User's Manual

MERCURY 3 RFID READER INSTALLATION AND SERVICE GUIDE (8200-0222-01, REV. 1/A)
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Tag Variables
There are several variables associated with tags
that can affect reader performance:
• Application surface — Some materials interfere
with tag performance including metal and
moisture. Tags applied to items made from or
containing these materials may not perform as
expected.
• Tag orientation — Reader performance is
affected by the orientation of the tag in the
antenna field.
• Tag model — many tag models are available.
Each model has its own performance
characteristics.
Environment
RFID Reader performance may be affected by the
following:
• Metal surfaces such as desks, filing cabinets,
book shelves, and waste baskets may
enhance or degrade reader performance.
Mount antennas as far as possible from metal
surfaces that are adversely affecting system
performance.
• Devices that operate at 900MHz such as
cordless phones or wireless LANs can interfere
with reader performance.
These devices may degrade performance of
the reader. The reader may also adversely
affect performance of the 900MHz device.
• Antennas operating in close proximity may
interfere with one another, degrading reader
performance.
Interference from other antennas may be
eliminated or reduced by using either one or
both of the following strategies:
− Affected antennas may be synchronized by
a separate user application using a time-
multiplexing strategy.
− Antenna power can be reduced by
reconfiguring the RF Transmit Power
setting for the reader.
Authorized Antennas
IDANTM1000-915L
IDANTM1000-915L is a linear polarized antenna
that reads data from 915MHz tags. It has a read
range of up to 3.6m (12ft) from the antenna.
Coverage area of up to 7.3m (24ft) may be
achieved by using two antennas, one on each side
of the opening.
The antenna is shipped with 3.6m (12ft) of cable
and an appropriate connector for the RFID reader.
A mounting bracket suitable for attaching the
antenna to a standard 1/4 inch–20 thread stud is
included.
IDANTM1000-915C
IDANTM1000-915C is a circular polarized antenna
that reads data from 915MHz tags. It has a read
range of up to 1.8m (6ft) from the antenna.
Coverage area of up to 3.6m (12ft) may be
achieved by using two antennas, one on each side
of the opening.
The antenna is shipped with 3.6m (12ft) of cable
and an appropriate connector for the RFID reader.
A mounting bracket suitable for attaching the
antenna to a standard 1/4 inch–20 thread stud is
included.