Preparation for RFID Certification Exam

Mod 1 – What is RFID – What is Tested

SCOPE

This section covers the types of RFID systems, which are generally categorized by the way in which the tag, or transponder, is powered for receiving data/instructions from the RFID reader (interrogator) and transmitting data back in reply. The three main types of systems are:

  • Passive
  • Battery Assisted Passive (BAP) or Semi-Passive
  • Active

WHAT YOU ARE EXPECTED TO KNOW

The categorizations as well as the characteristics of each type of RFID technology in the context of:

  • Impact on data transfer rate
  • Impact of read range
  • Impact on costs
  • Typical applications
  • Frequencies normally used for each category, including:
    • Low Frequency (LF) 120 – 150 kHz
    • High Frequency (HF) 13.56 MHz
    • Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) 860 – 960 MHz
    • Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) 433 MHz
    • Microwave 2.45 – 5.8 GHz
    • Ultra Wide Band (UWB) 3.1 – 10 GHz
  • Behavior of passive systems using different frequencies, including:
    • Read range
    • Typical application
    • Performance near metals and water based liquids
    • Regulations applying to use – including transmitted power limitations
    • Mode of operation (e.g. induction)
    • Type of antenna used
  • Active RFID systems, including those that use the following protocols:
    • ISO 18000-7 (Savi Technology protocol)
    • DASH7 (2nd generation of ISO 18000-7)
    • Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11n
    • Zigbee IEEE 802.15.4

WHAT YOU ARE NOT EXPECTED TO KNOW

  • How the power is harvested or used
  • Power levels
  • Battery types
  • Battery life cycles
  • Waveforms or modulation schemes used
  • Details of signal protocols
  • Types of batteries us
  • Security techniques
  • Specific details or statistics related to:
    • Rain penetration performance
    • Building penetration performance
    • Power consumption
    • Location accuracy