The Laird S8658PL/PR is an ETSI targeted passive array for $150. Analyze the complex deployment costs against standalone active arrays.
Technical Specifications
Hardware Overview
The Laird S8658PL/PR is an industrial-grade RFID device. It operates within the 865-868 MHz (ETSI) range and supports the N/A (Passive Antenna Element) standard, making it widely deployed across enterprise logistics applications.
With an IP rating of IP54, it offers protection against specific environmental conditions typical in warehouses or retail backrooms. The reader utilizes N/A (Passive) for continuous performance, while its stated maximum read rate peaks at N/A (Passive).
Connectivity and Network Integration
In modern deployments, network integration is the most significant hurdle. This model offers Coaxial Type N / SMA options for transferring data back to central systems.
However, a major bottleneck with legacy Laird 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 Laird S8658PL/PR, 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 S8658PL/PR?
The Laird S8658PL (Left-Hand) and PR (Right-Hand) operate as dedicated EU passive antenna fields. Confined locally to 865-868 MHz (ETSI) bands, they broadcast focused electromagnetic waves initiated by external centralized readers.
How much does this setup cost initially?
Panels carry roughly a $150 price tag. This does not factor for high-end active processing blocks, coaxial lengths routing behind drywalls, or custom software routing required on the parent MCU.
Why should I choose Nextwaves instead?
Traditional RFID involves bolting passive antennas to ceilings and dragging coax cables back to central IT closets. Nextwaves simply places a standalone active array directly onto the ceiling, hooked securely to straightforward PoE systems.
Is the hardware durable enough for warehouses?
Protected by standard IP54 seals, the 260 x 260 x 33 mm casing weighs 1.04 kg. It defends against factory dust perfectly, but risks catastrophic internal failure during localized high-pressure wash-down environments.
Does it support multiple network types?
It completely lacks native Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth stacks. Transmitting voltage impulses occurs physically through Coaxial Type N / SMA connections tied intimately back to the active reader.
Can my team install this internally?
Mounting requires securely anchoring heavy-duty articulating joints. Successful logic implementation requires measuring VSWR tolerances to tune the active reader compensating for coaxial decibel attenuation.
How does the remote management work?
Governed by N/A (Passive) dynamics, the speed of tag collection correlates precisely to the processing rate of the interrogator board powering the matrix.
Do I need proprietary software to run it?
Middleware stacks are fully divorced from this hardware. Engineers execute tag reading logic and REST webhooks exclusively on the Linux systems baked into the core reader managing the voltage logic.
What warranty comes with the reader?
Protected by fundamental 1-year product fault protections. The static internal patch framework functions virtually indefinitely absent violent warehouse pallet crashes.
Are the antennas sold separately?
Delivering exactly 8.5 dBic localized gain, mixing Left and Right Circularly Polarized patterns over the 865-868 MHz (ETSI) block nullifies aggressive 'deep fade' interference inside cluttered warehouses.