November « 2010 «

Rugged PDA Ruggedness Week 4/6 – Your Environment

12 11 2010

Even the most Ruggedized PDA’s can have very short lives if used in the wrong environment. In previous parts we discussed IP Ratings, Drop Tests and Rugged PDA Design and here we continue our “Ruggedness week” series in part 4 looking at how your actual environment can seriously alter the ruggedness of your PDA.

Water, swimming pools and boats!

If you’re working anywhere where there’s a risk of dropping your Rugged PDA fully into water then you need a device with IP67 or above. Even IP67 is only up to 1m (Ithink it was designed to help if you dropped your PDA in the toilet believe it or not!!) and anything deeper than this is specialised. Oh and yes that little Motorola DEFY would definitley not be ringing the morning after that party if you had actually seen it at the bottom of the swimming pool!!

Humid environments

This goes for humid or tropical environments too. Just be very careful with anything IP65 or below as you really need something like IP67 to keep the mist and steam out the device.

Hospitals and Laboratories

This is where it can get interesting because at first glance a hospital doesn’t seem all that rugged? However where there are germs you’re going to need to use hazardous chemicals to wash equipment down and the Rugged PDA is no exeption to this. There are a growing number of special “Antimicrobial cased” devices and most manufacturers offer an AB version of there rugged handhelds. It not only helps protect the rugged pda from harbouring germs but it helps it withstand the chemnicals used to wash it. I’ve seen very rugged PDA’s in labs literally dissolve after months because they have the wrong housing so be careful!

Explosion Risk Areas

This is where you need to make sure the device you’re using is spark free. So if you’re business is oil refineries, gas leaks or where there’s a high chance of explosion you need an IS device. Agian there are afew to choose from and whilst this is not technically a rugged thing it is important that you choose the right type of device for this environment.

Warehouses and retail

Particularly tough on Rugged PDA’s, there is a particular form factor used in warehouses that tend to have greater shpock absorption in the shape of rubber edges and also metal casings. A normal field mobilty device will not cope half as well in this type of envronment as a proper warehouse device will. They’re the ones that look longer and usually come in a “Gun” form factor.

Cold or hot environments

Check the specs of the Rugged Handheld as you’d be suprised at the differences. Most Rugged PDA’s will be fine for 90% of the jobs at hand but where temperature plays and particularly when it gets cold in freezers etc, you need to look at rugged PDA’s with low operating temperature thresholds, storage thresholds and also choose ones with heated accessories.

The Toolbox

A lot of smaller Rugged PDA’s get thrown into toolboxes after every job done and whilst this is fine, you just need to be aware that if you close a metal tool onto an LCD screen then its going to crack! There are rugged PDA’s with better skins on their screens, or make sure you find out about the holster options for each device. Do they come with hard plastic cases, leather, tough nylon? You;d be amazed at how a proper rugged Nylon holster can save you £100′s in the long run.

Lastly make sure you understand what your users are going to be doing, where they’re spending their time and how they do their jobs. I am ever amazed at how little managers buying RUgged PDA’s actually know about the habits and workarounds their users employ! A lkittle bit of knowledge, education and help in this area can work absolute wonders for your business mobile solutions.

I’m going to do a saturday finsih off for this series so tomorrow we’ll take a look at Rugged PDA Support and also finsih off with a candid look at the IP42 rating as it gets right under my skin!!!

Dave

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Tags: Rugged PDA, ruggedized PDA, ruggedness week
Categories : Opinion, Top Tips

Rugged PDA Design Essentials – Ruggedness Series 3/6

11 11 2010

Rugged PDA - Rugged Design at the heart

Continuing the ruggedness week series we’ve already looked at the 2 main formal methods of seeing how rugged a PDA is by looking at IP Ratings and Drop Tests, but here we’re going to start delving into some of the areas that only the experienced Rugged PDA Reseller can help you with!

I personally assess every single facet of a rugged PDA before we will offer it here and this includes looking at everything about the device, as well as the distribution channel being fair and the support offered. The first thing we do here when we assess whether a Rugged PDA is good enough to sell is look at its overall design, its intended markets and then to assess how rugged we feel it really is! On paper a rugged handheld can look very good but many of them, in factmost of them, have flaws you need to understand before you commit, esepcially if you want to keep your costs down.

The neglected parts!

First of all if you look at the drop tests and even MIL-STD’s closely you’ll see a lot isn’t covered and in fact this is when you find out that they are still not largely approriate tests for Rugged PDA’s.

