Choose a QR scanner for your front desk
Any USB 2D/QR scanner works with OpenCourt check-in — what to look for, the models we recommend, and the one setting to change for a front desk.
Any USB 2D/QR scanner works with OpenCourt — there's no proprietary hardware and no per-device fee. The scanner reads the customer's Check-In QR and sends it like a keyboard, so an inexpensive model and a premium one both check customers in the same way.
What to look for
Any scanner that meets these works:
- Reads 2D / QR codes (not 1D-only). The Check-In QR is a 2D code.
- Reads from a phone screen, not just paper — customers show the QR on their phone.
- Connects as a USB keyboard (plug-and-play, no driver or app) — the default on virtually all scanners in this class, including the ones below. The suffix setting (Enter, Tab, or none after each scan) does not matter; OpenCourt works with all of them.
Recommended models
Four options, from a hands-free desktop stand to a professional handheld:
| Scanner | Type |
|---|---|
| Tera 9700 or Symcode | Hands-free desktop stand · wired USB |
| ScanAvenger Wireless | Handheld · wireless / Bluetooth / USB · charging stand |
| Tera D5100 | Handheld · wireless / USB |
| Zebra DS2208 | Handheld · wired USB · professional-grade |
These are examples to point you in the right direction, not endorsements or affiliate links — we don't sell hardware. Any scanner meeting the checklist above works.
Choosing: a hands-free stand suits a staffed desk (the customer holds their phone up — nothing to press); a handheld suits staff who prefer to pick up and scan; the Zebra is for high-volume clubs that want professional durability.
Running the admin panel on a tablet or iPad? Choose a Bluetooth model (like the ScanAvenger), which pairs as a keyboard; a USB-only scanner needs a compatible adapter.
Configuration
These scanners work out of the box — no software and no settings to change. If you do want to change a default, there's no app: you scan a configuration barcode from the scanner's manual (or the setup card in the box), and the scanner beeps to confirm.
The one setting worth changing for a front desk is always-on. Many scanners — hands-free stand models especially — sleep after a few idle minutes, so the first scan after a quiet stretch can lag or miss. To prevent this, find the barcode for "always on", "disable sleep", or "continuous / presentation mode" in the manual and scan it once. The same manual has barcodes for an Enter suffix and keyboard layout if scans aren't registering (see Set up the QR scanner), plus a "restore defaults" barcode that undoes any change.
Related
Check a customer in with the QR scanner
Scan a customer's Check-In QR from any admin page to check them in, and handle anyone who needs attention.
Set up the QR scanner at your front desk
Plug in a USB or Bluetooth QR scanner, verify it with the built-in scanner test, and check customers in from any admin page — no configuration needed.