Systems and methods for operating a reader. The methods comprise: supplying power from the reader to an external sensor using a single cable that (A) connects the reader to both an external antenna and the external sensor and (B) is used for data communications between the reader, the external antenna and the external sensor; receiving, by the reader via the single cable, a sensor signal comprising information indicating the external sensor's detection of an individual's presence in proximity thereto, where the sensor signal has a frequency that is outside the antenna's transmit frequency; initiating tag read operations of the reader in response to the sensor information's reception at the reader; and communicating an interrogation signal for tag reading from the reader to the external antenna via the single cable, where the interrogation signal has a frequency which is outside the external sensor's receive frequency band.