Long range UHF readers are designed for specific as well as generic applications. It may range from highly secure military installation to generic car parking application where a long range UHF reader is integrated with the Gate barrier system. Applications decide the communication ports otherwise all ports are not used in one application. The major ports available with every long range UHF reader may or may not be as below.
| PORTS | TYPE | APPLICATION |
| TCP/IP | Computer Network port | This is the port for communication protocol between device and computer or controller. The Standard CAT 5E/6/7 Cable is used to have connection between Computer or controller and UHF Reader. |
| RS 232 | Serial Communication port | This is the standard serial port for communication between device and computer or controller. Here the transmission speed and distance is low compared to other standards like RS485 & TCP/IP. In this standard, the communication is limited to single UHF reader. |
| RS 485 | Serial communication port | This is the standard serial port for communication between UHF reader and computer or controller. Here the transmission speed and distance is very high compared to other standards like RS232 & TCP/IP. In this standard, the communication is from 1~ 256 units in the topologies as Point-to-point, multi-dropped and multi-point with the communication distance of 1200Meters (1.2KM). Here the electrical signal is balanced, and is full duplex mode in operation. |
| WiFi | Wireless Fidelity | Based on IEEE802.11, WiFi is part of the wireless network protocol family used to connect the UHF long range reader with the wireless networks. |
| Wiegand | De facto wiring port | Wiegand is the general communication protocol widely used in access controls to connect the device with devices e.g. Reader with Access Control Panel as the data signals are communicated between the devices. |
| USB | Universal Serial Bus is widely used in UHF long range readers as the replacement for RS232 due to flexibility of operation and ease of Application. |
RS 232 and RS 485 are not protocols but the modes of communication interfaces widely used in communication and computer engineering.