RFID Journal Staff asked 13 years ago I am seeking a transponder that can be attached to a small insect. The bugs measure less than 2 millimeters (0.08 inch) in size. I need to be able to read the transponders from long distances—at least 5 meters (16.4 feet). Any idea how this can be accomplished?
—Name withheld
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I don't believe that this is possible. A transponder that is only 2 millimeters in size would have a very tiny antenna. Antenna size relates directly to read range, because a smaller antenna can not harvest as much energy from a reader as a larger antenna can. So a transponder that small would have a read range of just a few millimeters.
Perhaps one of our readers might know something I don't, however. If anyone is aware of a tiny passive tag that can be read from a distance of 5 meters or more, and that would be useful for this particular application, please post information about it below. Thanks.
—Mark Roberti, Founder and Editor, RFID Journal
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