What is an RFID reader, and what can you do with it?

In this article, we’ll be discussing RFID readers. What exactly can you do with them? And which RFID reader do you need? We’ll explain that to you. But before we continue, you first need to understand the basics of RFID.  

RFID stands for “Radio Frequency Identification,” which means that data can be transmitted via radio waves. NFC works the same way as RFID, but only over short distances, which means the applications differ. With an RFID chip, you can send specific data to an RFID reader. This makes it possible to transmit data remotely, allowing the RFID reader to trigger an action—such as opening a barrier or clocking in at work. 

What’s the difference between RFID and NFC?

RFID and NFC are terms that are often used interchangeably. But there is a significant difference between them. RFID operates over longer distances than NFC. While NFC has a range of about 3 centimeters, RFID can sometimes reach up to 10 meters. For this reason, RFID is used for different applications than NFC. With NFC, we often see applications such as payments and connecting to the digital world. RFID is most commonly used for tracking, time tracking, and access control. 

There are several RFID chips on the market with different features and characteristics. For example, there are differences in range, security, technology, and price. One example is the MIFARE Ultralight. This chip is often used as a disposable chip and is the cheapest RFID chip. If you opt for a more advanced, higher-quality chip like the MIFARE Classic 1K, you’ll quickly end up paying a lot more. 

Before you buy an RFID reader, you need to know exactly what kind of RFID chip you want to program. Not every RFID chip can be read by the same RFID reader. Just like RFID chips, there are also different types of RFID readers. Each RFID reader operates at a specific frequency, just as RFID chips do. If the reader’s frequency matches that of the RFID chip, they can communicate with each other. Only then is it possible to read and program data on the chip. The frequency is expressed in megahertz (MHz). It is therefore important to carefully check whether the RFID reader supports the MHz frequency of the RFID chip you want to program.

There are a total of three types of frequencies: Low Frequency, High Frequency, and Ultra High Frequency. 

• Low-frequency chips operate at 125 kHz and have a short range of 2 to 100 centimeters. These RFID chips are often used for short-range access control, such as the turnstiles at the gym. 

• High-frequency chips operate at 13.65 MHz and have a range of 10 centimeters to 1 meter. With 2 KB, this chip typically has twice as many bytes as low-frequency chips. This makes the chip ideal for time-clock systems and time tracking. 

• Ultra-High-Frequency (UHF) RFID chips can operate at frequencies of up to 950 MHz. As you might guess, this is perfect for long distances. With these RFID chips, you can sometimes bridge distances of up to 12 meters.  

Would you like to program an Ultra High Frequency chip? Then you’ll need this RFID reader. The reader allows you to read, duplicate, and program UHF (ultra high frequency) RFID chips. Do you want to program both 125 kHz and 13.65 MHz RFID chips? Then we recommend this RFID reader. This reader is compatible with both types of chips. 

Why do you need an RFID reader to program RFID tags?

You cannot program RFID chips without an RFID reader. The antenna in the RFID chip enables it to communicate with another RFID chip. Since RFID can only communicate with other RFID devices, the chip can only be programmed using an RFID reader. 

What are the capabilities of an RFID reader?

With an RFID reader, there are essentially two types of tasks you can perform: programming new data and duplicating an RFID chip. First, let’s talk about duplication. If you have an RFID access card and would like to have more access cards, you can easily do this with an RFID reader. You can easily copy the chip and transfer it to a new card. Of course, you can also program new data onto the chip. You can develop this data yourself and program it onto the chip. There are various software options available for this. 

Some RFID readers can also program NFC in addition to RFID, such as this NFC reader.