| Standardization
Frequency
An RFID tag that is attached to for example a patient, an ECG machine, a pallet or an item of baggage communicates with the RFID reader by means of radio waves. Radio waves have a range of possible frequencies. In order to prevent errors due to interference the frequency band is divided into different groups, ranging from low to high. Four frequency groups are distinguished. These four groups are summarized in the following table. The mobile phone network in the Netherlands for example operates on frequency bands at 900 and 1800 MHz.
Low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) RFID tags can be used worldwide without any requirement for a licence. Ultra-high-frequency (UHF) however can not be used on a global scale. Both in North America and Europe there are restrictions on the transmitter capacity (measured at the RFID reader) .
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Low Frequency |
High Frequency (HF) |
Ultra High Frequency (UHF) |
Microwave (WiFi) |
| Frequency |
30 – 300 kHz |
3 – 30 MHz |
300 MHz – 3GHz |
2 – 30 GHz |
Typical RFID frequency |
125 – 134 kHz |
13,56 MHz |
433 MHz850 – 930 MHz |
2,45 GHz |
Reading distance (approximate)
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< 0,50 metres
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Up to 1,5 metres |
433 MHz: up to 100 m 850 – 930 MHz: 0,5 up to5 metres |
Up to 10 metres |
Typical data transfer rate
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< 1 kbit/s |
Around 25 kbit/s |
30 kbit/s |
Up to 100 kbit/s
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| Characteristics |
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Worldwide accepted frequency.
Does not work well in the vicinity of metals. |
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| Examples |
Animal identification, car keys, access gates
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Library books, luggage at airports |
Logistics |
Toll booths |
Tags
For the purposes of the trade in RFID tags ("what does each tag cost?") EPC Global has drawn up a classification of the
different types of tags. This classification is set out in the following table. The distinction between the different classes is based mostly on the capacity to write data to a tag and whether or not the tag includes a battery
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Class 0 |
Class 1 |
Class 2 |
Class 3 |
Class 4 |
Class 5 |
ID |
By factory |
By user |
By user |
By user |
By user |
By user |
Passive / active |
Passive |
Passive |
Passive |
Semi passive |
Active |
Active |
Read / write |
Read only |
Read only |
Read/write |
Read/write |
Read/write |
Read/write |
Betrouw-baarheid |
Low |
Low |
Low |
High |
High |
High |
Batterij |
No |
No |
No |
Lithium / manganese |
Lithium / manganese |
Different types |
Lifecycle |
Long |
Long |
Short |
Long |
Long |
Long |
reading distance |
Short |
Short |
Long |
Average |
Long |
Long |
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Agencies
There is no single worldwide organisation in charge of radio frequencies for RFID. Basically any country may set down individual rules for its use. In Europe the relevant agreements are made by ERO, CEPT, ETSI and the national governments. The national governments customarily ratify any proposed regulations. In the Netherlands the Agentschap Telecom have an important role in this.
EPC Global is primarily involved with the standardization of product codes and the associated technology. The EPC Global Gen" standard is widely adopted within the retail sector. GS1 Nederland is the organization managing the GS1 system for the Dutch market . This is a set of worldwide open standards which help logistical processes to run quickly, efficiently and without errors. |
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