Share thisHow the various radio devices operate harmoniously within the laboratory environment without causing health issues and interference to each other.
Animal care facilities, just like all industrial environments, are exposed to a wide spectrum of electro-magnetic radiation from many different sources. It is important to consider how these emissions could effect animal stress levels and alter their behavior as well as understand how these signals can interfere with each other.
Some of this energy is required for data communications and proper operation of the multitude of devices used within the facility, and other energies are the result of manmade interference. Each of these devices emits energies at various power levels and operates on their assigned frequencies. In order for all of these devices to operate within the same environment, it becomes necessary to understand the potential interference that each device can cause and realize each device’s susceptibility to interference from the other devices. This aspect of radio technology is known as Radio Frequency Interference/Electro-Magnetic Interference (RFI/EMI).
Today Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) can be utilized for asset inventory, security access, and rapidly tracking animal census. Animal laboratories have been utilizing RFID for the identification of animals. Subcutaneous transponders are used for smaller animals and pets while RFID ear tags, bracelets, and bolus tags are used for larger animals. Passive Integrated Transponders (PIT) offering Electronic Identification (EID) meet international standards such as ISO 11784 and 11785, which describe the protocols to be used by the animal identification community. Typically these devices utilize a low-frequency (LF) air interface having emissions at 125 kHz to 135 kHz. The limitation of LF technology is its relatively short range of detection, typically from almost contact up to as much as a few feet. Another significant shortcoming of LF is its lack of anti-collision capability, limiting the reader to detect only one tag at a time.
