Weather proof, Bluetooth capable RFID reader

This instructable connects the popular BlueSmirf Bluetooth module to the ID12 RFID reader and shows how to make a dust and water resistant (IP55) RFID reader that sends IDs to your PC or mobile phone over Bluetooth radio without an additional micro controller and without an external power source. Created as a prototype for an online swim lap counter system named Rfish, it can be used for any project in need of a self contained, weather proof RFID reader.

Material

• ID12 RFID reader
• ID12 breakout board
• 125kHz RFID Tag
• USB to serial adapter
• BlueSmirf Gold Bluetooth module
• Right angle break away headers
• Jumper wires premium F/F
• Ensto junction box IP55
• 3 1.5V AA batteries
• Battery holder with button connectors
• Battery wire with button connectors
• 2 short pieces of wire
• Solder
• Tape

Tools

• Cutter
• Soldering iron
• Helping hands

Step 1: Solder headers to the BlueSmirf Bluetooth module

Step 2: Configure the BlueSmirf module via USB

Connect the BlueSmirf to the USB to serial adapter as follows (you might use headers to connect female jumper cables to the female connector of the USB to serial adapter):

• VCC to 3.3V
• GND to GND
• TX-O to RX-I
• RX-I to TX-O

Then plug the USB into your PC (the following instructions apply to Windows XP and might differ for other operating systems). The red LED on the BlueSmirf should now blink.

Press "<Windows key>-R" on your keyboard to open the "Run" command line, type "devmgmt.msc" and press "<RETURN>". This opens the Device Manager. Open the node "Ports (COM & LPT)" in the device tree. There should be a node called "USB Serial Port (COM<X>)" e.g. COM17. Write down the COM port number (to talk to the BlueSmirf module over USB we will open a connection to this COM port).

Download SerialUsbBlueSmirfConfig.zip (requires .NET 2.0; source included for educational purpose) and unzip it.

Edit SerialUsbBlueSmirfConfig.bat (right click, "Edit") to match your COM port number and baud rate (default for BlueSmirf Gold is 115200 baud) and save the changes.

Start SerialUsbBlueSmirfConfig.bat and as soon as the program displays your COM port in the command shell, type the following commands (BlueSmirf's response shown in italic):

• $$$<RETURN>
• CMD
• SU,96<RETURN>
• AOK
• ---<RETURN>
• END

When in command mode, the BlueSmirf's red LED starts to flash faster. After leaving command mode, the BlueSmirf Bluetooth module is set to 9600 baud which is necessary to communicate with the ID12 RFID reader.

(Note: If you want to use SerialUsbBlueSmirfConfig.bat again don't forget to change it to 9600.)

Step 3: Solder headers to the ID12 breakout board

Step 4: Solder the RFID reader to the ID12 breakout board

Step 5: Hard-wire the ID12 reader to ASCII mode

Solder the two short wires as follows:

• Red wire from 5V (11) to /RST (2)
• Black wire from FS (7) to GND (1)

Step 6: Connect the BlueSmirf to the ID12 reader and 3 1.5V AA batteries

Connect the BlueSmirf to the ID12 reader as follows:

• VCC to 5V (11)
• GND to GND (1)
• RX-I to D0 (9)

Then connect the ID12 to the batteries:

• 5V (11) to + (Plus)
• GND (1) to - (Minus)

If you use solder to create a durable connection it might be better to unplug the jumper cable before soldering. Also, the jumper cable's plastic cover melts really quick so take care not to heat it too long.

Once you got the connections ready, attach 3 1.5V AA batteries (equals 4.5V) and make shure the BlueSmirf starts to flash its red LED.

Note: While the BlueSmirf is marked as 3.3V it does work pretty well with 4.5V. The ID12 which is laid out for 5V also functions with 4.5V (maybe with a slightly lower range).

Put everything into the box and try to close it tightly without squeezing any cables. For the following test (next step) you might want to open the box again to be sure the BlueSmirf LED works as supposed.

Step 7: Test the reader with a PC

To test the reader you need a PC with Bluetooth and a test program.

Download Serial.zip (requires .NET 2.0; source included for educational purpose) and unzip it.

Pair your PC with the BlueSmirf:

• Enable Bluetooth on your PC
• Disconnect and then reconnect the BlueSmirf to the batteries (inquiry only works right after module startup)
• Start Bluetooth inquiry on your PC
• Select the device called "FireFly ..."
• Enter the PIN 1234
• Choose "Serial Profile" or SPP or similar, without (!) encryption
• Write down the COM port number of the serial Bluetooth connection on your PC

Edit Serial.bat (right click, "Edit") to match your COM port number and baud rate (must be 9600 baud) and save the changes.

