Practical No: 01

Introduction to RFID Technology

Objective:
The purpose of this lab is to get familiar with RFID Trainer (Model
RFID 900MHz) Hardware components and RFID applications.

1.1 Radio Waves

Radio waves are a type of Electromagnetic waves in a specific frequency band. According to
International Telecommunication Union (ITU),the frequency spectrum of radio waves lies
between 3 KHz and 300 GHz and have the longest wavelengths in the EM spectrum,
according to NASA, ranging from about 0.04 inches (1 millimeter) to more than 62 miles
(100 kilometers).

1.1.1 Why Radio waves are used for wireless communication?

Radio waves are used for broadcasting radio and TV programs. Anyone with a receiver can
tune it to the radio frequency to pick up the signal. Medium wavelength radio waves are
reflected from the ionosphere so they can be used for long distance communication, but
not for communicating with satellites above the ionosphere.

1.1.2 Licensed and Unlicensed Bands

All wireless technologies use the airwaves to transmit and receive information. So that many
different technologies can use the airwaves simultaneously, wireless spectrum is carved up into
chunks called frequency bands.

1. Licensed
 88 – 108 MHz for FM (Frequency modulation)
 890 – 960 MHz for GSM (Global system for mobile telecommunications.)

2. Unlicensed
 2.4 - 2.5 GHz
 5.725 - 5.875 GHz
 Used in Wireless LANs, Wireless Sensor Networks etc.
1.2 Introduction to Radio-frequency identification (RFID)

 Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is a technology that uses communication through

the use of radio waves to transfer data between a reader and an electronic tag
attached to an object for the purpose of identification and tracking.

 RFID previous names – radio frequency IC tag, ubiquitous ID, electronic tag, new
generation barcode, radio frequency IC chip, start tag, RFID tag, and electronic product
code are unified as “Radio frequency Identification” by Telecommunication Technology
Association of Korea as of February 2004

 The technology handles decoding and identification with data that is stored on an IC
chip that contains reader and tag.

 RFID technology can be viewed as a new generation of technology that may replace
barcodes, however, it is a core technology with much wide range of applications in
logistics, supply chain traffic and environmental monitoring applications.

 In logistics industry, a large part of domestic goods is exported internationally and goods
from numerous countries are imported today. To, use RFID tags in today’s logistics
management, a standard that is complied by all countries around the globe is required.

1.3 RFID Applications

RFID can be used in a variety of applications, such as:

 Tracking of goods and retailing’s.

 Tracking and billing processes.
 Tracking of inventory, assets ,persons and animals.
 Toll collection and contactless payment.
 Airport baggage tracking logistics.
 Timing sporting events.
 It can be affixed to cars, computer equipment, books, mobile phones, etc.
1.4 Components of RFID

Radio-frequency identification hardware kit involves interrogators (also known as

readers), and tags (also known as labels), as well as RFID software or RFID middleware.
It is not necessary to "show" the tag to the reader device, as with a bar code. In
other words it does not require line of sight (LOS) to "see" an RFID tag, the tag can be read
inside a case, carton, box or other container, and unlike RFID tags can be read hundreds at a
time. Bar codes can only read one at a time.

1.5 Types of RFID Tags

There are two types of tags.

1. Passive tag: The passive tag does not contain a power supply, thus uses the energy
transferred from a reader which results in reduced distance.

2. Active tag: The active tag has a built-in power supply that allows long-distance
communication.

1.6 RFID-900MHz Components

RFID 900MHz set are composed of items described below.

Type Device Quantity

Reader 1EA
Tag 3EA
RFID 900MHZ set Antenna 1EA

PC Interface cable 1EA

9v DC Adopter 1EA

Reader Antenna 1EA

Tag Antenna 3EA
1.7 RFID Program Installation

1) When a CD is inserted and Setup\Setup.exe is executed from CD-ROM, the following

installation screen is displayed.

2) Select ‘Typical from the above screen and press Next to finish installation. When the
installation is complete, the following screen is displayed.

1.8 RFID-900MHz Hardware Setup

RFID-900MHz Setup Procedure

1) Mount an antenna to the antenna port (CON2) of 900MHz reader module, RFID 900.
2) Connect the PC Interface cable to PC’s 9 –pin serial port (com1) and CON1 of reader
module.
3) Mount the 9V DC adopter to 220V AC power supply, and connect the jack to reader
module’s DC 9V Input socket of the reader module.
4) Mount an antenna to the antenna port (CON1) of 900MHz tag module, RFID 900MHz
TAG.
5) Connect the power to the tag module (Refer to the following methods for more detail).
Method 1 when using 9V DC adopter.
 (1) Switch the SELECT switch located in the right center of a tag module to ‘A’side.
(2) Mount the 9V DC adopter to 220V AC power supply, and connect the jack to DC 9V
Input socket of a reader module.
Method 2 when using AA Size 1.2V batteries.
(1) Switch the SELECT switch located in the right center of the tag module to ‘B’ side.
(2) Insert three AA size 1.2V batteries in the designated direction to the socket located
behind the tag module.
6) When an exercise is started, turn on the power switch on the top right section of the
reader module.
7) Once an exercise is complete, exit the program and turn off the power switch off of the
reader module.

Figure:1.9 RFID Module with PC Interfacing

 Exercise - 1

1) What is Automatic identification? Explain the term AIDC in RFID technology.

2) Enlist and Explain applications of RFID and Barcode reader.

3) Delineate Line of Sight (LOS) in wireless communication.

4) How RFID better than using bar codes?

5) Enlist any five applications of Active and Passive Tags.

6) In tracking objects, which type of tag will you will prefer to use? Explain with suitable
example.