Abstract: A system for locating one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, the system comprising a radio frequency (RF) receiver including a receiver processor, the receiver adapted to programmably adjust reception range depending on a programmably variable attenuation parameter, the receiver further adapted to receive identification data from the one or more RFID tags, and a system host adapted to receive RFID tag data from any of the one or more RFID tags within the reception range and receiver attenuation data associated with the receiver, and provide an estimated location area for a received RFID tag using the RFID tag data and the receiver attenuation data. Other examples include methods for determining an RFID tag's location.