free |
The imagers read all standard 1D codes plus QR Code, Data Matrix, Aztec, MaxiCode, MicroQR and HANXIN, at 4mil resolution. Browse the full range of barcode scanners, or the 2D models specifically.
Ordering advice for Nextar: specify USB-HID (keyboard) mode. Our scanners ship in this mode by default, and it is the mode Nextar's guidance assumes. USB-COM (virtual serial port) is available and useful for custom software, but it is the wrong choice here — in that mode the scanner stops typing and Nextar receives nothing.
Setup, start to finish
- Plug the scanner into a USB port. Windows installs it as an input device on its own — no driver download.
- Open Notepad, scan any barcode. The digits should appear, followed by the cursor moving to a new line. This test tells you the scanner works before Nextar is involved at all.
- If nothing appears, or the digits are wrong, the fix is in the scanner's manual: scan the setup barcode for USB-HID / keyboard mode.
- If digits appear but the cursor does not move to a new line, scan the setup barcode that adds an Enter suffix. Nextar will otherwise wait for you to press Enter after every scan.
- In Nextar, register a product and scan into the CODE field. Then scan the same item during a sale to confirm the lookup.
Step 4 is the one that generates most support calls on any Windows POS, and it takes ten seconds to fix once you know it exists.
Frequently asked questions
Which barcode scanner is compatible with Nextar?
Any plug-and-play USB scanner running in keyboard (USB-HID) mode. There is no compatibility list to check because there is no driver and no integration — the scanner types, Nextar reads the typing.
Do I need to configure the scanner inside Nextar?
No. Nextar states there is no configuration to be done within the software. Any adjustment is made on the scanner itself, by scanning setup barcodes from its manual.
The scanner types the code but I have to press Enter every time.
The scanner is not sending a suffix. Scan the “add Enter/CR suffix” setup barcode in the scanner manual.
Can I scan a barcode from a customer's phone screen?
Only with a 2D imager. Laser scanners read reflected light and generally cannot read an emitting screen.
Do I need 2D if I only sell packaged goods?
No. If every code you scan is printed on a product, a 1D laser scanner is sufficient and cheaper. Consider 2D if QR payments or phone-displayed codes are likely in future.
Will a wireless scanner work with Nextar?
Yes. A 2.4G dongle presents as a keyboard exactly like a wired scanner, so nothing changes on the software side.
A note on this guide. The scanner side above — HID keyboard behaviour, symbologies, suffixes, 1D versus 2D, wired versus wireless — is what we know from the products we supply, and it holds for any Windows POS that reads scanner input as typing. The Nextar-specific statements are drawn from Nextar's published documentation and quoted where they matter; product code handling can change between versions, so confirm current behaviour with Nextar. If something here did not match your installation, tell us and we will correct this page. We would rather publish something accurate than something impressive.
Get pricing
NETBYE supplies distributors, system integrators and retailers across South America and worldwide. Our scanners are built by our partner factories in Shenzhen and sold under our own model range — we handle specification, quality control and support, so you deal with one supplier rather than several factories. Direct wholesale pricing, low MOQ on first orders, and OEM/ODM covering branding, packaging and scanner defaults — including units pre-configured with the suffix and symbologies you want, so they work out of the box on arrival.
Tell us which models, what quantity, which country and what you need to scan, and you will get an accurate quote in one reply — including an honest answer if a cheaper 1D model would serve you just as well. Request a quote.
Related guides
These guides form a set. If you are specifying a complete till, the other hardware for Nextar POS is covered here:
- Receipt printer for Nextar POS
- Cash drawer for Nextar POS
- Label printer for Nextar POS
- POS terminal for Nextar POS
And if you are comparing across POS software, the same hardware for other systems: