Control Access in scholls

There are two ways to setup RFID access control for schools, passive or active RFID. If you go with passive RFID, like a 900MHz system, you can issue very thin and light weight RFID tags to students or embed them into actual name badges. The passive tags are much lower cost, do not need batteries, and much more portable.

Active tags will be larger, bulkier, contain batteries with limited lifespans, and cost much more to purchase and re-purchase when students lose them or the batteries run out.

The only advantage you have to active RFID systems is that the system could be deployed so you could know the real-time location of students (which classrooms they were in, etc.) and the active RFID tags would be much more reliable as far as getting a reading from them, since they would constantly be transmitting.

The down side of passive tags is that you would have to deploy readers at every doorway and getting a read from the passive tag may not be reliable if the student does not present the tag to the reader properly or is not wearing their name tag properly (they have it in their backpack or school bag).

If you choose to use an active RFID system, going with the Wavetrend hardware for your own custom solutions will require purchasing their SDK. Not only that, but purchasing their SDK comes with conditions. They just don't make it easy to use their equipment.

Personally, I would go with a passive UHF system and integrate the RFID tags into name badges or something. Then the students could be trained to just wear them around their necks or even just present the tags to the reader to be counted for attendance (giving them a reason and an incentive to get counted). Both your short term and long term costs will be lower, and student acceptance will be much higher if they don't have to carry around a bulky active RFID tag all day.

I don't think you'll find a low cost active RFID solution, and putting passive tags on backpacks may not be that reliable.

However, I just got a new lead on an active RFID system that does not charge for their SDK (they have one, and it's free), and the batteries in the active tags can be replaced!

I've not worked with these or tested this system out yet, but you can check it out over at http://www.syris.com/product/eng_product2.php?m_no=101

The best part is, they are already ethernet network ready! You can easily network multiple readers using your existing LAN infrastructure!


Edited by amal - 22 May 2006 at 7:00am

You can reduce the range of readers two ways... First, use an attenuated antenna which is designed to have poor reception quality.

Second, you can use what's called RSSI which is basically a signal strength reading for your tags. If a tag is far away, the RSSI value will be low. The closer a tag gets to the reader, the higher the RSSI value reported back will be. You can set a high RSSI limit and only count tags that are close to the reader.

Hi,

Vanskee Enterprises, which is based out of China, offers the application and the technology that you are looking for at a lower price.  Please visit www.vanskee.com for further information.

Charallave-

Please contact me via the email address I included in the private message I sent you.

Kindest regards,

J

I appreciate the issues presented in rfbase's posting.  To begin, the discussion did go towards the direction of ACTIVE RFID, and my response to that is:

1.  Vanskee offers RFID solutions that meet the needs of Charallave, and is willing to work with/collaborate with school systems seeking to deploy an RFID Child Safety System.

2.  Vanskee can supply a kit (including the Gate antenna plus the reader) at a price less than $750.  I would not publicly state that we can offer a product at less than $750 if we couldn't.

3.  Although the discussion moved towards ACTIVE RFID, please know that PASSIVE RFID can and does achieve the required outcome. 

So I ask for viewers not to dismiss my suggestion and proposal to collaborate on a project.  With RFID expertise at hand, ongoing R&D, and production facilities, Vanskee possesses a great deal of capabilities.

The RFID and Auto ID industry offers a vast amount of possibilities for various needs, and in this case, I leave it to the interested party/organization to decide how they choose to look at their investment in RFID technology.

I see child safety as the main issue here, and you cannot put a price on a child or his/her safety and well being.  And the ultimate goal here is to implement an effective and cost-efficient RFID/Auto ID system in school buildings to ensure the safety of students.

If any of my statements or my conclusion is incorrect, please let me know and provide further details, so that I do not make anymore wrong assumptions during my efforts to provide my services or a solution to achieve Charallave's ultimate goal.

Thank you,
J