Radio-frequency identification, or RFID, is a technology that uses radio waves to identify and track objects. This can be done in several ways, but the most common way is by using tags that are attached to an object.
RFID tags are made up of three main components – the chip, antenna, and tag face or substrate.
The substrate serves as the foundation of the tag, providing a connection between the chip and antenna. It also acts as a shield against environmental factors like moisture, dust, heat and other physical forces that could damage the chip or antenna.
The RFID antenna receives power from the RFID reader and sends it to the RFID chip, which is responsible for processing the incoming data. Once the chip is powered up and receives energy from the RFID reader, it responds by sending back a message in the form of a special code that is unique to that particular tag. This code is broadcast using the same antenna that provided it with power and enables the reader to identify and track its associated object.
The RFID chip is the most important component of an RFID tag. It is where all the data is programmed and stored, making it essential to the functioning of the tag. The data stored on the RFID chip comes pre-programmed (pre-encoded) directly from the manufacturer, however, it is possible to reprogram it with new information. This process is known as RFID programming and involves encoding a tag with the appropriate data needed for identification and tracking. When it comes to re-programming an RFID tag, there are a few things to consider before beginning the process.
What You Need to Know Before Program an RFID Tag
Before jumping directly into programming data on your RFID tags, it is important to consider several factors.
- Where the data should be placed.
It is important to know which memory bank you will be programming your data to in order for the tag to function properly. However, with four main memory banks available, it can be difficult and confusing trying to decide which one is best suited for your needs. Fortunately, only two of these memory banks are re-programmable – the EPC (Electronic Product Code) and User memory banks.
RFID programming typically involves using the EPC (Electronic Product Code) memory bank for encoding data onto RFID tags. This is due to the fact that the EPC Memory Bank contains a unique identifier that allows readers and other devices to identify each individual tag within a system. This identifier is usually composed of several bytes of information and can typically be encoded either by hand or with special software. It is important to note that the type of encoding used will depend on the specific hardware and software being used, so it is important to ensure that the correct type of encoding is selected prior to programming tags.
- How your data be represented in your tag’s memory.
The two basic numbering systems used for programming data onto RFID tags are Hexadecimal (Hex) and ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange). Hexadecimal uses a base 16 system, meaning that each digit can represent 16 different values (0-9, A-F), while ASCII uses a base 8 system, meaning that each digit can represent 8 different values (0-9, A-Z). Depending on the data that is being encoded onto the tag, one or both of these systems may be used.
It is important to note that in order for a reader to access the data stored on RFID tags, it must use the same numbering system that was used to encode the data. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the correct numbering system has been selected in order for the reader to properly read and interpret the information stored on the RFID tag.
Hex code is the most popular and simplest way to program RFID tags, as it allows for data to be encoded quickly and accurately. With Hex code, each digit can represent 16 different values (0-9, A-F), which makes it a much more efficient system than ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange), where each digit can represent 8 different values (0-9, A-Z).
ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) is a character encoding system typically used in computers and other electronic devices. It is the most common type of encoding used to represent text, numbers, and other symbols in computer programs. ASCII is a base 8 system, meaning each digit can represent 8 different values (0-9, A-Z). Due to its more complex nature, ASCII is often used in applications where data needs to be converted from one language or format to another.
- Determine how many characters your RFID tag can hold in the EPC repository.
Find the number of bits in your RFID tag EPC memory bank, divide by 4 if you use Hex, and divide by 8 if you use ASCII. The resulting number of bits is the total number of characters that you can encode to the label using the selected data format.
Most RFID tags have a 96-bit EPC memory, which can store up to 24 hexadecimal characters and 12 ASCII characters.
Once you have decided which memory bank to use, and the data format that you plan to encode your data with, you can begin to prepare for re-programming your RFID tags.
Choose The Right Hardware and Software
Once you understand the information above, you will need three essential components to program RFID tags – an RFID reader with an antenna, software to control the reader, and Passive UHF RFID tags.
Hardware – ThingMagic USB Pro
I recommend using the low-cost USB RFID reader, ThingMagic USB Pro. It is an ideal choice for those wanting to add RFID technology to their project or product. Not only is it affordable, but it’s also small, reliable, and easy-to-use. The reader itself consists of a durable plastic casing that encases the internal electronics. The reader also features a USB port and antenna, allowing it to connect to any PC.
Software – ThingMagic Universal Reader Assistant (URA) Software
The ThingMagic Universal Reader Assistant (URA) Software is incredibly powerful for reading and writing RFID tags. Importantly, the ThingMagic URA Software is free to use with your USB Pro Reader. With this software, you can quickly and easily program and read data from your ThingMagic USB Pro Reader. The URA Software provides a comprehensive suite of tools designed to make RFID programming simple and efficient.
This powerful software is ideal for both one-off encodings, as well as manual batch encoding of RFID tags. With URA, users are able to easily program a single tag at a time, or multiple tags in bulk. URA also supports the programming of a variety of data formats, including hexadecimal and ASCII encoding.
Programming RFID Tags
Now that we have chosen the right hardware and software to program our RFID tags, it is time to get started. The following are the steps for programming RFID tags using ThingMagic URA software:
Step 1: Download and Install the ThingMagic URA Software
Before you can begin to program your RFID tags, you will need to download and install the ThingMagic Universal Reader Assistant (URA) Software. This powerful software is available for free on the ThingMagic website, and You can also contact me by email: sale@morequent.com. To get started, simply download the installation package and follow the on-screen instructions.
Step 2: Connect the RFID Reader to Your PC
Once you have downloaded and installed the URA software, you are ready to connect your RFID reader to your PC (ThingMagic USB Pro RFID reader is recommended). Click “Refresh”, click “Next” and then choose your operating region from the next section. Click “Next” and then “Connect”.
Step 3: Program Your RFID Tags
We want to program our tags, so click on the tab labeled “Write EPC”.
The [Write to] box has two options, [First Tag to Respond], and [Tag Selected in Tag Results Page]. Typically, you should only have your selected tag in the read zone so the [First Tag to Respond] option is usually the best choice.
The [How to represent EPC] box has three options, [Hexadecimal], [ASCII Text], and [Reverse Base 36].
We are going to use Hexadecimal, so no need to change the default setting. Since our memory bank is 96 bits (hexadecimal divided by 4), we know that we can only enter 24 characters.
The [Current EPC] box will display the EPC number that you are about the re-program. If you chose [First tag to respond[ simply click the “Read” button in the [Current EPC Box[ so that the software displays the EPC number you want to reprogram.
The [New EPC] box is where you will type in the date you wish to program to your RFID tag. Type in the new EPC you want to program and then click “Write”. If the write is successful, a box will appear that reads “Write EPC is successful”.
Conclusion
By following the steps outlined above, you can easily program your RFID tags using ThingMagic URA Software. Keep in mind that there are many different types of data formats that can be used when programming RFID tags. Hexadecimal and ASCII encoding are by far the most popular options, but it is important to become familiar with all of the available data formats so that you can make the most out of your programming applications. Once you are comfortable programming RFID tags, you can explore some of the other features offered by ThingMagic URA Software, such as reading and managing tag inventory. With this powerful software, it’s easier than ever to get started with RFID programming.
