User's Manual

Active RFID Tags: Features, Specifications, and Deployment Guidelines

Introduction and Overview

RF Code Active RFID tags are battery-powered RF transmitters that attach to items that need to be tracked, located and

identified. Every tag broadcasts its unique ID and a status message at a periodic rate (that is programmed at the factory).

With a modular design and low price, tags provide an economical solution to a wide variety of problems. RF Code's

patented communication protocols allow for very high tag densities. Large populations of tags can be deployed in highly

scalable asset tracking environments.

The read range for every RF Code Tag can be up to 300 feet, with the exception of the M131 Thin Tag, which has a read

range of up to 150 feet. However, read ranges are dependent upon the deployment environment because of specific

building materials and construction features, various obstructions, and other factors within the environment that can

decrease read ranges. For more information, refer to the RF Code Support Knowledge Base Article:

http://support.rfcode.com/customer/portal/articles/922012

RF Code tags operate at 433.92 MHz; they are one-way, transmit-only communicators. Patented RF Code communication

protocols were designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference. Every RF Code tag is powered by

a single coin cell (“watch”) battery (CR2032). Tags operate with a very low duty cycle and therefore have long battery

lives (typically 5 years with a 10-second beacon rate).

While most RF Code tags broadcast their status every 10 seconds*, each message is extremely short; therefore, each tag

has an actual total transmission time of less than 10 seconds per day. However, tag broadcast frequency does vary

slightly by tag type, as some send messages less often or more often. For more specific information about the

characteristics of each tag model, refer to the tables of M-series and R-series tags.

RF Code currently offers two series of Active RFID tags that work in conjunction with the RF Code line of Active RFID

Readers and RF Code enterprise class software to meet many different tracking and monitoring needs. RF Code offers M-

Series and R-Series Tags. These series offer several models that provide different alert features such as motion and

tamper options. The M-Series tags operate at 433 MHz and are designed for general use in equipment and personnel

tracking. The R-Series tags also operate at 433 MHz, but are specially-designed with sensors and/or specific form factors

for IT assets. The R-Series tags are used for environmental monitoring in conjunction with RF Code Environmental

Monitoring Solutions for Data Centers as well as for tracking rack-level equipment and for monitoring equipment racks

and personnel with the use of RF Code M250 Readers.

In addition to the two series of tags (M and R) available from RF Code, many tag models have an identical or similar

version provision with infrared capabilities for use with RF Code Room and Rack Locators to provide even more precise

determination of asset location. IR-enabled tags monitor their environment for incoming IR signals and periodically

report both their own unique ID and IR location codes received from Room or Rack Locators. Since the location of IR tags

is determined via the IR room code, there is no need for performing complicated signal strength calculations to

determine tag location.

Most tag models can be customized to support a broad range of integrated sensors in order to monitor tag status.

Motion activated tags can be programmed to operate at two different beacon rates: slow (every 10 seconds) when the

tag is stationary and faster (every 2 seconds) when the motion sensor is activated (to provide immediate notification

when objects are moving). 2 second beacon rates are for use in safety and security applications. Tamper switches can be

installed to trigger an alert if a tag is removed.

IR tags are designed to be deployed in concert with RF Code IR Room Locators. IR-enabled tags monitor their

environment for incoming IR signals and periodically report both their own unique ID and IR location codes. Motion

activation allows the tag operate at 2 beacon rates: slow when the tag is stationary and faster when the motion sensor is

activated. This provides a method for rapidly locating mobile assets with room-level accuracy.