HDX EID tags are now mandatory on all cattle registered in the Republic of Ireland. Since we are now mandated to have EID tags, I think we as farmers may as well make use of them to enhance our own record keeping and herd management. I’ve managed to get my hands on some HDX EID readers for testing. All of these readers were tested using a OnePlus Nord 10 phone running Android 11 and a Windows 11 Laptop.
There are a few pitfalls to be aware of when looking for an EID reader, such as:
- Tag compatibility, does it read HDX 134.2 Khz Tags?
- App compatibility, will it work with your intended Apps?
- Does it support HID mode, keyboard emulation for non EID apps?
- Bluetooth compatibility, will it work with your current devices, Bluetooth 4.x/5.x (BLE) or older Legacy Bluetooth?
- Are the memory functions (batch recordings) or functionality of the native apps of the device of importance or do you just need a basic reader for third party apps?
- Tags for older cattle with a visual ID starting with IE instead of 272 do not match the EID tag, so link lists may be a desirable feature.
RealTrace RT250BT
This is a basic reader with not much in the way of settings, it supports Bluetooth SPP and BLE, there is no HID mode so it cannot natively do keyboard emulation without using a keyboard wedge app. It has a memory function and can store a list of up to 800 tags for downloading later or scan directly to a phone app by Bluetooth.
This device does not pair directly with the Bluetooth manager on my Android 11 phone, it does however pair from within the PetScan app and there was also no issue pairing within the SerialMagic Gears keyboard wedge app. The PetScan app itself is very basic and not worth using for cattle in my opinion, but with the keyboard wedge app I was able to use any app that has text input from the Android on screen keyboard.
On the PC side I could only connect using USB and there is no real software provided only their own branded terminal emulator (which wouldn’t install for me on Windows 11). Tera Term worked though and I was also able to connect using Node-Red which could be useful to build simple custom apps. There is also a developers SDK for Windows and Mobile so it’s possible there are more third party apps out there.
Cost: €650 + (€50 for SerialMagic Keyboard Wedge App) Android App: PetScan IOS App: Petscan PC Software: Any Serial Terminal HID Mode: Using SerialMagic Gears App Bluetooth modes: BLE,SPP
Shearwell SDL440S
This reader feels the most rugged of all of the readers I’ve tested so far, it’s simple and ergonomic to use when reading tags. The manufacturer claims simple one button operation but in reality this just makes navigating menus a bit fiddley. It runs on rechargeable AA batteries which need to be removed for charging and the process of removing and reinstalling the batteries can also be a little awkward.
I could not get the Shearwell EID Connect app to work on my phone, there is no HID mode and SerialMagic Gears could not connect. However another keyboard wedge app called BluePiano works. The Shearwell app in the Play Store says it is early release and also that more apps are on the way.
The reader also has a memory function and can store multiple groups of tags, group names are not definable and will be simply labeled “grp = A”, “grp = B” etc. The SDL Connect software for PC is simple to use and can be used to read and erase stored tags, they can be exported to a text file or an Excel sheet. SDL Connect can also be used to change many settings of the stick reader including pairing with Bluetooth Scales and Printers.
Cost: €811 + (€17 for BluePiano Keyboard Wedge App) Android App: EID Connect IOS App: EID Connect PC Software: SDL Connect HID Mode: Using BluePiano App Bluetooth modes: BLE
Agrident AWR250
I’ve spoken to a number of people in the industry, from tag suppliers to software and hardware vendors and one name that keeps coming up on top is Agrident. I find the Agrident is very bulky compared to the other readers but it is packed with features. It supports a wide range of Bluetooth profiles including IAP, SPP, BLE and 2 HID profiles meaning compatibility shouldn’t be an issue.
Out of the box the Agrident can be used to connect to any app that supports keyboard input using HID mode, there is also a phone app called AgriTransfer which can download data stored on the reader.
As a stand-alone reader the Agrident really stands out from the others as it has easy to use menu buttons, large display and supports multiple fully customizable groups for batch recording tag numbers to (for example you could create a group with a worm dose name then scan all animals which received that dose). The reader also supports link lists and alert lists, link lists can link EID’s to visual tag numbers if they happen to be different, also animal weights if used in conjunction with a Bluetooth scales, or alerts which can activate an extra visual and audio alert if animals on the list are read, useful to identify animals to be picked out of a group or which require extra treatment, the alerts list can be used to create custom alerts. The Lists are managed through the Agrilink Software for PC, which can also be used to manage all reader settings and export data to Excel or text files.
There is also a more expensive model, which I have not tested, the AWR300, it does everything the AWR250 does but also has an integrated Database function for offline data about the specific animals. The data can be changed and added from customized lists (e.g. Breeds or medicines). There is also a Tasks mode to create a self defined list of frequent tasks, the AWR300 costs €881
Cost: €583 Android App: AgriTransfer IOS App: AgriTransfer PC Software: Agrilink HID Mode: Native Bluetooth HID Bluetooth modes: SPP,BLE,IAP,HID
PT361 RFID reader
This is the cheapest reader I’ve tested, it has no memory functions and only one mode Bluetooth HID, It works with any apps that support keyboard input.
It pretty much works as expected but it’s build quality is a bit suspect and I’m not sure how long it would last on the average farm before the plastics crack or moisture kills the electronics. It has an interesting phone holder for one handed operation but it is also a bit flimsy.
Cost: €240 Android App: N/A IOS App: N/A PC Software: N/A HID Mode: Native Bluetooth HID Bluetooth modes: HID
Conclusion
Of the readers tested so far the Agrident is a clear winner, it is the most versatile and best value for money. All of the readers have been tested with Irish HDX EID cattle Tags. It is also worth noting that if you have a specific app designed for EID readers you should check their compatibility list as there can be compatibility issues,(although less of an issue for apps that just need HID input). I will update this Blog if I receive any more readers for testing in the future.
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