An RFID Network Exclusive Story and Product Review

Recently, we reviewed the Ultra Small RFID Tag from Hitachi Chemical. They are now offering a Development Kit bundle with 10 sample tags and the small versatile UHF RU-824 READ ME reader from MTI. The team at The RFID Network decided to see how well this small reader works with this tiny tag from Hitachi Chemical. We are skeptical that it can be read both in the very near field when using the built in tag antenna and far away using the coupled metal antennas. In this edition, we put the performance of the RU-824 READ ME reader with the Ultra-Small Packaged UHF Tag from Hitachi Chemical to the test.

During the past 18 months, our team has helped a number of companies with people tracking, personnel tracking, and employee tracking, including a North American retail store tracking 40,000+ employees in 3,000+ locations. We have tested over a dozen RFID badge tags, six different stationary RFID readers, and four different RFID handheld readers. What we found is that traditional passive RFID badge tags can read up to about 15 feet away, but when you put them close to your body, the read range is not only reduced, but in some situations the tag can't be read at all.

CSL claims that their new Class 1 Generation 2 battery assisted passive (BAP) RFID badge tag can be read up to 16 feet away in your pocket. In this edition of the RFID Network, our team puts the CSL BAP RFID badge tags to the test. 

An RFID Network Exclusive Story

It wasn't long ago that people thought UHF RFID tags didn't work with metal or liquids. Of course, this myth has been dis-proven countless times with rigid RFID tags, or by using RFID labels with spacers. But what about placing UHF RFID labels directly on a metal surface? Well, now you can...

Omni-ID announced their thin, flexible, UHF RFID labels and inlays that work when applied to metal and liquid filled containers. The IQ 400 and IQ 600 are EPCGlobal Class 1 Generation 2 RFID labels and inlays that are designed for on-metal use.

This is the InLine Tag Ultra UHF product line from HID, featuring the Ultra, the Ultra slim, and the Ultra Curve. HID claims that these are all-purpose RFID tags that not only have outstanding performance on metal and contoured metal surfaces, but are extremely durable with an IK09 impact resistance, water proof housing, and are even designed to be welded. Our team has heard claims like this before and our testing has proven otherwise, so we’re pretty skeptical. In this edition, we’re going to put the HID InLine Tag Ultra RFID tags to the test.