Edit: On going testing… Initial data is not great. The non-Apex data is better. Currently I am running very long running tests to sniff out some interesting details.
Passive coupling is complicated business. I compared readers and transponders to see what we could sort out knowing that range is a tricky beast, different readers don’t just use potentially different chips but also have driver differences, and then there’s the chips themselves which set their clock rate based on available power (which correlates to coupling efficiency). All of the implants tested (except the Flex One) were in a polybag and sterilization sleeve. They were pressed into the “sweet spot” of each reader during testing.
I left all the raw data in because, frankly, I don’t have time to do a deep analysis at the moment. But this keeps coming up. It would be interesting to see the variations as a means of establishing a margin of error in the testing to further refine the data. It also goes without saying that you’re not likely to get performance quite so good inside the body–consider these to be optimal numbers.
WTF Is the Speed Test?
It’s a script that installs and uninstalls all the apps to determine their storage requirements–I had also added some time bench marking so it was an easy thing to just run. Over and over…
Reader Comparison w/Apex Module
| Reader | Range (Longer is better) | Overall Speed (Shorter is better) |
|---|---|---|
| ACS ACR1552U | ~2.5cm | 3:35 |
| Identiv uTrust 3700 F | ~3cm | 03:14 |
| Digital Logic DL533R | ~2.5cm | 03:24 |
| ACS ACR122U | ~2cm | 04:15 |
| HID OMNIKEY 5022 CL | ~2cm | 03:41 |
| Identiv SCR3500C (Contact) | N/A | |
There was more variation than I expected to see, in terms of speed. Those 122Us are pretty common but maybe skip them? The OMNIKEY is a multi-protocol reader–as is the 1552U.
Implant Comparison w/ACR1552U
| Implant | Range (No Repeater) | Overall Speed (No Repeater) | Overall Speed (w/Repeater) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narrow | ~1cm | 04:39 | 03:09 |
| Mega Spectrum | ~1.5cm | - | - |
| Module | ~2.5cm | 03:35 | 03:08 |
| OG Mega | ~2cm | 03:39 | 03:06 |
| OG Wound Wire | - | - | 03:36 |
| Flex One (p60 not p71) | - | - | 08:19 |
Let’s start with the holes in the table. The Mega Spectrum tends to brown out very easily. If we were using a p60 these days, it would likely be bricked. Even with a repeater, I still was unable to complete one cycle of the test. Speeds seemed similar for the OG Mega. I would strongly suggest installing apps on the Mega Spectrum ex vivo. The lights for the Spectrum come on waaaay before we get a read–easily a centimeter or two. The Flex One and OG Wound Wire antenna were not able to complete the test without a repeater either.
As expected, the module takes win in terms of range. Speed is… Interesting. You can see that it seems that most chips can reach peak power (and by extension, speed) with a repeater.
Raw Data
Reader Tests
These were all done with the module.
ACS ACR1552U (~2.5cm)
Reader: ACS ACR1552 1S CL Reader PICC 0
Card present: 04 2B 36 2A 70 71 80
Starting…
Checking tesla… Installed in 17.42 seconds
Checking fido… Installed in 33.50 seconds
Checking nfc… Installed in 25.79 seconds
Checking hmac… Installed in 17.36 seconds
Checking pgp… Installed in 24.42 seconds
Checking otp… Installed in 22.15 seconds
Checking status… Installed in 27.43 seconds
Checking satochip… Installed in 23.50 seconds
Checking seedkeeper… Installed in 22.91 seconds
Elapsed time: 0:03:35
Identiv uTrust 3700 F (~3cm)
Reader: Identiv uTrust 3700 F CL Reader 0
Card present: 04 2B 36 2A 70 71 80
Starting…
Checking tesla… Installed in 16.68 seconds
Checking fido… Installed in 28.07 seconds
Checking nfc… Installed in 24.77 seconds
Checking hmac… Installed in 15.38 seconds
Checking pgp… Installed in 22.02 seconds
Checking otp… Installed in 18.95 seconds
Checking status… Installed in 25.78 seconds
Checking satochip… Installed in 21.18 seconds
Checking seedkeeper… Installed in 20.42 seconds
