What is a transponder?
It is a very small eletronic device which uses passive RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology, providing an animal a unique and permanent identification number. It contains a microchip (with the unique alphanumeric identification code), an antenna and a capacitor. The transponder must be inserted under the skin of the animal and remains inactive until read by a compatible scanner. The process is painless, fast to implement, cost-effective and, generally speaking, more efficient than a tattoo.
A transponder is an electronic device used to wirelessly receive and transmit electrical signals. Fittingly, its name is equally derived from the words “transmitter” and “responder”. Transponders were originally developed to be attached to objects which needed to be located, and are still used in this manner today. A transponder functions by receiving a signal, called an “interrogator” because it is effectively “asking” for information, then automatically conveying a radio wave at a predetermined frequency. In order to broadcast a signal on a different frequency than the one received, a frequency converter is built in. By receiving and transmitting on different frequencies, the interrogator and transponder signals can be detected simultaneously. The first use of a transponder was onboard an aircraft during World War II, as part of the Identify Friend or Foe (IFF) system. By answering secret interrogation frequencies, pilots could indicate to radar operators that they were friendly airc
