A handheld field maintenance system comprising: a handheld field maintenance tool having a keypad, a display, and a plurality of lead terminals (112,114); and a wireless process communication adapter having: a plurality of plugs (120,122) coupled to respective lead terminals of the handheld field maintenance tool; a loop communication module operably coupled to the plurality of plugs, the loop communication module being configured to communicate digitally in accordance with a process loop communication standard protocol; a controller coupled to the loop communication module, the controller configured to transform at least one message received from the loop communication module to at least one corresponding wireless protocol packet; a wireless communication module coupled to the controller and configured to receive the at least one corresponding wireless protocol packet and generate a wireless signal based upon the at least one wireless protocol packet; and a pair of test lead terminals (130, 132) coupled to the plugs (120, 122) such that when the adapter is deployed upon the handheld field maintenance tool, wired test leads can still be inserted into terminals (130, 132). a handheld field maintenance tool having a keypad, a display, and a plurality of lead terminals (112,114); and a wireless process communication adapter having: a plurality of plugs (120,122) coupled to respective lead terminals of the handheld field maintenance tool; a loop communication module operably coupled to the plurality of plugs, the loop communication module being configured to communicate digitally in accordance with a process loop communication standard protocol; a controller coupled to the loop communication module, the controller configured to transform at least one message received from the loop communication module to at least one corresponding wireless protocol packet; a wireless communication module coupled to the controller and configured to receive the at least one corresponding wireless protocol packet and generate a wireless signal based upon the at least one wireless protocol packet; and a pair of test lead terminals (130, 132) coupled to the plugs (120, 122) such that when the adapter is deployed upon the handheld field maintenance tool, wired test leads can still be inserted into terminals (130, 132). a plurality of plugs (120,122) coupled to respective lead terminals of the handheld field maintenance tool; a loop communication module operably coupled to the plurality of plugs, the loop communication module being configured to communicate digitally in accordance with a process loop communication standard protocol; a controller coupled to the loop communication module, the controller configured to transform at least one message received from the loop communication module to at least one corresponding wireless protocol packet; a wireless communication module coupled to the controller and configured to receive the at least one corresponding wireless protocol packet and generate a wireless signal based upon the at least one wireless protocol packet; and a pair of test lead terminals (130, 132) coupled to the plugs (120, 122) such that when the adapter is deployed upon the handheld field maintenance tool, wired test leads can still be inserted into terminals (130, 132).