Elapsed time: 0:03:14
Digital Logic DL533R (~2.5cm)
Reader: NXP PR533 0
Card present: 04 2B 36 2A 70 71 80
Starting…
Checking tesla… Installed in 16.67 seconds
Checking fido… Installed in 28.85 seconds
Checking nfc… Installed in 25.10 seconds
Checking hmac… Installed in 15.87 seconds
Checking pgp… Installed in 22.39 seconds
Checking otp… Installed in 20.45 seconds
Checking status… Installed in 26.06 seconds
Checking satochip… Installed in 21.71 seconds
Checking seedkeeper… Installed in 20.64 seconds
Elapsed time: 0:03:24
ACS ACR122U (~2cm)
Reader: ACS ACR122 0
Card present: 04 2B 36 2A 70 71 80
Starting…
Checking tesla… Installed in 18.31 seconds
Checking fido… Installed in 46.45 seconds
Checking nfc… Installed in 26.52 seconds
Checking hmac… Installed in 17.67 seconds
Checking pgp… Installed in 31.85 seconds
Checking otp… Installed in 23.74 seconds
Checking status… Installed in 32.70 seconds
Checking satochip… Installed in 30.02 seconds
Checking seedkeeper… Installed in 27.90 seconds
Elapsed time: 0:04:15
HID OMNIKEY 5022 CL (~2cm)
Reader: HID Global OMNIKEY 5022 Smart Card Reader 0
Card present: 04 2B 36 2A 70 71 80
Starting…
Checking tesla… Installed in 17.84 seconds
Checking fido… Installed in 33.86 seconds
Checking nfc… Installed in 27.39 seconds
Checking hmac… Installed in 17.69 seconds
Checking pgp… Installed in 25.35 seconds
Checking otp… Installed in 22.07 seconds
Checking status… Installed in 29.01 seconds
Checking satochip… Installed in 24.31 seconds
Checking seedkeeper… Installed in 23.29 seconds
Elapsed time: 0:03:41
Implant Tests
Due to the complex nature of passive coupling, giving absolutes in terms of ranges isn’t really possible without using EVERY compatible reader. I did the following with an acr1552u.
Range (no repeater)
Narrow: ~1cm
Mega Spectrum: ~1.5cm
Module: ~2.5cm
OG Mega: ~2cm
Install Times
Narrow
No Repeater
Reader: ACS ACR1552 1S CL Reader PICC 0
Card present: 04 2A A2 2A 70 71 80
Starting…
Checking tesla… Installed in 22.62 seconds
Checking fido… Installed in 48.17 seconds
Checking nfc… Installed in 32.77 seconds
Checking hmac… Installed in 22.37 seconds
Checking pgp… Installed in 35.13 seconds
Checking otp… Installed in 28.77 seconds
Checking status… Installed in 40.77 seconds
Checking satochip… Installed in 15.91 seconds
Checking seedkeeper… Installed in 30.08 seconds
Elapsed time: 0:04:38
Reader: ACS ACR1552 1S CL Reader PICC 0
Card present: 04 2A A2 2A 70 71 80
Starting…
Checking tesla… Installed in 20.67 seconds
Checking fido… Installed in 45.70 seconds
Checking nfc… Installed in 32.23 seconds
Checking hmac… Installed in 21.19 seconds
Checking pgp… Installed in 34.67 seconds
Checking otp… Installed in 26.31 seconds
Checking status… Installed in 35.34 seconds
Checking satochip… Installed in 32.04 seconds
Checking seedkeeper… Installed in 30.60 seconds
Elapsed time: 0:04:40
With Repeater
Reader: ACS ACR1552 1S CL Reader PICC 0
Card present: 04 2A A2 2A 70 71 80
Starting…
Checking tesla… Installed in 15.34 seconds
Checking fido… Installed in 27.03 seconds
Checking nfc… Installed in 24.42 seconds
Checking hmac… Installed in 15.92 seconds
Checking pgp… Installed in 22.01 seconds
Checking otp… Installed in 19.00 seconds
Checking status… Installed in 24.98 seconds
Checking satochip… Installed in 21.01 seconds
Checking seedkeeper… Installed in 19.42 seconds
Elapsed time: 0:03:09
Reader: ACS ACR1552 1S CL Reader PICC 0
Card present: 04 2A A2 2A 70 71 80
Starting…
Checking tesla… Installed in 15.95 seconds
Checking fido… Installed in 28.18 seconds
Checking nfc… Installed in 24.71 seconds
Checking hmac… Installed in 15.86 seconds
Checking pgp… Installed in 20.83 seconds
Checking otp… Installed in 18.73 seconds
Checking status… Installed in 24.93 seconds
Checking satochip… Installed in 20.31 seconds
Checking seedkeeper… Installed in 19.40 seconds
Elapsed time: 0:03:09
Success: Wrote storage by app
Mega Spectrum
??? The session seems to drop out after an install without a repeater. It would still randomly drop out even with a repeater.
