Voyantic is a leading provider of testing and encoding systems for the RFID industry. Our solutions are designed to accelerate development, ensure the highest design and manufacturing quality, and ease the adoption of RFID technology.
Tagsurance 3 introduces a new capability that automatically adjusts station triggering positions based on product‑specific recipe data, simplifying daily operations and reducing the risk of configuration errors.
When the hardware on the production line has fixed physical locations, Tagsurance 3 enables trigger positioning to be defined directly at the recipe level. By combining fixed station locations with product‑specific data—such as inlay length and width, shielding plate opening size, and the offset from the label edge to the start of the antenna—the system can automatically apply correct trigger positioning consistently across one or multiple stations. This approach allows lane configuration to remain unchanged and shifts product changeover primarily to recipe selection and material replacement, rather than requiring manual changes to lane configuration.
👉 Watch the video below to see Voyantic’s Solution Specialist Lasse Saarinen demonstrate how the feature works in practice.
Benefits for Daily Operations
Simpler operation Operators no longer need to adjust lane configuration values when switching between products. The changeover process is handled through the user interface by selecting the appropriate recipe, and in practice often only requires changing the material in the machine.
Reduced risk of configuration errors Trigger position logic no longer depends on manual calculation or operator knowledge of RFID test geometry, reducing the likelihood of misconfiguration.
Cleaner separation of configuration responsibilities
Lane configuration describes machine‑specific, physical station locations.
Recipes describe product‑specific dimensions and tag placement.
This separation improves maintainability and system clarity.
Improved scalability for multi‑machine environments Lane configurations are no longer tied to individual products. This reduces the total number of configurations that must be maintained and supports centralized recipe or job management across multiple machines and sites.
Want to learn more?
Feel free to send us any questions or book a free demo. In the tailored online demo, we can showcase our system’s functionality in action and address your specific use cases and questions.
Voyantic is a leading provider of testing and encoding systems for the RFID industry. Our solutions are designed to accelerate development, ensure the highest design and manufacturing quality, and ease the adoption of RFID technology.
Voyantic announces the planned End of Life (EOL) of the first-generation Tagformance Pro hardware platform, referred to as Tagformance Pro Hardware 1.0.
Software updates compatible with Tagformance Pro Hardware 1.0, as well as technical support, repair services, and calibration services, will continue to be provided in accordance with the Tagformance Lifecycle Policy (defined in the Tagformance system catalog).
End-of-Life Schedule
Software releases launched after March 31, 2027 will no longer be compatible with Tagformance Pro Hardware 1.0.
Continued bug fixes and critical updates will be provided, subject to technical feasibility, until March 2031.
Calibration and repair services are expected to remain available until March 2031, subject to component availability.
The expected end of support is planned for March 2031.
The hardware version is printed on the device’s back panel. All devices with hardware generation 1, including minor revisions (e.g., 1.2), are considered Tagformance Pro Hardware 1.0 for lifecycle purposes.
Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact your Voyantic contact person, or:
Voyantic is a leading provider of testing and encoding systems for the RFID industry. Our solutions are designed to accelerate development, ensure the highest design and manufacturing quality, and ease the adoption of RFID technology.
Quality control in RFID production has moved beyond standalone testing — and so has Voyantic Tagsurance system. Upgrading from Tagsurance 1 or 2 to Tagsurance 3 means stepping from standalone testers into an integrated production system that improves speed, scalability, data visibility, and long-term reliability. If your operations are evolving toward multi-lane, high-speed, digitally connected manufacturing, this upgrade could redefine how efficiently you run your RFID production.
Voyantic released Tagsurance 3 system a few years ago as the next step in this evolution. The key difference compared to Tagsurance 1 and 2 was architectural. Earlier generations were standalone test devices. Tagsurance 3, in contrast, is designed as a complete production system — one that not only tests tags, but coordinates devices, manages production data, and supports modern integration requirements.
At the same time, Tagsurance 3 is built for the long term. The platform is continuously developed, with new features and enhancements released regularly through controlled software updates. This ensures that the system evolves alongside industry requirements rather than remaining fixed in time.
The first- and second-generation testers have served reliably in simpler environments. But as production lines grow more advanced, many manufacturers are asking: what would upgrading to Tagsurance 3 mean in practice?
