Impinj R700 RAIN RFID Reader Technical FAQ

This support article lists the most frequently asked technical questions for the Impinj R700 RAIN RFID reader and Impinj R720 RAIN RFID reader, known as the R700 series readers. For the Impinj IoT device interface technical FAQ, please refer to the Impinj IoT Device Interface FAQ.

How can I set the maximum power of 33 dBm with the Impinj R700 series readers?

Web UI method:

1. Make sure your PoE power source is compliant to 802.3at standard (PoE+).

2. On the Home tab of the Web UI under Power Source, select PoE+ from drop-down

3. Reboot reader

Rshell method:

1. Make sure your PoE power source is compliant to 802.3at standard (PoE+).

2. For the Impinj R700 ETSI region only, select the ETSI Upper band (EU2) as the reader's region.

3. Run the following RShell command on the Impinj R700 series reader:

    > show system power

4. If it is not set to PoE+, issue the following Rshell command on the reader:

    > config system power source PoE+ 

 

REST API method:

1. Power source settings may also be configured through the /system/power endpoint in the reader configuration REST API. See the example below.

    > curl -u root:impinj -k –request PUT https://<ip address or hostname>/api/v1/system/power -d “{\”powerSource\”:\”poeplus\”}”

What is the minimum transmit power I can configure with the Impinj R700 series readers?

10 dBm.

What options are available to power the Impinj R700 series readers?

The Impinj R700 series readers are powered exclusively via power over ethernet (PoE or PoE+), which many commercial switches offer. For use cases that require AC connectivity, Impinj sells a midspan injector (P/N IPJ-A2010) that adds PoE+ capability to an existing network connection. Many commercial off-the-shelf options are available for other PoE injecting solutions.

What are the power consumption differences between the Impinj R700 and Impinj R720 readers?

The Impinj R720 requires approximately 2 watts more power than the Impinj R700 when set to the same transmit power. Due to this difference, it is recommended that PoE+ be used exclusively to power the R720. 

How can I set the maximum receive sensitivity of -93 dBm with the Impinj R700 series readers?

In the Impinj ItemTest software, check the “Enable Max Sensitivity” option to obtain the maximum receive sensitivity for the selected reader mode.

When using the Impinj IoT device interface, omitting the “receiveSensitivityDbm” field from a preset configuration JSON will cause the reader to report tags at the greatest sensitivity for any given mode.

For more information on different RF Modes on the Impinj R700 series readers, please refer to Impinj R700 Reader Modes (RF Modes) article.

For more information describing how to optimize your deployment for receive sensitivity, please refer to Why Receive Sensitivity Matters article.

Why did the published Impinj R700 receive sensitivity values change from -92 dBm to -93 dBm?

Along with the launch of the R720, Impinj changed its standard methodology for measuring receive sensitivity for all fixed readers, including both the R700 series and Speedway series products. The new methodology aligns better with RAIN Alliance recommendations and the ISO 18046-2:2020 industry standard. This change appears to have improved the published values. However, Impinj’s fixed readers have not had any changes made to them that functionally improved their receive sensitivity. 

For more information about this new methodology, including step-by-step directions, please refer to the How to Perform Reader Sensitivity Testing application note.

How can I know which antenna port an Impinj R700 series reader is using to read tags?

ItemTest software’s Antenna column automatically displays which antenna port the Impinj R700 series reader is using to read tags.

If you are using IoT Device Interface on 8.2.0 or newer firmware, under the Tag Streaming tab, there is an Antenna column that displays the antenna port number that last read a particular EPC. 

If you are reading from output options in the Impinj IoT device interface (Ex: HTTP Stream, MQTT, Kafka), the inventory preset can be configured so that tagInventoryEvents will include the port name or number where the tag was seen.

What Ethernet cable can I use to power the Impinj R700 series reader via PoE/PoE+?

Any IEEE 802.3 compliant Ethernet cable should work with the Impinj R700 series readers. 

However, the maximum length of the Ethernet cable will vary depending on the power source and the TX Power you use. See tables below for each available R700 series reader.

Impinj R700:

Power Source	Tx Max	Cable Max
802.3at PoE+	33 dBm	100 Meters
802.3af PoE	27 dBm	100 Meters
802.3af PoE	30 dBm	60 Meters

Impinj R720:

Power Source	Tx Max	Cable Max
802.3at PoE+	33 dBm	100 Meters
802.3af PoE	20 dBm	60 Meters

 

For more information, please refer to the Impinj R700 series Installation and Operations Guide found under R700 Series Documents and Downloads.

Can I connect to the Impinj R700 series reader from a Linux laptop?

Yes. If you encounter connection issues, please refer to the Support Portal article: Troubleshooting Reader Connectivity Issues.

Can I use the application that I developed for an Impinj Speedway reader with an Impinj R700 series reader?

In general, yes. The LLRP interfaces available on Impinj Speedway readers are also available on Impinj R700 series readers. You may need to modify the code for the Impinj R700 series specific settings and/or values. Please note that not all capabilities, such as Doppler, are present in the Impinj R700 series readers.

Applications that run directly on an Impinj Speedway reader must be recompiled for Impinj R700 series readers.

For more details, please refer to Speedway to R700: Migration Application Note

Can the Impinj R700 series readers buffer tag reads and/or events if the network goes down?

Yes. The buffer size is different depending on the interface you use:

- LLRP interface: up to 1000 tag reads

- IoT Device Interface: up to 300,000 events (for both the HTTP Streaming and MQTT output)

What cipher suites does the Impinj R700 support for TLS connection?

As of the firmware 7.6.0, the Impinj R700 supports the following cipher suites:

HTTPS port 443

TLSv1.2 (server order)

• TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384             
• TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384                   
• TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_128_GCM_SHA256             

TLSv1.3 (server order)

• TLS_AES_256_GCM_SHA384                             
• TLS_CHACHA20_POLY1305_SHA256                      
• TLS_AES_128_GCM_SHA256

LLRPS port 5085

TLSv1.2 (no server order, thus listed by strength)

• TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384             
• TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA384             
• TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA                
• TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_CHACHA20_POLY1305_SHA256       
• TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384                   
• TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA256                   
• TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA                      
• TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_128_GCM_SHA256             
• TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA256             
• TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA                
• TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_128_GCM_SHA256                   
• TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA256                   
• TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA                      

TLSv1.3 (no server order, thus listed by strength)

• TLS_AES_256_GCM_SHA384                            
• TLS_CHACHA20_POLY1305_SHA256                      
• TLS_AES_128_GCM_SHA256                            

How can I get started developing on-reader applications with the Impinj R700 series readers?

Please refer to the Impinj R700 Embedded Toolkit Quick Start Guide.

You can also watch the Impinj online training videos (Impinj partner only): 
http://learning.impinj.com/.

Is Speedway Connect available for the Impinj R700 and Impinj R720?

No. Impinj Speedway Connect only runs on Impinj Speedway readers, Impinj xArray, Impinj xSpan, and Impinj xPortal. When configured to use the Impinj IoT device interface, the Impinj R700, and Impinj R720 display a native web UI and native IoT connectivity that offers similar functionality to Impinj Speedway Connect. 

Can I use GPI to trigger the start and stop of inventorying?

Yes. The Impinj IoT device interface supports this through a preset configuration using the "startTriggers" and "stopTriggers" JSON fields.  Please reference the Impinj IoT Device Interface documentation for more information. 

The LLRP interface may also be used to configure the reader to use a GPI as a start or stop trigger: Setting up GPI Triggers with LLRP.

Which male terminal block can I use with the GPIO ports on the Impinj R700 series readers?

Impinj recommends the PHOENIX CONTACT Printed-circuit board connector, 1803646.

For more information on the Impinj R700 series readers and GPIO, please refer to Connecting GPIO devices to Impinj R700.

Can I add extra GPIO ports to the Impinj R700 series readers?

Impinj R700 has two general purpose inputs and three opto-isolated outputs. Adding extra GPIO ports directly to the reader is not supported. You may choose to use a networked GPIO device if the network latency is not a concern.

Which Wi-Fi dongles does the Impinj R700 series readers support?

Impinj R700 series readers currently supports the following Wi-Fi chipset:

• Ralink RT2870
• Realtek 8821CU

For more information, please refer to the following Support Portal article: How to use an Impinj R700 Reader with a USB WiFi Adapter.

For which countries/regions are the Impinj R700 and Impinj R720 certified?

Please refer to the following Support Portal article for all fixed reader and Gateway products: Certified Regions and Geographies.

Are the Impinj R700 and Impinj R720 RoHS certified?

Yes. For more information, please refer to the following RoHS Compliance document found under the R700 Series Documents and Downloads webpage.

For PoE, are there any differences between Impinj Speedway series and Impinj R700 series readers?

Yes, power requirements vary depending on the use of power drawn from the USB ports, the current draw from the GPIO port, and the length of the Ethernet cable from the power source to the reader. These differences for R700 are outlined in the table below:

Power Source	TX Max	Cable Max	GPIO + USB Max
802.3at PoE+	33 dBm	100 Meters	5V/500 mA
802.3af PoE	27 dBm	100 Meters	5V/500 mA
802.3af PoE	30 dBm	60 Meters	None

These differences for R720 are outlined in the table below:

Power Source	TX Max	Cable Max	GPIO + USB Max
802.3at PoE+	33 dBm	100 Meters	5V/500 mA
802.3af PoE	20 dBm	60 Meters	None

In general, the more power that is being used, the more likely that PoE+ will be needed to supply enough power to keep the reader operating without "browning out". For more information, please refer to the R700 Installation and Operations Guide found here.

Is there an antenna hub available for the Impinj R700 and R720?

Yes, the Impinj R700 antenna hub is available for R700 series readers. For more information, please refer to the following document: Impinj R700 Antenna Hub Guide. This guide is available through the R700 Series Documents and Downloads link.

The Impinj R700 antenna hub is compatible with the Impinj R720.

When should I choose the Impinj R720 over the Impinj R700 for a deployment?

The R720 and R700 are both designed to support global RAIN deployments that need industry-leading performance, enterprise-grade reliability and security, and support next-generation RAIN tags.  The Impinj R720 has a Qualcomm quad-core processor with a 1.4 GHz clock speed and therefore is better suited for IoT solutions that require additional edge processing power. The R720 is designed to fulfill the needs of partners and customers that require increasingly complex on-reader applications and algorithms required for their solutions.

What is the operating and storage temperatures for the Impinj R700 series readers?

Operating temperature	-4° F to 122° F (-20° C to 50° C)
Storage temperature	-4° F to 158° F (-20° C to 70° C)

 

Is the Impinj R700 Reader TAA Compliant?

Impinj’s RAIN RFID readers and gateway products are manufactured in Malaysia, a non-TAA compliant country.  Therefore these Impinj reader products are not TAA Compliant.