Frequently Asked Questions
Can Class 1 and Class 0 readers be upgraded to read Gen 2 tags?
In most cases, a reader that reads Class 1 or Class 0 tags, or both, can be upgraded to read EPC Gen 2 tags by changing the reader firmware. However, EPCglobal plans to certify three different levels of Gen 2-compliant readers. At the lowest level, readers will be certified to work only when there are no other readers within a 1 km radius. The next level will be for readers capable of being deployed with several readers within a 1 km radius. The highest level will be certified to work alongside 50 or more readers within a 1km radius. Readers might need a hardware upgrade, as well as a software upgrade, to achieve the highest level of certification.