The LCD

LCD screens aren’t included in the test for instance so what happens if your IP67, MIL whatever gets dropped LCD first on a rock or desk corner? Well, it’s going to break. Well some devices leave the LCD glass exposed, some have an extra skin, some we can fit tuffscreens to and some are just made of tougher stuff. Also look for how recessed the screen is as a recessed screen protects the LCD more than you might think.

The Case

Some Rugged PDA’s simply have tougher cases. This can be in the shape of rubber corners, thicker or better quality plastic or even metal casing.

The Aerial and protruding parts

Its becoming less of an issue these days as most devices now have internal aerials but a lot still don’t and that little piece of plastic is just asking to be snapped off!! Some are designed to break but can it be replaced easily, will it damage the casing if snapped and will the device work without it at all? This also applies to anyting protruding like boots, snap on accessories and even trigger/gun designs.

The buttons

How tough are the buttons? Are they cheap soft PDA style ones or are they evidently tougher and built to last?

The barcode scanner

Check if it has moving parts like a rotating mirror or if its largely static. 2D scanners are tougher than 1D generally too. Also that little scanner windows can break if its exposed.

The connections

Rugged PDA’s have proprietary connection sockets on them for a good reason. Mini USB is just not rugged and the best Rugged PDA will be let down if it uses Mini USB. The main reason is that Mini-USB is wired directly to the main board which means its often easy to damage the whole device when pluging your handheld in with big fat gloves on. There are also water/dust considerations when using USB too, but most manbufacturers get over this with decent rubber caps but if you lose them then you can clog up your sync & charging connector and even let water in. Some devices are so inexpensive that they have to use Mini-USB and in the right environment its fine, but on more expensive devices just watch this one. You would not believe the number of non rugged smartphones that end up with damaged MIni-USB ports.

Does it land on its feet!

Some devices are built and weighted to land back down so you minimise shock to the sensitive parts like the LCD or scanner windows.

Crevasses and gaps

Crevassess can harbour water and i’ve even seen devices left for a month in the wrong environment being covered with mould which has forced it’s way in under the LCD. Semi rugged PDA’s also need to be careful with any gaps in their design where water can get in too. There are plenty of IP54 devices out there that in my opinion have gaps big enough like speaker/MIC grills that just let water in.

Clever stuff!

New devices coming on to the market are starting to include sensors that can be used for a multitude of tasks. Not only can you see how far a device might have dropped in order to prevent your users taking it up that 30m ladder but we’re already seeing applications that can be used to switch of and react to scenarios that look like the device has been dropped. Very clever stuff indeed.

The Support History

I’ll go into support in more depth in the next post, but because we work closely with proper service partners rather than have our own repair facility it means we can keep open honest figures on repair statistics. We’ll tell you how good a device has been and what its main achilles heel’s are.

Gripability

Topical in the smartphone world at the moment is how grippy your device is. As bruce would once said, “The best way to not damage a rugged pda is to not drop the rugged PDA in the first place…” or something like that anyway!

Some Rugged handhelds have nicer grippier coatings, some are just plain designed nicely with curves and cutouts designed for holding and some have rubber bits sticking out all over. The fact is that some device

Accessories

Holsters, screen protectors, tethers, belts etc are all things that make a device Rugged as if properly used they help keep your devices running. If you’re up ladders then a spring loaded tether (or even a bit of string!) might be all you need. Also look a t how rugged the accessories are. Some people balk at a vehicle charger costing £30 but they are usually rugged, with a rugged connector and built to last.

Last but not least…

Educating your users is also key so make sure you’re open to feedback, adopt new ways of working, commit to your business solution and view the device as helping you towards your business goals, not the aesthetic whims of your users who would all use iPhones if they had their way! If you have issues then be open and ask for help from your reseller because we certainly know how to keep all the rugged PDA’s we’ve sold running, along with your business.

Tomorrow i’m looking into the Support element of a Rugged Device and why this is becoming more and more critical in deploying a “Rugged” solution.

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Tags: Rugged PDA, Rugged PDA Design, ruggedness
Categories : Opinion, Top Tips

The Rugged PDA Drop Spec – The Ruggedness Series 2/6

10 11 2010

So the hunt for Rugged PDA Ruggedness goes on! In my last post we looked at IP ratings, in this post we try to undercover the truth behind drop specs as well as explaining what all these funny little MIL-STD standards all mean.

The drop test

Some drop tests are more equal than others!

Many thanks to M3 Mobile and iPhyone4um for the vid sharing!

The Drop Specification Process

In a nutshell you’re looking for a drop spec on the spec sheet and these tend to range from 1.2 to 1.8m. The official rating is performed in the first test you see in the video above but there are various other tests outlined below.

What does the height mean?

