Zebra RFD90 Ultra-Rugged RFID Sled

The Zebra RFD90 is an ultra-rugged UHF RFID sled that clips onto a Zebra handheld and reads more than 1,300 tags a second, about 6.7 m away with the RFD9030 or about 22.9 m with the long-range RFD9090. We supply, set up and support it in Malta for warehouses, yards and factory floors, with the adaptor matched to the handhelds your staff already carry.

Price on request · Request a quote for the RFD90 or call (+356) 2138 5911 · Download Spec Sheet

Sirap is a Zebra Premier Business Partner in Malta and a Zebra RFID Specialist.

We supply, set up and support Zebra RFID readers in Malta.

Counting a warehouse by barcode means one scan per carton, often from a ladder or a forklift. With RFID tags on the stock, the Zebra RFD90 reads every tag in range as you walk the aisle, and the RFD9090 reaches pallets on high racking from the floor.

The sled clips onto a Zebra mobile computer. The handheld keeps its screen and apps, and the sled adds the RFID reader and a second barcode scanner. For a whole site, see RFID readers, antennas and tags in Malta and our warehouse automation work.

What is the Zebra RFD90 for?

The RFD90 is for stock counts and searches in places where a retail sled would not last: warehouses, distribution centres, yards and production halls. Zebra names it for warehousing, manufacturing and logistics.

In logistics and warehousing it counts tagged pallets and cases in the racking and checks a load before it leaves. In manufacturing it finds tools, moulds and work in progress, and checks lineside stock. Its item-finder mode then leads the user to one tagged item, which saves a search when a pallet is in the wrong bay.

The tags decide much of the result, so we choose them with you. We supply the labels and inlays too: see Zebra RFID labels and inlays.

How far does the RFD90 read, with the RFD9030 and the RFD9090?

Two sleds make up the range, and they differ only in the antenna. Both read more than 1,300 tags a second on the EU 865-868 MHz band.

RFD9030 for aisle-level counts. A standard-range circular-polarised antenna reads tags about 6.7 m away. It suits counting shelves, cages and pallets at working height.

RFD9090 for high racking and yards. A long-range linear-polarised Yagi antenna reads tags about 22.9 m away. Staff can read the top levels of a rack, or tags across a yard, from where they stand.

A barcode imager in every sled. Each RFD90 has its own 1D/2D imager: the SE4750MR, or the SE4850 extended-range imager with a far-focus range of 38 cm to 8.89 m. The upper and lower triggers can each be set to start RFID, to scan with the sled imager or to scan with the handheld.

Zebra’s figures are typical ranges. In your building the range depends on the tag, on what it is fixed to and on the RF power setting; tags on metal racking or on drums of liquid read shorter. So before a fleet order we run a read test with your own tagged goods.

How tough is the RFD90?

Dust and water jets do not stop it: the RFD90 is sealed to IP65 and IP67, so it also survives temporary immersion. It is rated for 1.8 m drops to concrete and 500 tumbles at 0.5 m, and it works from -20°C to 55°C.

A battery you can swap without tools. A 7,000 mAh PowerPrecision+ battery clips out of the handle, so a spare can go in mid-shift. The sled can also charge the attached handheld through the eConnex connection, where the handheld supports it.

What it weighs. The RFD9030 weighs 714 to 751 g and the RFD9090 759 to 799 g, depending on the imager. Add the weight of your handheld to get what staff carry through a full count.

Connecting the RFD90 to your handhelds and software

It connects to the handheld by eConnex, Zebra’s wired connector between sled and handheld, or by Bluetooth 5.3. It also has its own Wi-Fi 6 radio for management.

Adaptors for the handhelds you already have. Zebra makes eConnex and Bluetooth adaptors for its TC5x and TC7x handhelds, including the TC53 and TC58 and the TC73 and TC78. A TC53 or TC58 needs its rugged boot fitted to sit on the sled. The adaptor screws onto the sled, so we fit the right one for each handheld model before handover.

Updates over Wi-Fi. The sled’s Wi-Fi 6 radio lets IT update firmware and settings over the air, even with no handheld attached. Sleds do not have to be collected for an update.

Reads without a connection. In batch mode the RFD90 stores up to 40,000 unique tags without a host.

Software your developers can use. Zebra publishes RFID SDKs (software development kits) for Android (Java, Android 10 or later), iPhone and iPad (Objective-C, over Bluetooth) and Windows (C# on .NET Framework 4.8).

Reads straight to your systems. The RFD90 can also send tag and barcode reads to your own MQTT broker, the server that passes messages between systems, with no app on a handheld. It does this over Wi-Fi 6 or an Ethernet cradle, after a one-off set-up over USB-C in Zebra’s 123RFID Desktop.

Gen2X tag features. With sled firmware SAAFKS00-013-R02 or later, the RFD90 reads in Gen2, Gen2X or hybrid mode. Gen2X is an extension of the tag standard and needs Gen2X tags. Through Zebra’s Android and iOS SDKs it adds features such as Protected Mode, which keeps a tag invisible to readers that do not have its password.

EU security settings. On EU sleds, Zebra’s SDKs need an admin login before they change the region, Wi-Fi, certificates or firmware. The factory password has to be changed first. We set those passwords at handover and give them to your IT team.