Simpler Integration: Less engineering effort. Faster deployment.
Production Intelligence: Lot management, yield tracking, trigger logic.
Higher Speed and Sensitivity: Better quality at higher throughput.
Industrial-Grade Stability: No Windows-related surprises.
Digital Readiness: Full REST API and remote visibility.
Scalability: From single lane to 12 lanes without architectural pain.
High-Speed encoding: Both performance testing and encoding can be performed using the same setup.
Voyantic Tagsurance 1 and 2 test devices vs. Tagsurance 3 system
Test Devices vs. Complete Production System
Tagsurance 1 and 2 performed reliably in simple setups. However, modern production environments are rarely simple. As soon as additional devices—such as markers, punchers, visual inspection systems, encoding units, or multiple lanes are introduced, integration becomes significantly more complicated. Machine PLC modifications are often required, and when several devices per lane are involved across multiple lanes, reliable integration becomes challenging for many machine manufacturers. In multi-lane systems with multiple devices per lane, this often results in long integration projects, higher engineering costs, limited scalability, and increased risk of unstable integrations.
Tagsurance 3 introduces a fundamentally different architecture. It is designed as a complete production system rather than a single tester. It integrates easily with virtually any machine without requiring changes to the machine’s PLC code. It supports multiple devices per lane and can handle up to 12 lanes, including markers, punchers, inspection systems, and other equipment. This results in:
Shorter integration times
Fewer engineering efforts
Flexibility and scalability
Reliable integrations.
Tagsurance 3 is built to support your digitalization strategy. It also features a comprehensive REST API that enables clean and modern integrations. In contrast, Tagsurance 1 and 2 provided only a limited serial-port command interface.
Production Intelligence and Integrated Capabilities
Tagsurance 1 and 2 focused on testing tags but did not manage production at a system level. Tagsurance 3 introduces true system intelligence, including the following system-level capabilities:
Software-based trigger control: pattern trigger for avoiding double triggers, possibility to set repeat and simulate trigger for recognizing missing labels
Lot management
Support for IO-only devices (e.g., optical inspection)
Digital IO outputs for yield control and lot handling
A platform architecture that enables cloud-based features
In addition, Tagsurance 3 enables encoding using the same system setup. The integrated encoding solution eliminates the need for separate devices and standalone processes, simplifying machine architecture and reducing integration complexity (see the system example image below).
From Windows PC to Industrial Embedded Platform
Earlier Tagsurance versions relied on Windows PCs, which introduced certain operational challenges and risks. Windows updates could occasionally cause disruptions, system security depended heavily on individual PC configurations, and visibility was limited to the local machine. In addition, there was no structured user privilege management, and data handling focused primarily on single-tag logs rather than broader production insights.
Tagsurance 3 software is embedded in the hardware and gives standard API interfaces and a browser-based user interface. This modern architecture provides:
Controlled updates
Industrial-grade stability
Secure system architecture
Remote visibility
Admin credential management
Structured production data: Single tag data, production / lot data, production run data (yield, capacity, lane speed and more).
Tester Performance Upgrade
Tagsurance 1 and 2 use the UHF tester version Tagsurance UHF. The minimum power level of this tester is –10 dBm, which can be too high for modern high-sensitivity inlays. As a result, marginal tags may not be detected early enough in production.
Tagsurance 3 uses the newer UHF tester, Tagsurance SL UHF, with several benefits over the previous tester version:
The minimum transmit power level of –25 dBm is matched with modern IC sensitivities.
The Tagsurance SL UHF also operates at a higher speed than earlier generations, typically the speed is doubled.
Tagsurance SL UHF is a power over Ethernet, simplifying the installation.
For ease-of-use, all connectors, leds and plates of the Tagsurance SL UHF are in the front panel.
For HF testing, Tagsurance 3 uses the Tagsurance HF 2 tester. It is backward-compatible with the previous Tagsurance HF version and offers Power over Ethernet (PoE) for simplified installation.
In summary, the higher receiver sensitivity, robustness, and accuracy, combined with higher speed, ultimately mean higher quality at higher production capacity.
Tagsurance 1 or 2
Tagsurance 3
Tester only: Integration with a single tester was manageable, but adding devices or multiple lanes quickly made integration complex, often requiring PLC changes and resulting in unreliable multi-device setups.
