May/June 2005

Choosing the right handheld terminal for your application has never been easy, and these days users are positively spoiled for choice. Sharon Clancy picks up some useful pointers on how to make your selection

There has never been such a choice of wireless mobile data capture devices. In fact one of the problems for companies seeking to implement a wireless solution or upgrade an existing one is how to choose the best device for the job. Should it be a specific unit with limited capabilities, but one that's perfectly adequate for the job? Or should you adopt a flexible solution, where the same unit can be configured for different data capture tasks in different parts of the organisation? And should you invest in RFID now, or add it on or replace units in three to five years time?

Customers are becoming more knowledgeable, reports Duncan Smillie, managing director of Psion Teklogix. "Some are on third-generation wireless systems. Managers want flexible configurations that include GPRS as well as 802.11b and Bluetooth to allow the unit to be used in a variety of different applications."

Adrian Bastow, strategy and marketing manager EMEA for Intermec, agrees that the market is seeing a consolidation of different data capture options and applications on the same device. "Devices that have multi-input options reduce the real estate of devices that a company needs. You can run multiple applications on the same device and use the devices for different tasks at different times of the day." Intermec's 700 series, for example, use the same basic components such as screen, battery and processor, but can be configured for a host of applications.

 

One reason there is such a variety of data capture units, points out Nick Whitfield of mobile applications specialist Aspective, is that no two clients ask for the same thing, so that to get the best solution you have to consider both the hardware and the application that will be running on it.

"Graphics-based applications allow you to eliminate a keypad, for example, and tend to run on devices with a half-size VGA screen, compared with the quarter-size screen found on many wireless data capture devices," he points out. "That allows more data to be displayed on the screen than with conventional devices."

Aspective thinks that the latest Tablet PCs are an alternative to forklift-truck mounted terminals in warehousing applications. "They give you a full-size VGA screen, so are easy to read, and they can be touch-sensitive for keying in data."

Future proofing

"The choice between scanning and RFID for data capture will become a key issue over the next few years," says Datalogic's managing director, Paul Duggan, who likens the current situation with RFID to the time when barcode scanners were first adopted in the 1970s. "Costs always come down as volumes grow, and future-proofing devices can raise the initial level of investment. Keep in mind the return on investment. If the planned changes to your operations are three or five years away, our advice is to buy what you need now, sweat the asset and replace it earlier than you might otherwise have done."

With many of the latest devices, there is an option to upgrade to RFID or a different communications platform at a later data without changing all the hardware. However, retrofitting can be very expensive, warns Duncan Smillie of Psion Teklogix. "Ask in advance what it will cost to upgrade to different technologies in the future."

Smillie also points out that from June 2006 new devices must be lead-free to comply with EU health and safety legislation coming into effect then.

Operating systems

To the casual observer, it might appear that the wireless data capture world has migrated en masse to the Microsoft Windows CE .NET operating system. This certainly helps ease the integration of the wireless units into corporate ERP systems, and it also helps make upgrading to RFID more feasible, points out Intermec.

However there is still a role for terminal emulation in many data capture operations, according to systems integrator Banctec, which sells Hand Held Products and Denso wireless devices in the UK. "Dumb terminals are still valid in many point-and-click warehouse operations," says Ian Painter of Banctec

Many warehouse management systems still use terminal emulation, points out Datalogic. The company includes terminal emulation in the cost of its wireless data capture devices. While the Viper range is now available in .CE NET format, the TE version also remains available.

RFID

RFID seems to be everywhere these days. Before worrying about whether your handheld units might need to accommodate it in five years' time, bear in mind that it may be possible to integrate it into your operations further down the track. "For many applications it is more practicable to bring RFID read/write capabilities to the tagged object rather than move the object over a fixed reader," points out Intermec's Bastow. "You can add the RFID tag at the labelling point. It keeps the customer happy without a huge investment in equipment and processes further back in the supply chain."

Ruggedised

Ruggedised devices will remain the most popular choice for companies using them on mission-critical tasks, believes Bastow, mainly because the ratio of damage to such devices is much lower. "You are twice or three times as likely to damage consumer-type products than a ruggedised device," he argues, pointing out that ruggedised devices are designed for industrial, tough environments, whether it be a shop floor or a warehouse. "If it gets dropped, it is going to hit concrete or some other hard surface, not carpet."

While warranties on ruggedised devices are likely to cover the majority or repairs, check how long they last and what they include - that's the advice of Psion Teklogix's Smillie. Check exactly what sort of damage is considered wear and tear, too. "All Psion devices come with a three-year warranty, but users generally take out a repair contract at the same time to cover non-warrantable damage."

As a result of progressive improvements in battery technology, battery life is less of an issue these days than it once was, but you should still check that a charge will last the whole shift. One trend is for add-on modules such as RFID scanners to have their own power source, to prevent additional drain on the device battery.

Because the terminals are being used constantly, there is a greater the need for devices that are reliable and fit for purpose, points out Smillie. "Repair and service support is crucial in the deployment of mobile systems. Do make sure your provider agrees to a service level agreement that has financial implications for them if they do not meet it. Ask to see repair statistics on existing devices and how many are in use."

Ruggedised standards

Most ruggedised handheld computers have an IP rating for dust and water resistance, and makers sometimes also quote MIL STD 810F to demonstrate shock and vibration capabilities.

IP ratings

The IP ratings speak for themselves, points out LXE. The first IP number is for dust and dirt ingress, the second for water-tightness. Dust numbers go up to 6 and water up to 9, so a handset with an IP rating of IP68 would be the most dust and water proof. Typically rugged data capture devices have ratings of IP65, IP66 and IP67.

Do check, says LXE, that the ratings quoted apply to the model and configuration you are deploying, and that shock and vibration tests have been done on units that are switched on.

MIL STD 810F

The MIL STD 810F standard is a US Department of Defense standard. To pass, suppliers can use five units to complete 26 drops on to concrete from a 915cm height.

Some device manufacturers try to exceed the standard. Itronix, for example, completed the test for its latest Q-200 GoBook with just a single device, and from a 120cm height at room temperature. After that came a further 12 drops at temperatures ranging from minus 20 to plus 60 deg C, followed by six drops from two metres. Itronix says this tough treatment is the only way to simulate usage in a real life environment.