RFID gate reader setup
This guide walks a technician through mounting, powering, and registering a fixed UHF RFID gate reader so every tagged item that crosses the gate is recorded in Trakora. It is written for warehouse goods-in/goods-out doors and retail anti-theft gates.
1. Mount the antennas
- Mount each antenna 1.8 m to 2.2 m above the floor on either side of the doorway.
- Use circular polarisation for mixed tag orientation (clothing, cylinders, mixed cartons). Use linear polarisation for fixed-orientation cylinder tracks.
- Aim antennas inward at roughly 30 degrees from the wall plane so the read field overlaps in the centre of the doorway.
- Keep at least 50 cm clearance from metal beams and rolling shutters — they create dead zones.
2. Power and network
You have two power options:
- PoE (Power over Ethernet, 802.3at) — recommended. One cable per reader, runs up to 80 m back to the switch.
- DC 12 V with a barrel jack and separate Ethernet or Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz.
Plug into your switch on a VLAN that can reach reader.trakora.co.tz on TCP 8443. If the reader has Wi-Fi, configure it through the vendor's web UI first, then move on.
3. Register the reader in Trakora
- In the dashboard go to Admin → Readers → New reader.
- Choose the model (Chainway, Impinj R420, Zebra FX9600, etc.).
- Paste the reader's MAC address and the reader-key printed on the unit's label.
- Pick the gate location (e.g. Kariakoo Warehouse — Door 3) and direction (IN, OUT, or AUTO for direction inference).
- Save. Within ~30 seconds the reader's status pill turns green.
4. Tune read range and choose a mode
- EPC mode (default) — reads the EPC bank. Fastest, works with all standard UHF tags.
- UID mode — reads the TID bank. Slower but un-cloneable; pick this for high-value retail.
- Lower the antenna power from 30 dBm to 24–27 dBm if you are reading neighbouring stockroom shelves by accident.
5. Verify with a test tag
- Encode a fresh tag at Admin → Tags → New tag and stick it on a test carton.
- Walk the carton through the gate.
- Open Live Events — you should see a gate-cross event within 1 second.
Still stuck?
WhatsApp +255 759 702 766 or email support@trakora.co.tz. Include the reader MAC address and a photo of the gate.