The Chainway C5 is an industrial sled terminal for high-capacity battery sweeps on the EPC Gen2 standard. Priced at $900. See how it competes with open endpoints.
Technical Specifications
Hardware Overview
The Chainway C5 is an industrial-grade RFID device. It operates within the 865-868 MHz / 920-925 MHz / 902-928 MHz range and supports the EPC C1 Gen2, ISO 18000-6C standard, making it widely deployed across enterprise logistics applications.
With an IP rating of IP65, it offers protection against specific environmental conditions typical in warehouses or retail backrooms. The reader utilizes 6700/13400 mAh removable for continuous performance, while its stated maximum read rate peaks at ~900 tags/sec.
Connectivity and Network Integration
In modern deployments, network integration is the most significant hurdle. This model offers Wi-Fi, BT, 4G options for transferring data back to central systems.
However, a major bottleneck with legacy Chainway hardware is the heavy reliance on proprietary SDKs (like LLRP) or expensive third-party IoT middleware to process raw tag data into meaningful business intelligence.
The Nextwaves Alternative
If your engineering team is evaluating the Chainway C5, the Nextwaves NR155 presents a vastly superior cloud-native architecture. Legacy systems inherently drive high capital expenditure through vendor lock-in and proprietary software ecosystems.
Nextwaves completely eliminates this barrier by providing a standard MQTT REST API directly on the device. Your software developers can integrate tag reading directly into your custom ERP or WMS backend in days instead of months, completely bypassing recurring middleware licensing fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the C5?
The Chainway C5 is a high-capacity mobile handheld RFID terminal based on Android. It supports the EPC C1 Gen2, ISO 18000-6C protocols over the 865-868 MHz / 920-925 MHz / 902-928 MHz band, enabling prolonged shift tracking.
How much does this setup cost initially?
Hardware configurations sit around $900. Depending on shifts, logistics managers must budget for gang chargers, high-capacity 6700/13400 mAh removable backup batteries, and Android Mobile Device Management (MDM) endpoint licensing.
Why should I choose Nextwaves instead?
Nextwaves provides embedded cloud integration directly bridging native RF to HTTPS. By supporting open protocols natively, operators can send serialized EPC data straight into backend databases without hiring Android middleware developers.
Is the hardware durable enough for warehouses?
The massive ruggedized chassis weighs 626 g and measures 178.8 x 96.5 x 128.4 mm. With an IP65 rating, it survives repeated 1.5m drops to concrete and high humidity variations seen in loading bays.
Does it support multiple network types?
Network transactions flow via internal Wi-Fi, BT, 4G chipsets. Internal VPNs or certificate-based WPA2 Enterprise constraints can be enforced by Android to ensure data privacy.
Can my team install this internally?
Device deployment requires USB tethering or QR code staging. Software engineers utilize Chainway's SDK packages to intercept hardware trigger events and initiate EPC sweeps accurately.
How does the remote management work?
Driven by Impinj embedded chips, the unit can theoretically sweep ~900 tags/sec. Global application security locks, remote tracking, and firmware administration are enforced exclusively via external MDM dashboards.
Do I need proprietary software to run it?
Bridging raw inventory data from the Wi-Fi, BT, 4G radios requires an intermediary Java/Kotlin application running on the C5, responsible for aggregating read batches before pushing to an external server.
What warranty comes with the reader?
A base manufacturer warranty covers hardware defaults for 12 months. Purchasing accidental damage protection (Bumper-to-Bumper) is highly recommended for equipment utilized in heavy cargo facilities.
Are the antennas sold separately?
The C5 contains an integrated, internally tuned antenna element scaled for the 865-868 MHz / 920-925 MHz / 902-928 MHz frequency ranges. Its high-capacity battery ensures constant 30dBm transmission output for entire shifts.