Which Interrogators Can Read More Than One Tag at a Time?

Are there any portable handheld RFID devices available that can read multiple tags simultaneously?

—Name withheld

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Before I answer the question, let me explain a little about how RFID readers (also called interrogators) work. All readers must communicate with one tag at a time, capturing that tag's data and then reading the next one. This is called singulation. Virtually all interrogators, including portable handheld units, are able to read tags one by one so quickly that it appears to be simultaneous.

I would suggest that you search RFID Connect for handheld readers and look at those that are available. You should be purchasing devices based on cost, read range, features, battery life and other aspects, not on whether a reader can interrogate more than one tag at a time. Rapid reading of dozens or even hundreds of tags is common to all handhelds.

—Mark Roberti, Founder and Editor, RFID Journal