Evaluating RFID Ready Printers

For more than two years, manufacturers of bar code printers have been developing products capable of encoding smart labels (bar code labels with an embedded RFID tag). Demand, however, has been stifled by the fact that the underlying technology is evolving. Customers are waiting for the new Gen 2-based tags and readers to be proven before investing roughly $6,000 in an RFID printer/encoder that could become obsolete within a matter of months. To offer investment protection, manufacturers are offering "RFID ready" printers (i.e. bar code printers that are field upgradeable to support RFID).

Compared to conventional bar code printers, the RFID ready printer has a bigger power supply to power the RFID read/encode module, circuitry needed to process the signals to and from it, and shielding to shield RF emissions. The actual read/encode module can be added later. Some manufacturers charge slightly more for "RFID ready," while others have made it standard on selected models. For a base printer that costs around $4,500, expect to spend an additional $1,500 to field install the read/encode module, for a grand total of $6,000. Buying a fully enabled printer up front will save about 10% (in this example about $600).

Consider the RFID ready printers in situations where you need to buy new bar code printers and want the flexibility to upgrade them to encode RFID tags at some point in the future. Or, you want to delay investing in RFID technology until the new Gen 2-based tags and readers mature. When comparing products from different manufacturers, keep the following in mind.

First, the bar code printing specs haven't changed. You still need to compare printers on things like print speed, resolution, label width required, optional features, service and support.

Second, you need to determine what type of smart labels the printer needs to encode. Labels are available in two different frequencies – HF (13.56 MHz) or UHF (860 to 950 MHz). The read/encode modules and signal processing circuitry for HF are totally different from those for UHF, so you need to know up front whether you want a printer that is HF-ready or UHF-ready.

Next, identify the tag types that the printer needs to support. Myriad tag types exist within the UHF band, including EPC class 0, 0 , 1, Gen 2, ISO 18000-6A, ISO 18000-6B, Philips UCODE 1.19, Intermec Intellitag, etc. The newer printers are outfitted with multiprotocol read/encode modules that claim to support all of these tag types. To determine the robustness of the read/encode module, look beyond the list of supported tag types for a printer that has been field tested with a wide variety of labels. Labels are available from numerous converters that are using inlays based on different combinations of RFID chips and antenna designs. Printers that work well across this spectrum provide the most flexibility when it comes to buying label stock.

Multiregional support is also important. The SAMSys embedded read/encode module, for example, comes in two flavors – a North American version and a world version. These versions account for the different regulatory requirements (regarding specific bands within the UHF spectrum and allowable operating power levels) among North America, Europe, and Asia.

Finally, determine how easy it is to actually upgrade the printer, if there are any hidden installation costs, and how the upgrade affects the warranty. Is the upgrade something you can do yourself, does it require a service technician on-site, or does the printer need to be sent back to the factory? On this score, I was impressed with the Datamax design, whereby the read/encode module can be attached with three screws.

For more information on RFID printers, browse the following links:

Cognitive Solutions' Advantage LX is an affordable and space saving bar code printer platform that can be equipped with either HF or UHF read/encode capability. The spec sheet lists all the supported tag types within each frequency.

Click here to download the spec sheet.

Datamax I-Class RFID Printers can be initially configured for RFID, or field upgraded by installing a read/encode module (requires 3 screws) and applying firmware upgrade. The customer must specify HF or UHF version at initial order. Datamax recently announced that it had selected the new SAMSys multiprotocol RFID read/encode module to support the emerging class 1 generation 2 (Gen 2) standard, along with a host of other legacy UHF protocols.

Intermec's Intellitag PM4i Industrial Printer claims the ability to encode "frequency agile" tags that can be used worldwide (i.e. able to be read at multiple frequencies within the UHF band based on regional regulations).

The Monarch® 9855 RFID Tabletop Bar Code Printer is an RFID enabled version of its popular tabletop bar code printer. It uses the Alien embedded read/encode module that works with a range of 96-bit class 1 tags. The optional Monarch Smart Relay allows users to send non-RFID print jobs to a non-RFID printer, printing RFID labels only when needed.

Printronix introduced its first RFID printer in 2003 and came out with multiprotocol printers for North America and Europe in 2004. In April of this year, Printronix unveiled its third generation Printronix SmartLine SL5000r series of RFID Ready printers (using the AWID read/encode module). Printronix has field-tested its printers to ensure compatibility with various RFID label sizes and the most popular inlay/antenna designs. The SL 5000r family includes field kits for different geographies to accommodate global frequency variations (within the UHF band).

SATO CL408e RFID / CL412e RFID Printers have been available in both HF and UHF versions for over a year. Early UHF versions embedded Alien read/encode modules for class 1 tags and SAMSys modules for other protocols. SATO is currently evaluating read/encode modules from SAMSys, AWID, and ThingMagic for future multiprotocol offerings.

Zebra's R110Xi™ and R170Xi RFID Printers (Zebra's most current offering) use ThingMagic's multiprotocol read/encode module. They also feature an RFID calibration feature that automatically selects optimal transponder placement based on the type of tag being used. Matt Ream, Zebra's manager of RFID systems, explained the goal of this feature to me in more detail. Based on field testing of smart labels with varying combinations of chip/antenna designs, firmware upgrades will be issued which add the tested labels to a selectable menu. Based on the type of label the operator selects, the printer will re-calibrate to position the tag for optimal read/encode operation.