RFID FREQUENCIES

Which one to use when?

RFID systems can be broken down in distinct category based on active/passive and the frequency band they operate in.  
Low Frequency RFID
The low frequency band runs from 30 kHz to 300kHz, though 125 kHz is likely to be the most common used frequency by most manufacturers, there are some that operate at 134 kHz.
Advantages & disadvantages?
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Advantages & disadvantages

  • relative short reading range <1m (depending on the region/regulatory)
  • fairly slow read rates, few tags reading at the same time no fast move objects
  • multiple competing standards
  • not very sensitive to interference
  • No LF RFID printing possible
  • Geen encryptie mogelijk wegens beperkt geheugen
  • Geen user memory

Specific domain applicability

  • Animal tracking
  • Access control
High Frequency RFID
The high frequency band runs from 3 to 30 MHz, though most HF systems will operate at 13.56 MHz
Advantages & disadvantages?
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Advantages & disadvantages

  • Relative short reading range <1m (depending on the region/regulatory)
  • few tags reading at the same time
  • Moderate sensitive to interference
  • multiple competing standards
  • HF RFID print possible
  • Encryption is possible
  • User memory op de tags

Specific domain applicability

  • Access control
  • Payment cards

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Ultra High Frequency RFID
The ultra-high frequency band runs from 300 MHz to 3GHz, most common for passive tags is 860 – 960 MHz depending on the geographical region. For Europe this is 865 to 868 where as for US it ranges from 902 to 928 MHz.
Advantages & disadvantages?
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Although over the past year’s standards have settled, it is always good practice to verify what that means for your particular region.       Relevant authorities for Europe would be ETSI (https://www.etsi.org/) and for the US FCC (https://www.fcc.gov/about/overview).    Another possible source could be GS1 (https://www.gs1.org/docs/epc/uhf_regulations.pdf), GS1 is a global operating body that working with the industries to ensure data standards are build, so RFID has a common ‘language’ throughout the entire (possible) global supply chain it moves through.

Advantages & disadvantages

  • Long read ranges up to 12m
  • a single global standard (EPCglobal Gen2 (ISO18000-63))
  • fairly sensitive to interference
  • high read rates allowing for large volumes of tags simultaneous reads and faster moving single items to be detected up to 200 kph depending tag and antenna choices
  • UHF RFID printing possible

Specific domain applicability

  • Item tagging (retail – logistics – healthcare - ….)

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