says.

Nordic ID's PL3000 Cross Dipole (Click image for further information)

Thanks to its massive, forward-facing antenna, the UHF Gun resembles Nordic ID's PL3000 Cross Dipole (right), a previously released handheld that similarly claims to read RFID tags from a distance. Like that device, Idtronic's handheld includes an integral pistol grip, and a 3.5-inch touchscreen display with QVGA (320 x 240) resolution.

According to Idtronic, the UHF Gun is compatible with ISO 18000-6 RFID tags, including EPC Class1 Gen2, using UHF frequencies from 866MHz to 954MHz. As noted, the company says tags can be read from as far away as two meters (about 6.6 feet), though reading speed and output power weren't specified.

Other wireless capabilities of the UHF Gun are said to include 802.11b/g and Bluetooth, plus optional GSM or WCDMA cellular connectivity. In addition to a numeric keypad, the device has a microphone, speaker, and headset port, making it potentially compatible with VoIP applications. The handheld is also available with a GPS receiver and a 1.3 megapixel fixed-focus camera, according to Idtronic.

Idtronic says the UHF Gun runs either Windows CE 5.0 or Windows Mobile 6.0, via a 520MHz Marvell PXA270 CPU or, optionally, an 820MHz Marvell PXA320. The device has 128MB of RAM and 256MB of flash storage, and also offers a microSD expansion slot and a SIM slot.

To ensure "very high autonomy," the UHF Gun includes dual batteries -- a 3000mAh battery for the computer itself, and a 4400mAh battery for the RFID reader. According to Idtronic, the device is sealed against dust and liquids to the IP54 standard, and survives 1.5-meter drops onto polished concrete.

Features and specifications listed by Idtronic for the UHF Gun include:

• Processor -- Marvell PXA270 clocked at 520MHz, or PXA320 clocked at 820MHz
  
• Memory -- 128MB of RAM and 256MB of flash storage
  
• Display -- 3.5-inch touchscreen with 320 x 240 pixel resolution
  
• Camera -- 1.3 megapixel (optional)
  
• Wireless:
  • WLAN -- 802.11b/g
    
  • PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
    
  • WAN -- GSM or WCDMA cellular modem (optional)
    
  • GPS (optional)
• Scanning capabilities:
  • RFID reader -- reading distance up to two meters (6.6 feet)
    
  • Barcode scanner -- 1D laser scanner or 2D imager (optional)
• Other I/O -- USB 1.1
  
• Battery type/life -- 3000mAh for handheld, 4400mAh for UHF reader; life not stated
  
• Operating range -- -4 to 131 deg. F (-20 to 55 deg. C)
  
• Dimensions -- 5.74 x 4.96 x 2.91 inches (146 x 126 x 74mm)
  
• Weight -- n/s

Further information

Idtronic did not release pricing information for the UHF Gun, but the device appears to be available now. More information may be found on the company's website, here.

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