US vs China UHF Bands

US vs China UHF RFID Bands: FCC vs SRRC Frequency Allocation

The United States (FCC, 902–928 MHz) and China (SRRC, 920–925 MHz) represent two of the world's largest RFID markets — and two of its most important supply-chain origin-destination pairs. Understanding the frequency overlap, regulatory differences, and operational implications is essential for any supply-chain RFID programme spanning these two markets.

Overview

The US FCC UHF RFID band spans 902–928 MHz — 26 MHz of available spectrum using Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS). China's SRRC (State Radio Regulation Committee) allocates 920–925 MHz for UHF RFID — a 5 MHz subset that fully overlaps with the upper portion of the US FCC band.

This overlap is operationally significant: a tag antenna optimised for the US market (~915 MHz centre) is also well-suited for the Chinese market (~922.5 MHz centre). The frequency separation (~7 MHz) is small enough that a single broadband tag antenna design covers both bands adequately — unlike the EU/US pair (865 vs 915 MHz, ~50 MHz apart) where tag antenna compromise is more significant.

Key Differences

• Frequency overlap: US 902–928 MHz and China 920–925 MHz share a 5 MHz overlapping segment (920–925 MHz). An EPC Gen 2 reader operating in China is always using a subset of the US FCC band. This enables a single tag antenna to work well in both markets.
• Available bandwidth: US has 26 MHz of available spectrum with FHSS across 50 channels. China has 5 MHz with LBT (Listen Before Talk, similar to ETSI). China's narrower band constrains channel density and peak throughput in dense reader environments.
• Maximum EIRP: US FCC: 36 dBm (4 W). China SRRC: 33 dBm (2 W). The 3 dB power difference reduces effective read range in China by ~30 % compared to equivalent US deployments.
• Channel access: US FHSS hops across the full 902–928 MHz band. China mandates LBT within the 920–925 MHz allocation — readers check for channel occupancy before transmitting.
• Reader certification: FCC Part 15 certification required for the US. SRRC Type Approval required for China — a separate regulatory approval process. Multi-region readers require both certifications.
• Tag antenna optimisation: With only ~7 MHz centre frequency difference, a single tag antenna design centred at ~917–918 MHz performs well in both the US (FCC FHSS across the full band) and China (SRRC 920–925 MHz). This is a major practical advantage vs EU (866 MHz) + US/China combinations.

Technical Comparison

Use Cases

US band (FCC) considerations: - FHSS provides resilience against narrowband interference across the full 26 MHz band — important for high-density reader environments like large distribution centres - 4 W EIRP maximum enables the highest read ranges achievable with regulatory-compliant UHF RFID - Wide band availability allows more simultaneous readers without inter-reader interference

China band (SRRC) considerations: - Factory-floor RFID for export goods tagged at source (source tagging) requires SRRC-compliant readers - The narrow 5 MHz band with LBT limits peak throughput in very dense reader deployments — important for high-speed production lines - Import regulatory compliance (SRRC Type Approval) is mandatory for any reader sold or operated in China

When to Choose Each

For US-only deployments, optimise tag antennas for US FCC band performance (~915 MHz) and deploy 4 W EIRP capable readers for maximum range. FHSS across the full 26 MHz band provides inherent anti-interference benefits.

For China-only deployments, specify SRRC-certified readers operating in the 920–925 MHz band. Design tag antennas around ~922.5 MHz for maximum in-band performance.

For US-China cross-border supply chains (factory in China, retail in US), specify multi-region readers (FCC + SRRC certified) and broadband tag antennas centred at ~917–919 MHz. The small frequency separation between the two bands means a single tag antenna design provides excellent performance in both markets — a significant operational advantage vs EU/US cross-border deployments.

Conclusion

US FCC and China SRRC UHF RFID bands share significant frequency overlap (920–925 MHz), enabling single broadband tag antenna designs that perform well in both markets. The key differences — bandwidth (26 vs 5 MHz), channel access (FHSS vs LBT), and power limits (4 vs 2 W EIRP) — matter most in dense reader environments and long-range portal designs. For global supply chains sourcing from China and selling in the US, the US/China frequency alignment is a practical advantage compared to adding European markets with their distinct 865–868 MHz allocation.

See also: FCC vs ETSI UHF Bands, EU vs Japan UHF Bands, UHF RFID Explained