• NFC tags: first use experience

    First of all, important advice: If you plan to attach the NFC tag to a metal surface, you must use NFC tags for metal, otherwise metal surface will interfere with the magnetic field of the chip and it will be unusable.

    After this clarification, which can be applied to all NFC types tags, you must understand that your project needs NFC tags to be compatible with all devices or this function is not needed in your project at all.

    NTAG Series - COMPATIBLE WITH ALL DEVICES

    If you want NFC tags that are compatible with all NFC-equipped smartphones and tablets, you need to choose the NTAG chip. There are various types NTAG chips. In our NFC-UKRAINE.COM store you can find NTAG203, NTAG212, NTAG213, NTAG215 and NTAG216. Let us give you the main characteristics of each of these chips.

    Chip NTAG203

    NTAG203 is a large chip, widespread, which has a capacity of 137 bytes and is available in different sizes, shapes and sizes, as well as bracelets, keychains, etc. Overall it is great for any use, even if it is being replaced by NTAG212 and NTAG213, the new generation of chips.

    Chip NTAG212

    NTAG212 is more advanced than NTAG203: it has better performance in terms of speed and reading range. It has a slightly smaller memory of 128 bytes. This has the significant advantage of being less expensive. If you don't have any special needs, this chip is ideal.

    Chip NTAG213

    NTAG213 is the new generation of NTAG chips: it has better performance in terms of speed and read range. He also has a little great memory, equal to 144 bytes. The tags on such chips are relatively inexpensive, and it is a very good NFC chip.

    Chip NTAG215

    NTAG215 is in the middle between NTAG213 and NTAG216, as it has available memory 504 bytes in size, so it can be encoded using V-maps or big data. Like all NTAG21x, it has a few more useful features such as password protection. Such chips are slightly cheaper than NTAG216.

    Chip NTAG216

    MIFARE Classic 1K and ULTRALIGHT Chips - LIMITED COMPATIBILITY

    If you don't need maximum compatibility, you can also choose other types of chips such as Mifare Classic 1k or Ultralight.

    Mifare Classic 1k chip

    NFC tags with the Mifare Classic chip have a fairly capacious memory of 716 bytes. These are recommended if you are already using a system based on the Mifare protocol (like some access control systems), or if your tags will not be considered publicly accessible. They are only compatible with certain Android smartphones. Mifare Classic NFC tags also support encryption. If you don't need maximum compatibility, Mifare tags are excellent, available in various sizes, shapes and sizes. Buy NFC tags Mifare

    Ultralight chip

    Ultralight NFC tags are more advanced than Mifare Classic and are compatible with almost all BlackBerry devices Android devices, and also possibly with smartphones Windows Phone(even if required special formatting). They are quite cheap, but have very limited memory, being only 46 bytes, making them only useful for short links or short text strings.

    In any case, before buying NFC tags with an Ultralight or Mifare Classic chip, check the compatibility of smartphones and tablets with another NFC chip in this article.

    Well, I believed it and ran to the operator to change my SIM card. I changed it, connected the service, topped up my balance, and went to the subway so happy. I didn’t go straight to the turnstile, I decided to check the balance. Fortunately, on Arbatskaya, unlike Altufyevo, there is a terminal. Works! Reads!

    Happy, I go to the turnstile, but it doesn’t let me in. And the second one won’t let me in. And none of them are allowed in at all. Sausages it, the inscription “apply again” blinks, but it costs death. The guards and the policeman look unkindly. That is, it reads from the phone normally, but cannot write off. This is it high technology. On the Troika website you can also find a list of supported devices, of course, it does not coincide with the previous one, but that’s okay. The shit is that the Department of Transport, which cheerfully reports on its successes, forgot to tell us before buying the device at the price of used Zhiguli that not everything is as smooth as it tells us in its press releases.

    One more thing that I don't understand at all, how this can be: Galaxy Edge in supported ones, but Galaxy Edge+ is not. More precisely, I can come up with an explanation, but as a consumer, I absolutely don’t understand, I don’t want to understand, and I’m absolutely sure that it shouldn’t be this way. It is clear that some firmware will fix the problem, but why not do this BEFORE the device goes on the market? Today I downloaded another update - no, they haven’t fixed it.

    The next morning I checked it on my Sony Z3+ dual - absolutely everything works: it reads the card, e-wallet refills, writes down tickets and, most importantly, lets you into the metro without question, regularly writing off thirty.

    Yesterday people wrote to me that a lot of common phones do not support any of the listed services. With a huge number of smartphone models and all sorts of no-name devices, with constantly updated firmware, all these lists are meaningless and never completely correspond to reality. All this, with cheerful reports from the capital’s officials, creates the impression of some kind of amazing mess, in which device manufacturers are also taking an active part.