Complete system: Easily integrates with any machine without PLC changes, supports multiple devices per lane, and scales to multilane production (up to 12 lanes).
No system level features
Advanced system-level functionality, including software-based trigger control, lot management, IO device support, digital outputs for yield control — and a platform ready for further feature expansion.
Windows-based software with occasional update disruptions, PC-dependent security, mainly single-tag and lot log data, local visibility only, and no structured user privilege management.
Embedded software with browser-based GUI, controlled updates, secure architecture, structured production data (tag, lot, run-level), remote visibility, and role-based admin access control.
APIs: Limited serial port command interface
API: Comprehensive REST API (all features in GI are using the same API)
UHF tester: Tagsurance UHF, minimum power –10 dBm (may be too high for modern high-sensitivity inlays), with standard testing speed.
UHF tester: Tagsurance SL UHF, minimum power –25 dBm and up to twice the testing speed compared to Tagsurance UHF.
HF Tester version: Tagsurance HF
HF tester: Tagsurance HF and Tagsurance HF 2; HF 2 is backward compatible and supports Power over Ethernet (PoE).
Explore the system catalog for detailed specifications
Comprehensive reference of Voyantic Tagsurance® 3 product range, with details on specifications, features, interfaces, components, accessories, spare parts, services, etc.
I’ve been working at Voyantic since January 2019, nowadays I work as a Senior HW Designer in our HW team. I do mainly RF and electronics design for our products, but I also know something about mechanics, programming and business administration. Sometimes I feel surprisingly extroverted and might even speak in a webinar or write a blog post.
Voyantic Snoop Pro™ Mini and Snoop Pro™ Tiny have shiny new looks and upgraded features. Read this blog post by our Senior Hardware Designer Sami Rautanen to deep dive into the development work of the upgraded components.
There has been quite a bit of detailed design work and testing to get these released. To see what’s new with them, keep scrolling to the longer article!
If you are too busy at the moment, here is a short summary of the article:
Snoop Pro™ Mini 3.0 with integrated strobe
Mechanically almost backwards compatible (shielding plates, attachment holes, geometry) but the strobe connector and cable take additional space
RF performance backwards compatible with v2 with a couple of exceptions:
Narrow tag near shielding plate opening edge when the opening is ≥ 50 mm long
Any kind of extensions
Snoop Pro™ Tiny 2.0 with integrated strobe
Mechanically almost backwards compatible (shielding plates, attachment holes, geometry) but the strobe connector and cable take additional space and one attachment hole was removed
RF performance not backwards compatible (although usually close)
New looks & integrated strobe feature
Okay, maybe the new look isn’t that new after the Snoop Pro™ 2.0 but it’s still new for Mini & Tiny. Their looks didn’t change too dramatically, some new colours, texts and switches.
Figure 1. Mini 3.0 & Tiny 2.0 appearance. 0603 SMD resistor for scale and confusion.
The new versions of Mini & Tiny feature a built-in strobe light, making it easy to use whenever the functionality is needed. The strobe light illuminates the tag from below, making the tag antenna visible in most cases and helping ensure accurate setup of the test start location. The white colour is actually no coincidence; it is used to make the strobe effect better. With the light coming from below the material the illumination effect is strong.
Both Mini & Tiny have a switch to turn the strobe ON/OFF but only the Mini has the switch for the Fail indicator. There was simply no room for it in the Tiny so the Fail indicator in Tiny is always ON (well, at least as long as the strobe cable is connected to the Snoop). Mini & Tiny can also be used without connecting the strobe cable.
About the RF performance variance and backwards compatibility of the Mini v3.0
This is pretty awesome; with a careful design we were able to squeeze the unit-to-unit variance to better levels. This will allow a better tag production quality since the Snoop will have less impact on the result variance between different lanes.
Here’s an example measured with a bunch of different Mini 3.0 with some tag:
Figure 2. Example of a typical unit-to-unit result variation of Mini 3.0.
You know what? Let’s look at a different one also:
Figure 3. Another example of a typical unit-to-unit result variation of Mini 3.0.
That’s not much variation, with this the Mini 3.0 should not be a limiting factor for result variation in tag production.
