The DT362GL, introduced by DT Research in August 2020, is a 6-inch rugged handheld that runs full Windows 10. It was designed primarily for two-factor authentication and long range asset verification. At a time where CACs (Common Access Cards) are standard issue ID for military personnel, civilian and state employees as well contractor personnel, a small handheld Windows device with a built-in CAC reader addresses very real needs.
"The number and variety of physical and digital assets that government agencies and companies need to keep secure continues to grow," said Daw Tsai, president of DT Research. "We saw a need in the market for a small Windows 10 handheld device that delivers two-factor authentication required by government agencies, along with long range, Ultra High Frequency RFID, which can be used by government agencies, military operations and corporations to authenticate ID badges, validate vehicles entering controlled areas and immediately identify physical assets within busy warehouse/logistics operations."
And so DT Research built such a device, using Windows 10 IoT Enterprise — a full version of Windows 10 with special features that allow the creation of dedicated devices locked down to a specific set of applications and peripherals.
As is, the DT362GL has a 7.6 x 3.7 inch footprint. That's about 50% larger than the biggest iPhone — no surprise as this is a well-protected industrial-strength device with plenty of integrated functionality. That's reflected in the 1.4-pound weight as well; we're talking reliable 24/7 tool for the job here.
What about performance? DT Research didn't make the mistake of going with a basic (and almost invariably underpowered) Intel Atom chip. Instead, they used a "Gemini Lake" Pentium Silver N5000 that runs at a base frequency of 1.1GHz and has a high maximum burst frequency of 2.7GHz. This is a very competent and rather quick quad-core processor that should be plenty fast and more than powerful enough for the intended applications.
The 6-inch capacitive touch screen offers sharp 720 x 1440 pixel (268ppi) resolution and 400 nits luminance, which should be bright enough for most outdoor applications. The tall 2:1 aspect ratio reminds of a modern smartphone, but unlike smartphone, the DT362GL's big 4,200mAh battery is hot-swappable. Depending on the intended application, the DT362GL can be equipped with an integrated 1D/2D barcode scanner, an 8-megapixel rear camera, a uBlox M8 GNSS module, and either an NFC/RFID reader or a UHF RFID reader that can read from up to 30 feet with the available trigger grip (see righthand column).
On the ruggedness side, the DT362GL is as tough as it needs to be for its intended deployments. Ingress protection is at the IP65 level, which means it's fully dust-proof and can handle low-pressure water jets from all directions. The standard operating temperature range is 14 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Shock and vibration testing was performed to MIL-STD-810G procedures.
Overall, with the DT362GL, DT Research offers something unique: a powerful, modern and very versatile handheld that runs full Windows 10. Out of the box the DT362GL is equipped to handle various two-factor authentication jobs with its built-in CAC reader that meets data encryption and digital signature requirements for secure systems and network access. But that's not all; with the barcode scanner, GNSS and UHF RFID options the DT362GL can also make an excellent supply chain and inventory management tool. For customers who like all this but would like to have a bit more screen real estate, Digital Research offers that, too, in the 8-inch DT382GL. Same tech, same OS, but in a compact tablet form factor.-- Conrad Blickenstorfer, Sept. 2020
