Chapter 7: Deployment and Installation

RFID+ Exam Objectives Covered in this Chapter:

ü	6.1 Given a scenario, describe hardware installation using industry standard practices 6.1.1 Identify grounding considerations (e.g., lightning, ground loops, ESD) 6.1.2 Test installed equipment and connections (preinstall and postinstall)
ü	6.2 Given a scenario, interpret a site diagram created by an RFID architect describing interrogation zone locations, cable drops, device-mounting locations

It's show time bayyyy-beeee! The words of Dick Vitale should echo through your head before every RFID deployment. The industry is so new and exciting that each RFID deployment is like making it to the NCAA Final Four. If you're a mom-and-pop shop and pull off a great deployment, you could be the Cinderella story of the industry. If you're working for a large systems integrator or an RFID company making its living from the technology, you'd better know your stuff before you walk in the door.

CompTIA assumes most of the people being certified are likely to be the ones actually doing the hands-on work, so the exam spends a fair amount of time validating many of the principles around deployment and installation of RFID systems. This chapter will give you the key fundamentals as you learn about the following:

• Setting up a process and team structure to mange an RFID installation

• Figuring out how to perform quality control on RFID portals

• Using your site-survey and design documents for the install

• Properly configuring an RFID reader

• Working with your client to define acceptance testing protocols

• Knowing what to do with new team members

At the end of the chapter, you should have a good understanding of how the preinstallation work that you have done comes to fruition with actually setting up the readers to be installed on the premises.

Note 

This chapter has many tricks of the trade from ODIN Technologies' top engineers about what to look out for when deploying RFID systems in the real world.