Start Serial.bat and wait for the BlueSmirf's LED to turn green. This does only work if you connect to the right Bluetooth serial COM port (not the same COM port as in step 2).

Once the LED is green you can start scanning RFIDs. Hold the RFID tag very close to the front of the reader (i.e. the top of the case) and you should see the read IDs being displayed on the PCs console shell, maybe with some additional characters.

Congrats - you're done.

(Note: if you see questionmarks instead make shure your batteries are fully loaded and check the wiring in step 5.)

Comments

[fsaffery]

Oh I have a number of ID20 and ID12 chips floating about my office each with pins 7 and 1 connected (setting to ASCII). The Bluesmirf is set to 9600 Baud.

Thanks, F.

[tamberg]

All I know about the ID12 is what's written here. Maybe your BlueSmirf has some settings that cause the problem, as it was probably not in the default state. Try to go through the setup steps of this Instructable, maybe with another baud rate. And check the baud rate in your code, too.

[fsaffery]

Hey there I know its been a while since you made this project but quick question. When I connect to a PC and scan a card im getting "☺☻♥♣4F" random characters as its trying to show ASCII of data thats just not there. Now I checked the .cs file and I couldnt see that you were changing the bits into any form of data, just writeln them.

- The chip is set to ASCII mode.
- The reason I ask is I have coded something for android which does output characters but not the unique card ID normally just 002000000 or the like so im trying to find if its my code thats not correct or if its something to do with my circuit. (Had some problems way back when I connected the chip via a wire to the phone with power and it not sending the data correctly).


Thanks, F.

[tamberg]

Hi, which chip are you referring to? Maybe the baud rate is not set correctly?

[nadjibfoley]

Hi, I know this is an old pot but just wondering if you can remember roughly how much this cost, and the distance that it would work at asI know most RDIF systems are quite short in terms of reading distance.

[tamberg]

Hi, the parts are all linked on the first page. There are cheaper Bluetooth modules on Ebay, around 10$ if I remember correctly. The reading distance is very short (you have to touch the reader) which indeed is quite a disadvantage for most applications. Regards,
Thomas

[punisherball54]

Greeting, Just FYI, I tried to download your SerialUSBbluesmirf.zip and it turned out like this

403 Forbidden

Code: AccessDenied
Message: Access Denied
RequestId: 4AB03E36B05CC9D4
HostId: NrN3vGkopox3PnzYj8nNCefc2JJsDFAStAOS1hnyi2StP+4hlPj19AvQdTs0yzSf

[tamberg]

Fixed! Thank you very much. Regards, tamberg

[itismycountry]

Hello, i would like to buy 1 premade.
Can you do this?
How much cost and ship to Florida, USA.

Thank you

[tamberg]

Hi, thanks for the request! I sent you a private message.

[LIMAMIN]

Hi,
Is it possible to do the same thing with a wifi module instead of Bluetooth?
Thanks.

[tamberg]

LIMAMIN, that could work. There should be Wifi modules supporting serial communication (UART). However the setup would probably be different and the system might require more power. Also, I'm not sure if there's any interference between RFID and Wifi, but probably not. Cheers, tamberg

[acti]

The download link for Serial.zip is broken
... http://rfish.net/download/Serial.zip
it says "Forbidden" (error code 403)

[tamberg]

Fixed, thanks.

[jeffjeffwong]

Did you write the software yourself?

[tamberg]

Hi jeffjeffwong,

yes, I did. That said, there's very little software included here. For a real application you'd probably need some extra code.

Cheers,
tamberg

[sghantous]

I would like to know if this RFID reader has been tested on and whether it is known to work with a Mac?
Cheers,
Stephen in Montréal

[tamberg]

Hi sghantous, the reader communicates via Bluetooth and should work with a Mac, but I never actually tested it. The .NET test program probably needs Mono and some additional tweaking to run on a Mac. Cheers, tamberg

[joll]

I made your project with the ID 20 indtead of the soecified ID 12 (hoping to get additional range).
Everything seems to be made correctly, yet it doesnt read the tags.
Would the ID 20 be the problem??

