RAIN RFID / EPC Gen2 vs. ISO/IEC 15693
Comparing 2 standards across 15 specifications. 15 key differences identified.
RAIN RFID (ISO/IEC 18000-63 / GS1 EPC Gen2) is an Ultra-High Frequency (UHF, 860–960 MHz) wireless standard utilizing electromagnetic backscatter coupling. Enabling simultaneous inventory reading of hundreds of passive tags per second over distances up to 12 meters, it is the global standard for retail apparel, aviation baggage, and logistics supply chains.
ISO/IEC 15693 (NFC Forum Type 5) is an international standard for High-Frequency (13.56 MHz) Vicinity Integrated Circuit Cards (VICC). Engineered with relaxed power requirements and highly sensitive subcarrier modulation, it achieves read ranges up to 1 to 1.5 meters, making it the standard for library item tracking, ski resort passes, and pharmaceutical logistics.
Specification Comparison Table
15 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Operating Frequency Band
|
860–960 MHz (865–868 MHz EU / 902–928 MHz US) | — |
|
Standard Specifications
|
GS1 EPC Gen2 v2 / ISO/IEC 18000-63 | — |
|
Communication Mechanism
|
Passive Modulated Backscatter (Far-field EM) | — |
|
Typical Read Range
|
5 to 12 m (passive tags) | — |
|
Inventory Read Speed
|
Up to 1,000 tags/sec | — |
|
Forward Link Modulation
|
DSB-ASK, SSB-ASK, or PR-ASK (PIE encoding) | — |
|
Return Link Modulation
|
FM0 or Miller Subcarrier (40 to 640 kbps) | — |
|
Memory Banks
|
Reserved (Kill/Access passwords), EPC, TID (Factory ID), User Memory | — |
|
Frequency Bands
|
— | 13.56 MHz |
|
Operating Distance
|
— | Up to 1.0 to 1.5 m (Vicinity range) |
|
NFC Forum Classification
|
— | Type 5 Tag |
|
Data Rates (Downlink)
|
— | 26.48 kbps (High data rate) / 1.65 kbps (Low rate) |
|
Downlink Modulation
|
— | 100% or 10%–30% ASK (1-out-of-4 or 1-out-of-256 pulse position coding) |
|
Uplink Modulation
|
— | Manchester coding on 423.75 kHz single or dual subcarriers |
|
Prominent Silicon Families
|
— | NXP ICODE, STMicroelectronics ST25TV, Texas Instruments Tag-it |