Hand-Held Document Scanners

[Andy M0FYA]

Has anybody any experience of hand-held document scanners, and can either say they are a waste of time, or recommend a good one, please?

I have a borrowed radio manual which I need to copy, or ideally scan so I end up with an electronic version, which has lots of fold-out diagrams, only the width of A4 high, but typically 2 feet wide, and so won't fit on an A4 or even an A3 flatbed scanner in one go.

Thanks,

Andy

[Yorkie]

I don't have any experience of hand held scanners Andy, but I'd be dubious about trying to scan large pages without introducing some distortion. You have to scan at a steady pace that the scanner can cope with or an error light comes on and you have to scan again. Depending on how many pages you need to copy, I'd be more inclined to go to Staples and get them to copy the larger pages if you have a branch nearby Andy. I'd have thought that less hassle and less cost than attempting a hand-held scanner. I sometimes get copies of manuals spirally bound at Staples at a reasonable price while I wait.


Might be worth reading the reviews at this link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Skypix-Cordless-..._1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350142146&sr=8-1


That one might suit your needs if you feel like shelling out £45.00 for it. (Free delivery). The colour image sensor scans at high (600 DPI) or standard (300 DPI) resolution, saving images onto a micro SD card for easy retrieval.

It will scan documents 8.27” wide and up to 50” long.

Specifications:
* Sensor: A4 Color Contact Image Sensor
* Scanning width and length: Width 8.27" Length: 300DPI: 50"(Max), 600DPI: 25"(Max)
* Standard resolution : 300x300 DPI High resolution: 600x600 DPI
* Maximum Scanning Speed: 13 Seconds (Colour High resolution), 3.0 Seconds (Colour Low resolution), 6.0 Seconds (Mono High resolution), 2.0 Seconds (Mono Low resolution)
* Capacity based on 1GB Micro SD (not included), A4 size file scanning: 323 Photos (Colour High resolution), 1190 Photos (Colour Low resolution), 372 Photos (Mono High resolution), 1320 Photos (Mono Low resolution)
* Memory: 1GB to 32GB micro SD card (Not included)
* File format: JPEG(default)/PDF
* White balance: auto
* Auto power off After 3 minutes of inactivity
* Power source: 2x AA battery (Not included)
* USB Port: USB 2.0
* Dimensions: 256X30X31mm

Notes:
* Lower DPI is useful for scanning text, black and white pictures
* Higher DPI is great for scanning colour pictures
* Built-in display will show selected resolution, remaining battery life, and memory status
* Cordless, handheld scanner - take it with you everywhere
* For maximum quality scans, make sure the document/book is on a flat surface

Hope that helps a bit Andy.

[Andy M0FYA]

Thanks David, that's the sort of thing I'm looking for. I might have to bite the bullet and get one.
I wondered about going to Staples, but I'd rather have the ability to copy it in the comfort of my own home, as the saying goes. My nearest Staples is in Preston town-centre, but the staff never seem very friendly.

There are about 35 of the long thin diagrams to copy - the pages of text I can do on my standard A4 scanner.

Andy

[tiv48]

hi if you buy one please let us know how you get on with it.
i have about 150 mainly tv manuals i would like to scan the circuits ar as you discribe too long for a flatbed scanner.
i also wounder if one would make scanning of pages from thick books easy?
rob t

[Andy M0FYA]

To follow up on this, I bought the Skypix scanner as spotted by David. It does seem to be one of the few which will handle long scans, which is what I needed.
Needless to say, made in China, it does indeed do what I want.
It is solidly made, and easy to use, although a bit of practice is needed to scan a long diagram.
Although it is intended as a portable device, for copying documents in, say, the local library, to accurately scan diagrams I have found it helpful to hold them flat on my drawing board with bits of masking tape at the corners, and to use the ruler to guide one end of the scanner.
A worthwhile bit of modern technology to help with vintage restoration!

Andy

[pwdrive]

Glad it worked out ok.

Lawrence.

[AlanBeckett]

Andy,
Which one did you get? There appear to be several versions.
Can you post some scans?
Many moons ago I had a Mitsubishi one which could be fitted into a powered cradle for more 'controlled' scans. Sadly they stopped supporting it after Windows 3 - yes, yes it was that long ago.

Alan

[Andy M0FYA]

Apologies for the slow reply, I have been away over the weekend.
The scanner I've bought is the TSN410, it can scan a 25" long document ar 600dpi, or 50" long at 300dpi. The only format is JPEG.
The scans I have made are typically around 3Mbiits ( I used 600dpi) - can the forum software accept a JPEG of this size?
Andy

[Joe]

I think the limit is 1MB. You could use something like DropBox or send it to me (ThePillenwerfer [at] GolborneVintageRadio.Org) and I'll see if I can shrink it.

- Joe

[Andy M0FYA]

Wouldn't shrinking a scan rather defeat the object if anyone wants to assess how well the scanner performs?
If anyone wants an example, if they pm their email address I can send one I have done.
Andy