[dorkbotpdx-blabber] RFID readers for the Open Source Bridge Conference

[Jayson Falkner]

Hey Don,

Need any help with the software side of things? The task sounds like
fun, and I could probably help crank out something interesting. That
or something as mundane as smartly storing and displaying a report of
detected activity.

Jayson

On Fri, Mar 27, 2009 at 12:23 PM, Don Park <don.park at gmail.com> wrote:
> Thanks for the responses.
>
> Having passive $0.45 tags for 500 people keeps this project within
> budget. The 10cm limit can be worked with since accuracy is not a high
> priorty, just doing something interesting and interactive with the
> attendees.
>
> Do you (or someone else) have a MIFARE or equivalent reader module? Im
> getting some conflicting information as to whether that module can
> read the ISO 15693/ISO 18000-3 13.56MHz tags we're planning on using.
> 10 tags are coming in the mail to try.
>
> What readers have you used to date?
>
> We also brainstormed on lower-tech solutions like someone at the door
> to each room with a counter/clicker thing, or a pressure plate on the
> floor, or analyzing the audio in the room, etc.. The tags seem to be
> the best lead and we can make a little kiosk in each room powered by
> an openwrt router connected to something like a USB arduino and then
> the reader module.
>
> Don
>
> On Thu, Mar 26, 2009 at 10:05 PM, Chris Arnesen <chris at darkstarpro.com> wrote:
>> Hi Don,
>>
>> I've been experimenting with RFID for a while too and have ran into a
>> similar situation as yours. Unfortunately, do to the nature of RFID, the
>> read distance is primarily affected by the tag itself, not the reader. In
>> the RFID Toys book, it talks about the need of reading tags from a distance,
>> you must use "active RFID tags" which contain a battery and are constantly
>> transmitting.
>>
>> Since you're also talking about reading tags that go through double-doors,
>> you'll need a tag/reader combination that allow allows multiple tags to be
>> read at the same time, something most RFID solutions don't do (and you
>> probably won't see much more read distance than 30-40 cm maximum).
>>
>> I would suggest something a little more low-tech. I would integrate the RFID
>> reader into a turnstile and the badge is required to be scanned to allow
>> admittance/exit.
>>
>> Let me know if you need any help! I'll be at the workshop on Sunday and
>> would love to learn more about your project.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> Chris Arnesen
>>
>> Don Park wrote:
>>>
>>> The Open Source Bridge conference from June 17-19 at the Oregon
>>> Convention Center has an RFID project that I am helping with.
>>>
>>> I've selected these RFID tags
>>>
>>> http://mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?qs=sGAEpiMZZMuXfccvO5DzatroL884im7I
>>>
>>> Wireless Protocol:       ISO 15693, ISO 18000-3
>>> Wireless Frequency:     13.56 MHz
>>>
>>> The problem is the readers.
>>>
>>> The best i can come up with is
>>> http://tinkerit.myshopify.com/products/rfid-kit
>>> RFID Shield Kit, 13.56MHz Mifare module 10cm range $56
>>>
>>> The problem is the 10cm range. We'd like to cover spaces such as a
>>> double-wide doorway so that any conference badge passing through would
>>> be scanned. 10 centimeters doesn't really cut it. Does anyone here
>>> have expertise or a lead on inexpensive reader equipment that might
>>> help get a longer range?
>>>
>>> Don
>>
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