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Quick Facts about Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)?

RFID Overview

RFID consists of three basic components, each with a wide range of variables, depending on intended use:

  1. The RFID tag composed of an antenna and a chip featuring a unique ID.
  2. An RFID reader that sends a signal to the tag antenna, accessing its unique ID and any other programmed data.
  3. Software that links the tag ID and information to its specific data in a database.

RFID Tags:

RFID tags can be active or passive.

  • Active RFID tags include a battery as well as the antenna and chip. Depending on the battery, active RFID tags usually last between 3-5 years. Active tags offer long read range -- up to 120 feet.
  • Passive RFID tags are powered exclusively by the signal from the RFID reader and will remain readable for decades. These tags are ideal for any assets that need to be located, verified and accessed over time.

RFID Chip:

The chip in the RFID tag has four types of memory:

  • Electronic Product Code (EPC) – A universal identifier that gives a unique identity to a specific physical object. This identity is designed to be unique among all physical objects and all categories of specific objects in the world, for all time.
  • Tag ID – this is the unique serial number written to a RFID-microchip during manufacturing and cannot be altered. This number ensures that re-programming will not alter the identity of the RFID tag.
  • User memory – an optional feature that is available in a range of sizes – usually 512 bits and up to 4 or 8k of memory. It is programmable to create an “asset label” that links the RFID tag EPC to its asset ID within the external asset management software platform.
  • Reserved memory – this bank holds the tag’s “access” and “kill” passwords that can either allow or block any alteration or addition to the tag’s memory.

LF, HF and UHF RFID

What is the difference between Low Frequency (LF), High Frequency (HF) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) RFID?

  • LF RFID has a very short (up to 4 inches) read range, a slower data transmission rate, but can be read from any direction. LF tags are slower to read but transmit data in all directions. LF can are not highly sensitive to interference and can transmit through thin metal substances. LF is generally used for access control and livestock tracking.
  • HF RFID is designed for highly reliable, short range operations (less than three feet) that do not require extremely fast data transfer. HF is more sensitive to interference and are generally directional. An advantage is that HF can transmit in moist environments. HF is generally used for “track and trace” industrial applications, transit tickets and smart cards.
  • UHF RFID offers a read range of up to 40 feet with a very fast data transmission rate. UHF RFID transmission is generally directional and subject to interference from moisture and metallic substances. However, tag design dramatically enhances performance even in challenging environments. Due to its relatively low cost, high performance, and versatility, UHF RFID is the fastest-growing RFID technology that is used in a wide range of industries.

RFID Readers:

RFID readers emit radio waves of specific frequencies that activate the RFID tag antennas so that data can be transmitted to and from the RFID tag memory. The RFID Reader also connects to software platforms that integrate the tag ID and data for tracking and asset management purposes.

RFID readers can be fixed or portable, depending on requirements.

RFID Software

RFID tag data can be incorporated into virtually any type of database, from Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to Building Information Modeling (BIM) to Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and financial/payment platforms. RFID technology is the ideal link from the physical to the digital worlds, providing verified identification data for any item, anywhere at any time.

Berntsen International, Inc.
  • 1-800-518-0934
  • All other countries:
  • +1-608-249-8549
  • PO Box 8670
  • Madison, WI 53708-8670
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