134.2kHz 
134.2kHz Animal ID Readers
A140-U 134.2kHz FDX-B USB Compact Desktop Reader with Light Ring
The A140-U is a compact USB desktop reader for FDX-B (134.2 kHz) and EMID (125 kHz) animal tags, with a light ring that shows each read. It suits shared counters at clinics, shelters and farm offices, reads tags at up to 150 mm and types the number into any software without a driver.
- Frequency
- 134.2 kHz (FDX-B) / 125 kHz (EMID)
- Cards / tags
- FDX-B tags, EMID tags
- Interface
- USB, human-input device (keyboard emulation)
- Output
- Tag number typed at the cursor
- Read range
- 0–150 mm (tag dependent)
- ✓ Sample units for evaluation
- ✓ Output format confirmed for your software
- ✓ Private label & OEM options
- ✓ Reply within 1 business day
Why integrators choose the A140-U
- Visible read feedback — light ring, blue power LED, green status indicator and buzzer, for counters where several people use one reader.
- FDX-B and EMID — reads ISO 11784/11785 FDX-B tags at 134.2 kHz and EMID tags at 125 kHz.
- Keyboard output, no driver — the tag number is typed at the cursor in Windows, Linux or Android software.
- Up to 150 mm read range — tag dependent, with a read time under 100 ms and a 0.5 s read interval.
- Compact footprint — 105 × 65 × 15 mm and about 120 g, powered from USB at 5 V, 100 mA.
Built for shared counters
The A140-U is meant for a shared desk: a clinic reception, a shelter intake room, a farm office or a research animal unit where different staff look up animals by tag number. The light ring and two-color LED make each read easy to see, and the buzzer confirms it without looking.
Typical tasks are opening an animal's record from its tag, registering new ear tags or transponders into a database before use, and checking the number on a tag that has come off. The reader stays on the desk; for scanning animals on the table or in a pen, pair it with a handheld such as the A530-U.
What arrives in your software
The A140-U is a USB human-input device. Your software receives keystrokes, exactly as if someone had typed the tag number, so there is no driver, SDK or COM port to configure. Any field that accepts typing will work: a spreadsheet cell, a web form, or a practice-management or herd-management screen.
Check two points during evaluation:
- Number format. An ISO 11784 FDX-B ID has 15 digits: a 3-digit country or manufacturer code followed by a 12-digit national ID. Tell us which string your database stores; the output format is confirmed in your quotation. Background: ISO 11784/11785 explained.
- Tag types in your stock. FDX-B and EMID tags are supported; HDX and FDX-A tags are not. If you are unsure which you use, see FDX-B vs HDX animal tags.
Desk reader, handheld or phone plug-in?
Choose the A140-U when tags or animals come to the desk and a PC is already there. Choose the A530-U or A520-M handheld when you walk to the animal and upload the reads later. Choose the A220-C when staff record tag numbers on an Android phone. If you need the slimmest desk pad, the A110-U has the same reading specification in a 10 mm housing.
A140-U specifications
| Model | A140-U |
|---|---|
| Product type | USB desktop animal tag reader |
| Frequency | 134.2 kHz (FDX-B) / 125 kHz (EMID) |
| Form factor | Compact desktop pad with light ring |
| Standards | ISO 11784, ISO 11785 (FDX-B), EM4100 (EMID) |
|---|---|
| Supported tags | FDX-B tags, EMID tags |
| Read range | 0–150 mm (tag dependent) |
| Read time | < 100 ms |
| Read interval | 0.5 s |
| Read/write | Read-only |
| Interface | USB, human-input device (keyboard emulation) |
|---|---|
| Driver | Not required |
| Output | Tag number typed at the cursor |
| OS compatibility | Windows 7 / 10, Linux, Android |
| Indicators | Light ring, two-color LED (blue power, green status), buzzer; LED and buzzer controllable |
| Power | 5 V DC, 100 mA (USB) |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 105 × 65 × 15 mm |
| Weight | approx. 120 g |
| Color | Black |
| Operating temperature | -20 °C to +70 °C |
Specifications of A140-U as supplied for the standard version. Read range depends on the card or tag, mounting surface and environment — we can test your own cards before you order.
Card, tag and system compatibility
Works with
- ✓ISO 11784/11785 FDX-B animal tags at 134.2 kHz
- ✓EMID (EM4100-format) animal tags at 125 kHz
- ✓Windows 7 and 10, Linux and Android hosts that accept a USB keyboard
- ✓Clinic, shelter, herd-management and spreadsheet software with a text field
Not designed for
- ✕Writing, programming or copying tags (read-only reader)
- ✕HDX and FDX-A animal tags
- ✕UHF tags — the same housing is used by the U140-U UHF reader/writer
- ✕13.56 MHz NFC / MIFARE cards
Card not listed? Send us the card type or a photo and we will confirm compatibility before you buy.
Integration in 4 steps
- 1
Connect the A140-U to a USB port on the PC or Android host. It is recognized as a keyboard.
- 2
Click into the field that holds the tag number, such as a spreadsheet cell, web form or record screen.
- 3
Place the tag or tagged item on or near the pad (up to 150 mm, tag dependent) and wait for the light and beep.
- 4
Compare the typed number with your records. If your system needs another format, tell us; it is confirmed in your quotation.
OEM / ODM options for A140-U
- ◆Light and buzzer feedback set for your counter (for example, buzzer off in quiet rooms) on request
- ◆Tag number string to match your clinic or herd software; feasibility is confirmed in your quotation
- ◆Private-label logo and retail packaging for distributors on request
Typical applications
A140-U FAQ
What is the difference between the A140-U and the A110-U?
Reading performance is the same: FDX-B and EMID tags, up to 150 mm, USB keyboard output. The A140-U is 105 × 65 × 15 mm with a light ring and blue/green LED. The A110-U is a 10 mm slim pad that shares its housing with our 125 kHz and 13.56 MHz desk readers.
Does the A140-U need software or a driver?
No. It types the tag number into the active field like a keyboard. Any software that accepts typed input will receive the number.
Will the A140-U read HDX cattle ear tags?
No. It reads FDX-B tags at 134.2 kHz and EMID tags at 125 kHz only. If your tagging program uses HDX ear tags, the A140-U is not suitable.
Can I use the A140-U with an Android tablet?
Android is listed as a supported host. The tablet must support USB host mode (OTG), and you need a cable or adapter that fits its port. For phones, the A220-C plugs straight into USB-C.
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UHF Tell us your card, interface and quantity
Send the card or tag type, the host system and your volume. We reply within 1 business day with a suggested model and sample options.