CF Reader

The CF Reader did the PC-Card Reader's work through a Compact Flash slot. Its page named handheld computers, laptops, tablets and desktop computers as hosts.

The old site called it a miniaturized Standard Reader with a Compact Flash connector. Like the PC-Card Reader, it had no input contacts or relay outputs.

After a reset command, it reported its address to the host, and the user could change that address. When a user searched for an item, it could switch on a tag's optional lights and buzzer.

Specifications

Functionality Reads and writes RFID tags

Multi-Tag Read Capability Yes

Transmit Frequency to Tag 433 MHz

Receive Frequency from Tag 916 MHz or 927 MHz or 868 MHz

Range internal antennas 8m (26 feet) to tag
15m (50 feet) from tag
external antennas (optional) 15m (50 feet) to tag
30m (100 feet) from tag

Host Communications Compact Flash Type-II

Power 5Vdc via Host Compact Flash interface

Dimensions without antennas 92 mm x 43 mm x 16 mm (3.6 in x 1.7 in x 0.6 in)
with antennas 141 mm x 43 mm x 16 mm (5.6 in x 1.7 in x 0.6 in)

Weight 36.9 grams (1.3 oz)

Case Material ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) and aluminum

Temperature Operating -35C to +50C (-31F to +122F)
Storage -40C to +85C (-40F to +185F)

Indicators (optional model) RF LED On while receiving packet from tag.
HOST LED On while sending validated tag packet to Host.
ACCESS LED On while transmitting packet to tag.
POWER LED On when Reader is powered.

Connectors PCMCIA Type-II, 5Vdc
External transmit and receive antennas (optional model)

Functionality	Reads and writes RFID tags
Multi-Tag Read Capability	Yes
Transmit Frequency to Tag	433 MHz
Receive Frequency from Tag	916 MHz or 927 MHz or 868 MHz
Range	internal antennas 8m (26 feet) to tag 15m (50 feet) from tag external antennas (optional) 15m (50 feet) to tag 30m (100 feet) from tag
Host Communications	Compact Flash Type-II
Power	5Vdc via Host Compact Flash interface
Dimensions	without antennas 92 mm x 43 mm x 16 mm (3.6 in x 1.7 in x 0.6 in) with antennas 141 mm x 43 mm x 16 mm (5.6 in x 1.7 in x 0.6 in)
Weight	36.9 grams (1.3 oz)
Case Material	ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) and aluminum
Temperature	Operating -35C to +50C (-31F to +122F) Storage -40C to +85C (-40F to +185F)
Indicators (optional model)	RF LED On while receiving packet from tag. HOST LED On while sending validated tag packet to Host. ACCESS LED On while transmitting packet to tag. POWER LED On when Reader is powered.
Connectors	PCMCIA Type-II, 5Vdc External transmit and receive antennas (optional model)

Quoted from the CF Reader's datasheet page on the old ActiveWave site, as it served the page until October 2026.

These figures are the original units' claims, quoted as their source printed them. Where two ActiveWave datasheets disagree, this site quotes each and does not reconcile them. A rating or a test result belongs to the original units and does not carry over to a rebuild.

Nothing on this site says a rebuild may transmit on these frequencies as they are. Radio rules differ by country, and the TigeRFID project checks them before it chooses a rebuild's radios.

The datasheet

This reader's datasheet PDF is lost. The old site listed one, and the copy of the site taken in October 2026 does not hold it. This page's description and figures come from the CF Reader's datasheet page on the old ActiveWave site, as it served the page until October 2026.

Files in the TigeRFID repository

The repository's notes say this reader went unused toward the end of Touraj Ghaffari's life. They add that it may need updates to work with the latest versions of the other devices.

These links open the repository as it stood at its activewave-2018 tag. Nobody has rebuilt the original hardware recently, so these files may not make a working unit as they stand.