Learning about RFID
RFID readers, encoders, and printers work off a technology called Radio Frequency Identification. Before the turn of the century, RFID was primarily used with some type of card ID system or for tracking chips inserted into animals. However, with time came new ideologies regarding RFID to include barcodes. For this technology to work, a number of frequencies are used. Typically, operation would occur at 13MHZ or 900MHZ. Broken down, this means that 13MHZ functions at a higher capacity when surrounded by metal whereas 900MHZ is best for distances.
For the RFID tags themselves, you find differences between the two frequencies. The 13MHZ has the capability of penetrating liquid far better. For this reason, this frequency is generally used by companies in the form of security identification cards. Just keep in mind that the readability for this frequency is approximately three feet. On the other hand, RFID tags using 900MHZ are the ideal solution when reading a number of tags at once such as you would see in a warehouse inventory situation. Capable of reading anywhere from three to ten feet, many larger businesses prefer this second choice.