what electronic stuff is there in UK postboxes?

what electronic stuff is there in UK postboxes?
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what electronic stuff is there in UK postboxes? banana 11-01-2005
Posted by banana on November 2, 2005, 11:15 am
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>banana wrote:
>> >
>> >banana wrote:
>> >> HIS.borve.demon.co.uk> writes
<snip>

>> >My old fella works for the P.O.
>> >There are no devices. They scan a barcode at each post box, into a hand
>> >held device. This lets the gaffers know when and which boxes are empty.

>> Thanks for this. Also it lets them know what time the worker has visited
>> the box. Are you saying there's only a printed barcode in the box...no
>> electronic tag of any kind?
>>
>> Why is there so much interference on car radios close to business boxes?
>
>He is sure of no devices, just called him. Just the barcode.
>Gonna find out about the business boxes for you.

Many thanks!

(I've heard a report of a postie complaining about this, seeing it as a
time-and-motion sort of thing... I don't doubt that it does serve this
function. But printed barcodes are low-tech and many people know how to
get them printed.

People who work for the AA [Automobile Association, not Alcoholics
Anonymous!] have also been subjected to a huge amount of time-and-motion
crap... It can be almost like working in a call centre. Spend too long
doing this or that, and they're told they're 'costing' the AA so much).

I'd also be interested to know whether there's any electronic security
in postboxes - e.g. if some nutter tries to break into one or smash it
up...

--
banana "The thing I hate about you, Rowntree, is the way you
give Coca-Cola to your scum, and your best teddy-bear to
Oxfam, and expect us to lick your frigid fingers for the
rest of your frigid life." (Mick Travis, 'If...', 1968)


Posted by oO on November 5, 2005, 12:50 pm
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> I'd be grateful for info as to what electronic gadgetry is installed in
> UK postboxes.
>
> How are visits by Royal Mail workers to empty the boxes logged
> electronically?

Using RFID presumably?

> Presumably the vans are all satellite-tracked. But what gizmo do the
> workers use to 'shake hands' with the gadgetry in the box?

An RFID reader?

> And what about 'business postboxes' - the ones for franked mail only?
> Just try using your car radio near one. You probably won't be able to,
> because of the electromagnetic interference.

Where would the electromagnetic interference be coming from?
Royal Mail to spend £2m on RFID - Part and parcel of the supply chain

http://www.silicon.com/research/specialreports/enterprise/0,3800003425,39128187,00.htm

This may also be of use:
RFID for Postal and Courier Services -

http://www.idtechex.com/products/en/printview.asp?productcategoryid=87

In the major new report "RFID for the Postal and Courier Service", IDTechEx
estimate that the global market for RFID systems, including tags, in this
sector will be $3 billion in 2016. It could be much bigger if current
efforts to tag individual items gain widespread acceptance. In due course,
over one trillion postal items will be tagged yearly, making this the second
largest application of RFID in the world after the retail supply chain.




Posted by banana on November 7, 2005, 8:52 pm
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>> I'd be grateful for info as to what electronic gadgetry is installed in
>> UK postboxes.
>>
>> How are visits by Royal Mail workers to empty the boxes logged
>> electronically?
>
>Using RFID presumably?
>
>> Presumably the vans are all satellite-tracked. But what gizmo do the
>> workers use to 'shake hands' with the gadgetry in the box?
>
>An RFID reader?
>
>> And what about 'business postboxes' - the ones for franked mail only?
>> Just try using your car radio near one. You probably won't be able to,
>> because of the electromagnetic interference.
>
>Where would the electromagnetic interference be coming from?

Dunno what they are up to, but:

<http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/01/15/wireless_lamp_posts_take_over>

>>>>>"If you look at how much electronics you can get into a lamp-post,
>>>>>or a traffic light, or any other bit of ordinary street furniture
>>>>>such as a 'Keep Left' sign or a 'No Entry' indicator, it's
>>>>>impressive," said Abell [CEO of Last Mile]

>Royal Mail to spend £2m on RFID - Part and parcel of the supply chain
>
>http://www.silicon.com/research/specialreports/enterprise/0,3800003425,39128187,
>00.htm
>
>This may also be of use:
>RFID for Postal and Courier Services -
>
>http://www.idtechex.com/products/en/printview.asp?productcategoryid=87
>
>In the major new report "RFID for the Postal and Courier Service", IDTechEx
>estimate that the global market for RFID systems, including tags, in this
>sector will be $3 billion in 2016. It could be much bigger if current
>efforts to tag individual items gain widespread acceptance. In due course,
>over one trillion postal items will be tagged yearly, making this the second
>largest application of RFID in the world after the retail supply chain.

--
banana "The thing I hate about you, Rowntree, is the way you
give Coca-Cola to your scum, and your best teddy-bear to
Oxfam, and expect us to lick your frigid fingers for the
rest of your frigid life." (Mick Travis, 'If...', 1968)


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