ThingMagic M5e-Compact - Manual (Page 251)

Variables Affecting Performance
Appendix E: Environmental Considerations 251
Variables Affecting Performance
Reader performance may be affected by the following variables, depending on the site
where your Reader is being deployed:
Environmental
Tag Considerations
Multiple Readers
Environmental
Reader performance may be affected by the following environmental conditions:
Metal surfaces such as desks, filing cabinets, bookshelves, and wastebaskets
may enhance or degrade Reader performance.
Antennas should be mounted far away from metal surfaces that may adversely
affect the system performance.
Devices that operate at 900 MHz, such as cordless phones and wireless LANs,
can degrade Reader performance. The Reader may also adversely affect the
performance of these 900 MHz devices.
Moving machinery can interfere the Reader performance. Test Reader
performance with moving machinery turned off.
Fluorescent lighting fixtures are a source of strong electromagnetic interference
and if possible should be replaced. If fluorescent lights cannot be replaced, then
keep the Reader cables and antennas away from them.
Coaxial cables leading from the Reader to antennas can be a strong source of
electromagnetic radiation. These cables should be laid flat and not coiled up.
Tag Considerations
There are several variables associated with tags that can affect Reader performance:
Application Surface: Some materials, including metal and moisture, interfere
with tag performance. Tags applied to items made from or containing these
materials may not perform as expected.