What is a portable terminal and what is it used for?
A barcode terminal is a valuable asset for managing your inventories, receiving products, transporting goods, and/or order preparation. It will be your ally in efficiently collecting information about your stocks or mobile inventory. These are rugged professional smartphones offering advanced data collection and real-time wireless communication functions for mobile applications ranging from delivery and commercial or technical route management to customer support or retail sales.
Unlike barcode readers, terminals are wireless, have a screen, and generally have a Windows or Android operating system. It is possible to have an RFID reader upon request, which is made possible by adding a cradle.
Data collection is easier with these barcode readers. Indeed, they have large memory capacity, allowing information to be dumped afterwards or sent directly via Bluetooth (subject to distance from the base).
What is the difference between a portable terminal and a smartphone?
The difference between a portable terminal and a smartphone mainly lies in their specific functionalities and designs. Both can read codes, but the PDA is more flexible than a smartphone.
A portable terminal is a specialized device designed for specific tasks, such as data collection, inventory management, barcode scanning, or inventory management. They are generally equipped with robust features and advanced functionalities suitable for professional environments.
On the other hand, a smartphone is a versatile device designed to meet a multitude of needs, such as phone calls, messaging, internet browsing, social media, entertainment applications, etc. Smartphones are often more oriented towards personal use and are generally used in everyday life.
While smartphones can perform some of the tasks carried out by portable terminals, the latter offer more specialized features, increased durability, better battery life, and greater resistance to challenging work conditions.
In summary, portable terminals are professional devices specifically designed for specific tasks, while smartphones are versatile devices intended for more general personal and professional use.
Our range of standalone mobile terminals, from the most practical to the most comprehensive
There are two types of portable terminals:
- simple and practical portable terminals for quick and smooth use, such as the PX20 or the OPN 2001 or even the mini USB key
- barcode readers as powerful as a handheld computer, such as the H28, the OPH 1005
These Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) are highly resistant smartphones that can store a large amount of data. They connect directly to your PC or Mac via a USB cable or networks, saving you considerable time during your identification and classification operations. Thanks to their battery autonomy of several hours, you can record your data whenever you want.
These Bluetooth barcode terminals are robust and sturdy, resistant to moisture, dust, and most of them can withstand drops from up to 2 m high. Each presented portable terminal comes complete with its base or charging cable and wrist strap.
Here is a comparative table of our various portable terminals:
Terminal | Dock/Cable | Battery Life | Weight | Size | Speed | Scanner Head | Reading Distance |
OPN 2001 terminal | USB cable included, optional dock | 12 hours | 29g | 32x62x16 mm | 100 scan/s | Laser 1D Imager 2D | 20 cm |
PX-20 | USB cable and wrist strap included | 35 hours | 40g | 34x71x15mm | 100 scan/s | 1D Laser | 20 cm |
OPL 9815 | Dock and cable included | 50 hours | 115g | 44x140x22mm | 100 scan/s | 1D-2D Imager | 3 to 30 cm |
OPH 3001 | USB cable included, optional dock | 40 hours | 156g | 58.2x180.8x23.8mm | 100 scan/s | 1D-2D Imager | 20 cm |
EDA51K | USB cable included, optional dock | 12 hours | 300g | 164x73x24.5mm | 104 scan/s | 1D-2D Imager | 5 to 33 cm |
OPH 1005 | Dock and cable included | 40 hours | 140g | 55x136x23mm | 100 scan/s | 1D Laser | 12 cm |
H28 | USB cable included, optional dock | 8 hours | 308g | 77x147x19mm | 100 scan/s | 1D-2D Imager | 30 cm |
H29 | USB cable included, optional dock | 8 hours | 297g | 71.8x175x19.5mm | 100 scan/s | 1D-2D Imager | 26 cm |
H31/H33 | USB cable included, optional dock | 8 hours | 319g | 79 x 158 x 20.9mm | 100 scan/s | 1D-2D Imager | 26 cm |
USB Mini Barcode Scanner | (Bluetooth or wired) - USB cable and wrist strap | 8 hours | 150g | 42x18x13mm | 240 scan/sec | 1D CCD | 6 cm |
How to choose the right mobile terminal for barcode scanning?
There are certain questions to ask before choosing an embedded terminal and its features:
- In what work environment will the barcode scanners be used? (factory, mobile work, store, etc.)
- What is the desired user interface: with or without a screen; numeric or alphanumeric keyboard; wireless or wired?
- How will the data capture be transmitted? (wired, Wi-Fi, WLAN, Bluetooth, etc.)
- What type of barcode should it be able to read (1D or 2D) and at what distance?
- Which operating system is most suitable for your company (Android, Windows CE, or Mobile PDA)?
These questions are essential for us to advise you on the right product that meets your needs.
The different types of connections for your connected PDA
Terminals and PDAs offer a variety of connection methods to communicate with other devices (printers, cash registers, etc.) and networks. Here are the main connections:
- Wifi: Terminals connect to wireless networks and access the internet.
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth connectivity allows handheld computers and PDAs to wirelessly connect to other Bluetooth devices such as printers, barcode scanners, or computers.
- 4G/5G: Mobile terminals can be equipped with 4G/5G connections to access the internet and communicate with other devices or mobile networks.
- USB: Terminals and PDAs can be equipped with USB ports to allow connection to computers or other USB devices such as printers.
Consider carefully the usefulness you want for your PDA so that it meets all your needs.