An RFID system configured to manipulate RFID tags, comprising: an RFID receiver system configured to detect information from RFID tags within a receive coverage area; and a plurality of exciters (1-6, 1-14, 1-18, 1-23, 1-28) defining a plurality of interrogation spaces (1-8, 1-15, 1-20, 1-24, 1-30) within the receive coverage area of the RFID receiver system; wherein the plurality of exciters comprises: an RF chain including an automatic level control loop (4-22, 4-24, 6-36, 6-38) and a transmit antenna (4-28, 6-46); wherein the RFID receiver system is configured to transmit a control signal that identifies one of the plurality of exciters and includes an RFID tag interrogation signal; wherein the one exciter is configured to receive the control signal; when the one exciter receives the control signal, the one exciter is configured to provide the control signal (4-40, 6-30) to the RF chain to amplify the RFID tag interrogation signal received via the control signal and illuminate an interrogation space with the amplified RFID tag interrogation signal using the transmit antenna and thereby activate an RFID tag within the interrogation space; wherein the RFID receiver system controls the size of the interrogation space by providing a control message to the one exciter containing transmit power control information (4-36, 6-62) and the one exciter is configured to control the automatic level control loop to amplify the RFID tag interrogation signal to set the transmit power of the RFID tag interrogation signal in accordance with the transmit power control information; and wherein the RFID receiver system is configured to read RFID tag information from an RFID tag activated by an RFID tag interrogation signal generated by one of the plurality of exciters. an RFID receiver system configured to detect information from RFID tags within a receive coverage area; and a plurality of exciters (1-6, 1-14, 1-18, 1-23, 1-28) defining a plurality of interrogation spaces (1-8, 1-15, 1-20, 1-24, 1-30) within the receive coverage area of the RFID receiver system; wherein the plurality of exciters comprises: an RF chain including an automatic level control loop (4-22, 4-24, 6-36, 6-38) and a transmit antenna (4-28, 6-46); an RF chain including an automatic level control loop (4-22, 4-24, 6-36, 6-38) and a transmit antenna (4-28, 6-46); wherein the RFID receiver system is configured to transmit a control signal that identifies one of the plurality of exciters and includes an RFID tag interrogation signal; wherein the one exciter is configured to receive the control signal; when the one exciter receives the control signal, the one exciter is configured to provide the control signal (4-40, 6-30) to the RF chain to amplify the RFID tag interrogation signal received via the control signal and illuminate an interrogation space with the amplified RFID tag interrogation signal using the transmit antenna and thereby activate an RFID tag within the interrogation space; wherein the RFID receiver system controls the size of the interrogation space by providing a control message to the one exciter containing transmit power control information (4-36, 6-62) and the one exciter is configured to control the automatic level control loop to amplify the RFID tag interrogation signal to set the transmit power of the RFID tag interrogation signal in accordance with the transmit power control information; and wherein the RFID receiver system is configured to read RFID tag information from an RFID tag activated by an RFID tag interrogation signal generated by one of the plurality of exciters.