Extinguish Field Inspection Frustrations With Rugged Handhelds

The Denver Fire Department (DFD) began looking for a way to improve its preplan inspection process, its fire department application vendor announced its application was now compatible with mobile computing devices that ran on the Pocket PC platform. Johnson contacted Visionary Systems and asked to try the solution. The mobile application looked promising, but it did have a couple of obstacles that had to be worked out.

One potential problem was the reliability of the mobile computing devices that would be used with the application. During initial testing, inspections were performed in a controlled environment. However, the potential for equipment to be damaged in the field had to be considered.

The second primary obstacle the DFD faced was capturing facility occupant/owner signatures. Without a signed document confirming that the preplan inspection had been performed, some occupants/owners may claim no inspection had been performed.

The DFD looked for a solution that would fit the fire department's needs. After searching the Internet, DFD came across a few options. "We researched several ruggedized handheld computers," he says. "But, very few ran on the Pocket PC platform. Most had their own proprietary operating systems." Of the few ruggedized handhelds that met the DFD's requirements, Trimble's (formerly Tripod Data Systems) Recon ruggedized handheld device was the best fit.

Handhelds built for the real world
The real world is no place for an ordinary handheld. That's why you need rugged, versatile handhelds from Trimble. Both the Trimble Ranger and Recon are built tough to work where you do. They meet the stringent MIL-STD-810F military standard for drops, vibration and temperature extremes. They also come with an IP67 rating, meaning they're impervious to water and dust.

And while they're tough on the job, the Ranger and Recon are easy on you. Both come with Windows Mobile 5.0, so you can use all the applications you already know, plus industry-specific programs. Optional embedded Bluetooth and 802.11g wireless capabilities are available in addition to standard CompactFlash slots that let you add GPS, GPRS, digital cameras, bar-code scanners and other CF devices. The Ranger also has a Secure Digital (SCIO) slot for increased data storage.

The handy Recon weighs just 17 ounces and features a 15-hour battery. The Ranger features a 30-hour battery and an ergonomic keypad with separate navigation, alpha and numeric keys.

Whether you choose the Ranger or the Recon, Trimble is the way to go for rugged handhelds.