With Repeater
Reader: ACS ACR1552 1S CL Reader PICC 0
Card present: 04 26 56 2A 70 71 80
Starting…
Checking tesla… Installed in 18.39 seconds
Checking fido… Installed in 38.86 seconds
Checking nfc… Installed in 28.64 seconds
Checking hmac… Installed in 19.63 seconds
Checking pgp… Installed in 28.57 seconds
Checking otp… Installed in 24.26 seconds
Checking status… Installed in 31.51 seconds
Checking satochip… Unable to fetch version
Error:
Reader: ACS ACR1552 1S CL Reader PICC 0
Card present: 04 26 56 2A 70 71 80
Starting…
Checking tesla… Installed in 18.99 seconds
Checking fido… Installed in 39.62 seconds
Checking nfc… Installed in 29.49 seconds
Checking hmac… Unable to fetch version
Error:
Module
No Repeater
Reader: ACS ACR1552 1S CL Reader PICC 0
Card present: 04 2B 36 2A 70 71 80
Starting…
Checking tesla… Installed in 17.42 seconds
Checking fido… Installed in 33.50 seconds
Checking nfc… Installed in 25.79 seconds
Checking hmac… Installed in 17.36 seconds
Checking pgp… Installed in 24.42 seconds
Checking otp… Installed in 22.15 seconds
Checking status… Installed in 27.43 seconds
Checking satochip… Installed in 23.50 seconds
Checking seedkeeper… Installed in 22.91 seconds
Elapsed time: 0:03:35
Reader: ACS ACR1552 1S CL Reader PICC 0
Card present: 04 2B 36 2A 70 71 80
Starting…
Checking tesla… Installed in 17.54 seconds
Checking fido… Installed in 31.78 seconds
Checking nfc… Installed in 25.99 seconds
Checking hmac… Installed in 17.69 seconds
Checking pgp… Installed in 25.32 seconds
Checking otp… Installed in 21.31 seconds
Checking status… Installed in 27.17 seconds
Checking satochip… Installed in 24.31 seconds
Checking seedkeeper… Installed in 22.31 seconds
Elapsed time: 0:03:34
Repeater
Reader: ACS ACR1552 1S CL Reader PICC 0
Card present: 04 2B 36 2A 70 71 80
Starting…
Checking tesla… Installed in 15.81 seconds
Checking fido… Installed in 26.45 seconds
Checking nfc… Installed in 25.28 seconds
Checking hmac… Installed in 15.84 seconds
Checking pgp… Installed in 21.44 seconds
Checking otp… Installed in 20.10 seconds
Checking status… Installed in 24.04 seconds
Checking satochip… Installed in 19.40 seconds
Checking seedkeeper… Installed in 19.78 seconds
Elapsed time: 0:03:08
Reader: ACS ACR1552 1S CL Reader PICC 0
Card present: 04 2B 36 2A 70 71 80
Starting…
Checking tesla… Installed in 16.32 seconds
Checking fido… Installed in 26.53 seconds
Checking nfc… Installed in 24.86 seconds
Checking hmac… Installed in 16.05 seconds
Checking pgp… Installed in 20.94 seconds
Checking otp… Installed in 19.05 seconds
Checking status… Installed in 24.13 seconds
Checking satochip… Installed in 20.95 seconds
Checking seedkeeper… Installed in 19.96 seconds
Elapsed time: 0:03:09
The Following options are presented despite being unavailable
OG Mega
No Repeater
Reader: ACS ACR1552 1S CL Reader PICC 0
Card present: 04 20 2C 2A 70 71 80
Starting…
Checking tesla… Installed in 17.34 seconds
Checking fido… Installed in 33.10 seconds
Checking nfc… Installed in 26.02 seconds
Checking hmac… Installed in 17.32 seconds
Checking pgp… Installed in 25.10 seconds
Checking otp… Installed in 21.83 seconds
Checking status… Installed in 28.16 seconds
Checking satochip… Installed in 24.11 seconds
Checking seedkeeper… Installed in 23.55 seconds
Elapsed time: 0:03:37
Reader: ACS ACR1552 1S CL Reader PICC 0
