RFID Journal Staff asked 8 years ago I need a tag that can be interrogated from more than 500 feet away. Is this possible—and, if so, what are the requirements for the tag and receiver or scanner device?
—Name withheld
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Yes, they can. Active RFID tags have a read range of 1,000 feet or more. These are battery-powered tags that broadcast a signal, rather than harvesting energy from a reader and reflecting back a signal. The requirements depend on what your application is and what you are trying to track. Typically, active tags are based on the Dash-7 air-interface protocol, but there are proprietary systems as well.
Active tags are pricey (they can cost more than $20 apiece). If you are tracking large numbers of items and cannot recycle the tags, this can be a big cost. There are passive ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) systems that employ phased-array antenna systems to obtain a read range of up to 500 feet, but you would need to get a device close to the tag to power it up.
If you are interested in discussing your needs, you can e-mail editor@rfidjournal.com to arrange a free, unbiased phone consultation.
—Mark Roberti, Founder and Editor, RFID Journal
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