Dont get
these devices confused with cordless bar code
scanners, which are a very different thing and
are discussed elsewhere on our site.
cordless scanners These are
much more sophisticated and require specialized
programming and integration. But, in many
application circumstances, theyre more than
worth it!
Put side-by-side,
a wireless scanning terminal often looks exactly
the same as a batch terminal. In fact, many
manufacturers make the same device available in
both configurations! There is a significant
difference, however, between them: Where batch
terminals intermittently and physically need to connect to the host
system, wireless terminals are potentially connected
persistently, inferring that everything they
record and process
is in real time.
Having a
hand-held scanning device directly interfaced to
the host computer system in what basically
amounts to a two-way "electronic conversation" is a great
thing if what youre doing needs to be recorded
and available in the host system the second after youve
accomplished it. Its also great to have if the operator of the mobile
terminal requires up-to-the-minute data for
on-the-fly processing or to make critical decisions
in the field.
Used
within a local wireless environment, the radio
will almost certainly be of the Wi-Fi type, running on an IEEE
802.11a/b/g WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network)
connection. In a broader metropolitan situation,
the data radio will be CDMA, GPRS/GSM or another
digital "cellular" technology, using a
third-party carrier to convey data between the
mobile devices and host system.
Wireless
terminals can make copious amounts of data (and
host computer intelligence) available to the user
through the wireless connection. The host system
can guide or dispatch the user and any
transactions conducted by the user will be
available to anyone with access to the host
system in a matter of seconds.
Adopting
wireless terminals into a given application is
not as simple as just purchasing them and
turning them on! Considerable forethought and
software development needs to be undertaken and
either a thick or thin wireless client strategy needs to
be considered and implemented.
Note that one of
the added services we provide is a
Wireless RF
Site Survey an on-site task that
determines the quantity and placement of
wireless access points within a given area.
Aurora Bar Code
Technologies
8944 182 Street NW, Suite 316 Edmonton, AB T5T 2E3
Canada
Phone: 800.689.7696 Outside of NA: 780.483.6025 Fax: 780.484.8767