    P.S. The funniest thing, but quite in the spirit of chaos, is that on the Mosgtrtrans website there is not a word at all about paying with mobile phones or topping up the universally accepted Troika. But there is a page about paying with PayPass cards, which is valid on as many as 6 (SIX) bus routes and nowhere else.

    P.P.S. Muscovite readers, if you use or have tried to use transport mobile services, please write down in the comments whether your phone reads the Troika card and whether it supports the Mobile Ticket.

    Modern technologies do not stand still, dynamically developing and improving. This applies and is fundamental new technology NFC, which literally captivated the whole world mobile communications, providing the potential user with even more opportunities at minimal cost.

    NFS in Samsung phones - what is it?

    Represents technology universal solution for data exchange between devices. Actually, Samsung NFC positions itself as a short-range contactless network that operates at a distance between mobile devices within 10 centimeters. What is noteworthy is that despite the ability to work with open data at such a distance, the network is as secure as possible. Information cannot be lost, nor can the data be obtained by third parties. Actually, Samsung network NFC is much safer and meets high security standards than the similar bluetooth, which has been relevant for a decade and a half.

    All Galaxy smartphones with contactless technology

    Currently, manufacturers of mobile devices are trying to implement this technology into their designs, ensuring an incredible level of quality of operation of the units. Samsung NFC is not far behind, its models today are presented in the following names and modifications:

    • Galaxy S8 is a flagship model, which works directly on operating system Android version 7.0. Supports the simultaneous operation of two SIM cards, despite the fact that the mobile phone has one communication module. The device screen size is 5.8 inches, resolution is within 2960x1440 pixels. The device’s camera has a resolution of 12 megapixels and has autofocus;
    • Galaxy A5 - device budget segment, which focuses exclusively on camera resolution. Like the older modification, it runs on the Android operating system, version 6 and higher (depending on what was installed at the time of sale). Supports simultaneous operation of two SIM cards, between which you need to switch while using the phone. The screen has a diagonal of 5.2 inches and a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. The advantage of the unit is its camera, which has a resolution of up to 16 megapixels, with provision for best quality autofocus shooting;
    • Galaxy S7 – the technology was actively used by the manufacturer earlier, which resulted in the creation of a whole series of devices that support a fundamentally new standard wireless transmission data. Smartphones run on the Android operating system, version 7.0, and provide the ability to connect two SIM cards. The mobile phone screen is standard for its market segment, has a diagonal of 5.1 inches, and the resolution is 2560x1440 pixels. You can highlight a high-quality camera, the resolution of which is 12 megapixels, and there is also an autofocus option.

    Galaxy S8 on Yandex Market

    Galaxy A5 on Yandex Market

    Galaxy S7 on Yandex Market

    Does Android Pay work on Samsung phones?

    The issue of payment compatibility is quite problematic. Android functions Pay, which are being actively implemented in new mobile phone models. The problem is that each manufacturer tries to develop its own standards.

    It is worth noting that in their structure, the services of Android, Apple and Samsung are fundamentally similar, which allows them to be used in parallel with each other and ensure that all stated payment requirements are met. As users of gadgets note in reviews, sometimes malfunctions occur payment system from Android on devices of various modifications of the Galaxy S7, which is not surprising, taking into account the fact that the smartphone is actually the first from Samsung to use this technology in full.

    Difference between Samsung Pay and Android Pay

    What is technology Samsung Pay on Samsung mobile phones? The company not only tried to use the accepted standard in its work wireless communication NFC, but also made it possible to use it not only with certain types of terminals that support the possibility of contactless payment for purchases. The solution actively uses proprietary technology called MST (which translates as “magnetic secure transmission”).

    Thanks to the unique capabilities of the new technology, the user will be able to easily pay for his purchase on almost any type of terminal that involves the use of a bank card as a payment instrument. To do this, you will only need to have at your disposal a device compatible with the Samsung payment service that supports this “magnetic” technology. Through the use of MST, the creation of magnetic field, according to its criteria, completely identical to that which has a magnetic stripe signal emanating from a bank card. As practice shows, even store salespeople themselves are not aware of this possibility of mobile devices and are surprised that it actually works in practice.

    How to use NFC on Samsung

    There is nothing easier for the user than to learn how to use NFC technology on Samsung. To ensure data transfer, you only need to activate the software chip (provided that mobile phone has it in its design).

