Multiclass RF USB RFID Card Reader

[Pilgrimsmaster]

When you buy either a LF or HF “RF USB RFID Card Reader”
LINK
you will get something like this

i.e. They look identical

BUT, what’s under the hood?

HF on the LEFT - LF on the RIGHT

(ignore the bit at the topof the LF one, that is another little project you’ll hear about soon enough)

does anybody notice anything
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Yep, Thats right, the HF reader has everything the LF one has ( except an LF antenna ) and the LF one is “missing” some components.

∴

If we were to solder an LF antenna into the HF board, what will happen?
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Yep, you guessed it, AND you probably read the title;
we now have a small multiclass USB RFID reader

IN CONCLUSION

If you want a HF only or Multiclass reader in this form factor, Just get the HF version ( and an LF antenna for Multiclass )
If you only want LF then get the LF

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I have another couple of Projects related to this reader, but I’m also shortly away from home for 4 weeks and it’s unlikely I will have written them up by then, so you’ll just have to wait and see

[enginerd]

Do you know the inductance of the LF antenna?

I assume that you should be able to source one from ebay or aliexpress by looking at the pictures or something but I would prefer to make sure before ordering. (As if that mattered with the ever changing chinise designs…)

[Pilgrimsmaster]

@enginerd

Do you know the inductance of the LF antenna?

No I don’t unfortunately.

The one I used came of the LF version of one of those readers and they are pretty cheap and I know they work.
However, You could try something even cheaper like this ( Or similar )

Remove the Chip, reshape the antenna aka. Squish

LINK

[enginerd]

I think that it’s best to order both readers instead TBH. I wasn’t thinking about chinese prices.