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36

how about NFC? [answered]

asked 2013-12-25 20:35:49 +0300

CsTom gravatar image

The phone has NFC, this is how the other half type is detected. Could this be extended into a "full-featured" NFC interface, so I could read/write NFC tags?

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The question has been closed for the following reason "the question is answered, an answer was accepted" by CsTom
close date 2014-02-05 15:16:34.494197

3 Answers

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5

answered 2013-12-25 20:38:07 +0300

rainisto gravatar image

Unfortunately no, NFC hardware antenna has limited range reserved for TOH only. But you can create own seperate NFC TOH backcover with own HFC chipset and use i2c as communication channel.

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11

:-( Yeah, like I would be able to create my custom other half "at home" ;-/ Seems like a bit silly to include stuff into the phone, but then blocking it from usage... why? :-(

CsTom ( 2013-12-25 20:53:00 +0300 )edit
14

Even if it is very close ranged antenna then you should still be able to use it e.g. pair two devices that are touched with their back. Or is the NFC protocol not supported at all (and will not be for whatever reason)?

Nux ( 2013-12-26 03:00:43 +0300 )edit
3

How limited range ? 1mm ? 1cm?

onion ( 2014-01-03 12:08:22 +0300 )edit
4

Oops, been telling people already that it has got "NFC" :/ Already put NFC stickers everywhere for my N9 until I noticed that it wasn't really useful on that either so I really expected it to be usable on Jolla. I guess I'll have to wait for the next model then :)

Wizah ( 2014-01-04 23:48:20 +0300 )edit

hideous thing

michdeskunk ( 2014-01-28 12:20:32 +0300 )edit
1

answered 2013-12-25 20:38:27 +0300

Jukka gravatar image

Could be extended with a special Other half for that purpose I imagine.

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7

And from "You may expand your Jolla in TOH" we have now "You must expand your Jolla in TOH" .. for basic things. :)

Kaacz ( 2014-01-03 12:51:34 +0300 )edit
1

answered 2014-02-05 06:27:43 +0300

marsch gravatar image

I would assume that reception works ok when the TOH tag is removed and the phone is placed on top of a sticker (though I got nothing to test). This way, a simple script like here could be used to trigger custom actions:

https://together.jolla.com/question/23511/use-toh-to-trigger-shell-scripts/

I would like to check this - unless there's already some experience around regarding the topic.

Can anybody acknowledge that NXP NTAG203 tags are working as well? These are also Type2 and far easier to get than the Mifare Ultralight C (at least in DE).

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1

Yes, the NTAG203 is supported. Smartrack midas nfc ntag203 12x19mm is the recommended tag for other halves.

kjokinie ( 2014-02-05 07:50:28 +0300 )edit

I was able to read (at least the serial) from some Ultralight and some S50 , but some other S50 did not trigger anything.

The problem is that there is a micro-switch at the back of the phone, which senses that TOH is attached and the NFC reading is active only then. After the initial reading, you can change the tag, but nothing happens, the new ID is not read. I guess this is in a way good thing, this was the infamous battery drain issue before 1.0.3.8: the NFC chip was on all the time and sucked all juice out of the battery in no time. The other hand, it means that even if you remove the NFC tag from TOH, and place the phone on top of the sticker, it wont be read, because the TOH remains "docked" so no trigger to read the NFC ID...

CsTom ( 2014-02-05 10:31:55 +0300 )edit

Well, true, didn't think this to an end. Is there some way to circumvent the switch (i.e establish the behaviour before the NFC fix)?

marsch ( 2014-02-05 11:33:35 +0300 )edit

Look in some NFC smartphones with back-cover. NFC antenna is on back-cover connected to phone via pin. NFC antenna must be very near to NFC tags for good reception. This is not Jolla phone situation. :( Now I order on eBay antenne booster sticker .. maybe will help it ..

Kaacz ( 2014-02-05 14:50:14 +0300 )edit
2

I was able to make NFC booster antenna, which enhance the range to 2-4cm with typical NFC labels. Only issue is to figure out how to communicate with label without pressing the micro switch.

Masa ( 2014-02-24 10:27:26 +0300 )edit

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Asked: 2013-12-25 20:35:49 +0300

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Last updated: Feb 05 '14