ID TECH VP7200 User Manual
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9.
RF Interference
Q. Why do I need to know about RF interference?
A.
Contactless payment uses radio frequency technology to send card data to a contactless terminal
reader.
Q. How can RF interference affect contactless payment?
A.
RF interference can cause data errors. If RF interference is present, contactless payment devices may
operate intermittently or inconsistently.
Q. Where does RF interference come from?
A.
Radio frequency interference (RFI) can originate from a wide number of sources at the point-of-sale
(POS). Some examples of sources of RF energy and RF interference include:
AM/FM radio and TV transmitters 2-way radios, pagers
Mobile telephones Power lines, transformers Medical equipment Microwaves
Electromechanical switches
Q. What should I do if I suspect RF interference exists in my environment?
A.
Begin by inspecting your environment for possible sources of RF interference.
Q. Do equipment manufacturers test their devices for RF interference?
A.
Electronic equipment is tested for RFI sensitivity by the manufacturers. These tests are performed in a
controlled laboratory environment and will often not replicate the types of devices that would be
encountered in your point-of-sale (POS) environment.
Q. What RF levels will impact RF operations?
A.
Factors that can cause RF interference vary case-by-case. There are no set rules defining a single RF
level that will cause RFI. RFI depends on the sensitivity of the equipment under consideration, or how
low an interpreting signal can be in the presence of the equipment and cause problems.
Equipment can be particularly sensitive to very low signal levels of one frequency and yet be quite
immune to high signal levels of another frequency - so frequency is an important factor. Some electronic
system components are internally shielded and have a very high immunity to interference; but generally,
most equipment has not been so engineered.
