TOPIC: RFID tag info (general info only)

A number of questions have come up about reading RFID tags with phones. I have been doing some investigation on this and have some general information.

DISCLAIMER: I have no idea what type of RFID is being installed in some tokens. I am just answering questions people had about reading tags with phones.

In order to read RFID from a phone, it must be an NFC based tag, but it also must be NDEF encoded data. There are multiple ways to write NFC chips, that are not compatible with phone chip readers.

iPhones from iPhone 7 and later are supposed to be compatible, but requires IOS 11.2 or later. (there is some debate about iPhone 7 and 8, but most sources list back to iPhone 7)

It is important to understand that iPhones are only capable of reading. They do not have write capability.

Android devices equipped with the hardware can read and write tags, but also require NFC with NDEF encoded data. There are many Android devices that do not have the hardware installed. The reader/writer hardware is about $20, so generally are not equipped on the cheaper phones or devices. If a user goes into Settings under Wireless & networks, tap More. In addition to Airplane mode and VPN, you should see NFC with a switch to turn it on. If the NFC option is not there, the device is not equipped.

I bought a few tags from NXP which are compatible, but they are not programmed, so I need to write them before I can test iPhones. There are some interesting capabilities to enable activity counters and to write protect them. I have a friend with hardware I can get access to which can write some of the tags I have.

The location of the NFC switch in Android appears to be in a slightly different place on my Pixel 3 (running Android 9 Pie). They seem to have moved it under "Connected devices" -> "Connection preferences"

Fiddy wrote: The location of the NFC switch in Android appears to be in a slightly different place on my Pixel 3 (running Android 9 Pie). They seem to have moved it under "Connected devices" -> "Connection preferences"

Of course it was moved. I should have remembered that Android 9 was controlled by the other faction.

Seriously. Thank you for checking, and posting.

I forgot to mention that the tags I got are paper thin and 1.375 inches in diameter. (smaller diameter than a token) Just interesting.

Cranston wrote:

Fiddy wrote: The location of the NFC switch in Android appears to be in a slightly different place on my Pixel 3 (running Android 9 Pie). They seem to have moved it under "Connected devices" -> "Connection preferences"

Of course it was moved. I should have remembered that Android 9 was controlled by the other faction.

Seriously. Thank you for checking, and posting.

I forgot to mention that the tags I got are paper thin and 1.375 inches in diameter. (smaller diameter than a token) Just interesting.

Can you share the cost you paid (keeping in mind you only ordered a few)?

Ed

MasterED wrote:

Cranston wrote:

Fiddy wrote: The location of the NFC switch in Android appears to be in a slightly different place on my Pixel 3 (running Android 9 Pie). They seem to have moved it under "Connected devices" -> "Connection preferences"

Of course it was moved. I should have remembered that Android 9 was controlled by the other faction.

Seriously. Thank you for checking, and posting.

I forgot to mention that the tags I got are paper thin and 1.375 inches in diameter. (smaller diameter than a token) Just interesting.

Can you share the cost you paid (keeping in mind you only ordered a few)?

Ed

The tags are NXP NTAG215. I paid $0.79 / each on Amazon for a set of 10. I believe I saw the price on 100 count to be $0.65, but for larger quantities you can get them directly from NXP, which would reduce the price.

A little more information. I was able to program 5 of the RFID tags. I am able to read those on Android devices (equipped with a reader, as many are not equipped) and IOS devices. I know iPhone X and Xs work. I believe iPhone 8 will also work but I am not sure. I know iPhone 6 and 6s does not work.

I have some additional work to figure out all the areas I can read, but the base information can be read.

All this requires an NFC tag with NDEF encoding.

Just interesting info.

Very cool, thanks for your research.

Ok, this is the last update. I have been looking into what data we can get ahold of. There is a UID for each tag, which is specific to that tag. It is not part of the NDEF encoded record, but is captured as part of the session start. For Android, this UID is available.

For IOS, we can get ahold of 4 bytes of it, which may be a hash of the 8 byte UID. The problem for IOS, is that the method to obtain the UID info is not approved, and Apple will reject any app that captures that data. It requires low level access, which may change in future IOS versions, so is not supported. It is possible to distribute separate from iTunes. Potentially separate bluetooth reader/writers could be used for Apple devices and still be approved.

The UID is important, as it is hardwired into the device, and different for each tag. It is not a perfectly secure item, but can be used as part of a hash with the token info. It can then be write protected, or the NDEF record could be encrypted.

how about....

if someone gets a TD logo tattoo, they get max treasure draw for life.
downside - can't be sold.
upside - no doubt about authenticity.

smakdown wrote: how about....

if someone gets a TD logo tattoo, they get max treasure draw for life.
downside - can't be sold.
upside - no doubt about authenticity.

Now that's what I call soul bound.

Picc wrote:

smakdown wrote: how about....

if someone gets a TD logo tattoo, they get max treasure draw for life.
downside - can't be sold.
upside - no doubt about authenticity.

Now that's what I call soul bound.

It has to be placed where it can be seen easily in the training room. No hiding it!

Wade Schwendemann wrote:

Picc wrote:

smakdown wrote: how about....

if someone gets a TD logo tattoo, they get max treasure draw for life.
downside - can't be sold.
upside - no doubt about authenticity.

Now that's what I call soul bound.

It has to be placed where it can be seen easily in the training room. No hiding it!

I vote the center of the forehead


Artists rendition of what we would all look like by day 4.