The radio frequencies used by EPC and RFID are assigned by governments around the world to help ensure that no interference occurs.

RFID was developed more than 60 years ago and is used every day by consumers for systems like E-Z Pass, which speeds commuters through toll booths, and for SpeedPass electronic payments at Exxon and Mobil stations. To combat Mad Cow disease, European nations and Canada are using RFID to track livestock. In fact, it was first developed by the allies in World War II to identify friendly aircraft in battle.

RFID/EPC tags and bar codes are two different technologies that overlap in the identification of products. Bar codes require line-of-sight to identify a product. RFID does not require the tags to be within line-of-sight. Bar codes typically identify the UPC (representing a unique style, color and size of the product), while an RFID/EPC tag contains the UPC plus a serial number which differentiates one like item from another.

The range of a tag depends on the frequency, size, power output, and whether or not a tag contains a battery. The passive (non-battery powered) Ultra High Frequency (UHF) tags that Dillard's uses can be read up to 20 feet away from the reader.

Although there are tags designed to be implanted in humans and animals, these have nothing to do with the use of RFID that Dillard's is implementing. Given that the tags that are being used on our products can only be read at a distance of about 20 feet, it would take many readers to cover the entire store. The RFID/EPC tags only transmit the product's unique identifier or EPC and not any customer information.

The information specified about the product on an RFID/EPC tag is simply a product code and a serial number. The RFID/EPC tags will contain no personal customer information or be associated with the customer that bought the product. The tags are designed to be removed by the sales associate at time of purchase or removed by the customer at their leisure.

Radio Frequency Identification technology (RFID) has been used successfully along our land borders with Canada and Mexico since 1995 in the Department of Homeland Security’s trusted traveler programs, such as NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST. U.S. border officials are able to expedite legitimate cross-border travel and trade of those trusted travelers who carry membership cards with vicinity read RFID chips that link to government databases. Membership in these programs currently exceeds 400,000.

EPC technology could dramatically improve efficiencies within the supply chain. The vision is to create near-perfect supply chain visibility-the ability to track every item anywhere in the supply chain securely and in real time. RFID can dramatically reduce human error. Instead of typing information into a database or scanning the wrong bar code, goods will communicate directly with inventory systems.

RFID technology can deliver benefits in many areas, from tracking work in process to speeding up throughput in a warehouse. Visit RFID Journal's section to see how companies are using the technology's potential in manufacturing and other areas. As the technology becomes standardized, it will be used more and more to track goods in the supply chain.

Yes. Any device operating on a 2.4 GHz frequency can cause interference. Such devices include Bluetooth and some cordless telephones. Yes. Using the wireless network is one of the many things that will affect your battery's performance. Other factors include the age of the battery, type of battery or laptop, the applications running and the screen brightness. You should look at the power conservation options available on your laptop and plan your use accordingly.

Electronic Product Code: A serial, created by the Auto-ID Center, that will complement barcodes. The EPC has digits to identify the manufacturer, product category and the individual item. Yes, Mid-South Marking Systems carries a full line of EPC compliant printers/encoders, smart labels, and RFID readers and antennas. Our RFID specialists know how to integrate RFID into your current bar coding program.

Cordless phone that operate on the 2.4 GHz frequency will cause interference with 2.4 GHz cameras. Interference should be minimal and usually occurs if the phone is between the camera and receiver.

Weather and fog will not interfere. Other wireless devices may interfere. If you are on a LAN, and have wireless phones or a wireless LAN and those devices are Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (rather than Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum), they may interfere. However, in most cases, selecting a different DSSS frequency will cure the problem.

I own a Cisco, D-Link, Linksys, Netgear, Nortel, or SMC a/b/g wireless card and am having throughput (slow connection) problems

a rule, it will not. Disturbances may occur between WiFi and Bluetooth devices because both technologies use frequencies that overlap within the range of 2.4 GHz: 2400-2483.5 MHz. WiFi devices do not interfere with cellular phones, radio phones (except for some rare American models), remote controls, etc. WiFi has not been identified as hazardous. The capacity of WiFi transmitters does not exceed 100 mW.

There are known issues with interference, including (but not limited to) amateur radios, existing microwave towers or antennas, and other 2.4 or 5.8 Ghz wireless devices. If you have a 2.4 Ghz cordless phone, you will need to locate it at least 10 feet away from your computer, antenna cable, and/or antenna.

Not only does Spotwave ensure the Z1900 will not cause interference with other wireless electronics in your home, but we use patented technology to ensure the product will not create any interference in the frequencies in which it operates or on a carriers wireless network. Spotwave products use a patented coverage area signature (CAS) technique to ensure constant stability and no interference. No other product on the market does this.