The backwards compatibility is divided in two parts: mechanical and RF. Mechanically the new version is pretty much backwards compatible:
Old shielding plates fit (different magnets to make the change easier)
No changes in the attachment hole sizes or positions
Adding the connector for the strobe took some space that breaks the borders of the previous version outlines and of course connecting the strobe cable takes space that was previously unused
So, we needed to break the mechanical backwards compatibility here to enable the strobe functionality.
With the RF performance it was way trickier to achieve backwards compatibility and actually it was not fully achieved. Let’s dig into that a bit more. We have defined the backwards compatibility as follows:
The results are within the envelope of the previous version
OR
The results are within ±1.0 dB from the center of the previous version envelope (need to allow some kind of unit-to-unit variance, unfortunately nothing is ideal in the world we’re living in)
Let’s take a look at some examples of how this looks like with real measurements. I took a small batch of both v2 and v3.0 Minis and some random tag that just happened to be close enough to my desk so I didn’t have to get up. The results with the that tag:
Figure 4. Illustrated example of the Mini 3.0 RF backwards performance with one tag type.
As you can see, with this tag the Mini v3.0 results are not within the v2 envelope across the frequency range, but the results are still within ±1.0 dB from the center of the envelope in those cases.
To find another tag I actually had to move from my desk, luckily my chair has wheels. Here are the results:
Figure 5. Illustrated example of the Mini 3.0 RF backwards performance with some other tag type.
Both results are similar. Again, there’s an area where the Mini v3.0 results are not within the v2 envelope but still very close, most of the time the results are within the envelope.But! Then there’s the situation where the Mini v3.0 results are not backwards compatible: a narrow tag near the shielding plate opening edge when the opening is ≥50 mm. Let’s take a look at an example:
Figure 6. An illustrated example of a narrow tag near shielding plate opening edge.
The narrow tag is relatively close to the shielding plate opening edge and with the Mini v3.0 it requires less power to wake up (yellow curves for v2, blue curves for v3.0):
Figure 7. Narrow tag near 60 mm (largest) shielding plate opening edge, Mini v2 vs Mini v3.0.
Even though the difference is not much it still breaks our definition of the backwards compatibility in some cases. Usually, such tags have a small pitch between consecutive tags at the inlay manufacturing stage and this problem gets smaller as the shielding plate opening gets smaller -> such a situation is unusual at the inlay stage. However, in label converting stage a larger pitch could be more common.
During the development a much larger set of different tag types was tested but of course it’s impossible to test every single tag type that exists so it’s important to keep in mind that the difference in results between Mini v2 and v3.0 is tag size, antenna geometry, chip and tag orientation dependent.
There are a few different extensions for Snoops such as the Swan and the situation can get very complex when any kind of extensions are used, no RF backwards compatibility can be promised with any of them. However, they do still fit the Mini and can be used but should only be used when really needed.
About the RF performance variance and backwards compatibility of the Tiny v2.0
Again, lets start with the mechanics.
Old shielding plates fit (different magnets to make the change easier)
Removed one of the attachment holes to make room for the Strobe connector, but the rest remain unharmed
Adding the connector for the strobe took some space that breaks the borders of the previous version outlines and of course connecting the strobe cable takes space that was previously unused
RF-wise Tiny is a real tricky one to develop due to the small geometry, mainly because the distance between the coupling element and the tag is very small and therefore even small changes might cause surprisingly large differences. During the development we decided to make changes that break the RF backwards compatibility, so keep that in mind when mixing Tiny v1 with v2.0.
As with Mini v3.0, Tiny v2.0 has a very good unit-to-unit variation. Here are examples of a batch of 9 Tiny v2.0 with a couple of different tags.
Figure 8.Example of a typical unit-to-unit result variation of Tiny 2.0.
Figure 9. Another example of a typical unit-to-unit result variation of Tiny 2.0.
The result variation is at pretty much the same level as with Mini v3.0. As said before, this is nice because the Snoops don’t cause much variations between lanes.
About the author
Voyantic
Voyantic is a leading provider of testing and encoding systems for the RFID industry. Our solutions are designed to accelerate development, ensure the highest design and manufacturing quality, and ease the adoption of RFID technology.
