Zebra RFID Handhelds
Two Zebra® UHF RFID sleds for cycle counting, stockroom work, yards and docks — with the host computer and the sled sized together, because the radio and the screen are not in the same box.
Zebra® UHF RFID Handhelds
The radio is in the sled, not in the handheld
This is the one thing to settle before an RFID handheld is quoted. On this product line the UHF radio, the antenna and the trigger are in a detachable sled. The screen, keypad and barcode scanner stay on the host mobile computer the sled mounts to. Zebra also sells otherwise similar mobile computers with no UHF radio at all, so two machines that look identical on a spec sheet can differ on the one field the job depends on.
The practical consequence is that the host and the sled are quoted together. The host decides the screen, the keypad and the scanner; the sled decides the read rate, the read range and the sealing. Quoting either one alone leaves the RFID part of the specification undefined.
The line
Two sleds, two environments
Both models read 1,300+ tags per second. What separates them is how far they reach and what they survive, and that is decided by where the count happens.
RFD40
UHF RFID sled for cycle counting and stockroom work, IP54 sealed
1,300+ tags/s · up to 40 ft (12 m) · IP54
View RFD40
RFD90
Long-range ultra-rugged UHF RFID sled for yards, docks and cold storage
1,300+ tags/s · up to 22.9 m · IP65/IP67
View RFD90How to choose
Pick by where the counting happens
| If the work is | Start with | Because |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle counting and stock takes indoors | RFD40 | Maximum 40 ft (12 m) is ample at close range and the unit is lighter to carry all day. |
| Receiving and put-away at a dock door | RFD40, or RFD90 where reach is needed | Dock work is close range but often long enough that the extra reach pays for the extra size. |
| Yard, outdoor or cold storage counting | RFD90 | IP65/IP67, a 6 ft drop specification and operation down to -20°C are what make it an outdoor unit. |
| Reading pallets or containers across a yard | RFD9090 variant of the RFD90 | The long-range variant is quoted at approximately 75 ft (22.9 m) nominal; the RFD9030 is approximately 22 ft (6.7 m). |
Manufacturer-stated figures. Where the manufacturer publishes two variants on the same page, both are given here so the range of the unit being quoted is not assumed from the family name.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the UHF radio built into the Zebra handheld?
Not in the host computer. On this product line the UHF radio, antenna and trigger live in a detachable sled that mounts on the host mobile computer; the screen, keypad and barcode scanner stay on the host. Zebra also sells otherwise similar mobile computers with no UHF radio at all, so the part that carries the radio should be confirmed before a handheld is quoted for an RFID job.
What is the difference between the RFD40 and the RFD90?
Reach and ruggedness, not speed. Both read 1,300+ tags per second. The RFD40 reads to a maximum of 40 ft (12 m) and is IP54 sealed, which suits cycle counting and stockroom work. The RFD90 is IP65/IP67 with a 6 ft drop specification and an operating range down to -20°C, and its two variants reach approximately 22 ft (6.7 m) and approximately 75 ft (22.9 m), which suits yards, docks and cold storage.
Which host mobile computers do the sleds fit?
Both connect to current and future Zebra mobile computers. eConnex adapters are used on hosts with a rear docking connector and Bluetooth adapters on hosts without one, so the adapter depends on the host model. Quote the host and the sled together rather than separately.
Can a count continue where there is no network?
Yes. Both sleds store large tag reads offline, so a count continues without a constant connection and is uploaded afterwards.
How long does the battery last on a shift?
Both carry a 7000 mAh PowerPrecision+ battery with a quick-release function, so a spare pack swaps in without powering the unit down.
Can a Zebra RFID handheld be evaluated before a volume order?
Yes. Either sled can be arranged as a single evaluation unit before volume orders, so the host and sled can be tested against your own tags first. Use the Request a Quote button for current lead time and evaluation terms.
Tell us the host, and we will size the sled
Quote the mobile computer you already run, or let us recommend one, and we will match the sled and the adapter to it.
Request a QuoteRelated: Zebra RFID products · Zebra UHF antennas · RFID printers