The PDA (Personal Data Assistant) has become the indispensable ubiquitous enterprise tool for many organizations and IT departments. In today’s digital connected world you will find a PDA in the hands of professionals from all industries from state and private survey crews, law enforcement, extreme adventure tours, medical professionals and any other industry that needs fast and accurate data at the tip of their employees fingers.

While the proliferation of mobile technology and devices has increased with the use of cell phones, MP3 players, two way radios, etc. the cost has been shrinking for those devices with one exception; the PDA. In fact many PDA’s have become more expensive as more and more add on features have been included like WiFi, Bluetooth, biometric security, etc.

This poses a problem for a company that needs to provide their employees with a connected mobile device for use in the office or the field. The same holds true for industrial professionals who potentially are exposed to rugged and dangerous environments. Replacing a $600 to $800 PDA every time it gets dropped into the mud, caught in a downpour, or bounced off of the hood of a utility truck can become financially draining for even a large company with deep pockets. There are cheaper PDA’s but many lack the options the business or professional customer needs. One solution is to get a ruggedized PDA case. There are a few cases that can help protect a PDA in an outdoor or industrial scenario but they tend to be bulky and can make using the PDA difficult. In some cases they just don’t provide the protection needed. That may be OK for the occasional use in those environments, however for sustained use the only real solution is a ruggedized PDA.

We had the opportunity to take a look at such a device from a company that has 15 years of field data collection experience. The company is Tripod Data Systems out of Corvallis Oregon. TDS designs and manufactures rugged mobile computing devices based on the Windows CE operating system. These tough handheld computers are designed for extreme outdoor and industrial environments in the land surveying, mapping, forestry, utility, machine control, public safety and military markets.

The unit they sent us was the TDS Recon. The Recon is such a rugged device featuring the latest Windows Mobile 2003 OS, fast processor, and plenty of expansion options. Weighing in at only 17 ounces this waterproof device exceeds military specifications for drop, vibration and both high and low temperature operation.

Looking at the standard features a few of the specifications stand out. The unit comes with 64 Megs of ram and while that in it self may not be impressive the 128 Megs of non volatile flash storage is. With that much onboard storage right out of the box you have many expansion options and using up a precious expansion slot for extra storage is no longer an problem. The waterproof design is especially nice, TDS claims their device will handle 1 meter of water depth for 30 minutes. However they are streaming a video of the unit submersed in a fish tank at their corporate office with the time and date visible. Here is the link: http://www.tdsway.com/fishcampage . The battery life on the unit is impressive to say the least. They have included a 3800 mAh NiMH rechargeable battery pack providing up to 15 hours of continuous heavy use. We tried to test that using SPB Benchmark but ended up not getting it to work correctly, I can say that I ran it for many days with out charging the unit so I have no doubt of the 15 hour claim, it may even be a conservative estimate as after a week of the unit sitting around after the review it still powered on with plenty of juice to spare.

The specs say the Recon has a Sunlight-readable color TFT display; however in our testing I found the display to be sub par and not nearly as bright as I felt it should be. They include a pack of rubbery screen protectors and that may have contributed to some of the diminished brightness. I would recommend not using the included screen protectors and opting for a Write Shield from Pocket PC Techs or a screen protector from Boxwave. I prefer a smooth surface with a satinesque finish to provide firm tactile feedback from the stylus as it move across the PDA screens surface. The included screen protector is rubbery and the stylus drags like its moving across an eel’s skin; don’t ask how I know that.

Before I continue let's look at the specs:

  
  

    

      
Standard Features
      
 
    
    

      
 
      
Windows Mobile 2003 software for Pocket 
      PCs
    
    

      
 
      
200 MHz or 400MHz Intel XScale Processor
    
    

      
 
      
64 MB high-speed SDRAM
    
    

      
 
      
64 MB or 128 MB nonvolatile Flash 
      storage
    
    

      
 
      
Sunlight-readable color TFT display
    
    

      
 
      
Rugged waterproof design
    
    

      
 
      
Over 15 hours of continuous 
      room-temperature operation with default settings
    
    

      
Standard Software
      
 
    
    

      
 
      
Pocket Word
    
    

      
 
      
Pocket Excel
    
    

      
 
      
Pocket Outlook
    
    

      
 
      
Calendar
    
    

      
 
      
Contacts
    
    

      
 
      
Tasks
    
    

      
 
      
Notes
    
    

      
 
      
Calculator
    
    

      
 
      
Desktop version of Outlook
    
    

      
 
      
Windows Media Player
    
    

      
 
      
Microsoft Reader
    
    

      
 
      
ActiveSync 3.7
    
    

      
 
      
Online Help
    
    

      
Standard Accessories
      
 
    
    

      
 
      
Rechargeable PowerBoot Module
    
    

