Travels in RFID pt5

Troublesome bits of information about the ID-12 that was hard to find with clarity .

ID-Innovations link

Sparkfun link

Sparkfun pinout modifier PCB if you dont want to mess around with drilling your own.

Info that is NOT on all of the PDFs about the ID-12 RFID reader module

This bit of info was a real bugger as its right at the end of the document but isn't immediatley obvious that it is to do with the ID-12 RFID reader.

If its hard to read...
16) Connection direct to a computer.
Direct connection to a computer RS232 can be made by connecting Pin 8 to a 1k series resistor and connecting the other end of the resistor to the computer RS232 input. The mode is called pseudo RS232. On a standard D9 socket, connect the output of the ID2/12/20 vai the series 1k to pin2 of the D-type. Connect the ground to pin5 on the D-type.

Travels in RFID pt 4

Jumper wires and re-used components.

Components from the kit that have been re-purposed are :

The LED which originally was driven by the microprocessor
1k Resistor to limit current on LED
1k Resistor for output from RFID reader to RS232 input
Jumper block (shown with Orange and Brown wires) were for output to relays and are now TX from RFID - to RS232 and ground.

The two jumpers on the far side of the board are Ground (signal ground and LED ground)



The other side (RFID reader side

Looking on the Right hand side from the top.

Pin 10 is LED/ Beeper. Jumpered to the LED soldered position.

Pin 9 Used to feed data to the Atmel processor (now missing) but this is not RS232 data which is actually fed from Pin 8, So Pin 9 is now ignored

Pin 8 (originally no connection) is jumpered across to the 1k resistor and that is then fed straight to an RS232 lead/plug via the connector block.
The remaining unanswered blue wire is the LED - earth (via another 1k resistor)

All other parts on the Board are basically LM7805 voltage regulator - caps for smoothing and a zener diode for spike protection.

With 12v DC across the power connector the LED on the unit blinked momentarily.

Swiping the RFID fob near the unit made the LED illuminated for about 3/4 second. See clip below.



So at least from that it could be determined to be working.

Next is the RS232 serial port connector. Amazingly it is hard to find something both understandable and definitive for simple serial connection. Most of the diagrams on the internet seem to be both 2 dimensional and non specific and vague as to orientation
Hence the reason this photo is both real and othorographic.

Something i didnt notice was that the pins are numbered although almost in microscopic text.

So - in this picture the cables you need to pay attention too are. Orange (TX from RFID or RX into PC) and Brown (signal ground)



(some parts have been ommitted from the post where i spent a considerable number of hours trying to work out why the PC wouldnt/ couldnt see the unit. Normal trouble shooting occured. I found that i had wired the output of pin 9 for sometime to an entirely useless point. Then after re-routing that, I couldnt assertain what the exact pin outs of the RS232, I then found that Pin 9 was actually incorrect and by further reading of the spec sheet (near the end) it comments on the fact that for RS232 output you have to output from pin 8 not 9. Oh and lastly my pc's serial port is an unknown presently and i resorted to a USB to serial adaptor which allowed it to be seen immediately oh - in linux)

Travels in RFID pt 3

Here is the board from JAY CAR with only the power supply section of the board fitted and the RFID reader.

What i have done is keep items in the correct places per the instructions - even IF i use the component for a different job than originally intended.

If you want to JUST connect your board to a PC - look carefully - remember the old saying - measure twice - cut once.
-----------------------

The parts ommitted are for either driving buzzers - driving relays - or processor timing (none of which are required)

The bottom view of the board looks like this



As you can see there are 5 wire jumpers.

Descriptions follow

Travels in RFID pt 2

ID-innnovations ID-12 RFID card reader.

A great piece of kit. Completely encapsulated with all the workings and antenna hidden.

A couple of things that are problematic

1. The pinout below the unit is 2mm as opposed to the more normal 2,54mm (0.1") so dont assume you can in anyway plug this into a socket. I have yet to look for this pin spec. So beware.

2. The PDF that is available for its specs etc seem to be (for the uninitiated) somewhat vague.
you can download the pdf here from CORE
http://www.rfidshop.com/core-12-rfid-reader-module-110-p.asp

Most of it is fine - you need to follow the wiring schematic

But remember - we are modifying a kit to suit.

Now luckily because its a kit - the pinout for the ID-12 is already made so there are no worries there.

The kit is available from JAYCAR although they no longer seem to list it on their website - but its in the stores.

Altronics stock it - check here
Dick smith electronics used to sell it but no longer do.

(Altronics K9300, DSE K7215, Jaycar KC5393)

The Altronics kit presnetly is cheap at $69 Australian dollars.

So - bit expensive when its really only the ID-12 required. but needs must: and when you consider it is pre-sized to fit a blanking plate for mains and it is has a pre-made PCB, I just bit the bullet : Kit bought.

Travels with RFID pt 1

Basically I have been fascinated by RFID for ages, but as per normal done nothing about it

This project (thinly guised as for my employer) but essentially a good exercise in RFID, Linux, PHP , SQL etc, is basically a ground up build of an RFID circuit, that reports back to a server and logs peoples times in and out of the workplace for checking hours worked and to pay them the right amounts.

Pt one was to find an RFID solution that i could fairly easily connect to a PC

my requirements here are :
1. its cheap enough that if it all goes pearshaped i dont feel i've wasted toooo much money.

2. its as basic as it can be for learning purposes (ie its not pre-built with proprietry software) . This is to allow me to put it into windows or linux machines (much chinese stuff comes with windows only software etc)

3. it works

I looked at several options. Most of which involved either basic stamp electronic building blocks or parallax or arduino. The other problem is that most systems need to be bought from either Europe or USA neither of which satisfies my need for things NOW - god i can be impatient.

I worked out that i basically could use the www.id-innovations.com ID-12 RFID reader and for the life of me could only find it locally in an electronics kit at www.jaycar.co.nz KC5393

So not so much reverse engineering but re-engineering was required.

What most of these units for sale do is store the RFID card data on an eeprom and then when the correct card is shown - engerise a relay to open a door. So i realised that most of the circuitry on this kit, including the microprocessor and peripheral circuitry for the microprocessor was useless for what i wanted.