Car RFID tags are like magic keys that make using cars in different places more accessible and safer. They help a lot to keep things safe and work smoothly, especially in areas such as homes and businesses.
This comprehensive guide will tell you everything about Car RFID tags, from good to not very good things, and how these tags work. We will also see when and where these tags can be beneficial.
What is a Car RFID Tag?
Car RFID tag is like an intelligent sticker that you can stick to your car. It works as a unique key to open the doors of your vehicle. A magical sensor nearby can read this sticker without touching it. It verifies if you are the right person and then opens the door for you.
These stickers do more than open the doors. Some are super smart and can tell where the car is in real-time, which is worthwhile for car sellers. However, a standard RFID tag is all you need if you just want to control who can get into a parking lot or through a door.
Before these stickers were introduced, entering a place with a door was disturbing. People need to get out of their vehicles to open the doors or wait for someone in a cabin to prove if they are allowed to enter. But now, thanks to the excellent technology and automatic door machines, you can stay in your car, and the door knows that you can get in. It’s like magic for your car!
Car RFID tags are like secret codes that talk to a particular machine called the RFID reader. Here’s how it works:
- Car RFID tag: This is like a small sticker that you can place in your car, usually on the windshield.
- RFID sensor: A special sensor can “see” this sticker. Once your car is near the sticker, they begin talking without touching it.
- Control Panel: It’s like the brain behind everything. The control panel sensor tells what’s on the sticker, and the Control Panel checks if this is the correct code to open the gate.
Thus, the car sticker and the sensor chat by invisible radio waves. But there are two types of stickers—active and passive—you can choose from, depending on what you need.
Active RFID tags come with a battery, while passive RFID tags do not.
Active and passive RFID tags work by connecting with readers using an electromagnetic field. This field powers passive tags so they can share their information. On the other hand, active RFID tags use the area to find out when a reader is near and then use their built-in battery to send information to the reader.
What does this mean for you? Active tags are worth more (costly) because they are a bit more elegant. But they can talk to readers from afar. On the other hand, passive tags are cheaper and more efficient to speak closely with readers. It is like choosing between a tag with its own power source (active) or one that borrows power (passive) for a fast chat. Both get the job done but in different ways!
Let’s look closely at the good and not-so-good parts of using car RFID tags for managing vehicle access.
Pros:
- Easy to use:
Using RFID tags is simple. Unlike other procedures in which drivers must stop, roll down their windows, and scan something physical, RFID tags can open a door quickly without much concern. It’s like a quick wave, and you’re inside!
Why so good: There’s no need to wait in longer lines or stop your car thoroughly. This is very comfortable for residents.
- Hard to Misplace:
Mostly, property managers face the inconvenience of losing the residential keys or key fobs when they misplace them. However, unlike small articles, such as keys that may accidentally disappear from residents, RFID tags are always stuck on residents’ car windshields. This means residents will not waste time looking for their access passes when entering.
- Help Staff:
The car RFID tag system does something great: it keeps a record of when cars enter. They automatically write the date and time of each entry. Some systems even remember the car model that entered at that time. It keeps the record so that staff can check it later and verify it to ensure that everything is safe and secure.
Cons:
- Risk of wear and tear:
One challenge of RFID tags is that they can quickly wear and tear. These tags usually have a lifespan of about three to five years. While RFID tags for cars are not easy to break, there is always the possibility that a resident will accidentally damage their tag. In such cases, when a tag becomes unusable, residents should have an alternative way to access the property.
- Visitors Access Management:
Managing access for visitors with car RFID tags can be confusing. Residents are safe to provide stickers because their identities have been checked first. However, providing a windshield sticker with an RFID tag to a guest is not secure. A visitor might use a temporary RFID tag to get unauthorized access later. So, instead of relying on car RFID tags for visitors, it is better to use a different method to control who can enter. However, the stickers work well for residents because their identities were saved earlier.