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Connect and Use your Zebra RFID Wand with the Canix Mobile App

Spencer Rose
  • Updated
For now, Canix is only compatible with the Zebra handheld RFID wands. The most popular options are the RFD8500 or RFD40 models.

Connect with the Wand

  1. Power on your RFID wand. Make sure it is unplugged from the charger first.

  2. Go to Bluetooth settings on your mobile device.

  3. On your wand, hold the Bluetooth button until the button slowly flashes blue.

  4. In your mobile device's Bluetooth settings, click the wand (it will be a long string that begins with RFD8500 or RFD40 for the above-mentioned models). Once you click the wand to begin the pairing process, squeeze the trigger of the wand to accept the connection.

  5. Open up the Canix mobile app and navigate to a screen with a barcode scanning section (RFID Audit, Identify Plant, Identify Package, etc.).

All screens that have text input fields where Canix's mobile app allows barcode scanning will automatically connect to the RFID wands. You’ll know the device is ready to scan when you go to a screen like this in Canix and the wand double beeps with an upward timbre. When you leave that screen, the wand will beep with a downward timbre to indicate the wand is not in use.

Tips for using Zebra's RFID wands

  • Your RFID wand must not be charging when scanning.

  • To scan a tag, point the RFD8500 at the tag and squeeze the trigger. If the wand beeps while the trigger is pressed, that means a tag was scanned.

  • Auto Harvest: For auto-harvesting, if the RFD8500 is connected to the device via Bluetooth, a dropdown will appear where you can select your tag scanning option (“Camera” or “RFD8500”). When you select RFD8500, the wand will be in Periodic mode, where it automatically scans tags every 3 seconds without you having to press the trigger. This allows the user to set the wand near the scale and not have to press the trigger. Tags that are placed near the front of the wand will automatically get scanned. The user will be notified of the scan having happened by an audible beep from the wand.

  • The User Guide for the RFD8500 can be found here.

  • If you are using an iOS device and having trouble using the wand, your region may need to be set for the wand. Download the Zebra 123RFID app to begin. Pair the wand and then, in the Zebra app, click Settings > Readers List > click on the device > select the United States when it asks for the region.

  • Other troubleshooting steps if the wand is not scanning:

    • Keep the wand on but restart your Canix app.

    • Disconnect and repair the wand to your phone.

You can also connect the wand to your Windows PC to control advanced settings like beep volume and trigger action. You can also save settings profiles so you can quickly get a new device ready for your operation. Unfortunately, Zebra only makes the application for Windows devices. Mac users can use the Zebra 123RFID mobile app on their devices for a similar experience to the desktop application.

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