Feature Overview: EPC Location
End user · Yellow Dog Inventory 2026
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
Finding one RFID-tagged item on a busy floor can mean walking the whole area. EPC Location narrows that to a guided approach: pick the item, and the handheld reads its tag and shows a live proximity signal that climbs as you get closer. It’s the fastest way to put your hands on a specific item when you know what you need but not where it is.
REQUIREMENTS
• RFID is a paid add-on. To add it to your Yellow Dog system, contact your account manager at clientaccounts@yellowdogsoftware.com.
• An RFID-capable handheld reader — the same device you count with.
• Each item you want to locate must have at least one EPC (RFID tag) assigned.
• An active session open in Count XL.
HOW IT WORKS
When you select a target item, Count XL reads its assigned EPC and reports the tag’s signal strength in dBm, refreshing live as you move. A ripple graphic, a percentage, and a color band all track the same signal, so you can read proximity at a glance rather than interpreting a raw number.
|
Note: The signal mapping is fixed: −75 dBm reads as far and −25 dBm reads as near. Because RFID is affected by shelving, walls, nearby inventory, tag orientation, and equipment, treat the indicator as a directional guide — not an exact distance. |
KEY FEATURES
EPC Location brings together a few capabilities:
• Live proximity indicator — the ripple, dBm reading, percentage, and color update together as you move.
• Flexible search — find a target by SKU, description, or full EPC; results filter as you type.
• Nearby EPCs — when an item has several tags, see which are within range right now and confirm the exact one.
• Pinned target — the Target EPC and item description stay on screen so you always know what you’re chasing.
The four proximity states
|
Very far away −77 dBm · 0% |
Far away −70 dBm · 1% |
Close −41 dBm · 88% |
Very close −33 dBm · 98% |
|
STATE |
READS |
WHAT IT MEANS |
|
● Waiting |
-- dBm |
Scanning, but the target tag hasn’t been detected yet. |
|
● Very far |
~ −75 dBm |
Detected but weak. Keep moving and sweeping the area. |
|
● Far / Close |
−70 to −41 dBm |
Signal strengthening — you’re heading the right way. |
|
● Very close |
~ −33 dBm |
The tag is right next to you — inspect the immediate shelf or bin. |
Signal mapping is fixed: −75 dBm = far, −25 dBm = near.
BEST PRACTICES
• Sweep the reader slowly side to side — tag orientation changes the reading.
• Trust the trend, not any single number; watch whether dBm and % are climbing.
• Metal shelving and dense stock reflect signal — approach from an open aisle when you can.
• Use Nearby EPCs to rule tags in or out before committing to a direction.
RELATED ARTICLES
• How To: Locate an Item with EPC Location
Last reviewed: June 2026 · Applies to: Yellow Dog Inventory 2026
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