Zebra VC8300 setup guide: mounting, power, Wi-Fi, scanner

This guide takes a Zebra VC8300 10-inch vehicle computer from the box to a working forklift terminal: mount, power and ignition wiring, first start, Wi-Fi, keys and scanner. Most steps also apply to the 8-inch VC8300; the differences are noted.

Before you start

Zebra builds the VC8300 in two sizes, each as a Standard or a Freezer version. All of them have 4 GB RAM, 32 GB flash, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Bluetooth 5.0 and Android with Google Mobile Services.

Our VC8300 10-inch product page lists the exact configuration of the model we sell. Its internal UPS battery is not the main power source: it keeps the VC8300 running for at least 30 minutes without vehicle power, for example during a forklift battery change.

Video: Zebra Technologies

Choose the mount and position

Use only Zebra mounting hardware approved for the VC8300; wrong parts can injure the driver or block the view. The main mount types in Zebra's vehicle mount accessory guide:

Zebra says VC8300 accessories are backwards compatible with the VC70 and VC50: the U-mount has the VC70 hole pattern and comes with the adapter for a VC50 U-mount. Zebra does not recommend plate bases for forklifts. When you pick the position:

• Keep the driver's view clear and leave room for a scanner holder or an external keyboard.
• Nothing may stick out beyond the vehicle.
• Plan two people for fitting and removing the computer, because it can fall and injure someone.
• Fasten the mount with the supplied hardware and a calibrated torque wrench. For an overhead mount, add a secondary safety tether.

Plan power and ignition wiring

The VC8300 runs on vehicle DC from 10 to 48 V nominal. For higher voltages, for example on some electric forklifts, Zebra requires the PS1370 power pre-regulator (24 to 90 V DC in); its CA1230 cable adds ignition sense. More than 48 V without the pre-regulator, or reversed polarity, can damage the computer permanently and void the warranty.

• CA1210: DC power cable without ignition sense.
• CA1220: DC power cable with ignition sense. You need it if the computer should switch on and off with the vehicle ignition.
• PS1450: 100 to 240 V AC power supply for a desk or wall installation in a room-temperature area such as an office. Order the mains cord separately.

• Connect the power cable to a filtered, fused supply of at most 15 A on a terminal block, not the vehicle body: red to positive, black to negative.
• Ignition sense: the red 18 AWG wire goes to a positive source switched by the ignition, the black one to that source's ground.
• Run the ground strap to the chassis, not to the battery negative.
• Connect as close to the battery as possible, not to large loads such as the motor converter: Zebra warns this can cause random restarts or damage.
• Wired after the key switch, shut the computer down with Power off before switching off the vehicle. Wired before it, use ignition sense with automatic shutdown so it does not drain the vehicle battery.

Install the computer on the vehicle

1. Fit the mount to the computer, then fasten the bracket to the vehicle and put the computer on it.
2. If you use an external antenna, screw it onto the ANT 1 connector on top (and ANT 2 for the second antenna) and point it upwards.
3. Remove the dust cover on the back. Connect the power cable and any scanner or USB device, lay the cables in the strain relief brackets and refit the dust cover. Tighten connector thumbscrews by hand only, never with a tool.
4. Connect the power cable to the vehicle supply and fit the ground strap.

Switch on and check the lights

Press and hold Power for about 5 seconds until the start screen appears, then follow the setup screens. To switch off, press Power until the menu appears and touch Power off.

On the UPS battery, Android warns at 30% (the default Low Battery level) and the computer shuts down by itself below 7%. A red Warning LED points to a battery or charging fault; see VC8300 troubleshooting.

Set ignition control and the VC Settings app

Vehicle-specific options are in the VC Settings app: swipe up from the bottom of the Home screen and open it.

• Ignition Detection: turn on Ignition ON turns on VC and Ignition OFF shuts down VC, and set the minutes in Shut down VC after. This needs the CA1220 cable with ignition sense.
• Display: Stay awake keeps the screen on while external power is connected.
• Choose Antenna: Internal Antenna (default) or External Antenna. Select External Antenna after you fit one.
• Screen Blanking: turns the screen off while the vehicle moves, using a motion switch on a serial port (CA1300 cable).

Connect to Wi-Fi

1. Open Settings › Network & internet › Internet (on Android 11: Settings › Network & internet › Wi-Fi).
2. Touch your network, enter the password and touch Connect. For a hidden network, use Add network at the bottom of the list.

For WPA/WPA2/WPA3-Enterprise networks, ask your network administrator for the EAP method and certificates.

Learn the keys and keyboards

The VC8300 10-inch has no built-in keyboard. Its front bezel has six programmable keys, and the Blue key gives six more functions; by default the twelve functions are F1 to F12. Press Blue once for one shifted key (the Blue LED blinks), twice to lock it (solid blue) and once more to unlock. Other keys:

• Diamond opens the on-screen keyboard.
• The speaker/display key changes the screen brightness, and the volume together with Blue.
• To give a key a new function or app, open Settings › Key Programmer, pick the key and use the BUTTON REMAPPING or SHORTCUT tab.

Gboard is the default on-screen keyboard; an external USB or Bluetooth keyboard also works. For gloves, set Settings › Display › Touch Panel UI to a Glove and Finger mode (on Android 11 it is under Advanced).

Connect a barcode scanner

• USB: plug the scanner into a USB port under the dust cover. Zebra scanners such as the DS3608 can use SSI mode: scan the SSI Over USB CDC barcode in the scanner's Product Reference Guide. In HID mode (HID Keyboard barcode, or a scanner factory reset) the scanner types like a keyboard; other makes of USB scanner work in HID mode only. Only in HID mode can the scanner charge from the USB port.
• RS-232: connect to COM1 or COM2 and tighten the thumbscrews. In VC Settings, turn on +5V output on Serial Port 1 (or 2); the scanner beeps. In DataWedge, enable Serial port input for that port and set the baud rate, data bits, parity and stop bits.
• Bluetooth: with a Zebra Bluetooth scanner such as the DS3678, scan the pairing barcode printed on the front of the VC8300 or the one shown in the Bluetooth Pairing Utility app. Scan the unpairing barcode next to it to disconnect.

For Zebra's industrial scanners, see our DS3608/DS3678 setup guide.

Set up DataWedge

Zebra DataWedge sends scans into the app that has focus; test it with the DataWedge demonstration app (DWDemo). For app profiles, an Enter suffix or choosing the scanner, follow our DataWedge setup guide; it works the same on the VC8300.

Check the Android version and updates

Open Settings › About phone › Android version. Zebra offers Android 11, 13 and 14 for the VC8300 10-inch. Its spec sheet calls the VC8300 upgradeable to Android 14; Zebra has not announced a later version.

Updates are on Zebra's VC8300 10-inch operating system page. Moving from Android 11 to 13 or 14 converts the encryption and erases apps, data and settings. Zebra's Conversion Package can back up and restore up to 3 GB of them, so leave this step to IT in a managed fleet.

Restart, hard reset and wipe options for the VC8300 are in VC8300 troubleshooting. More VC8300 guides are on the VC8300 guides page.