Voyantic has announced upgraded versions of its compact RFID coupling elements, Snoop Pro Mini 3.0 and Snoop Pro Tiny 2.0, bringing key benefits previously introduced with Snoop Pro™ 2.0 to the smaller formats.
The updated coulpling elements are designed to improve production consistency, usability, and visual feedback in high-speed RFID tag and label manufacturing environments where space is limited.
Snoop Pro Mini 3.0 on the left and Snoop Pro Tiny 2.0 on the right.
Voyantic has released upgraded versions of its compact RFID coupling elements: Snoop Pro Mini 3.0 and Snoop Pro Tiny 2.0. The updates bring practical benefits for RFID tag and label manufacturers, improving usability, visual feedback, and measurement consistency on production lines.
The Snoop Pro Mini coupling element is ideal when there is limited space available and the tag size allows to use a smaller coupling element. In terms of coupling efficiency, the Snoop Pro Mini is often a better option for small tags when there is no need to also test larger tags in the same system.
The Snoop Pro Tiny is used when there is a need to test even smaller tags, when there is limited space in a multilane setup, or when specialized machines produce small tags and provide very little space for a coupling element.
Key features
Integrated strobe light – Built directly into both Mini and Tiny for clearer visual feedback during test set up and lane configuration.
Lower unit-to-unit RF variation – More consistent results across parallel lanes, supporting higher and more stable production quality.
Improved production reliability – Reduced influence of the coupling element on result variation helps maximize yield in high-speed manufacturing.
Compatibility highlights
Snoop Pro Mini 3.0 is mechanically almost backwards compatible and RF-compatible with the previous version in most typical production cases. Snoop Pro Tiny 2.0 introduces RF design changes to improve consistency; results may differ from earlier versions but are generally more stable between units.
With these upgrades, Voyantic delivers a cleaner setup, clearer visual monitoring, and more predictable RF performance—helping manufacturers optimize RFID production with minimal disruption.
Key benefits
More consistent production results – Reduced unit-to-unit RF variation means less lane-to-lane difference, improving overall product quality and reducing tuning effort during setup.
Higher yield, fewer rejects – When the coupling element contributes less to measurement variation, pass/fail decisions are more reliable, helping minimize false rejects and rework.
Faster, more accurate test setup – The integrated strobe light eliminates the need for separate strobe components, simplifying mechanics and cabling on the production line.
Clearer visual feedback for operators – The fail indication makes it easier to spot issues immediately, supporting quicker response times and smoother daily operation.
Smooth upgrade path – Existing shielding plates and mounting solutions can largely be reused, reducing the cost and effort of upgrading current lines.
Ready to upgrade your solution components? Please contact sales@voyantic.com
Explore the system catalog for detailed specifications
Comprehensive reference of Voyantic Tagsurance® 3 product range, with details on specifications, features, interfaces, components, accessories, spare parts, services, etc.
Voyantic is a leading provider of testing and encoding systems for the RFID industry. Our solutions are designed to accelerate development, ensure the highest design and manufacturing quality, and ease the adoption of RFID technology.
In RFID tag production, one thing is certain: there are always tag rejections, and the yield is never 100%. Failures happen; everyone in the industry knows it and must be prepared for it. However, the end customers justifiably have requirements for the RFID tag batch deliveries. The requirements can define the minimum yield, maximum allowed number of consecutive failed tags, or total maximum number of failed tags in each roll of tags.
To meet these requirements, the tag manufacturer may sometimes need to replace failed tags with new ones. This replacement can be done as a separate process in a reel-to-reel machine or directly in the manufacturing machine, such as a converting line, at a ‘doctoring’ station. Advanced quality control is needed to make this process efficient and reliable. With Tagsurance 3 version 4.3.0, released on September 29, 2025, we introduced new features that help label manufacturers make the replacement process easier and more reliable while meeting customer quality requirements.
Stop Signal for the Machine Based on Test Result
Based on the test results, Tagsurance 3 can now tell the machine to stop the lane when a replacement label is needed. When Tagsurance 3 is in charge of the lot management, manufacturers can implement the label replacement process on any machine that supports simple ‘slow down’ and ‘stop’ signals. This results in even more basic machines becoming compatible with advanced quality control workflows, as no built-in stopping logic is required. The user can define the result-based logic in Tagsurance 3.