Firstly it doesn’t necessarily mean that the rugged pda is “guarenteed” to work after being dropped from the given height, I think it is more of a relative measure of the shock protection being offered, especially where there is no MIL-STD standard present (We’ll come on to that in a moment). It’s best used as a relative form of comparison rather than on its own but there are a few things you should know when comparing! Firstly beware anything less than 1.5m as this height is a bit meaningless. My opinion is that 1.5m is the minimum needed for a rugged device and 1.2m is not really telling you much at all in my view as you would expect your mobile phone to work if dropped form your hip wouldn’t you?

What’s it dropped on to?

Not all drop tests are equal! Whilst most manufacturers drop onto concrete and usually state that, you will find all sorts of flooring used for tests. Now there is a debate about this because often you will find that the device is dropped on to the flooring that it is most likely be used on. Socket for example drop onto “vinyl covered concrete” and low and behold you see their rugged PDA’s all over hopsitals! Some drop on to “Steel”. Is this a better or worse test than onto concrete? The answer is that we don’t truly know because whilst concrete is obvisouly harder, steel will incur a bounce and thus more hits on the device.

How many times is it dropped?

Again this is important in terms of knowing how extensive the manufacturer tests have been, however it doesn’t necessarily mean that a device tested 26 times to MIL-STDF-503.4 will not break on drop 21 or will definitely break on drop 27! I think its important to see the committment shown by the tests but its more important not to get too hung up on these tests and to focus on how relevant they really are to your working environment.

The tumble test

This is a variant of the drop test and is where the rugged pda is “Tumbled” from a lower height, usually about 1.5 to 2 feet but more times. It is supposed to mirror every day dropping of devices from pockets, desk or cradles where you would not expect the instant shock to damage the device but the long term dropping to be a factor.

Again there’s not much I can add here and everyone does this differently so its hard to judge. Use this as a relative comparison to your search for a rugged PDA!

What is a MIL standard and is it useful or not?

So The MIL standard is actually an attempt to create some standard testing certification to the Rugged PDA world. However despite the test not being really devised for the Rugged PDA, it does have some good stuff in it. It also doesn’t just cover drop or shock testing but a whole plethora of tests including salt, rain, shock, temperature, fungus, fog, pressure and the list goes on.

What do I think about MIL-STD Tests? Well to be truthful at first glance you see some manufacturers adopting it fully and making their devices look great on paper. This is especially useful for the top end rugged devices that are selling on the “Rugged” USP. I would say Geta, Trimble and those types of manufacturers are where this stuff is really relevant and useful. However for the rest, you need to scratch the surface of this because there are so many tests with the MIL-STD that you often see irregularities in the spec sheets and they still don’t mean that a device is more rugged than one without any MIL-STD testing.

Because it’s not an industry-wide adopted certification some adopt it and some don’t and I would have to say you tend to see the established Western brands throwing money… I mean adopting them whilst the Eastern and emerging brands focus on innovation of their devices.

I think it’s commendable to see a MIL standard in the spec sheet but in my experience it doesn’t mean anything until everyone is made to use them, and a great example of that is the MM3 in the Video above. It doesn’t have a MIL-STD but you won’t find a video anywhere from Motorola or Intermec drop testing their devices from that height! Let me know if you rise to the challenge!!

So I hope to have uncovered the areas to look for in a drop test and although this sounds like a plug, I will leave you with the advice that you need to talk to a decent rugged Reseller who can help you through this because, as I hope to have demostrated here, there’s a lot more than just the spec sheet tells you!

Next we’re looking at how the overall design of a Rugged PDA can make all the difference.

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Tags: Drop Spec, Drop test, MIL-STD, Rugged PDA Drop Spec, ruggedness
Categories : Opinion, Top Tips

The Ruggedness of IP Ratings – Ruggedness Week Part 1/6

9 11 2010

IP Ratings - Dust and Waterproofness

So the ruggedized PDA is tough, we know but as part of Ruggedness Week here at Rugged and Mobile, we ‘re going to start our inside look at ruggedness with what IP Ratings are all about.

I’ve blogged before about IP Ratings but this time we’re going to really emphasise where you can go wrong with them, especially when using them for Ruggedised PDA’s and i’ve thrown in the most common questions we get asked below.

IP Confusion

With the increasing demand in the semi-rugged market people have genuinely become confused about IP ratings. 3 years ago a Ruggedized PDA was just “rugged” IP54 usually, some IP65 and we’ve always had the more specialist IP67/68 stuff but you knew where you stood. IP 42, IP43, what are these all about? Well you’re about to find out!

Lets have a look at the IP tables again below:

Dust as big as arms!

