RFID 13.56Mhz - USB module

Read RFID ISO15693 tags via USB interface (Keyboard or USB-Serial)

This USB RFID module is one of the best options for starting / prototyping / validating a RFID tag-based solution. Super easy to use, you don't need to weld or install a library or compile code, this module is ready to use, read a tag in your programs, Python script, etc has become a breeze.

MOD-RFID1356 module is a standalone RFID reader operate via USB. This player interacts with VICC transponders (tags) compliant with the ISO15693 standard. All the complexity of RFID tag detection, verification, decoding and data transfer to the PC/nano-computer are supported by the module.   

Note that custom commands make it easier to initiate read/write operations on the VICC EEPROM. 

The module supports two communication modes and you can easily switch from one to the other using the button on the card.
The module can:

• Emulate a USB keyboard (HID keyboard) and enter the TAG ID on any Windows application (including notepad) as if someone were typing this ID on keyboard. the module "taps" a hexadecimal representation of the transponder identification (the ID of the tag). 
  The module works on all computers and nano-computer supporting keyboards, so this module works with Raspberry-Pi, Beagle Bone, OlinuXino, Linux (we tested it with Mint), Windows and Mac.
• Emulate a serial port via USB (USB CDC serial port, like Arduino), which facilitates access from your own applications by using access on a COM port (or serial peripheral available in /dev on Linux systems).
  So very easy to use... especially on Linux systems, which themselves, support CDC interfaces (serial port via USB).
  The pyserial library will allow you to easily use such a model with your Python Script (Windows, Mac, Linux).

The mode is selected using the push button on the card (see section "switching operating modes" in the documentation, see tutorial section). Once a mode selected, it is saved in the EEPROM module... it's the mode that will be active at the next reboot :-)  

Tags ISO15693 only

Attention, this module only works with ISO15693 TAGs (eg: tags with transponder EM4034). See the "accessory" pane for available tags.

MiFare tags CAN NOT be used with this module.

Technical details

• USB module, works with all USB hosts that support USB Keyboards (HID Keyboard) and serial-port-via-USB (CDC) 
• Read RFID13.56 Mhz tags up to a distance of 5 - 15cm
• Reading transponders (tags) according to ISO15693 VICC (like transponder EM4034)
• MOD-RFID13.56 doesn't read the MIFARE tags, it works with the proposed RFID tag 13.56 ROM (see "accessory" pane of the product sheet) 
• Also works with OLinuXino, PC, Raspberry-Pi cards (tested by us)
• Emule either:
  
  • USB keyboard (HID)
  • Virtual COM port (CDC)
• Dimensions: 50x20x5mm

This module supports RFID transponder tags with the following characteristics:

• ISO15693 compliant transponders;
• Frequency of the carrier 13,56MHz;
• 1 out of 4 transmission encoding (VCD to VICC);
• High data rate (26,48kbit/s, reception encoding using one sub-
  carrier frequency).

LEDS:

• The green LED indicates that the RF antenna is active and scans the RFID tags.
• The red LED indicates that an RFID tag has been successfully read and decoded. 

In keyboard mode (HID Keyboard):

The module sends the identification of the tag (UID) in Hexadecimal by typing it on a keyboard.
The module sends the information (taps the keys) as if it were a Qwerty keyboard. To see the digits, you must either (1) hold down the Shift key, (2) or set the case in your program by converting the characters (é->2, "->3, '->4, (->5, etc), (3) configure your systems with a Qwerty keyboard, (4) use the "serial port" mode (CDC).   

Technical limit:

The module doesn't support, reliably, the anti-collision algorithm as defined in the ISO15693 standard. The module works reliably only if there is only one tag (a VICC) nearby and there is no RF (Radio Frequency) collision. Suppose there is an RF collision between two tags with almost the same UIDs (unique identification) then it may well be that neither of the two tags is detected.