Zebra RFD90 technical specifications

Download the Zebra RFD90 spec sheet (PDF)

Zebra RFD90 models and part codes

The Zebra RFD90 comes in the four EU configurations below. Choose the standard-range RFD9030 or the long-range RFD9090, then the standard or extended-range barcode imager. Tell us the task and we specify the part code.

The box holds the sled, its battery and a quick start guide. The adaptor, cradle and cables are separate lines on the quote.

RFD90 adaptors, cradles and batteries

Each sled needs one adaptor for its handheld model. With an eConnex adaptor fitted, the sled and the handheld charge together as a pair in the RFD90 cradles below, not in the handheld’s own cradles. Every cradle also needs its power supply and DC cord, which we add to the quote with a mains cord for Maltese sockets.

Cradles for the older TC21, TC26, TC5x and TC7x handhelds also exist. Tell us the handheld models on site and we match the adaptor and cradle cup to each.

What does an RFD90 cost to run?

The Zebra RFD90 takes no supplies except a spare battery for longer shifts. The running cost of an RFD90 project comes from the items around it, and we cost them with the sled:

• the tags or RFID labels on your stock, usually the largest recurring item;
• one adaptor per handheld model, and charging cradles with their power supplies;
• spare 7,000 mAh batteries for multi-shift work;
• your developers’ or software partner’s time if the reads go into your own WMS or ERP.

RFD90, RFD40 or a handheld with built-in RFID: which fits?

The Zebra RFD90 fits warehouses, yards and production halls, where staff count from a distance and the sled gets knocked, dropped or wet. Choose the RFD9090 when tags sit on high racking or across a yard and the sled has to survive the conditions too.

For shops and back rooms, the Zebra RFD40 RFID sled is the lighter choice: the Premium versions weigh about 541 to 556 g. The standard RFD40 reads about 6 m, and the RFD40-M version reaches up to about 24 m on Zebra’s sheet. All RFD40 versions are sealed to IP54, rated for 1.5 m drops and work from -10°C to 50°C, so they stay out of yards.

The Zebra TC22R has the RFID reader built into the handheld, so there is no sled to clip on. It reads up to 1,300 tags a second. For finding a single item close by, handhelds such as the Zebra TC501 read RFID within about 2 m.

If nobody should have to walk the aisle at all, a fixed reader at the door or conveyor records goods as they pass. The Zebra FX9600 fixed RFID reader does this at a dock door or on a line. For an indoor door, the Zebra FX7500 fixed RFID reader is the compact option, and outdoors at a yard gate, the Zebra FXR90.

What we do with an RFD90 order

Before you order a fleet, we test the RFD9030 and RFD9090 with your own tagged goods, in the aisles and racking where they will work. The test settles which sled, which imager and how many spare batteries you need.

Our sales team in San Gwann matches the sleds, adaptors and cradles to your handhelds. Our technical team sets each sled up, tests it and handles the warranty claims.

At handover every sled has its adaptor fitted, is paired with its handheld, is set to the EU region and has joined your Wi-Fi. We also hand your IT team the EU admin passwords. The RFD90 is one part of the Zebra range we supply.

Frequently asked questions about the RFD90

Will the RFD90 work with the handhelds we already have?

Yes, if the handheld is a Zebra with an RFD90 adaptor, such as the TC53, TC58, TC73 or TC78. They connect through the adaptor by eConnex, a wired connection, or by Bluetooth. Phones connect by Bluetooth through an adaptor for OtterBox uniVERSE cases. Tell us your handheld models and we confirm the adaptor for each.

Can the RFD90 send reads to our WMS without a handheld?

Yes. The Zebra RFD90 can publish tag and barcode reads to your MQTT broker over its own Wi-Fi 6 radio or an Ethernet cradle. Your WMS, or middleware in front of it, then takes the reads from the broker. Depending on your set-up, we configure this ourselves, work with your software partner or hand the sled interface to your IT team.

Who installs it in Malta?

The Zebra RFD90 is set up by our technical team after the read test on your goods. Each sled gets its adaptor and is paired with its handheld. We set the EU region and your Wi-Fi, and change the EU admin password before handover.

Who repairs it and handles the warranty?

The Zebra RFD90 carries Zebra’s standard warranty, and our technical team handles the claims. For a sled fleet we quote Zebra OneCare service plans on request. Firmware updates reach each sled over its own Wi-Fi 6 radio, so the sleds stay on site.

Is it held in stock in Malta?

The Zebra RFD90 is usually from stock or within a few days, depending on regional availability. Adaptors and cradles follow your handheld models, so the quote gives a date for each line.

Talk to us about the RFD90

Tell us what you count, where the tags sit and which handhelds your staff use. We reply within one working day with the questions we still need answered about your goods and handhelds. If your goods need a read test, an engineer visits, anywhere in Malta and Gozo. You get a quote with the exact part codes for sleds, adaptors and cradles, the set-up scope and the warranty route.

Request a quote for the Zebra RFD90 or call (+356) 2138 5911 · Price on request

Monday to Friday 8:30 to 16:30. We reply within one working day.

We have been part of Maltese IT and industry since 1981.