UHF 
UHF RFID Desktop Readers
U130-U UHF RFID Desktop Reader/Writer, USB, Glossy Light-Ring Pad
The U130-U is a USB desktop reader/writer for EPC Gen2 (ISO 18000-6C) UHF tags in a glossy black housing with a silver edge and a light ring, made for counters where the reader is in view. It reads up to 0.5 m, writes up to 0.2 m and outputs as a USB keyboard by default.
- Frequency
- 902–928 MHz (US band) or 920–925 MHz (China band); other regional bands on request
- Cards / tags
- EPC Gen2 UHF tags (read and write)
- Interface
- USB
- Output
- Keyboard emulation (USB HID)
- Read range
- Up to 0.5 m (depends on RF power, tag and environment)
- ✓ Sample units for evaluation
- ✓ Output format confirmed for your software
- ✓ Private label & OEM options
- ✓ Reply within 1 business day
Why integrators choose the U130-U
- Counter-ready finish — glossy black top, silver edge and a light ring in a 104 × 70 × 15 mm housing.
- Tunable read zone — RF output is software adjustable from 12.5 to 26 dBm, so the read zone can be pulled in toward the pad on a busy counter.
- EPC Gen2 read/write — reads ISO 18000-6C tags at up to 0.5 m and writes them at up to 0.2 m.
- Circularly polarized antenna — the built-in 2 dBi antenna is less sensitive to how the tag is turned than a linear antenna.
- Typed output for reading — the default build sends tag data as USB keyboard input; a virtual serial port build is available on request.
Where the U130-U fits
Choose the U130-U when the reader sits on a reception or service counter and visitors can see it: issuing UHF access cards at a building reception, registering tagged items at a check-in desk, or enrolling vehicle tags at a parking office. The glossy black top with a silver edge and light ring looks finished next to a POS terminal or monitor. At 15 mm it is taller than the 10 mm U120-U flat pad.
The housing matches our L130-U 125 kHz and H130-U 13.56 MHz readers, so a front desk that handles several card technologies can keep one look across all three.
Setting RF power for a busy counter
At full output (26 dBm, about 400 mW) the U130-U reads EPC Gen2 tags up to 0.5 m away. On a busy counter that can be more than you want: tags on items waiting nearby, or a badge in a visitor's pocket, may be read before the one you meant. Because RF output is software adjustable down to 12.5 dBm, the read zone can be pulled in toward the pad. The distance reached at each power level depends on the tag, so test the setting with the cards or labels you actually use. A lower setting can also be preset before shipment on request.
Writing needs the tag closer, within 0.2 m, because a passive tag needs more energy to write its memory than to answer a read. When encoding, keep blank tags out of the field and present them one at a time. The reader can also hop across channels (FHSS) or stay on one fixed frequency, set by software. For the factors behind UHF range, see UHF RFID read range.
U130-U specifications
| Model | U130-U |
|---|---|
| Product type | UHF RFID desktop reader/writer |
| Form factor | Glossy desktop pad with light ring |
| Color | Black with silver edge |
| Frequency | 902–928 MHz (US band) or 920–925 MHz (China band); other regional bands on request |
|---|---|
| Air protocol | ISO 18000-6C / EPC Class 1 Gen 2 |
| Supported tags | EPC Gen2 UHF tags (read and write) |
| Read range | Up to 0.5 m (depends on RF power, tag and environment) |
| Write range | Up to 0.2 m (depends on RF power, tag and environment) |
| Antenna | Built-in 2 dBi circularly polarized antenna |
|---|---|
| RF output power | 12.5–26 dBm, software adjustable |
| Frequency hopping | FHSS or fixed frequency, set by software |
| Operating modes | Active mode and passive mode; answer mode available but not recommended |
| Interface | USB |
|---|---|
| Default output | Keyboard emulation (USB HID) |
| Optional build | USB virtual serial port (customized version) |
| Power | 5 V DC from USB |
| Dimensions | 104 × 70 × 15 mm |
|---|---|
| Operating temperature | -20 °C to +55 °C |
| Storage temperature | -40 °C to +85 °C |
Specifications of U130-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 18000-6C / EPC Class 1 Gen 2 UHF cards, labels and tags (read and write)
- ✓Web forms, spreadsheets and desktop software that accept keyboard input (default build)
- ✓Software that reads a COM port, with the virtual serial port build (on request)
Card not listed? Send us the card type or a photo and we will confirm compatibility before you buy.
Integration in 4 steps
- 1
Confirm the band for the country of use when ordering: 902–928 MHz or 920–925 MHz, with other regional bands on request.
- 2
Connect the U130-U by USB. It takes its 5 V power from the port, and the default build appears to the host as a keyboard.
- 3
Place the cursor in the field that receives the tag data and hold a tag over the pad; the data is typed in.
- 4
If tags elsewhere on the counter are read by mistake, lower the RF output within its 12.5–26 dBm range, or ask for a lower preset before shipment.
OEM / ODM options for U130-U
- ◆RF output power preset for counter use, anywhere from 12.5 to 26 dBm, on request
- ◆Band build for your market: 902–928 MHz, 920–925 MHz or another regional band on request
- ◆Virtual serial port build instead of keyboard output, on request
- ◆Fixed-frequency operation instead of frequency hopping where your project needs it, on request
- ◆Your logo on the glossy top cover and private-label packaging, confirmed in your quotation
Typical applications
U130-U FAQ
Is the U130-U the same reader as the U120-U in a different housing?
In radio terms, yes: both have the same published RF specification, a 2 dBi circularly polarized antenna, 12.5–26 dBm output, up to 0.5 m read and up to 0.2 m write. The difference is the housing. The U130-U is 104 × 70 × 15 mm in glossy black with a silver edge and light ring; the U120-U is a 104 × 68 × 10 mm white flat pad.
Why would I lower the RF power on the U130-U?
To stop it reading tags you did not mean to read. At 26 dBm the reader reaches up to 0.5 m, which on a counter can include tags on nearby items. Lowering the output toward 12.5 dBm pulls the read zone in toward the pad; test with your own tags to find the setting at which neighboring tags are no longer read.
Can the U130-U enroll UHF cards for an access-control system at reception?
Yes, as the enrollment reader at the desk. In the default keyboard build it types the card's data into the enrollment field of the access-control software, so a card can be registered while the visitor waits. The U130-U connects by USB only; readers that report to a door or gate controller over Wiegand or RS485 are in the integrated long-range UHF line. Read a sample card first to check that the typed data matches the credential format your system stores.
Can the U130-U read 125 kHz or 13.56 MHz cards?
No. It works only with ISO 18000-6C / EPC Gen2 UHF tags. For 125 kHz EM4100 cards use the L130-U, and for 13.56 MHz MIFARE cards the H130-U. Both come in the same glossy housing and are read-only.
Related readers
UHF 13.56MHz 
UHF 
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.