eFlow - How does the tag work and why is it needed?

T-Maxx

I eventually gave in and got myself an eFlow tag today.

How is the tag being "read"? Do you really have to mount the hideous thing behind the mirror or will it still work in the glovebox, on the dash, etc?

How long does the battery last and what happens when it dies? (I see the yoke itself is sort of tamper proof and can't be opened.)

Why is a tag necessary when your registration plate is read in any case?

TY in advance.

Absurdum

T-Maxx wrote: »

I eventually gave in and got myself an eFlow tag today.

How is the tag being "read"? Do you really have to mount the hideous thing behind the mirror or will it still work in the glovebox, on the dash, etc?

It's read by those things on the gantries between J6 & J7 on the M50, same deal at other tolls. My old tag used to work anywhere in the car, I accidently had it in the boot and it worked; the new one only works for me when it's stuck on the windscreen.

How long does the battery last and what happens when it dies? (I see the yoke itself is sort of tamper proof and can't be opened.)

A few years at least. I had to get a new tag after about 4 years, it wasn't being read so EazyPass sent me a new one, along with a stamped envelope to send the old one back.

Why is a tag necessary when your registration plate is read in any case?

probably easier and cheaper than having to read it and bill you

pajo1981

Can you not just charge up you reg plate with credit?

T-Maxx

pajo1981 wrote: »

Can you not just charge up you reg plate with credit?

You can but that's €2.50 vs €2.00 per trip though.

L1011

It works on 5.8Ghz radio signals, its unlikely to read in your glovebox and may not even read if put backwards on your rear-view

The tag eFlow give you is a hideously huge Melodhy thing, any other operator uses a much smaller Kapsch unit.

The tag is more reliable than the reg-plate recognition and is 100% automated (the reg plate system requires humans to verify it and deal with mis-reads, etc), although my inner cynic suggests the NRA wants everyone to have tags for future road pricing schemes...

T-Maxx

MYOB wrote: »

It works on 5.8Ghz radio signals, its unlikely to read in your glovebox and may not even read if put backwards on your rear-view

So it should work if stuck anywhere on the windscreen then yeah?

MYOB wrote: »

The tag eFlow give you is a hideously huge Melodhy thing, any other operator uses a much smaller Kapsch unit.

You don't say.

MYOB wrote: »

The tag is more reliable than the reg-plate recognition and is 100% automated (the reg plate system requires humans to verify it and deal with mis-reads, etc), although my inner cynic suggests the NRA wants everyone to have tags for future road pricing schemes...

Ahh, so that explains the price difference of €0.50 per trip. And yeah, that's part of the reason why I didn't want one.

L1011

T-Maxx wrote: »

So it should work if stuck anywhere on the windscreen then yeah?

Yeah. One of the vans in work has it (an eFlow brick) fitted upside down to the dashboard and it works about 95% of the time too.

T-Maxx wrote: »

Ahh, so that explains the price difference of €0.50 per trip. And yeah, that's part of the reason why I didn't want one.

Thats just my inner, utterly paranoid cynic suggesting that. I've two of them despite that!

MaryDub

Theres also the option of the video acount. I signed up for dis recently as I'm an infrequent user and so didn't want a tag stuck to my windscreen. it costs 2.50 per trip and seems to work well. just a suggestion.

Iv got the Eflow tag, which i use going to work on the M50, i come home through the East link, i wanted to get rid of some change instead of adding to my eflow bill, so i trew it in the glove box, but the thing still triggered the barrier as i was about to trow in my change.

So it dosnt need line of sight, must be some sort of radio transmit. So any ideas were to put the damn thing if i want to use change?

langdang

cisk wrote: »

So it dosnt need line of sight, must be some sort of radio transmit. So any ideas were to put the damn thing if i want to use change?

Metal box - an old tin of mints if it will fit, or a small biscuit tin might work. Maybe one of those foil insulate shopping bags for frozen stuff?

Ya, it's radio (but not as you know it) as mentioned by MYOB.


edit - GRRR, replied to zombie thread.

langdang

langdang wrote: »

Metal box - an old tin of mints if it will fit, or a small biscuit tin might work. Maybe one of those foil insulate shopping bags for frozen stuff?

Ya, it's radio (but not as you know it) as mentioned by MYOB.


edit - GRRR, replied to zombie thread.

Good idea thanks.

Makes you wonder why they tell you to put this brick up by your rear view mirror.

Mine is going on my dash from now on.

PaddyFagan

langdang wrote: »

Metal box - an old tin of mints if it will fit, or a small biscuit tin might work. Maybe one of those foil insulate shopping bags for frozen stuff?

Ya, it's radio (but not as you know it) as mentioned by MYOB.

Or pop it in one of these -



Used to stop film being damaged by x-rays (at the airport) - it's a lead lined bag. (I won't recommend using one in your bags at the airport as a bag that shows up black to x-rays is likely to get you "special attention" from security.

Paddy

common sense brigade

e flow charge is a disgrace. the M50 is paid for long ago. And we pay road tax! why the feck do we have to pay this stupid charge and toll bridges!!

Matt Bauer

Well, someone has to pay for the doubling of the civil service... Unfortunately for us, it's us who have to pay.

Buffman

T-Maxx wrote: »

How is the tag being "read"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFID