SimplyRFiD will be exhibiting at the ISC West show in Las Vegas in March. This important show will feature loads of information and exhibitors from the international security industry. It's a great opportunity to see what the year has in store for security professionals, learn a lot, and make useful networking connections.
Join us there March 24-26 and learn all about our Nox RFID Asset Tracking system. The system combines RFID, readers, software and high-definition cameras to monitor everything that the user wants to keep track of. It's works on everything from laptops and important hardware to file folder to people. It's not just asset tracking, it's asset surveillance. Join us in Las Vegas in March to see for yourself why Nox can work for your business.
We'll have more information on this show in the coming weeks, so stay tuned or click above to sign up for RSS updates.
This month's newsletter is chock full of great information for people looking for straightforward solutions to real problems.
RFID Asset Tracking: Learn about Excel Manufacturing, a uniform provider for the Air Force, and how our Nox RFID asset tracking system saved them time and headaches by letting them know where every part of a shipment was at all times.
UID Tags: Learn about UID and current requirements about shipping expensive or mission critical items to the Department of Defense.
Connect with Experts: Find links to our monthly "webinar" series. Sign up to attend virtually! All you need is a computer, a microphone or a phone. Learn about the WAWF, DoD shipping requirements and get all your DoD-related questions answered!
Rugged and affordable RFID: Find out about our RFID options. Need something that can withstand boiling, baking AND freezing (maybe not at the same time?) We've got you covered. Need something that costs less than what you might think? Got that covered as well. Find out more in our newsletter.
Sometimes all you need to track is a few file folders full of vital information. These folders probably won't leave the safe confines of your office or building, and probably don't need to stand up to much more than some overzealous handlers or a spilled cup of coffee. For that task, RFID tags optimized for use on cardboard or paper paired with high definition cameras and readers will probably suffice.
But sometimes you need something tougher. You need a tag that can withstand the heat and the rain and lots of handling and difficult situations. As you might imagine, not all tags are up to the task. However, it can be even more imperative to track the locations of the toughest objects in your organization, including servers, laptops, tools and other metallic objects.
Durable and Tested
For these types of objects, SimplyRFiD has our NOX-TM4 series of tested and guaranteed tags that will stand up to even the most severe use.
Our tags have been boiled...
Our tags have been frozen...
And our tags have been baked...
For more information about the more serious and long term testing done on these tags, check out our previous blog post on RFID stress tests.
How to Use Your Tough-As-Nails Tags
Our tags are metal mount tags, and are actually optimized to perform the best on metallic surfaces, achieving at least 10' of reliable read range and sometimes even farther. The tags can be attached to surfaces with their own 3M9472LE adhesive strip on the top of the tag. Of course, if you need the tag to be more securely attached, the tag includes two holes that allow you to mount it with screws. Epoxy is also a legitimate solution.
Once you've got your tags attached, the next step is tracking them. NOX-TM4 work with all EPC Gen 2 RFID readers. If you're looking for just such a reader (or if you have no idea what the last sentence meant at all) check out our NoxVault handheld RFID reader. The reader can be paired with an Excel spreadsheet that can be searched to find where any item it at all times. It can also be paired with other spreadsheets you've already created to keep track of your inventory. The reader can scan as many as 100 tags per second, allowing you to manage your assets in significantly less time than counting by hand, with much more accuracy.
Unfortunately, these tags aren't meant to work as well on non-metal surfaces, but we have a variety of other tags that can meet your other needs. Drop us an email or call at 1-800-909-5524.
RFID
tags come in hundreds of sizes. The laptop RFID tag pictured is the
Nox-TM4. It's only 1.5"x0.5"x0.12" and costs $2 to 5 each. By
placing this tag on a laptop, you can track it down hallways, through
doorways, and make sure the right person walks out the door with it.
We recommend a rugged, metal-mountable RFID tag for laptop tracking because they will be abused and many laptop surfaces are metal or have metal components that interfere with RFID signals.
Benefits of RFID for laptop tracking
RFID has X-Ray vision -- it sees through walls (and bags!) - if someone has the wrong laptop in their briefcase or backpack, RFID will locate it and warn you.
Fast - RFID can scan about 200 tags per second. That means no one needs to stop to have their badge scanned -- just keep on walking.
Durable - Barcodes tend to wear out. Passive RFID has an indefinite lifetime use.
Simple - Modern RFID tags have a unique ID that can simply be attached to an item to track. This works just like an barcode asset tag -- use the RFID # to track your items fast, and simply.
Accurate counting - RFID makes sure every item is counted and tracked instantly. Barcodes require each item to be located, scanned, and repeated. Barcodes are fantastically inexpensive but don't have the ability to count all the items in a box, ever time.
Sneaky and covert - RFID tags can be hidden inside boxes, underneath the cover, or on the battery compartment. Would-be thieves won't know that this laptop has a locator.
Always working - RFID keeps working after you've gone for the day. One of the most common ways to steal a laptop: Drop it in the trash can. By placing an RFID reader over your trash area, you will see if an important 'tagged' item shows up in your trash. This makes RFID great for tracking critical documents as well.
Which RFID tags should I use for tracking laptops?
Nox-TM-4
The Nox-TM4 (pictured) is a great tag for tracking any asset. They come pre-programmed with a unique ID and they are ready to apply. They also have self-adhesive tape on the back and have small screw mount holes for permanent attachment. They can be ordered in any quantity and can have barcode information print on the front.
Nox-1
An alternative is the Nox-1 RFID tag.
The Nox-1 is a traditional label-type RFID tag. It's very-very thin and has a synthetic (i.e. plastic) material to make it very durable. The only drawback is: they don't work on metal. However, they are cheap and a 'metal mount spacer' makes them work very well on a metal surface. A label-type RF tag is around $0.20 cents to $0.60 cents and can be as low as $0.14 cents (for quantity 5,000,000).
Nox-MTS
We typically use the Nox-1 label tags on file folders. If you'd like to use the Nox-1 on-metal, you can use our Nox-MTS foam spacers.
What about active RFID?
Active RFID is great but expensive. Active tags costs $60+ per active tag transmitter and they are still susceptible to 'not working' when they need to. However, if you have very critical active RFID needs, there are solutions available for locating every item you own starting at around $20,000.
How do I get started?
1. A starter RFID reader can be as low as $1,000. And, a handheld RFID reader about $3,000.
2. Tag your items with pre-programmed, ready-to-apply RFID tags.
3. Start tracking!
Request an RFID Samples Kit for laptops. We'll send you everything you need to see what RFID tags look like just for the cost of shipping.