Replacement Label TID Tracking: Keep Your Data Clean
When tags are replaced, the original test results are no longer valid, and key statistics, such as yield, become inaccurate. For both the manufacturer and the end customer, it is essential that the reported results match the actual deliveries: the lot results must correspond precisely to the output tag reel.
With Tagsurance 3 integrated, the manufacturing process includes test stations both before and after the replacement location (the ‘doctoring’ station). As a standard feature, Tagsurance 3 enables the capturing and reporting of test results, data such as TID, and statistics as part of the lot results. The new improvement is that this same data can now also be captured for the replaced labels at the second test station. Lot management takes into account only the test station results after the replacement location, making the lot results accurate.
Watch the video to see how the advanced label replacement happens with Tagsurance 3.
Together with the stop signal feature, Tagsurance 3 can now provide a complete solution for quality control and label replacement process, as well as accurate encoding and batch data results.
Voyantic is a leading provider of testing and encoding systems for the RFID industry. Our solutions are designed to accelerate development, ensure the highest design and manufacturing quality, and ease the adoption of RFID technology.
The number of RFID tags being produced has increased significantly in recent years, and the growth is expected to continue with the expansion of new application areas. As a result, the need for production speed, efficiency, and various levels of automation continues to grow. Production batches of RFID labels are now manufactured at an accelerating pace, creating greater demand for efficiency. At Voyantic, we continuously develop our systems to meet the future needs of the RFID industry.
With the latest software updates of Tagsurance® 3 (version 4.1.7 and up), we have improved how test data can be accessed and exported. Previously, the test data could only be exported after a job was completed or paused. Tagsurance would mark the transition between lots, but no batch-specific data could be accessed while the system ran. With the latest update, the system enables smooth exporting of lot-specific data even during an active run. Most importantly, you can now download a summary of the lot data—such as yield—during the production process.This makes it possible to review lot-specific performance in real time and, if necessary, mark certain rolls for rework if they don’t meet quality requirements.
Exporting batch results via browser UI while the job is running
While the top menu’s general “Export data” button remains inactive while the job runs, you can click the double-arrow icon to open the lot menu. By hovering over the desired lot, you can export data for that specific production batch while the run is ongoing.
The export function downloads a file package directly to the computer in use. The package includes test data in CSV format, containing the summary file and results for every individual tag tested, allowing for example, closer inspection of failed labels.
See below a short screen recording video demonstrating how the enhanced feature works in the browser UI
Exporting batch results via API while the job is running
With Tagsurance 3 version 4.1.7 (and up), the same new lot data export functionality is also available for customers using the API to export test data.
Perform the lot data export following these steps:
1) Get the currently running job ID with calling status API `GET /v1/status`
2) Get jobs batches with batch stats API `GET /v1/jobs/{job id}/batch-stats`
3) Start batch result export by calling export `POST /v1/jobs/{job id}/batches/{batch id}/export`
4) Check that export is completed and ready for download by checking export status with status API `GET /v1/status`
5) Download the batch results zip file package
For a detailed demonstration or guidance on setting up API integration, don’t hesitate to contact sales@voyantic.com or support@voyantic.com.
About the author
Voyantic
Voyantic is a leading provider of testing and encoding systems for the RFID industry. Our solutions are designed to accelerate development, ensure the highest design and manufacturing quality, and ease the adoption of RFID technology.
Voyantic, a global leader in RFID testing solutions, is proud to announce the launch of the new encoding feature for Tagsurance 3 quality testing system. The latest software release enables encoding and quality control of RAIN RFID labels in high-speed production machines with a single system.
As the demand for RAIN RFID labels is expected to grow exponentially, with billions produced annually, manufacturers need integrated, high-speed systems. The Tagsurance 3 system with encoding feature meets this demand, allowing seamless integration into production lines and eliminating the need for external encoding solutions. The Tagsurance 3 system is modular and scalable and can easily fit into various machine types. The user-friendly, browser-based operating UI helps with adoption at sites.
“At Voyantic, we are committed to delivering cutting-edge solutions that help our customers excel in RFID,” said Jukka Voutilainen, Voyantic’s General Manager. “This upgrade significantly enhances the Tagsurance 3 system’s capabilities, making it a powerful all-in-one solution for RAIN RFID inlay and label production.”
