Frequently Asked Questions

Can RFID tags be read from satellites?

Passive RFID tags, the kind companies are talking about using one day on consumer products, can’t be read from more than 20 feet or so. Active RFID tags, which use a battery to broadcast a signal and are used on cargo containers and other large assets, could be read from a satellite if there is little RF “noise” (ambient RF energy that causes interference) and the broadcasted signal is powerful enough.