MidwestGadgets.com - Repeaters, Field Detectors, Generators, Extenders Oh Myyyy! New Product and Stock Announcements Thread

[Jammyjellyfish]

@amal

My question is - what are you trying to do? What is the goal?

own more expensive measurement equipment I guess

[Hamspiced]

I’m old fashioned I very much prefer keeping these things as simple and rudimentary as possible. See the field, display a value.

@Jammyjellyfish

own more expensive measurement equipment

I love new tools and gadgets. Creating excuses for needing those tools isn’t hard. It’s hard to justify a single need tool.

[amal]

@amal

Personally, I think current is a good idea, but it doesn’t have to be super accurate or calibrated… a low accuracy device that does work with inducted current measurements. The reason is that voltage per meter is a common RF electric field strength measurement metric, but for magnetically coupled devices current is generally measured.

I vote current measurement. Nothing calibrated, but current will give you a very good idea of coupling quality and reader power output.

[Hamspiced]

Sneaky with the edit. I thought I read all your thought already.

I’ll have to see what I can do for current. Again I’ll need to find an already made device that I can trust has accurate measurements to compare my results from otherwise it’s gonna be a blind assumption it’s being properly measured. I’ll dig some doing and see what I can do.

[amal]

@Hamspiced

Sneaky with the edit. I thought I read all your thought already.

yeah i’m terrible with the afterthoughts just as I’m clicking “post”

@Hamspiced

I’ll have to see what I can do for current.

this ↓↓↓ ??

@Jammyjellyfish

Could use some dedicated IC like this

re accuracy…

@Hamspiced

I can trust has accurate measurements

i wouldn’t worry too much about it being super accurate… again ask “what is the goal… what is the customer use case?” rather than “what can we engineer”. Also define what “accuracy” means… does it mean every unit is exactly calibrated to a known calibration reader and they all are very accurate to the value and to each other? Do they need to be?

[Not]

For the use case of say… “Is this reader likely to work with a particular implant?”:

There’s no shame in having some relatively low accuracy. In this case there are so many other variables anyway (ie how deep is the implant in the skin, or are the batteries dying on the reader), that it shouldn’t matter too much if my field meter reads a teensy bit lower than Pilgrimsmaster’s field meter. As long as you disclose “this is not a scientific measuring tool”, I’m sure it will be more than accurate enough for most use cases.

Another one: Is this a good spot for my repeater sticker?

As long as you know loosely how the repeaters work, and that higher numbers are better, the tool would serve that purpose as well.

[Hamspiced]

@amal

“what is the goal… what is the customer use case?”

Initially it’s to create a field measurement device. As there aren’t really any low cost options available.

@amal

Also define what “accuracy” means…

To me it’s two things. Repeatability of readings between two of the same device with similar results, And how close are the readings to the unit of measure being measured correct.

@amal

Do they need to be?

Being accurate to the known standard isn’t actually important to me in our case I would just like the devices to be in the range. To me what is important is that all the devices will report the same reading when used on the same device. IE all devices will report the same value when measuring an acr122 at 0 inches from the reader.

[amal]

@Hamspiced

@amal

“what is the goal… what is the customer use case?”

Initially it’s to create a field measurement device. As there aren’t really any low cost options available.

Haha fair, but I was talking about the customer’s goal… what will they use this for exactly?

Of course it’s also fine if you don’t know or care and just want to make a thing that does the thing

[Hamspiced]

My intent, as with most of my ideas and designs, is to make something that I intend to use or to fill a gap where I’ve needed something but it doesn’t really exist in the capacity that I need it to.

I also like clean minimalist designs so I like protoboarding them out . It just so happens that to get 5 made is just marginally cheaper than getting 50 made.

So then my next thought is, will others find this as useful as I do. And if they do, are there ways that they may be using it, that is different than how I will use it that I can account for.

So you’re pretty spot on, I usually don’t build these with the customer in mind, usually I’m trying to fill my own need. And because I didn’t feel like I’m unique or special I assume there are a handful of other people out there with a similar need.

I don’t really have as much extensive knowledge as others do about how a device like this would benefit them so that’s why I am kinda wishy-washy. It does a thing, will people wish it did the thing a different way?

[amal]

Perfectly acceptable

[Hamspiced]

But that by no means mean i am not open or willing to adapt and take advice and criticism! I welcome it. I often have to remind people ive only been in this space for 2 years? 3yrs ago i had no idea how NFC operated. So i ask these questions mostly to learn myself. And i always like a challenge

[Hamspiced]

So i purchased a few EM Meters and it appears that my device seems to be reading v/m at a fraction of 10.

EM Meter is coming in at 104 v/m where as my device is reading 10.4. So i think that’s what i am going to go with. I have one more meter coming in so i can have two devices that can verify and then i will order some boards.

[XEMON]

@Pilgrimsmaster

MegaHammys

I’m in!

[Hamspiced]

1Mh = 10V/M

[XEMON]

so how many MegaHammys per marble between the reader and the hand?
(for teh V/M conversion, it would be 2.98 pickle slices)

[Hamspiced]

11 regular tornament style pogs.

[amal]

#anythingbutmetric

[Hamspiced]

So i verified the v/m reading with a second EMF detector so thats the metric we are going with. Fired off a set of plans out to the fab house and ill see what comes back.

Also looking to get some samples back for a 125khz repeater that @Satur9 has thought up and had me build out.

[Hamspiced]

Hey DT.

For All Midwest Gadgets releases DT club gets first announcement so if you arent in the club this is all that you are missing!

Im elated to announce the release of MWG’s 13.56mhz Field Meter.

These work really well on standing NFC fields. However they are limited to those currently, Pulse fields (as those that exist in phones, low powered readers [battery operated] do not keep the field active long enough for the display to register).

Ive been testing these pretty extensively over the past month and i believe i am ready to release these to the public.

They will come in 4 color flavors (Green, Orange, Blue, and Red) for DT members since you are the first to see and get access to these you can choose which color option you want. I will be removing this option shortly as i really dont want to have to manage individual color options.

Also please dont forget to use the discount code: “pilgrimsmaster”.

Test units have been sent out to the usual suspects.

Preliminary case design by skonSolo:
Beta field meter.stl (389.7 KB)

Note: A Cr2032 battery is required and not included due to shipping reasons.

13.56mhz Field Meter | Midwest Gadgets LLC

[Hamspiced]

Very happy to say that a selection of products from Midwest Gadgets is now available at @KaiCastledine’s Site: https://bit.ly/3Efq9rK

This is for those in the UK that have had issues with the hefty shipping costs from across the pond!

They will have a selection of MFGC’s, PM3 Midboards, Field Detectors, Field Meters, and Field Generators!