Which device is typically used by officers in the field to receive dispatch information and communicate with the center, often with limited processing?

Which device is typically used by officers in the field to receive dispatch information and communicate with the center, often with limited processing?

• A. Mobile data computer
• B. Radio handset
• C. Mobile data terminal
• D. Personal digital assistant

Answer: (C)

The device designed for the field to receive dispatch information and communicate with the center, with just enough processing to handle messages, is the mobile data terminal. It sits in the patrol vehicle and acts as the data link to the dispatcher, presenting assignments, status, and other relevant data, while allowing two-way data communication back to the center. A radio handset is mainly for voice communication, not the structured data messages used in dispatch. A mobile data computer implies a more powerful in-car computer with broader capabilities, whereas the terminal is intentionally streamlined for quick data messaging and status updates. A personal digital assistant is a handheld general-purpose device, not the standard interface for in-car dispatch messaging. So the mobile data terminal best fits the role of receiving dispatch information and communicating with the center with limited processing.

The device designed for the field to receive dispatch information and communicate with the center, with just enough processing to handle messages, is the mobile data terminal. It sits in the patrol vehicle and acts as the data link to the dispatcher, presenting assignments, status, and other relevant data, while allowing two-way data communication back to the center. A radio handset is mainly for voice communication, not the structured data messages used in dispatch. A mobile data computer implies a more powerful in-car computer with broader capabilities, whereas the terminal is intentionally streamlined for quick data messaging and status updates. A personal digital assistant is a handheld general-purpose device, not the standard interface for in-car dispatch messaging. So the mobile data terminal best fits the role of receiving dispatch information and communicating with the center with limited processing.