Regards out of N Zld

[tamberg]

Hi joll,

the main difference between ID-12 and ID-20 (according to http://www.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Sensors/ID-12-Datasheet.pdf) seems to be the power requirement. The ID-12 requires 5 VDC @ *30*mA, the ID-20 requires 5 VDC @ *65*mA nominal. While the ID-12 works fine with only 4.5 VDC, this might be too low for the ID-20. If you got a 5V power source you could probably use it instead of the 3 AA batteries. But still, the pin layout is the same on both readers, so I do not really understand either, why the reader doesn't work at all. Can you check the wiring again and make sure you use a EM 4001 or compatible RFID (125kHz)?

Cheers, tamberg

[cowen]

I work with several groups that talk about ID Theft and since I am on the top of technology I want to show and help people understand the dangers.

Some of the questions I have need to be moved to a less public forum can you email me at [e-mail].

Thank you

[tamberg]

Hi, if you're at the top of RFID technology, you probably know a lot more about the related security issues than I do. If your questions concern this project, feel free to pose them here, so other makers can profit, too. Cheers, tamberg

[cowen]

The problem is the lack of security at every level of RFID that is in use. Credit Cards and Passports and lots of other options.

A laptop, an antenna, and some software to log the data, a brief case. All that is needed is a place to walk around and pick pocket people. An Airport is a good place to start.

This all can be done for a few hundred unless you already own a laptop the price drops, most things can be built or bought off ebay cheap the software can be found free and anyone can get a suit case or similar bag cheap.

I would like to know where you picked up your parts and how much. That is the main part of what I want to display to victims is how little it costs and how easy it is to get the designs to do this.

[RanaD]

hello again ,
i am asking if you simulated this .. i mean is there any software  simulation to simulate this if there is no way to execute it in real .. ?

thanks alot

[tamberg]

Hi RanaD, simulate what? Could you explain in more detail what you are trying to do? Cheers, tamberg

[RanaD]

hello ,
in my graduate project i need to attach the bluetooth module to the RFID reader ( as you did physically by wires ) .. but it's not available to us to buy this components .. so ,  i wonder if there is a simulation contains the RFID package and how to communicate with Bmodule .. to simulate it rather than perform it in real because it's impossible ,, :(

is it clear ?
thanx ..

[tamberg]

To build this project you need the hardware listed above or at least something similar. And while you could look for an electronic circuit simulator, it probably won't contain the modules used in this project. Cheers, tamberg

[RanaD]

hello ,
i saw ur video .. but they are connected physically , so i'm asking is there is any programming have been done so , they can " talk " to each other ?

thanks

[tamberg]

Hi RanaD, if "they" means the bluetooth modem and the rfid reader, there has been no programming to make them talk. Just follow the steps and they'll understand each other. Cheers, tamberg

[RanaD]

Yes i mean bluetooth Module and RFID Reader , Module Or  Modem still the same meaning .. right ?

[tamberg]

Exactly, it's a modem module. Sort of.

[accno1]

I saw your bluetooth, but I need a reader that reads 125kh and has a display....any suggestions.  We a re a nono profit working with sea turtles, and a percentage are tagged with a RFID

[rfidem]

You can also find RFID Readers at www.rfidreaderinfo.com ...I have found this website to be very helpful!

[tamberg]

Hi, there is a very cheap DIY 125 KHz module here, but I doubt it's suited for animal RFID reading. There's also a ruggedized Windows CE RFID reading PDA, but they don't specify the frequencies and it's probably very expensive.

Maybe it's best to look for RFID livestock identification to find something more suitable for animal scanning like http://biomark.com/ or http://www.allflexusa.com/eid/readers.php

Regards,
tamberg

[trc202]

How long do the batteries typically last before they need to be recharged?

[tamberg]

Hi trc202, it's been some time since I used this, but if I remember correctly the batteries last around five hours.

Regards,
tamberg

[emparedado]

I have tried to configure it with a regular usb-serial cable adapter: 

It doesnt works, works only with ftdi usb-serial adapter. Its confirmed in the description of  bluesmirf module in sparkfun website. TTL type only.

Thanks Tamberg, my device is working fine.

[emparedado]

 Hello friends:

Can I use a prolific Usb to serial cable for configure the BT modem?
it works?

Thanks! 

[tamberg]

Hi, don't know this particular cable but USB to serial sounds good.

Regards,
tamberg

[emparedado]

Thanks. 

I will try when the parts arrive to me.

Greetings from Chile.