What is a Blank RFID Card?
First, one has to understand the difference between blank card and RFID blank card:
Blank card: this term is broadly used to refer to any blank card, usually unprinted and without data. It can be a plastic card( or PVC card) , a paper card, or a card made of other materials, and is commonly used for printing business cards, credit cards, loyalty cards, etc. The concept does not specifically refer to whether the card is electronically enabled or not.
Blank RFID card: This refers to a blank card with an RFID(Radio Frequency Identification) chip. Although blank in appearance, the card contains an RFID chip and antenna inside. This type of card stores and transmits data and communicates wirelessly with card reading devices. It is widely used in access control systems, public transportation cards, tickets, warehouse management and other scenarios.
Blank RFID cards work based on RFID technology, which communicates with RFID readers via radio waves. The complete system of RFID is composed of an RFID tag, an RFID Reader, and a backend system. The following is a detailed breakdown of how an RFID card works:
1. Energy Transmission
Most RFID cards are Passive, which means that the card itself has no built-in power source. When the card enters the electromagnetic field range of the reader, the reader powers the card through electromagnetic waves. This process is known as energy coupling and is usually achieved in the following ways:
Inductive coupling (LF and HF RFID cards): The electromagnetic field generated by the reader creates an induced current with the antenna coil in the card, powering the card chip.
Backscattering (UHF RFID cards): UHF cards communicate by reflecting and modulating the electromagnetic waves emitted by the reader.
2. Data Communication
When a card is powered, its chip activates and communicates with the reader. Data is transmitted between the card and the reader by modulation of radio waves. The following two modulation methods are usually used:
Reader-to-card communication: The reader sends a continuous RF signal, which is “demodulated” by the card's internal circuitry to extract commands.
Card-to-reader communication: The card transmits data by modulating the reflected signal by changing the impedance of the antenna. This technique is called load modulation, and the reader receives and decodes the reflected signal.
3. Data Processing
Read data: When the reader sends a read command, the blank RFID card transmits the data back to the reader according to the preset information stored inside it (such as a unique serial number or ID number). In the case of a blank card, the data may be null or the initial value of the preset.
Write Data: For writeable RFID cards, the reader can be commanded to write new data to the card's memory. For example, a user can write identity information or access rights on a blank card.
1. Wireless Identification
RFID cards use radio signals for identification, there is no need to contact the card reading device, just close to the reader to complete the data interaction, providing a more convenient and faster experience.
2. High Storage Capacity
The chip inside the RFID card can store a large amount of data, including the user's personal information, account balance, etc. Different types of RFID cards have different storage capacities so that you can choose the right model according to your needs.
3. Long Life and Durability
RFID cards are usually made of durable materials, such as PVC, PET, etc., which can withstand a longer period of use. They are resistant to common environmental factors such as temperature, humidity changes, and physical shocks.
4. Fast Read/Write Speed
Due to the use of radio frequencies for data transmission, the communication speed between RFID cards and reading devices is fast, allowing for fast data reading and writing operations.
5. High Reliability
RFID cards are contactless, to avoid a variety of faults arising from contact reading and writing, and improve the anti-static and anti-environmental pollution ability, thus improving the reliability of the use of the read-write equipment and prolonging the service life of the card.
6. Ease of Use
RFID card operation is convenient, and fast, no need to plug and unplug the card, to complete an operation only takes a very short time (such as 0.1 ~ 0.3 seconds). When used, the card can be swept in any direction across the surface of the read-write device.
7. High Security
The serial number of the RFID card is globally unique and cannot be changed after shipment. Card and read-write equipment uses a two-way mutual recognition verification mechanism, and all data in the communication process is encrypted. Different passwords and access conditions can protect the card on the different partitions of the data to ensure data security and confidentiality.
8. High Anti-jamming
RFID card with anti-conflict circuitry, in the card at the same time into the read-write range, read-write equipment can be a pair of cards for processing, high interference resistance.
9. Multi-purpose Card
RFID card data partition management can easily realize a card multi-purpose, to meet the needs of different scenarios.
10. Multiple Working Distances
RFID card working distance from a few centimeters to a few meters, to adapt to different applications. For example, a close-coupled system's typical working distance range is 0~1cm, a remote-coupled system can reach 1m, and the working distance of a long-distance system can reach 1~10m or even farther.
