The ALR-8800 was built for optimal Gen 2 performance in the European regulatory environment.  It is fully compliant to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) EN 302-208 specification.  Based on the popular 915 MHz ALR-9800 used in the United States and Asia, the new ALR-8800 enables Alien European value-added solutions providers to deliver high-performance EPC Gen 2 RFID solutions across the European Union, and allows systems integrators and software vendors to leverage their existing ALR-9800 investments to help quickly and cost-effectively address fast-emerging European RFID opportunities.   The reader is compliant with ISO-18000-6c and EPC Gen 2 protocols.

Alien Enterprise RFID Platform,

The ALR-8800 leverages the Alien Enterprise RFID Platform, which provides a flexible architecture for meeting current EPC Class 1 Gen 2 performance, management and protocol requirements. The ALR-8800 also hosts the Alien Reader Protocol, which is used by all Alien readers and is widely supported by RFID software companies.

Enterprise-ready

The ALR-8800 is designed for scalable, streamlined, easy-to-manage data collection with a low total cost-of-ownership across any number of installed units. Implementation costs are kept low through the reader's simplified configuration and through its integrated industrial-class general purpose I/O capability that eliminates the need for costly external programmable logic controllers. Powerful remote monitoring and management functionality reduces ongoing costs of ownership while a ruggedized physical design ensures reliable, low-maintenance operation in demanding environments.

High-Performance Gen 2 Read/Write Capability

The ALR-8800 supports ultra-high Gen 2 read rates, making it an ideal solution for demanding applications such as high-speed conveyors and dock doors. The ALR-8800 combines high sensitivity with low cost through its advanced "multistatic" antenna design, whereby each antenna transmits and receives in turn. This enables the ALR-8800 to deliver exceptional conveyor and dock door results using only half the number of antennas required by most other readers.

European Regulatory Compliance

In addition to being fully compliant with the EN 302-208 specification, the ALR-8800 carries the CE Mark and is compliant with all relevant emissions and safety standards in Europe including EN 60950, EN 50364 and EN 301-489. Further, ALR-8800 support for the EN 300-220 standard will be available in Q3 2006 for countries that have not yet ratified EN 302-208.

Field Tested, Network-Ready, EPC Gen 2 RFID Smart Reader

• Supports both EPC Gen 1 and Gen 2 tags
• Field-tested, widely-supported design
• Network-ready; easy to implement
• Configurable filtering, collection and notification

The ALR-9780 is a field-tested, EPC RFID smart-reader with support for both EPC Class 1 Generation 1 and Generation 2 tags, ensuring easy compliance with evolving retail and government RFID mandates.

Supports both EPC Gen 1 and Gen 2

The ALR-9780 provides both EPC Class 1 Gen 1 support and Gen 2 support.  Field-upgradeable firmware enables ongoing support for popular, EPC Gen 2 compliant tags.

The ALR-9780 is supported by a wide range of RFID middleware, WMS and enterprise software platforms.  Software integration is implemented through the use of royalty-free Java and .NET libraries found in a well-documented Software Developer’s Kit.  Alien RFID Gateway software allows immediate testing and development work to begin.

Developer's Kit Includes:

• ALR-9780 Reader and ALR-9610 antenna
• Hardware Setup Guide
• Reader Interface Guide with API Definitions
• Hardware Technical Specification
• Sample source code
• Royalty-free Java and Visual Basic libraries
• Antennas, tags and accessories
• Alien RFID Gateway test and development software

Network Ready and Easy to Configure

The ALR-9780 is easy and inexpensive to install and operate. Configuration is accomplished locally via serial port or remotely via the LAN with XML-packaged commands or a human-readable ASCII interface.

Configurable Options Include:

• Filtering on whole or partial tag ID
• Elimination of redundant IDs
• Reads triggered by external event or software command
• Data configured in XML, ASCII or custom format
• Event notification by LAN, I/O signal, or email

Single Antenna per Read Point for Low Hardware Cost

The ALR-9780 requires only one antenna per read point.  Each antenna serves as both sender and receiver, eliminating the need for costly dual-element antennas and reducing hardware costs by up to several hundred dollars per installation.

• Enterprise-scalable architecture
• Highest performance read capability
• Superior dense reader management

The result is a new-generation reader ideal for efficient implementation of RFID on a small or large scale with high level performance, lower initial and ongoing costs, and accelerated return-on-investment (ROI).

Enterprise-ready
The ALR-9800 is designed for scalable, streamlined, easy-to-manage data collection with a low total cost-of-ownership across any number of installed units. Implementation costs are kept low through the reader's simplified configuration and through its integrated industrial-class general purpose I/O capability that eliminates the need for costly external programmable logic controllers. Powerful remote monitoring and management functionality, including SNMP support, reduces ongoing costs of ownership while a ruggedized physical design ensures reliable, low-maintenance operation in demanding environments.

Highest Read/Write Across Multiple Protocols
The ALR-9800 supports all current EPC protocols, including Class 1 Gen 2 and Class 0/0+, with virtually no switching latency between protocols. Ultra-high read rates are supported across all protocols, making the ALR-9800 an ideal solution for demanding mixed population applications such as high-speed conveyors. The ALR-9800 combines high sensitivity with low cost through its advanced "multistatic" antenna design, whereby each antenna transmits and receives in turn. This enables the ALR-9800 to deliver exceptional conveyor and dock door results using only half the number of antennas required by most other readers.

Enhanced Reader Coordination
The ALR-9800 is compliant with the Gen 2 specification for Single, Dense and Multiple Reader modes. Dense Reader mode enables the ALR-9800 to make efficient use of the available RF spectrum when large numbers of readers operate in the same space. The ALR-9800 also employs a broadband listen-before-talk capability to avoid interference with close proximity readers, and leverages its general purpose I/O capability to reduce the on-time of each reader and thus enable larger numbers to co-exist in the same facility.