      
 
      
Standard CF-Cap
    
    

      
 
      
AC charger
    
    

      
 
      
USB data cable
    
    

      
 
      
User's Guide
    
    

      
 
      
CD-ROM
    
    

      
 
      
Hand strap
    
    

      
 
      
Two stylus pens
    
    

      
Optional Accessories
      
 
    
    

      
 
      
Carry case
    
    

      
 
      
Deluxe case with belt clip and neck 
      strap
    
    

      
 
      
Stylus lanyard
    
    

      
 
      
Serial interface cable
    
    

      
Physical
      
 
    
    

      
Size
      
6.50" (16.5 cm) x 3.75" (9.5 cm) x 1.75" 
      (4.5 cm)
    
    

      
Weight
      
17 ounces (490 g) including rechargeable 
      PowerBoot
    
    

      
Environment
      
 
    
    

      
Operating Temperature
      
-22 to 140°F (-30 to 60°C)
    
    

      
Humidity
      
MIL-STD-810F, Method 507.4
    
    

      
Sand & Dust
      
IP67, MIL-STD-810F, Method 510.4, 
      Procedures I and II
    
    

      
Water
      
IP67, sealed against accidental 
      immersion (1m for 30 minutes)

      MIL-STD-810F, Method 512.4, Procedure I
    
    

      
Drop
      
MIL-STD-810F, Method 516.5, Procedure IV

      26 drops from 4 ft (1.22 m) onto plywood over concrete

      6 additional drops at -4°F (-20°C)

      6 additional drops at 140°F (60°C)
    
    

      
Vibration
      
MIL-STD-810F, Method 514.5, Procedure I, 
      Figures 17 and 18
    
    

      
Altitude
      
MIL-STD-810F, Method 500.4, Procedures 
      I, II and III

      15,000 ft at 73°F (23°C)
    
    

      
Electrical
      
 
    
    

      
Processor
      
Intel XScale CPU

      @ 200 MHz (Recon 200)

      @ 400 MHz (Recon 400)
    
    

      
Memory
      
64 MB high-speed SDRAM

      ~ 6 MB reserved
    
    

      
Storage
      
Onboard nonvolatile NAND flash

      64 MB (Recon 200)

      128 MB (Recon 400)

      ~ 16 MB reserved
    
    

      

      
Expansion
      

      
1x Type I and 1x Type II 
      Compact Flash slots
    
    

      

      
Display
      

      
240 x 320 pixel (¼ VGA) 
      color TFT with LED front light
    
    

      

      
Batteries
      

      
3800 mAh NiMH rechargeable 
      pack
    
    

      
Input/Output
      
 
    
    

      

      
Ports
      

      
Standard 9-pin male 
      D-shell RS-232 serial and USB ports
    
  
  

Let's continue...

The usual software suspects are included as the unit runs Windows Mobile 2003. The Recon we tested came with a 400 MHz XScale processor from Intel. The real bonus is the unit comes equipped with two CF (Compact Flash) slots, yes I said two. One type 1 and one type II compact flash slots. However I was disappointed that an SD slot was not included in the line up of options as it would not have taken up much additional room. Of course with the extra CF slot you could just use a CF to SD adapter. This brings me to another sticking point I have, with all the expansion capability with the two CF slots, extra RAM and the obvious demographic for outdoor mobile use they did not integrate a Bluetooth or WiFi radio into the device. You could argue that the extra CF slot could be used for that, however since the Recon is designed for mobile professional use in a rugged environment I think a built wireless connection is a must.

Let’s move on the some system benchmarks. We used SPB Benchmark from Spb Software House.

  

    
 
    
HP iPAQ 2215 (2003, 400Mhz)
    
T-Mobile MDA 2 (2003, 400MHz)
    
TDS Recon (2003, 400Mhz PXA255 A0)
  
  

    

    Spb Benchmark index
    
1146
    
1324
    
1276
  
  

    

    CPU index
    
1784
    
1816
    
1552
  
  

    

    File 
    system index
    
1126
    
1029
    
1005
  
  

    

    Graphics 
    index
    
567
    
1179
    
1501
  
  

    

    
    ActiveSync index
    
2155
    
1152
    
2531
  
  

    

    Platform 
    index
    
1204
    
1033
    
1173
  
  

    

    Write 1 
    MB file (KB/sec)
    
1257
    
1194
    
1226
  
  

    

    Read 1 MB 
    file (MB/sec)
    
27
    
25.8
    
21.6
  
  

    

    Copy 1 MB 
    file (KB/sec)
    
1262
    
1179
    
1222
  
  

    

    Write 10 
    KB x 100 files (KB/sec)
    
905
    
816
    
916
  
  

    

    Read 10 
    KB x 100 files (MB/sec)
    