11. Customizability
Blank RFID cards usually support customization services, including color, size, material, printing content, etc., to meet the individual needs of different users.
12. Widely Used
RFID cards are widely used in many fields such as access control systems, public transportation, cargo tracking, inventory management, identification, etc., providing a more efficient, safe, and convenient solution.
1. Payment Cards (credit/debit cards)
Blank credit cards can be programmed as secure payment cards. The bank or financial institution encodes the account information and security features to allow the user to perform chip-based transactions (EMV standard).
2. Access and Security
Credit cards can be customized for use in secure entry systems in offices, hotels, or residential complexes. They can store access credentials and enable contactless or chip-in access control.
3. Identification and Employee Badges
Corporate ID Cards: Many companies use blank chip cards as employee ID cards. These cards can be programmed to contain employee information and control access to various areas within the company.
4. Membership Cards:
Retailers and service providers use blank chip cards for loyalty programs, storing VIP customer data and purchase history to reward repeat business.
5. Public Transportation
Blank chip cards are used as fare cards in public transportation systems. These cards can be loaded with a balance and scanned at a terminal to deduct the cost of each ride.
6. Healthcare
Hospitals and healthcare providers use blank chip cards to securely store patient identity and medical records. These cards can be used to quickly retrieve important medical information during a visit. Blank chip cards can also be used as health insurance cards to securely store policyholder information and insurance details.
7. Driver's licenses and passports
Some countries issue blank chip cards for driver's licenses and e-passports, embedding biometrics and personal data for security and identity verification.
8. Education and Campus Cards
Schools and universities use blank chip cards to identify students, access libraries, and pay for meals or campus services. In some cases, chip cards are used to authenticate students when taking tests or entering restricted areas of campus.
9. Gift and Prepaid Cards
Retailers use blank chip cards as gift cards or prepaid cards that allow customers to load a specific balance for future purchases. These cards can often be reprogrammed and reloaded.
10. Digital Security Smart Cards
Blank chip cards are used in a variety of digital security applications to store encryption keys, digital certificates, or sensitive data. They are commonly used in multi-factor authentication systems or as security tokens in sensitive industries such as banking or defense.
The service life of blank RFID cards is a complex issue that is jointly affected by a variety of factors. When choosing and using RFID cards, you need to choose the right type of RFID card and storage conditions according to specific application scenarios and needs to ensure its normal use and longer service life.
Under normal conditions, most blank RFID cards can last between 5 to 10 years, with proper handling and use. Factors such as material quality, chip type, and environmental exposure play significant roles in determining how long the cards remain functional.
Blank RFID cards are not inherently secure, depending on the card type, encryption method, and specific system implementation. If a low-security RFID card is used and proper encryption and authentication mechanisms are not in place, the card is susceptible to copying and attack. Especially for basic or low-level RFID cards, here are a few key factors related to RFID card security:
1. Type of Blank RFID Card and Encryption Technology:
LF cards: e.g. 125KHz cards, which usually have no encryption or authentication mechanism and can be easily copied or cloned. Common types are EM cards and HID cards.
HF cards: such as 13.56MHz cards, which are usually more secure. For example, the MIFARE Classic card in the MIFARE family uses a simple encryption algorithm but is not as secure as the algorithm has been cracked. Higher-level cards such as MIFARE DESFire offer stronger encryption and authentication mechanisms and are more secure.
UHF cards: usually used in logistics, asset management, and other scenarios, relying on specific encryption and access control.
2. Reader Security
Even if the RFID card itself is secure, if the reader does not have adequate security measures, an attacker can steal information by reading or intercepting communications. The lack of encrypted communication mechanisms in some readers may allow an attacker to easily access the data on the RFID card.
3. Anti-cloning and Copying
Blank RFID cards do not have pre-defined security mechanisms, so if the user does not configure proper encryption or authentication means, the card is susceptible to cloning or copying. This is especially likely to happen with low-frequency RFID cards. If a simple, rewritable blank card is used, an attacker can copy the contents of the card using commercially available RFID cloning tools.
4. How Can Blank RFID Card Security Be Improved?
4.1. Use Encrypted RFID Cards:
Choose cards with high security algorithms (e.g. MIFARE DESFire EV1/EV2, or RFID cards that use AES encryption).
4.2. Enable Secure Authentication Mechanisms:
Ensure that only legitimate cards can be recognized by the reader through two-way authentication between the reader and the card.
