RFID Guidelines
Getting Started with RFID
Getting Started with RFIDHow you set up your printer for RFID applications is determined in part by the transponder that you select. This section guides you through that selection and the settings that you may need to change on your printer to make RFID reading and encoding possible. When you have completed this section, you will be ready to program your RFID label formats.
Select a Transponder Type Before you purchase RFID labels, determine what type of RFID transponder to use (Table 10). Different transponder types can have different attributes. Some transponders can only be read while others can be read and written to repeatedly. Transponders also have different amounts of available memory, which corresponds to the amount of data that can be encoded in it. Select the combination that best suits your needs.
Table 10 • Characteristics of Different Transponder Types
Transponder Type | Read | Write | Size (in bits) |
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Class 0 | X |
| 96 bits |
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Class 0+ | X | X | 96 bits |
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Class 1 64 bits | X | X | 64 bits |
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Class 1 96 bits | X | X | 96 bit (ID) |
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| 104 bit (USER) |
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ISO18000 | X | X | Varies |
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Set Tag Type After you have selected a transponder type and purchased labels, set the transponder (tag) type on the printer. Do this through the front panel menu (see Specify RFID Tag Type on page 63) or through the ^RS ZPL command (see ^RS on page 87).
Set Power Settings Each transponder has specific power setting requirements, which define how much power the printer’s antenna will emit to “energize” the transponder in its program field. The tag type that you are using must match the RFID power settings of the printer. If necessary, you can change the power settings through the front panel (see View or Change RFID Read Power or View or Change RFID Write Power on page 63) or through the ^RW ZPL command (see ^RW on page 93).
Perform RFID Transponder Calibration If you are using RFID labels that were designed to meet the specifications of this printer, you do not need to perform RFID transponder calibration. The printer will automatically place the labels in the optimal programming position.
However, if you are using RFID labels that were not designed to meet the specifications of this printer, you may need to perform an RFID transponder calibration to determine the optimal programming position for your media. If necessary, you can perform this calibration through the front panel (see Calibrate RFID Tag on page 63) or through the ^HR ZPL command (see ^HR on page 78).
68 | R110Xi/R170Xi User Guide | 12/6/04 |