Wireless POS
Frequently Asked Questions

Like many other wireless applications, several factors must be considered when implementing handheld POS terminal technology. The following FAQ's are provided as guidelines for successful wireless handheld implementation.

>>  Should I have a geographical site survey performed?
 >>  How does the handheld communicate with the network?
 >>  What kind of antenna do I need?
 >>  What software do I need?
 >>  Does Abacus recommend a particular model of handheld terminal?
 >>  What about batteries and chargers?
 >>  Can I accept credit cards?


 Q. Should I have a geographical site survey performed?
 A. Absolutely. Abacus strongly recommends a geographical site survey on wireless systems for several reasons. Wireless communication is line-of-sight, meaning significant obstructions (e.g., walls, metal doors) reduce or terminate performance. In instances in which several locations must be covered (multiple banquet rooms, for example), an access point may be required for each. Also, the maximum effective range is 1100 feet, so physical distance of service is important. Finally, the physical layout of the required coverage area (long hallways as opposed to large rooms) is critical, since the reception areas may be different from one part of the restaurant to another.

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Q. How does the handheld communicate with the network?
 A. An industry standard 802.11B Access Point connects to the network hub through a standard Category 5 cable. There is no limitation on the number of access points, but each requires a port on the hub. The antenna for the wireless handheld terminals connects to the access port. An access point can accept signal from 128 devices; however, depending on the layout, more than one access point may be required because a single antenna may not provide complete coverage of the environment or adequate processing speed.

        WSN00A      Access Point 802.11B
        WSN00C      Access Point Power Supply
        1C0003         Power Supply Cable

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Q. What kind of antenna do I need?
 A. It depends entirely on the layout of the restaurant. Omnidirectional antennas accept signals in all directions to a central location*. These are useful in applications in which a wide reception area must be covered, such as a bar. Dipole antennas accept signals in a straight line, usually within an angle* of roughly 90°. These are useful for specific coverage applications, a banquet room, for example. Currently, Abacus stocks only the dipole antenna for quotation purposes; however, omnidirectional antennas are also available.

 *with limited unobstructed distances.

        WSN00B      Access Dipole Antenna

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Q. What software do I need?
 A. Each handheld terminal requires an Aloha interface license, ordered through Aloha. The key code must be added to the TableService or QuickService keycode on the BOH server. The software required for the handheld terminal operation is preinstalled on the device and need not be ordered separately. EDC licenses for processing credit cards are also bundled automatically.

        SITSAH      Aloha Interface Ameranth Handheld

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Q. Does Abacus recommend a particular model of handheld terminal?
 A. Abacus recommends the Pocket PC: it is durable, lightweight, and affordable.

        WSN003      Pocket PC Wireless Color

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Q. What about batteries and chargers?
 A. Reliable power is a critical consideration in all wireless applications, and handheld terminals are no exception. The greatest consumer of power in the handheld terminal is the screen backlight. At the normal screen setting the battery should last approximately five to eight hours. However, in bright or low light environments in which the screen setting must be pushed to an extreme, battery life may fall to four hours. Peripherals, such as belt printers, also draw significant power, so their use will reduce battery life too. However, the batteries do not form a "memory" so recharging them often does not reduce power performance or battery life. Also, recharging batteries takes less time than draining them.

A number of options are available, depending on the particular requirements. However, Abacus stocks the following common solutions that fit most needs.

The Pocket PC Charger and Cable allows a single handheld terminal to recharge. The cable is an Ethernet serial data cable that allows the uploading of software through the network to the handheld terminal from the server. This is solely for the purposes of upgrading the actual handheld (drivers, etc.) and has no functionality in the POS application as the handheld terminals communicate through the wireless access point.

The 2 Slot Charger and Cable allows the handheld terminal with battery to charge at the same time as a spare battery. It includes an Ethernet serial data cable.

The 4 Slot Charger allows up to four batteries to charge at the same time. Each battery requires an adapter. The charger does not accept the handheld and does not include an Ethernet serial data cable.

        WSN004      Pocket PC Charger and Cable
        WSN006      Pocket PC Extra Battery
        WSN007      2 Slot Charger and Cable
        WSN008      4 Slot Battery Charger (requires one WSN009 for each battery)
        WSN009      Battery Charger Adapter

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Q. Can I accept credit cards?
 A. While EDC software is bundled with the handheld terminal, a magnetic card reader must be added to process credit cards.

        WSN005      Pocket PC Mag Card Reader

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