iPico's Dual Frequency products offer the same ability as low frequency RF systems for operating tags in lossy mediums, and the same high data rates as those offered by UHF systems. The dual Frequency operating frequencies are such that tags are not screened by human bodies, conducting liquids, etc. Compared with other low frequency technologies, much longer reading ranges can be achieved, mainly because the return link (Tag to Reader) operates at 6.8MHz, which is much higher than the forward link (for powering the Tag), which operates at 125 kHz. The technology is ideal for tracking people, animals, documents and paper rolls as well as for underground and mining applications including marking buried objects (e.g. pipes).

The Medium Range Dual Frequency Reader has a dual integrated loop antenna system and can operate as a single unit (linked to a PC, DIMI, or other control device), or in conjunction with a second unit to span a portal, door way, or passage. When two Readers are operated together, the Reader connected to the PC is the “Master” unit, while the second Reader is the “Slave”. The Master controls the Slave Reader, receives its tag data and sends it to the PC or DIMI together with its own received tag data.

iPico's Dual Frequency products offer the same ability as low frequency RF systems for operating tags in lossy mediums, and the same high data rates as those offered by UHF systems. The dual Frequency operating frequencies are such that tags are not screened by human bodies, conducting liquids, etc. Compared with other low frequency technologies, much longer reading ranges can be achieved, mainly because the return link (Tag to Reader) operates at 6.8MHz, which is much higher than the forward link (for powering the Tag), which operates at 125 kHz. These products employ the same anti-collision algorithm as the popular UHF products, allowing up to 120 tags to be read simultaneously, at a rate of up to 30 tag/s. The technology is ideal for tracking people, animals, documents and paper rolls as well as for underground and mining applications including marking buried objects (e.g pipes). The iP-X TM protocol handles dynamic tag populations extremely well; the Reader does not have to complete reading a group before new tags are added. The Medium Range Dual Frequency Reader has a dual integrated loop antenna system, and can operate as a single unit (linked to a PC, DIMI, or other control device), or in conjunction with a second unit to span a portal, door way, or passage. When two Readers are operated together, the Reader connected to the PC is the “Master” unit, while the second Reader is the “Slave”. The Master controls the Slave Reader, receives its tag data, which it sends to the PC or DIMI together with its own received tag data.

iPico’s Dual Frequency products offer the ability to operate tags in lossy media, with a high data rate not normally possible in Low Frequency systems. The technology allows relatively long read ranges to be achieved when tags are attached to or embedded in liquids, biological materials, e.g. food-stuffs, trees, animals. The Mobile Reader provides a useful addition to the Short, Medium and Long range DF reader families, allowing convenient recording of tags to be deployed in larger applications e.g. access control, people-spotting, underground conduit marking (pipes, ducts). This reader allows the user to do remote registration and inventory control, and process the data in real time as long as it remains in BT range of the host controller’s BT interface.

The iP-X Dual Frequency Mobile reader consists of an integrated set of antennas, RF unit, and battery, and is connected by a BluetoothTM (BT) link to any BT-enabled PDA, PC, DIMI-SA, or other control/storage device. The complete reader is integrated into an ergonomically shaped ABS housing.If the trigger switch is activated, the reader will read any tags in the field and transmit their codes (if valid) via the BT link to the host controller. BluetoothTM Class 1 is specified with a typical range > 10m, and 30m line of sight.

iPico’s Dual Frequency RFID Technology uses the same iP-X multi-read protocol as its UHF products, but the low frequencies used, (125kHz powerup and 6.8MHz return signal), can penetrate through “lossy” media without the tag antenna detuning, and the high attenuation encountered with UHF systems. Because of the high tag transmit carrier frequency, high data rates are achievable (up to 256kbit/sec), resulting in fast reading of multiple tags in the beam. Dual Frequency technology allows for longer ranges to be achieved than single frequency, low frequency technologies, e.g. 125 kHz or 13.56 MHz. This is because the tag data carrier frequency (6.8 MHz) is much higher than the power-up frequency (125 kHz).  

Applications where DF RFID is the preferred technology

Supply Chain Management (wooden pallets, containers, crates)
Paper reel tracking
Paper and document management (files, library, inventory)
“FreeFlow” people tracking
Personalized card authentication
Access control and asset control
Animal tracking (sheep, cattle, pigs)
Mining tracers (ore, diamonds)
Marking of underground reticulations and routing (telecoms, electricity, water, fibre optic)
Sport time-keeping (running, cycling, swimming, triathlon)

iPico’s Dual Frequency RFID Technology uses the same iP-X multi-read protocol as its UHF products, but the low frequencies used, (125kHz powerup and 6.8MHz return signal), can penetrate through “lossy” media without the tag antenna detuning, and the high attenuation encountered with UHF systems. Because of the high tag transmit carrier frequency, high data rates are achievable (up to 256kbit/sec), resulting in fast reading of multiple tags in the beam. Dual Frequency technology allows for longer ranges to be achieved than single frequency, low frequency technologies, e.g. 125 kHz or 13.56 MHz. This is because the tag data carrier frequency (6.8 MHz) is much higher than the power-up frequency (125 kHz).

Applications where DF RFID is the preferred technology

Supply Chain Management (wooden pallets, containers, crates)
Paper reel tracking
Paper and document management (files, library, inventory)
“FreeFlow” people tracking
Personalized card authentication
Access control and asset control
Animal tracking (sheep, cattle, pigs)
Mining tracers (ore, diamonds)
Marking of underground reticulations and routing (telecoms, electricity, water, fibre optic)
Sport time-keeping (running, cycling, swimming, triathlon)
Any situation where the tag needs to be embedded in, or affixed to a lossy material, even marine applications