A printer is provided which includes a control unit and a print head with a burn line and a platen roller. The print head is coupled to the control unit. The print head is positioned in a vertical orientation relative to the platen roller over which a media label passes during printing. A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, coupled to the control unit, for programming RFID tags on the media label is also provided. The RFID reader is coupled to a RFID antenna. The RFID antenna is above the media label path, the print head's vertical orientation allowing the RFID antenna to be accommodated in close proximity to the print head burn line. Further, a label stop sensor (LSS) module is provided, coupled to the control unit, for monitoring movement of the media label along a media path. The LSS module is disposed adjacent to the RFID antenna.