The 8690i is a wearable terminal worn on the hand that reads both UHF RFID tags and barcodes. It reads and writes EPC Global Class 1 Gen 2 (ISO 18000-6C) tags, and with a color display and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, it reduces three devices (RFID reader, scanner, and mobile computer) to one. For picking that does not need RFID, use the 8680i instead of the 211 g 8690i.
RFID read and write range by antenna
| Antenna | Direction | Read range (nominal) | Write range (nominal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal antenna (trigger ring) | Toward the top of the unit | 0.6 m | 0.3 m |
| Glove auxiliary antenna | Toward the inner wrist | 1 m | 0.5 m |
Both antennas are linearly polarized, so the read range is longest when the polarization of the 8690i and the tag antenna align. The glove's auxiliary antenna radiates from the inner wrist and is designed to read tags on items held and carried in the hand.
Output is up to 30 dBm for both the internal and external antennas. There are two frequency ranges: EU 865-868 MHz and US 902-928 MHz.
Preparing an RFID app and BRI commands
To read and write tags with the 8690i, you first need to build and install an RFID application. The app drives the RFID module by sending BRI (Basic Reader Interface) commands over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth SPP.
To check reading without an app, download and use the demo app from the 8690i SDK for Windows on the Honeywell software site. For RFID-only work, turn on the RFTDBS setting so that pressing the trigger does not activate barcode scanning, which also reduces battery use.
Battery replacement and charging time
The battery is 3.6 V 3,400 mAh and runs for at least 6 hours with continuous RFID reading and a barcode scan every 4 seconds. The unit stays on for about 100 seconds with the battery removed, so the battery is replaced without turning off the power.
Charging takes 3 hours on the battery charger and 3.5 hours on the device charger that holds the unit, and chargers come in two types, 4-slot and 12-slot. Charge a new battery for at least 4 hours before first use.
Wearing options
The trigger ring configuration weighs 211 g, and the back-of-hand glove comes in separate left-hand and right-hand versions. The glove is made of a hygienic material that does not absorb moisture, and the trigger is rated for 2.5 million actuations.
Settings that tie the trigger to the RFID app
Turning on RFTTRG, which is off in the factory default settings, sends EVT:TRIGGER PULL when the trigger is pulled and EVT:TRIGGER RELEASE when it is released to the app as BRI-format events. The app uses these signals to start RFID reading or tag lookups.
When a port number is entered in RFID Wi-Fi Pass Through, BRI commands are sent without the <SYN>B prefix over Wi-Fi connections on that port. The default setting is 0 (off).
