How to Select the Right RFID Tag
Do you need high-frequency or ultrahigh-frequency tags? Passive or active? And what about form factor? Here's what you should consider before you go shopping.
By Jill Gambon
Oct. 15, 2007—The growing number of radio frequency identification tags on the market, combined with the rapid evolution of technology and the emergence of standards for passive ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) tags, is creating a plethora of choices for businesses looking to deploy RFID. There are many factors to consider when evaluating and selecting tags, including the business case driving the deployment, the contents of the items being tagged, the required read range and the processes impacted by the introduction of RFID technology.
RFID tags contain a microchip and antenna, and come in a wide variety of sizes and form factors. Some are as small as a grain of rice and encased in glass, while others are enclosed in plastic and the size of a key fob or credit card. Still others, known as smart labels, are embedded in paper. Some are disposable, while others can be reused. Costs vary widely, too, depending on the form factor, the amount of data the tag can store and the volume of tags purchased.
With the increasing use of RFID technology and the adoption of standards for some categories of tags by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and EPCglobal, tag prices have been falling. Electronic Product Code (EPC) passive UHF tags, widely used in supply-chain applications, cost about 7 cents each. Active (battery-powered) tags,commonly deployed for tracking assets over longer distances, generally cost upwards of $50.
Oct. 15, 2007—The growing number of radio frequency identification tags on the market, combined with the rapid evolution of technology and the emergence of standards for passive ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) tags, is creating a plethora of choices for businesses looking to deploy RFID. There are many factors to consider when evaluating and selecting tags, including the business case driving the deployment, the contents of the items being tagged, the required read range and the processes impacted by the introduction of RFID technology.
RFID tags contain a microchip and antenna, and come in a wide variety of sizes and form factors. Some are as small as a grain of rice and encased in glass, while others are enclosed in plastic and the size of a key fob or credit card. Still others, known as smart labels, are embedded in paper. Some are disposable, while others can be reused. Costs vary widely, too, depending on the form factor, the amount of data the tag can store and the volume of tags purchased.
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With the increasing use of RFID technology and the adoption of standards for some categories of tags by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and EPCglobal, tag prices have been falling. Electronic Product Code (EPC) passive UHF tags, widely used in supply-chain applications, cost about 7 cents each. Active (battery-powered) tags,commonly deployed for tracking assets over longer distances, generally cost upwards of $50.
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