The first area we see customers coming unstuck is in the levels I have crossed out. You see IP ratings were really invented originally to assess how dangerous plant machinery was and if you look carefully at the the first table you’ll see the first 3 levels really don’t apply to Rugged PDA’s. Whether you can get your fingers or arms in a rugged PDA simply doesn’t make sense!

Dust tight V’s Dust proof

The second area is in the IP5x and IP6x area. Some manufacturers will tell you that their IP54 device is as dust proof as others rated at IP65 but thats simply not the whole truth. IP5X is what we call dust proof, it doesn’t mean that dust can’t enter the device, it can, but a Ruggedized PDA can still be IP5x or “dust proof” if that dust doesn’t alter the ability to use it in any way. IP6X is dust tight which means dust will not enter the device. We’ll discuss where you need IP65 in a later post in this series.

Its not waterproof!

Likewise the second digit in the IP rating is about how water proof a rugged PDA is. Now lets get this out of the way right now. until you get to IP67 or 68 the device is not watertight. This means you can’t submerse the rugged PDA in a bucket of water and anything below 1M is a big no-no. OK, so I’ve seen IP65 devices get dropped in water fairly regularly with no issue but on paper thats above what it should be being asked to deal with. If you drop an IP67 device in a swimming pool it will probably leak.

When can I wash the device?

Many devices get dusty, muddy and dirty and we get asked what rating do we need for that. Again the answer is definitely IP54 or above as this is where you can start to “spray” the device. IP42 for instance would not be recommnded if you ever wanted to wash the rugged PDA’s you have down at any stage and I see IP65 being fine with a hose pipe. IP54 is fine under a normal domestic water tap or shower.

Why bother with IP67 or IP68?

For most applications these are overkill on the waterproofness you need. However it’s not just about dropping them in buckets of water. If you;re working in a tropical environment, well I have seen IP65 struggle there, IP67 is water you need and don’t forget that whislt IP68 is OK above below 1M its down to the manufacturer to specify by exactly how far.

The lowdown on IP

IP54 is the minimum you need for a ruggedized PDA to be water and dust proof but these days we’re seeing a definite trend towards IP65. I personally feel that if you’re pondering about IP54 or IP65 then you need to look into what you are going to use the devices for and thats for a later post but the moral of the story here is to not go for anything under IP54 unless Ruggedness is not at the forefront of your needs. Lastly remember that if you want a watertight device then IP67 or above is needed.

Next we take an inside look at the Drop Spec.

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Tags: ruggedized, ruggedized PDA, ruggedness
Categories : Opinion, Top Tips

Rugged PDA Week – What makes a rugged mobile PDA rugged?

9 11 2010

So we know that Rugged PDA’s are rugged but do we really know everything that we need to about whether a rugged mobile PDA is rugged or not?

Rugged PDA Support

For instance IP42 is not rugged, not rugged at all unyet we’ve had an influx of customers here recentlyall telling us it is…the cheek of it!! Maybe something to do with how the Motorola ES400 is being mis-sold by all those little mobile phone companies maybe? Cheers for doing that BTW Motorola, big up on looking after your rugged partners…….I let my mind wander….

So I thought this week we’d take a look at all the main facets of what makes a Rugged PDA actually rugged as there is a lot more than meets the eye.

I’ll do this in 6 parts with a brief overview here and i’ll put links in as I go along:

Part 1 – IP Ratings

Yes Dust and waterpoofness are certainly a measure of ruggedness but there’s more that meets the eye here. I’ll uncover what IP ratings really mean.

Part 2 – Drop Specs

The most important element of a ruigged device in my view is the drop spec or how “Droppable” it is. Again there are a lot of tricks of the trade here and i’ll talk you through the minefield.

Part 3 – Device Design

This is more of a common sense look at how a Rugged PDA’s design can either make or break any of its ruggedness.

Part 4 – Environment and your solution

Here we take a look at how getting the right typoe of rugged device for you solution is key. Its not a case of getting the most rugged odevice, but there are a lot of other elements that can determine success or failure of your rugged Mobile platform.

Part 5 – Support

What happens when it all goes wrong. Even the most rugged devices are probably not going to survive a forklift driving over them and they do fail from time to time. We explore warranty, support products and why a decent rugged PDA reseller is essential in keeping your business running when your rugged device fails.

Part 6 – What does IP42 really mean!?

We end with a tongue in cheek look at what IP42 really means and why a lot of …Ahem…rugged devices…cough, ES400….cough… are not rugged, being sold by people who don’t know anything about them and will cost you dear in the end.

I’ll get on top of part 1 today!!

Regards