    In the settings, go to the “Advanced” submenu, where the “NFC enable” item is provided, after which the option is activated. After that in automatic mode activated Android technology Beam, if this does not happen, you can easily perform the operation in manual mode by clicking on the “Enable” item in the same settings menu. For full-fledged work You will need to activate both technologies, it is important that neither device is locked or turned off. When a vibration signal is received, this is the first sign that both devices have detected each other and data transfer within the network can begin. Until the data exchange is completed, it is forbidden to separate your devices, this will lead to the fact that the information will be lost and you will have to do everything all over again.

    The NFC tags I ordered arrived and I started experimenting with them. I’ll try to describe here what NFC tags are and my first experience of using them on a phone.

    NFC (Near Field Communications) is a fairly new, but already widely used method of communication over a very short distance - 3 - 5 cm. Maximum speed information exchange - about 400 Kbps, full-duplex data exchange is supported, that is, in both directions, operating frequency is 13.56 MHz, connection establishment time does not exceed 0.1 s, operating mode is point-to-point. You've probably seen NFC in action using the example of subway or public transport turnstiles.

    NFC controllers are now often integrated into smartphones, for example, in most Lumia models or phones with Android based they have been around for quite some time. But the “most perfect” phone, designated by a gnawed apple, traditionally lags behind - it seems that NFC is in the iPhone 6, but its capabilities are greatly reduced, because it was apparently considered “unnecessary” in Cupertino. Therefore, let’s put the iPhones aside and try on normal devices.

    So, NFC can be either active (the controller in the phone) or passive, they are called labels or tags. This is usually a very thin chip with an antenna imprinted directly into paper or plastic. It does not have a power source (battery); it receives energy from the field induced by the active controller. Subway cards contain just such chips. They are very cheap, the retail price for “clean” tags is 20 - 30 rubles, and if you buy in large quantities. even 3-5 times cheaper.

    Various information can be written to this chip many times, but not very much: from 140 bytes to 512 bytes. They say there are more, but I didn’t specifically look for them and they are much more expensive.

    To register you need special program on the phone, for example:

    The recording process itself is extremely simple: you need to select the type of message, you can enter additional options and attach the tag to the phone. The phone beeps and that’s it - the tag is recorded!

    There are quite a few types of messages, but many depend on the specific OS. For example, in Android you can write down the Wi-Fi access key, and the phone will immediately set up and connect, but in Windows Phone this trick will not work! The maximum can be written text message With Wi-Fi key and the command to open desired page settings. Apparently, the developers considered this full customization on someone else's Wi-Fi the network is unsafe. You can write down any URL that opens in the browser, check in social networks, phone number to call or SMS.

    But what I liked more was the ability to open almost any application on the phone. That is, I brought the phone to the tag, it immediately opened required program(if you check the box “I trust this program” for the first time). For example, it is often advised to stick a label to wireless charging in the car. That is, you insert the phone into the holder on the windshield, it starts charging and the navigator opens on it.

    For now, I pasted the mark into the notepad and now, when I come to work, I take out my phone and put it on the notepad, the list of tasks for today opens on the phone.

    What are NFC tags for and why are they the most in a promising way data transfer between mobile devices to date?

    Firstly, this technology allows you to replace traditional payment methods with contactless cards.

    Secondly, this method in the future, it can replace all personal information about a person (for example, information from an identity card can be read when the device touches the required access point).

    And finally, thirdly, most quick way connecting and synchronizing two mobile devices with each other. In this article you will learn how to set up NFS stickers and work with them.

    Why was the technology created?

    Since the point is activated when the smartphone/tablet with the module is in close proximity, this technology will eventually occupy its niche in the following areas:

    • reading personal information when gaining access to accounts, accounts, bank cards and so on;
    • contactless payment;
    • programming the device to perform certain actions when you touch NFC.

    If the first two use cases completely depend on the development of this technology in your region (the appearance of NFS tags in stores, and so on), then the last way to use the technology is very interesting, and you can independently program and use NFS tags at your discretion.

    How to program and use stickers?

    First, let's define a list necessary conditions, without which you will not be able to configure the operation of NFS:


    Programming instructions

    You can do all the settings directly from your phone.

    First, it is worth noting that the same point can perform different functions when interacting with smartphones that are different from each other. Each point has its own unique number, which is read by the phone. After that mobile device determines the type of NFS tag and performs an action preset by the owner.

    First, you should install any application on your smartphone to control NFC sticks.
    Among the popular ones are:

    • NFC Tools + NFC Tasks (allows you to perform tasks installed by NFC Tools)



    In fact, there are a lot of similar programs and their functionality is approximately the same, the only difference is ease of use.

    So, let's look at sticker programming using the NFC Tools program, in conjunction with NFC Tasks.


    Let's take a simple situation as an example: you came to work and want to connect to the work WiFi networks and turn off the sound so that nothing distracts you from what you love.




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