Which RFID chip do you need for event access control?

What the chip does at the gate

Every RFID wristband, badge or ticket carries a small chip connected to an antenna. There is no battery: the reader's radio field powers the chip, and the two exchange data in a fraction of a second. Each chip has a unique serial number, often called the UID, set by the chip maker.

Event platforms use that chip in one of two broad ways, and the difference decides how much the chip itself matters.

• ID only: the platform reads the chip's unique ID and looks it up in its own records, which hold the ticket type, the zones and any cashless balance. The chip stores nothing else, so a simple, low-memory chip is usually enough.
• Data on the chip: the platform writes information to the chip's memory, such as a ticket record or an encrypted credential. Here memory size and security features matter, and the platform will name a specific chip.

Either way, the reader and the chip must use the same frequency and the same chip family. A reader built for 13.56 MHz will not see a UHF band, and the reverse is also true.

Event chips compared

These are the chips most often specified for event entry, zones and cashless. Memory figures are the user memory stated in each chip maker's data sheet; the total memory on the chip is slightly larger.

The NTAG21x chips follow the NFC Forum Type 2 Tag specification, which is why most NFC phones can read them. NTAG, Ultralight, Classic and DESFire are all NXP chips that use the ISO/IEC 14443 Type A radio link at 13.56 MHz. UHF chips follow the GS1 EPC Gen2 air interface protocol, which covers 860 to 960 MHz.

We supply all of these. Our polyester festival wristbands are made with NTAG213 or NTAG216, MIFARE or UHF; woven wristbands take LF, HF or UHF chips in a sealed tag; Tyvek RFID wristbands carry an HF (NFC) or UHF inlay; and RFID event badges and RFID tickets come with HF or UHF chips.

Security is a chip-level choice

The chips above offer very different protection, and the platform decides how much it relies on them.

• NTAG21x and Ultralight EV1 offer 32-bit password protection against unintended changes to memory. They are designed for low-cost, high-volume use.
• MIFARE Classic 1K protects each sector with two keys, using NXP's older proprietary encryption.
• MIFARE DESFire EV3 uses AES-128 encryption in hardware and can hold several separate applications, each with its own keys.

If your platform only reads the chip ID and checks it against its own records, much of the security sits in the platform rather than the chip. If it stores value or credentials on the chip, ask whether it recommends an AES chip such as DESFire.

Ask your platform these four questions

Your access or cashless platform has already chosen the chips its readers support. These four answers are usually all we need to match the band to it.

1. 1

   Which chip and frequency do your readers use?

   Ask for the exact chip name, such as NTAG213, MIFARE Ultralight EV1 or DESFire EV3, not just "NFC" or "RFID". If you plan hands-free lanes, ask whether the platform supports UHF EPC Gen2 as well.

2. 2

   Do you read only the chip ID, or write data to it?

   If the platform reads only the ID, most chips in its supported list will work. If it writes data, it will name the chip and memory size it needs.

3. 3

   Who encodes the bands, and when?

   Some platforms encode bands on site at activation; others need bands pre-programmed before delivery. We can pre-program where your system allows, so tell us which applies when you ask for a quote.

4. 4

   Do you need the chip IDs matched to printed numbers?

   Many platforms link each band to a ticket by its chip ID. Ask whether they need a list of IDs matched to the number printed on each band or tag, and in what format.

Send us your platform's answers, or put us in touch with its team, and we confirm the chip before anything is printed.

UHF for hands-free gates

HF chips are read with a tap, at a distance of a few centimeters. UHF chips are read from several meters away, depending on the reader and antenna, which is what makes walk-through lanes, lane timing and crowd counting possible.

Our long-range UHF wristbands are waterproof silicone bands working at 860 to 960 MHz. They can also carry a 13.56 MHz chip in the same band, so one band can pass a hands-free gate and still tap to pay or open a door. For conferences and crew, RFID event badges are available with UHF for hands-free lanes.

UHF reading depends heavily on how readers and antennas are placed, and the wearer's body affects the signal. Plan UHF lanes with your platform and test them on site before gate day.

Where to go next

For the bigger picture of entry, zones and cashless at a festival, see RFID festival wristbands and cashless festival wristbands. For badges at multi-day conferences, see conferences and trade shows. If you have not chosen a band yet, our guide to which event wristband to use compares the materials, and how much RFID wristbands cost explains what the chip adds to a quote.