Uncompromised speed and reliability
The Tagsurance 3 system maintains high throughput without compromising the speed and efficiency of the production process. It supports encoding in high-speed machines and can even reach lane speeds for converting machines.
Additionally, the system’s reliability is paramount. Non-encoded, incorrectly encoded, or double-coded labels can create significant challenges for RAIN RFID users. To address this, the Tagsurance 3 system is designed for continuous, error-free operation during extended production runs, ensuring the highest reliability standard in large-volume manufacturing.
Main specifications:
One encoding station per lane is supported
“BlockWrite” data to any writeable tag memory and lock the tag memories (Reserved, EPC, User)
Supported ISO 18000-63 (EPC Gen2v3) commands
BlockWrite
Lock
Read
1-12 lanes
Lock the selected memories permanently
Verify the data is correctly encoded (Read test with verification)
The commercial release of the Tagsurance 3 encoding feature, available starting 10th of April, will be offered as a separate license on top of the existing Tagsurance 3 system. A hardware version 4.x is required to utilize this feature.
As Senior Marketing Manager at Voyantic, I focus on creating meaningful marketing communications and streamlined processes that support a seamless customer experience. I bring extensive B2B marketing expertise from both agency and in-house roles.
Voyantic recently launched a new version of the Tagsurance 3 system, an inline quality testing system for RFID tag production. With this update, we recommend that customers using the latest version (4.x) keep their systems always connected online. On the other hand, older versions (3.x) should still stay offline. But why the switch? And what benefits come with this new online connectivity?
Let’s dive in!
A screenshot of Tagsurance 3 Version 4.x software user interface.
With the new version, the Tagsurance 3 system’s architecture has been completely revamped under the hood. The Voyantic team has carefully designed this upgrade with the future and information security in mind. This release marks an important milestone, enabling safe network connectivity for the test system. Voyantic designs its systems using secure development best practices, and regular third-party audits ensure any identified issues are promptly addressed.
The Tagsurance 3 Version 4.x with online connectivity paves the way for future possibilities, including encoding operations through the same setup. Enabling encoding will only require purchasing a software license, with no need for additional hardware upgrades.
Simpler, faster, and more efficient—whether it’s for daily use or maintenance tasks
Connecting the system to the internet is safe and recommended for unlocking a range of new features. Today, the concrete updates are most noticeable in the new browser-based user interface, which administrators and operators can access from any computer. Let’s examine the latest features designed to ease the system’s use.
1. Update software directly in the user interface
Gone are the days of downloading software update packages separately from voyantic.com and manually performing updates. With this new feature, admins can download and install the latest software versions directly from the user interface via the admin panel—as long as the system is connected to the internet. This ensures your system stays effortlessly updated with the latest features and improvements.
Updating your Tagsurance 3 Version 4.x software has been made easy.
2. Simplified licensing
When your Tagsurance 3 version 4.x system is connected to the internet, it automatically connects to Voyantic’s license server and fetches the license information. Admin users can see all the essential details in the browser-based admin panel, including how long the license is valid, the number of lanes, and Tagsurance stations. It’s all there in one place, making it easy to manage your licensing.
3. Enhanced support
While we hope you don’t need to use this feature, we’ve significantly improved support for the new version. Suppose the system is connected to the internet, and you run into an issue. In that case, it’s now possible to download and send diagnostic files directly to the Voyantic support team through the admin panel. This helps speed up troubleshooting and resolution by providing our team with more accurate data with which to work. Ultimately, this reduces system downtime and takes the headache out of maintenance.
In summary
In the future, online connectivity of the new Tagsurance 3 version will open new business opportunities with the comprehensive management of quality data. Today, online connectivity improves usability and maintenance. It simplifies tasks, adds more features to the user interface, and provides a more efficient way to share information directly with Voyantic.
That said, online connectivity is still optional. Version 4.x systems can also operate offline like the 3.x systems. If you prefer to stay offline, you can still upload software releases and license files from a local computer through the admin panel.
Watch the recording below, where our Senior Product Manager Anirudh Wali demonstrates how the updated user interface and new features work in practice.
