Wireless data communications by radio frequency usually requires four key pieces of hardware:

• A host computer - the system component that runs the application program and maintains the database.
• A network controller - hardware that acts as a gateway for communications between the host computer and other components of the RF System. Depending on the host, a network controller is not always needed.
• Base station - a radio transceiver unit that passes communications between the network controller and the Radio Frequency Data Communication terminals.
• Radio Frequency Data Communication terminals - hand-held or vehicle-mounted units that send and receive messages by radio frequency. Data entry prompt and/or responses and instructions from the host are displayed on the screen of the unit.