RFID Information

RFID Information

You've been bar coding for years now & thought it was the latest technology only to be told that RFID is now the latest and greatest way to track and identify. Is it time to make a transition? For some companies and organizations the answer is yes; for others, RFID will never be practical or even desirable. First of all, what is RFID? In general terms, there are two types of RFID transponders- passive and active.

Passive RFID

In simple terms, a Passive RFID tag is just that- passive. It just sits there and does nothing unless it is awakened. If a reader is nearby it comes to life:

The Passive RFID tag only activates when a reader is nearby to supply power
The reader sends out a radio frequency (RF) signal
The antennae on the tag produces a small amount of power from the magnetic field that results from the RF (radio frequency) signal
A response is transmitted from the tag back to the to the reader

Uses of Passive RFID

Active RFID

Active RFID tags have their own internal power source that can generate a signal a great distance from a reader.

The Active RFID tag incorporates a battery for power
Active RFID tags are more effective over distance, through water, etc.

Uses of Active RFID