RFID readers are at the heart of Beam's scanning capabilities. They allow you to quickly identify and count inventory items by reading the RFID tags attached to them. Beam supports a range of handheld and fixed RFID readers from leading manufacturers.
Supported models
Beam is compatible with the following RFID reader models:
| Model | Manufacturer | Antennas | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chainway C66 | Chainway | 1 | Handheld scanning, slim form factor |
| Chainway C72 | Chainway | 1 | Handheld scanning, available with or without integrated barcode scanner |
| Chainway C83 | Chainway | 1 | Handheld scanning, newer Android version |
| Urovo | Urovo | 1 | Handheld mobile scanning |
| Impinj R700 | Impinj | 4 | Fixed scanning, direct network or via Beam IoT Bridge |
Setting up an RFID reader
To connect an RFID reader to Beam:
- Go to Devices and tap Add Device.
- Choose the connection type (Local WiFi or via Beam Bridge).
- Select RFID Reader as the device type.
- Beam will scan your network for available RFID readers.
- Select your reader from the list of discovered devices.
- Give the reader a name, and optionally assign an icon and color for easy identification.
- Tap Save to complete the setup.
Configuring reader settings
After adding an RFID reader, you can fine-tune its settings to match your environment and workflow:
TX Power
Controls the transmission power of the reader. Higher power means longer read range but may pick up tags from adjacent areas. Lower power provides more focused, precise reads.
RSSI Threshold
Sets the minimum signal strength required for a tag to be registered. Increasing the threshold filters out weak signals from distant or partially obstructed tags.
Operation Mode
- Continuous The reader scans continuously as long as it is active.
- Trigger The reader scans only when a trigger button is pressed.
- Scheduled The reader scans at predefined intervals or times.
Session & Target
RFID sessions (S0, S1, S2, S3) control how tags respond to repeated reads. Session S0 allows tags to be read repeatedly, which is useful for continuous monitoring. Higher sessions (S1-S3) cause tags to switch state after being read, which is better for counting unique items without duplicates.
Antenna Configuration
For multi-antenna readers, you can enable or disable individual antennas and set the power level for each one independently. This is useful for directing the read zone to specific areas.
Duplicate Elimination
Controls how the reader handles tags that are read multiple times. Enable this to ensure each unique tag is only reported once per scan session.
Sound & LED Feedback
Configure audible beeps and LED indicators on the reader itself to provide immediate feedback when tags are read. This helps operators confirm that scanning is working without looking at the screen.