PC-Card Reader

The PC-Card Reader slid into a host computer's card slot and did a reader's work there. Its datasheet names a handheld computer, a laptop or a tablet as the host.

The datasheet calls it a miniaturized Standard Reader with a card connector. It had no input contacts or relay outputs, and it drew its power from the card slot.

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

The datasheets are historical documents. Their phone numbers, addresses and e-mail are no longer ActiveWave's.

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 PCMCIA Type-II

Power 5Vdc via Host PCMCIA interface

Dimensions 54 mm x 116 mm x 10 mm (2.14 in x 4.56 in x 0.39 in) - internal antenna model

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	PCMCIA Type-II
Power	5Vdc via Host PCMCIA interface
Dimensions	54 mm x 116 mm x 10 mm (2.14 in x 4.56 in x 0.39 in) - internal antenna model
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 page 2 of the PC-Card Reader datasheet (version 9).

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

PC-Card Reader datasheet (version 9) (PDF). This page's description comes from its first page, and the figures above from its second.

Files in the TigeRFID repository

The PC-Card Reader's schematics and board files

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.