EM-18 125KHz RFID Reader Module

The EM-18 is the inexpensive, widely-used entry point for RFID identification projects: a 125KHz reader with an onboard antenna that reads EM4001-compatible tags from a modest but reliable 10cm, outputting the tag's unique ID as a serial string a microcontroller reads directly. Two output formats - UART for direct microcontroller connection and Wiegand26 for existing access-control hardware - mean it fits either a DIY Arduino project or a more conventional door-access system.

Standard 2.54mm pin spacing means it plugs directly into a breadboard without an adapter, and current draw under 50mA keeps it light on power even in a battery-powered access point.

Common uses are DIY access control systems, RFID-based attendance tracking, and identification projects where 125KHz's simpler, lower-cost tags are sufficient rather than needing 13.56MHz's richer read/write capability.