Card present: 04 20 2C 2A 70 71 80
Starting…
Checking tesla… Installed in 17.50 seconds
Checking fido… Installed in 33.41 seconds
Checking nfc… Installed in 25.93 seconds
Checking hmac… Installed in 17.48 seconds
Checking pgp… Installed in 25.61 seconds
Checking otp… Installed in 22.73 seconds
Checking status… Installed in 30.01 seconds
Checking satochip… Installed in 23.94 seconds
Checking seedkeeper… Installed in 23.40 seconds
Elapsed time: 0:03:40
With Repeater
Reader: ACS ACR1552 1S CL Reader PICC 0
Card present: 04 20 2C 2A 70 71 80
Starting…
Checking tesla… Installed in 15.12 seconds
Checking fido… Installed in 27.99 seconds
Checking nfc… Installed in 24.86 seconds
Checking hmac… Installed in 15.78 seconds
Checking pgp… Installed in 21.29 seconds
Checking otp… Installed in 19.67 seconds
Checking status… Installed in 25.87 seconds
Checking satochip… Installed in 20.44 seconds
Checking seedkeeper… Installed in 18.94 seconds
Elapsed time: 0:03:10
Reader: ACS ACR1552 1S CL Reader PICC 0
Card present: 04 20 2C 2A 70 71 80
Starting…
Checking tesla… Installed in 15.64 seconds
Checking fido… Installed in 26.66 seconds
Checking nfc… Installed in 23.04 seconds
Checking hmac… Installed in 16.50 seconds
Checking pgp… Installed in 21.27 seconds
Checking otp… Installed in 19.19 seconds
Checking status… Installed in 23.02 seconds
Checking satochip… Installed in 19.50 seconds
Checking seedkeeper… Installed in 18.67 seconds
Elapsed time: 0:03:03
Apex OG Wire Antenna (These never shipped)
Somewhat tested. But dropped out mid-way. Placed RSP on reader.
With Repeater
Reader: ACS ACR1552 1S CL Reader PICC 0
Card present: 04 2B 58 82 EB 6F 80
Starting…
Checking tesla… Installed in 17.26 seconds
Checking fido… Installed in 32.15 seconds
Checking nfc… Installed in 26.35 seconds
Checking hmac… Installed in 18.22 seconds
Checking pgp… Installed in 25.36 seconds
Checking otp… Installed in 22.28 seconds
Checking status… Installed in 28.65 seconds
Checking satochip… Installed in 23.68 seconds
Checking seedkeeper… Installed in 23.50 seconds
Elapsed time: 0:03:38
Reader: ACS ACR1552 1S CL Reader PICC 0
Card present: 04 2B 58 82 EB 6F 80
Starting…
Checking tesla… Installed in 16.76 seconds
Checking fido… Installed in 32.17 seconds
Checking nfc… Installed in 26.21 seconds
Checking hmac… Installed in 16.93 seconds
Checking pgp… Installed in 25.01 seconds
Checking otp… Installed in 21.26 seconds
Checking status… Installed in 28.13 seconds
Checking satochip… Installed in 23.50 seconds
Checking seedkeeper… Installed in 22.77 seconds
Elapsed time: 0:03:33
Flex One
I found one of these guys lying around. They are p60s not p71s–a slower chip. I was only able to test it with a repeater. it was also the only one tested not in a polybag + sterilization sleeve.
Reader: ACS ACR1552 1S CL Reader PICC 0
Card present: 04 70 4A 0A 0E 48 80
Starting…
Checking tesla… Installed in 32.28 seconds
Checking fido… Installed in 102.90 seconds
Checking nfc… Error:
Failed to run service
Installed in 29.43 seconds
Checking hmac… Installed in 29.83 seconds
Checking pgp… Installed in 64.27 seconds
Checking otp… Installed in 35.64 seconds
Checking status… Installed in 77.08 seconds
Checking satochip… Installed in 56.24 seconds
Checking seedkeeper… Installed in 53.98 seconds
Elapsed time: 0:08:19