9.78
    
8.35
    
8.26
  
  

    

    Copy 10 
    KB x 100 files (KB/sec)
    
799
    
713
    
779
  
  

    

    Directory 
    list of 2000 files (thousands of files/sec)
    
19.6
    
17.9
    
17.2
  
  

    

    Internal database 
    read (records/sec)
    
1339
    
1354
    
1362
  
  

    

    Graphics test: DDB 
    BitBlt (frames/sec)
    
52.3
    
120
    
105
  
  

    

    Graphics test: DIB 
    BitBlt (frames/sec)
    
22.8
    
23
    
23.9
  
  

    

    Graphics test: 
    GAPI BitBlt (frames/sec)
    
60
    
134
    
191
  
  

    

    Pocket Word 
    document open (KB/sec)
    
100
    
37.8
    
104
  
  

    

    Pocket 
    Internet Explorer HTML load (KB/sec)
    
7.96
    
7.54
    
6.53
  
  

    

    Pocket 
    Internet Explorer JPEG load (KB/sec)
    
208
    
237
    
142
  
  

    

    File Explorer 
    large folder list (files/sec)
    
564
    
324
    
486
  
  

    

    Compress 1 MB 
    file using ZIP (KB/sec)
    
225
    
239
    
213
  
  

    

    Decompress 
    1024x768 JPEG file (KB/sec)
    
606
    
598
    
593
  
  

    

    Arkaball 
    frames per second (frames/sec)
    
51.4
    
98.4
    
116
  
  

    

    CPU test: 
    Whetstones MFLOPS (Mop/sec)
    
0.077
    
0.076
    
0.077
  
  

    

    CPU test: 
    Whetstones MOPS (Mop/sec)
    
55.4
    
55
    
55.5
  
  

    

    CPU test: 
    Whetstones MWIPS (Mop/sec)
    
5.02
    
4.97
    
5.03
  
  

    

    Memory test: 
    copy 1 MB using memcpy (MB/sec)
    
102
    
105
    
71.8
  
  

    

    ActiveSync: 
    upload 1 MB file (KB/sec)
    
201
    
110
    
246
  
  

    

    ActiveSync: 
    download 1 MB file (KB/sec)
    
356
    
177
    
364
  

While the Recon bests the iPAQ 2200 in over all aggregate score but is hobbled
by its slow read/write performance.



Here the Recon loses some ground but can still make up for it in the next slide.



Here we see the Recon soundly trash the competition for Active Sync scores. this
makes sense as a remote or field tech you want to synchronize your collected
data as quickly as possible. TDS has been in the data collection business for a
long time and apparently they know the value of fast data synchronization.



Here we see the Recon suffering from a slightly slower file system . this score
contributed heavily in the over system score we saw earlier.



Here is another example of why the Recon is a true champ for the mobile
professional. It walks all over the competition in graphics scores and
considering the XDA II is a real graphics monster that's saying a lot. In the GIS
and Survey fields you need a unit that will render graphics on par with a
laptop.



One design innovation I really liked was the standard USB port on the bottom of the unit. No funky proprietary cables, just a standard USB A to B cable, what could be simpler than that? OK, I had to ask, how about adding an old school 9 pin serial port. You got it! This really makes sense as most industrial, medical, networking equipment and other data devices still use 9 pin serial ports so connecting them up to the Recon just got easy; and again no proprietary cables to loose and re-buy.

I must admit we tossed this thing around, dropped it, submerged it and even took it to a Puget Sound Handheld Users Group meeting the local Handheld/Pocket PC club here in Seattle and let them abuse it for a couple of hours. This device really can take some serious punishment. All if this performance and durability does come at a price. For the unit we tested with the 400 MHz XScale and 128 Megs of Flash storage it prices out at $1,799 while its trimmed down brother is only a mere $1,499 weighing in with a 200 MHz XScale and 64 megs of Flash storage. The upshot to that price tag is that you should only have to buy one unit and not go through the agony of replacing a consumer grade unit every few months.

It looks like Tripod Data Systems has set the bar for rugged handheld devices with the Recon. The Recon provides ample performance, storage, expandability, durability all in a comfortable easy to use design that should interoperate well with most systems.

Pros:
Comfortable design
Great performance
Innovative connection and expansion options
Long battery life
Long battery life – yeah it was worth saying twice
Unsurpassed Durability

Cons:
Screen brightness sub par
No integrated wireless
Included screen protectors

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Bill Landon
-Senior Editor

Recon Units
Recon 400 Pocket PC - Gray
Recon 400 Pocket PC - Yellow
Recon 200 Pocket PC - Gray
Recon 200 Pocket PC - Yellow

Recon Accessories
Recon GPS Range Pole Bracket
Recon Rechargeable PowerBoot Module

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