Static Reader Configuration Short List

Three options were selected as a short list for consideration.

For all of them, we suggest using Particle devices, either the Boron for Cellular or Photon for WiFi. Both would run (nearly) identical firmware, so swapping them would be easy. This gives the flexibility to select configurations that make sense for the site:

  • If the site has lots of readers, it would be worth setting up a cellular hotspot from Cradlepoint or similar, and have equip readers with Photon's to take advantage of low cost-per-MB options provided by the Cradlepoint

  • If the site has few (or one) reader, equip the reader with Boron for all-in-one functionality at a higher cost-per-MB.

1. Particle + Edge 30R+

The Edge 30R+ is the most "known quantity" of the readers. It is from a reputable manufacturer, and likely has good performance. It is comparatively expensive at ~$1500.

A Boron would be a very appropriately sized processor to handling the configuration and reading from the Edge 30R+. The Boron would control the Edge using the semi-standardized Mercury API. Many other readers use the Mercury API, so integrating them at a later date will "just work" if the same commands are used. If additional commands are needed, the Mercury API has already done the heavy lifting.

Because of lower power draw from the Boron, and the ability to add a simple power relay, this configuration would likely work well on a solar battery setup for indefinite installation.

Depending on the site layout, the single antenna may be limiting. Adding more readers may be cost prohibitive.

For developing a MVP, simpler is better, and most/all of the work developing with this reader will carry forward directly if a different RFID reader that speaks over Mercury is desired.

2. Particle + Yanzeo SA810

The Yanzeo is meaningfully cheaper, to the point that it should be considered. At only ~$300 per reader, it may be reasonable to field many of these sensors at challenging sites.

Unfortunately, the Yanzeo talks over it's own custom protocol. Basic behaviors should be straightforward to integrate (Altamus has basic functionality working with a different Yanzeo sensor used for the Slump Stand measuring project), but adding RF Controller features will be piecemeal and manual. These commands will not transfer to a different brand of sensor.

It's performance is untested, and might not be as good as the "good" HID/ThingMagic sensors.

Because of lower power draw from the Boron, and the ability to add a simple power relay, this configuration would likely work well on a solar battery setup for indefinite installation.

3. Particle + ThingMagic IZAR

The ThingMagic IZAR is compelling due to it having multiple antenna ports, and being in the middle on pricing at ~$1200 for the reader + ~$150 for a single antenna. This gives operational flexibility to allow a single reader station to read up to 4 different directions.

It provides a Linux environment onboard to act as the Processor component, so an additional Boron isn't necessary. It still needs to reach the outside world, so some type of network bridge will be required. Because it's a full Linux environment, it can do HTTPS/authentication directly onboard, so the Particle Cloud/Webhooks aren't needed anymore, and no recurring costs are accumulated. Updating firmware remotely will have to be developed manually, which could lead to headaches.

Comparison

Configuration Notes Antenna Cost RF Controller Cost Processor Cost Connectivity Cost Total BOM Data Costs Operational Costs
1A Edge + Boron N/A $1500 $60 N/A ~$2000 Included in Operational Cost $3 Per Month Per Device
1B Edge + Photon + Cradlepoint N/A $1500 $25 $200 (one per site) ~$1950 $0.10 Per MB $1 Per Month Per Device
2A Yanzeo + Boron N/A $300 $60 N/A ~$600 Included in Operational Cost $3 Per Month Per Device
2B Yanzeo + Photon + Cradlepoint N/A $1500 $25 $200 (one per site) ~$540 $0.10 Per MB $1 Per Month Per Device
3 IZAR + Cradlepoint $150-600 $1300 N/A $200 (one per site) ~$2000 $0.10 Per MB N/A

Data Estimation

Below is a table providing rough estimates of data costs.

Assuming 28 bytes are transmitted per read.

See Particle Pricing for more detail on how Particle structures their pricing

Configuration Tag Count Read Rate (sec) Reads Per Day MB/Month Alloted MB/Month Cost Per Device Effective Cost per MB
Boron (Cellular) 30 300 (5 minutes) 8640 7.1 7.2 $3 $0.42 Per MB (included in per month cost)
Photon (WiFi) 30 300 (5 minutes) 8640 7.1 7.2 $3 $0.42 Per MB (included in per month cost)