| Zebra Technologies Corporation is now offering | | | | tag protocols. |
| ultra-high frequency encoding for RFID access | | | | Technology Applications |
| devices. This allows mid to high volume end users to | | | | Zebra issued a press release in September, 2008 |
| perform on-site UHF card creation for the first time. | | | | regarding one existing customer who recently |
| In the past, this type of job had to be done by | | | | upgraded to this new technology. The Vail Resorts |
| professional ID printing companies as part of a custom | | | | company is now using the P330i (R3i) UHF printer for |
| order. Now, the technology is available on both the | | | | its Colorado, California, and Nevada locations. These |
| P330i (R3i) and P430i (R4i) color printers as an | | | | ski resorts will now be able to provide easily |
| option. The cost for both of these models is still in the | | | | authenticated lift passes for all their customers. Such |
| mid-range, even with the advanced UHF module and | | | | devices can be read through the heavily insulated |
| Ethernet connection included. | | | | clothing worn for popular winter sports. Clients won't |
| This new card programming process is advertised as | | | | be required to fumble around trying to swipe a lift pass |
| fast, easy, and reliable. Both single and double-sided | | | | with cold-numbed hands anymore. Instead, Vail's |
| cards can be printed and encoded at a rate of over | | | | "easy scan" hand-held scanner system will do all the |
| 100 units per hour. The UHF module is designed to | | | | work. The encoded passes are highly tamper |
| function in concert with the Zebra Gen2 RFID card. | | | | resistant and each one has a unique serial ID#. |
| However, it is also compatible with card stock available | | | | Cloning, forging and other security risks are very low. |
| from other ID printer companies. This is not surprising | | | | The benefits of UHF enabled devices for advanced |
| since a third party is the actual manufacturer of these | | | | access control applications are readily apparent. High |
| RFID cards. However, Zebra does have a patent | | | | volume traffic can be authenticated at a rate of over |
| pending for some features of the inlay antenna. | | | | 60 RFID tags per second. Such ID cards can be |
| These design aspects focus on performance and | | | | read passively without being directly presented to a |
| security maximization. | | | | card reader. A person carrying a low level access |
| There are quite a few low frequency and high | | | | card might attempt to enter a restricted area by |
| frequency RFID options already on the market. What | | | | slipping in behind an authorized individual while the door |
| makes ultra-high frequency different? The tags used | | | | is still open. However, any card that does not contain |
| have an average readable range of 10-12 feet. This | | | | the appropriate permissions will trigger the interrogator |
| is significantly further than either LF or UF generally | | | | as it passes by. The card reader can then send an |
| reach. Such a capability opens up a broad range of | | | | automatic notification to the central monitoring station. |
| applications which standard proximity cards are not | | | | Of course, the use of video surveillance or security |
| equipped to handle. Zebra selected the ThingMagic | | | | staff is still the only way to catch someone this way if |
| Mercury4e read/write module because of its dual | | | | they are not carrying any card at all. |
| antenna design and compatibility with a wide variety of | | | | |