About the author
Sami Rautanen
I’ve been working at Voyantic since January 2019, nowadays I work as a Senior HW Designer in our HW team. I do mainly RF and electronics design for our products, but I also know something about mechanics, programming and business administration. Sometimes I feel surprisingly extroverted and might even speak in a webinar or write a blog post.
We continuously seek to improve our products to answer your needs, like making your job easier with user-friendly test systems or improving testing quality. This time, we made some nice improvements to Snoop Pro, one of the components used in the Tagsurance 3 system. The Snoop Pro 2.0 has:
Improved unit-to-unit RF performance variance
Integrated strobe feature
Smaller size and better usability
The improvements were made with backward compatibility in mind to make Snoop Pro 2.0 almost a drop-in replacement for Snoop Pro 1.x, which means:
RF backward compatibility: when testing tags/inlays, the test results with Snoop Pro 2.0 are within the test results variance of Snoop Pro 1.x
Mechanical backward compatibility: Snoop Pro 2.0 has the machine integration attachment holes at the same positions as Snoop Pro 1.x, and also the same shielding plates can be used
Let’s check it out.
Improved RF performance variation with RF backward compatibility
I’m starting with the RF performance because I just love RF. A nice new feature for the Snoop Pro 2.0 is the improved variance, making the produced units more uniform in RF performance. This means that if you test one tag with multiple different Snoop Pro 2.0, the results are very similar.
Illustrated example of the RF backwards performance.
Why is this so nice? I’m so glad I asked. It’s nice because if you want to use identical recipes for different production lines or even factories, the Snoop variance does not prevent doing that. So, better testing quality for your products. However, keep in mind that Snoop is only one of the components in the system; other things, such as the environment near the Snoop or cabling, might still have too much effect.
One of the most important requirements was the RF backwards compatibility so one can replace a Snoop Pro 1.x with the Snoop Pro 2.0 and be done with it. Our definition of RF backwards compatibility is as follows:
With the Snoop Pro 2.0, measured results are within the variance of Snoop Pro 1.x results OR within ±1.0 dB from the center of the Snoop Pro 1.x result envelope average
The difficult part is that the Snoop is always used with a tag/inlay on top of it and together they form a complex structure where every part plays a role. Since all tags/inlays are different and are affecting the Snoop differently, an excessive amount of measurements was performed to make sure we have covered most of the imaginable situations. Especially large tag models couple with the Snoop strongly and have an effect on the performance. Bah, physics and its precious laws.
Voyantic offers different kind of extensions for Snoops and those are compatible with the Snoop Pro 2.0. However, for the extensions there is no backwards compatibility in RF performance even though the results are close.
Integrated strobe feature
The Snoop Pro 2.0 has a built-in strobe functionality that can be turned on/off with a switch. White LEDs illuminate the trigger position (the moment when the testing/encoding starts), and red LEDs show tags/inlays that are failing the tests.
With the strobe light coming from below the material under test, the strobe is more effective than when the light comes from above. In a Tagsurance 3 system, the Snoop strobe shares a station connector with a TSU, so there’s no need to configure a new station to get it working. The Snoop Pro 2.0 can also be used without connecting the strobe cable; it does not affect the RF performance. The new RJ45 connector was added for the strobe functionality (don’t be fooled by the connector; no ethernet traffic there).
New size, looks, and usability
The Snoop Pro 2.0 no longer wears green; it now has a black-and-white appearance and a slightly reduced size. The new color was picked because of the integrated strobe functionality; white reflects the most light, which is essential for the strobe.
Snoop Pro 2.0 appearance.
With a careful redesign, we could replace the large external RF splitter and the two blue RF cables, making the size of the Snoop more compact. This helps a bit when trying to fit many Snoops in a multilane system where the space is limited.
The magnets were also renewed so less force is needed to change the shielding plate and you don’t not accidentally rip off the copper gaskets during the changing. Less hassle is always nice.
Conclusion
With the backwards compatibility, you can easily integrate the new Snoop Pro 2.0 to your testing systems. With the strobe integrated into the Snoop it is easy to use and doesn’t require additional configuration in the Tagsurance 3 recipe. The improved unit-to-unit variance allows you to more easily use identical recipes between lanes. All with the new Snoop Pro 2.0.
