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RFID Plugtests contribute to ETSI Guidelines

The first RFID Plugtests™ event has taken place, at ETSI’s headquarters, from 7th  until 11th March 2005. This focussed on the assessment of “multiple interrogators for dock doors”

In controlled conditions, Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) manufacturers have conducted tests devised to gather data on the capabilities of current RFID equipment in situations where multiple interrogators are positioned in close proximity.  These tests have simulated the operation of two or more loading bays with varying antenna positions and the potential to use shielding.

In September 2004, ETSI published the EN 302 208 standard covering “Technical requirements and methods of measurement” for RFID equipment at UHF, in the band 865 MHz to 868 MHz.

Mr. Falck, of the Low Power Radio Association and chairman of ETSI ERM TG34 who drafted the standard said;

“After publishing the standard on methods of measurement it became clear that there was a demand for recommending suitable practices for the installation of RFID equipment at UHF. There is also a need to reconcile the differences between good radio practice and end user requirements”.

Since September things have moved quickly, Mr. Falck continued;

“To help this process the Plugtests service has acted remarkably quickly to help us to coordinate this test event. The practical successes and challenges from the Plugtests event will provide valuable inputs for an ETSI Technical Report on the installation and commissioning of RFID equipment”.

The ETSI Technical Report will be in the form of a Code of Practice for the installation of RFID equipment in conformance to EN 302 208 and is due for publication by the end of the year, after on-site testing against the Code of Practice has been conducted in June 2005.

For this weeks event in ETSI, much of the structural and technical infrastructure needed to host the equipment for test was sponsored by EPCglobal, who’s standards for RFID and the Electronic Product Code™ (EPC) for trading networks are at the core of the equipment tests here. Also, the cooperation of the Carrefour supermarket group, Emerson and Cumming and Cetecom in supplying materials for the simulated docking area, absorbent material for screening and measurement equipment, has contributed greatly to the success of this Plugtests event.

[END]

Notes to editors
About ETSI Committee EMC and Radio Spectrum Matters (ERM)
Please see http://portal.etsi.org/erm/erm_tor.asp for details of the varied work of the ERM Technical Committee.

The tasks to be performed by TG34 (a working group of ERM) are as follows:
• Represent the interests of the RFID industry within ETSI for all RFID products and devices
• Develop deliverables as instructed by TC-ERM for future RFID technologies/products not covered by current generic standards
• Prepare all the necessary documentation including Work Items, Systems Reference Documents, Report and Standards relating to RFID products and present such documentation at meetings of ERM RM and TC ERM
• Liaise as appropriate with other TGs to ensure co-existence of RFID devices with other product groups

About ETSI Plugtests™
The ETSI Plugtests Service is a professional service that specializes in the organization of interoperability events for any telecommunication / Internet / Information Technology standard. 

For more information about their event schedule and other activities organized by the Plugtests Service visit: www.etsi.org/plugtests/

Plugtests™ is a trademark of ETSI registered for the benefit of its Members

About ETSI
The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) plays a major role in global standardization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), including telecommunications and broadcasting. ETSI unites around 700 member companies from nearly 60 countries, including manufacturers, network operators, administrations, service providers, research bodies and users – in fact, all the key players in the ICT arena.

For more information: www.etsi.org

For further information about this news release, please contact:
Kevin FLYNN,
ETSI Press co-ordinator
Tel: +33 (0)4 92 94 42 58
Fax: +33 (0)4 92 38 52 41
E-mail: kevin.flynn@etsi.org