4.3. Shield or Encrypt Communications:
Prevent RFID communications from being listened to or intercepted by shielding the device or using encrypted communication protocols.
RFID card generation steps in detail: From design to production.
RFID card as a smart card, is widely used in access control, logistics, payment, and other fields. In this article, we will teach you step by step from design to production how to produce high-quality RFID cards to ensure the reliability and stability of the product. The following are the detailed generation steps.
1. Design the Appearance and Function of the RFID Card
First of all, before designing an RFID card, you need to clarify your needs and target users. According to different application scenarios and needs, you can determine the appearance and function of the RFID card. For example, you can choose the shape, size and material of the card as well as the design elements such as logo and text on the card.
At the same time, you also need to determine the function of the RFID card, such as access control card, public transportation card, membership card and so on. RFID cards with different functions may need to integrate different chips and modules for realizing the corresponding functions.
2. Select the Right RFID Chip
RFID chip, as the core component of RFID card, plays the role of storing and transmitting data. When choosing an RFID chip, you need to consider the following factors: chip type, operating frequency, read/write distance, storage capacity and security.
The common types of RFID chips on the market today are EM4100, MIFARE Classic, NTAG213, and so on. You can choose the appropriate chip type according to the demand.
3. Carry Out the Production of RFID Card
Before making an RFID card, you need to prepare an RFID chip, card substrate, card printing equipment, label application equipment, and other tools and materials.
First, the RFID chip will be pasted on the card substrate, and ensure that the connection between the chip and the card substrate is solid. Next, use the card printing equipment to print the card, you can add LOGO, text, and other elements on the card.
Finally, use the tag application equipment to encapsulate the card to ensure the quality and reliability of the card.
4. Conduct RFID Card Testing and Quality Control
After the production is completed, the RFID card to carry out the necessary testing and quality control. Tests can include read-and-write tests, communication stability tests, etc., to ensure that the RFID card can be used normally. At the same time, quality control, check the appearance of the card, printing quality, packaging quality, etc., to ensure that the quality of each RFID card meets the standards.
5. Mass Production and Issuance of RFID Cards
Finally, mass production and distribution of RFID cards is carried out. Determine the production quantity according to the demand and choose the appropriate production method. You can choose to produce by yourself, or you can choose to entrust the production to professional manufacturers.
1. Confirm the need:
Determine the purpose of using blank RFID cards, such as access control system, asset management, inventory tracking, etc...
Select the suitable RFID card type according to the usage scenario, including frequency (LF, HF, UHF, etc.), size, material, and so on.
2. Prepare the equipment:
Obtain RFID readers and ensure that they are compatible with the selected RFID cards.
Prepare the necessary connection cables and power adapters.
If necessary, prepare a professional printer for printing or writing tag information (for printable tags).
3. Information writing
Connect the device:
Connect the RFID reader to a computer or other control device. Install the driver and software correctly according to the reader's manual.
Write information:
Write or import the information to be written to the RFID card in the software, such as asset number, personnel ID, access rights, etc., as needed.
Write information:
Use an RFID reader to write the written information to a blank RFID card. This process usually involves placing the card in the reader's sensing area and performing the write operation in the software.
4. Testing and Verification
Test the RFID card in a real-world scenario to ensure that it works and meets the requirements. Verify that the information is correct. If errors are found, re-write the information and test again.
5. Installation and use
According to the use of scene will be installed in the appropriate location of the RFID card, such as access control systems next to the card reader, assets, inventory items, and so on.
6. Regular Maintenance:
Normal use of RFID cards for access control verification, asset inventory, inventory tracking, and other operations.
Regularly check the reading of RFID cards to ensure the normal operation of the system.
If the RFID card is found to be damaged or information is lost, replace it with a new RFID card and re-write the information in a timely manner.
How much does a blank RFID card cost? How to get a blank RFID card? CBT is a leader in the field of Blank RFID Cards, is committed to providing high-quality and cost-effective RFID solutions for customers worldwide.
We are not only a professional Blank RFID Cards manufacturer, our Blank RFID Cards integrate the latest technological achievements, such as higher storage capacity, longer reading distance, stronger anti-jamming ability, etc., to provide you with smarter and more efficient solutions for your IoT applications. What's more, we are your trusted wholesale partner to meet your diversified needs with excellent product performance and attentive service.
