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The Basics: HF, UHF and NFC – What Are We Talking About?
RFID relies on several frequency bands. Among the most widely used technologies in business, three stand out for common professional applications: RFID HF, RFID UHF and NFC.
Before comparing them, one essential point to clarify: NFC (Near Field Communication) is not an independent frequency. It is a variant of RFID HF (13.56 MHz), deliberately limited to a few centimetres to secure data exchanges with a smartphone.
In other words: all NFC is RFID HF, but not all RFID HF is NFC.
| Technology | Frequency | Read Range | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| RFID HF | 13.56 MHz | A few cm to 1 m | Badges, libraries, archives |
| RFID UHF | 860–960 MHz | 3 to 12+ metres | Inventory, logistics, stock management |
| NFC | 13.56 MHz | 0 to 10 cm | Payment, authentication, smartphone |
RFID HF: Controlled Close-Range Identification
RFID HF operates at 13.56 MHz with a read range of a few centimetres to approximately 1 metre. This deliberately limited distance is an advantage: it reduces the risk of unwanted reads and guarantees controlled interaction, which is essential in secure identification systems. Its data transfer rate reaches 25 to 100 Kbits/s, which is sufficient for individual item use cases.
RFID HF is the go-to technology for employee badges and access cards, transit cards, files and archives, and corporate access control systems.
NFC: RFID HF for Smartphones
NFC uses the same frequency as RFID HF (13.56 MHz), but reduces the range to 0–10 cm to ensure a deliberate and secure interaction. It operates in one-to-one mode: the smartphone approaches the chip, reads the data, and the exchange is complete.
This is why NFC has become the standard for contactless payment, authentication and interactive marketing. Its limitation is clear: it cannot read multiple tags simultaneously, and is therefore not suited to high-volume management.
RFID UHF: The Reference Technology for Professional Inventory
RFID UHF (Ultra High Frequency) operates between 860 and 960 MHz in Europe, the standard frequency is 868 MHz. Its read range reaches 3 to 12 metres depending on the hardware, and up to 15 metres for fixed long-range readers. This is what sets it radically apart from the other two technologies.
In practice, a portable RFID terminal such as the Zebra TC22R reads up to 700 tags simultaneously, with a data transfer rate reaching 650 Kbits/s. An inventory that used to take several hours with a traditional barcode scanner can now be completed in just a few minutes. For warehouses, logistics and retail, the fast RFID solution for asset inventory relies almost exclusively on this technology.
Performance Comparison: What the Numbers Say
Read speed and volume directly determine the operational feasibility of an RFID project.
| Criteria | RFID HF | RFID UHF | NFC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Range | Up to 1 m | 3 to 12+ m | 0 to 10 cm |
| Simultaneous reads | Limited | 700+ tags | 1 tag (one-to-one) |
| Data transfer rate | 25–100 Kbits/s | Up to 650 Kbits/s | 106–424 Kbits/s |
| Metal/water interference | Low | Sensitive (improved) | Low |
Badges and Access Control: The Domain of HF and NFC
For employee badges, student cards, transit passes and access control systems, RFID HF and NFC are the natural fit. Their controlled close-range reading is a feature, not a limitation: it ensures no card is read without the holder's knowledge, which is a security prerequisite in most professional environments.
Software to Leverage Your RFID Data
Whatever technology is deployed, the collected data must be centralised and put to use. The SAM – SBE Asset Manager and ScanAsset RFID software connect your readers, terminals and databases to manage your inventories in real time and track your assets with precision. They adapt to your RFID technology — HF, UHF or NFC — not the other way around.
To go further, check out our guide Understanding RFID in 10 Key Points.
Which Technology Should You Choose for Your Use Case?
| Your Need | Recommended Technology |
|---|---|
| Access badges, cards, archives | RFID HF |
| Fast inventory, stock management, logistics | RFID UHF |
| Contactless payment, smartphone authentication | NFC |
| Large-scale asset tracking | RFID UHF |
The right choice is not a question of technology, but of use case. The SBE Direct team will guide you in defining the solution best suited to your environment and deploying your RFID project end to end.
- New
- New
RFID readers
Terminal mobile QR code 1D/2D and NFC EDA52 ScanPal Honeywell
From €1269.00 to €1557.00 excl. VAT
The terminal
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RFID software
SAM* - SBE Asset Manager - Inventory & asset management software
From €997.00 to €22987.00 excl. VAT
The annual license
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