[dorkbotdc-blabber] SmarTrip Apparel

[Tom Lee]

Hey Q, I left a comment on your HacDC post but I thought I might as well
pipe up here, too, in case there's some other folks on this list who can
fill in the gaping holes in my RFID knowledge.

The only other data points I have to share from my initial SmarTrip
dissection are these: I removed the chip and hooked it up to some
(nonstranded) speaker wire wrapped into a loop of the same approximate
length as the ST's internal antenna, and it worked like a champ -- range was
improved, if anything.  I could get the farecard machines to notice it from
several feet away.


I then attempted to reconfigure the device into something slightly less
horrible. I took the same length of wire -- magnet wire this time -- wrapped
it into an attractive loop, used heatshrink tubing to seal it all up, and
mentally prepared myself for having another item on my keychain.  Then...
nothing.  The thing still worked, but very intermittently, and range was
terrible.  It wasn't really usable.


I have to admit, I'm at a loss as to what the problem was.  The speaker wire
was a larger gauge, but surely the magnet wire was more capable than the
disgusting printed antenna used in the original ST.  I've chalked it up to
"antennas are complicated" and ignored it, though -- hopefully you guys will
have more luck.


On 7/22/08, Andrew Q Righter <andrew at i11industries.com> wrote:
>
> All,
>
>      I am putting out a call for anyone familiar with sewing conductive
> thread (or that thinks that they could do it) that may want to work on a
> project with me to create a piece of clothing with an embedded smarTrip
> micro controller. Nothing amazing and it's probably already been done but I
> think it'll be cool to have :D
>
> Shoot me some mails off-list. Hopefully you'll have a sewing machine,
> 'cause I don't.
>
> Cheers,
>
> --
> Andrew 'Q' Righter
>
> Founder of the Q labs
> Co-Founder of HacDC
>
>
> [856] 625-4253
> andrew at i11industries.com
>
> ........................................................................
> .......dorkbot dc: people doing strange things with electricity.........
> ................... http://dorkbot.org/dorkbotdc .......................
> ........................................................................
>
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