Comments: SparkFun RFID Starter Kit Hookup Guide

I'm using Arduino IDE, ID-20LA and compatible tags from sparkfun. When I scan the tags im getting empty boxes before and sometimes after the tag number. How do I stop this?

How do i use this without arduino?

Is there any way to disable the beeping sound?

Using Node.js to read from the reading using node-serialport. Getting reading coming in but my numbers don't match what is on the card. I assume this is something to do with encoding but I'm not sure. Anyone able to help me? I scan a card with the printed numbers "0000818960" and I get "0A000C7F1069" when I do "data.toString('ascii')" on the data coming from node-serial port. Thoughts?

-------------------- Tech Support Tips/Troubleshooting/Common Issues --------------------

Read Ranges Using the RFID USB Reader

Using the ID Innovations125kHz readers, the tested real world maximum ranges of the modules with the RFID tagged items are listed below:

ID-3LA

Card = 0" (you need an external antenna)
Button = 0" (you need an external antenna)
Glass Capsule = 0" (you need an external antenna)

ID12-LA

Card = 2" - 2.25"
Button = 1" - 1.5"
Glass Capsule = 0.75" - 1"

ID20-LA

Card = 2.75"
Button = 2"
Glass Capsule = 0.75"

The range results were taken from the demo video between 6:13-9:10 => https://youtu.be/FLjV5BT9slg?t=6m13s .

Multiple RFID USB Readers

If you place 4 of these RFID readers with the ID Readers, there will be RF interference from each other. Customer had issues with this setup. When he placed them at a distance of about 15-20cm+ between each other, they were able to get them working.

I've been having issues with my RFID. I'm not sure if it's in the wiring, the code, or just a bad component, but I was hoping for some advice.

I've used your code, as well as 4 others that I found on google, each of which returned the serial values "255 255 255 255...", so I kind of doubt its the code. (I should mention I put in a Serial.print(readByte) in the loop to see what the integer values were)

It is hooked up as follows:

Arduino ID-20 5V VCC GND GND D2 D0

Lastly, I assume the components work fine, because it never returns any serial values to my com port until I wave the tag in front of it.

Any ideas?

The code example does not work correctly.

total = checkTag(newTag, knownTags[ct]);

should be

total += checkTag(newTag, knownTags[ct]);

Otherwise only the last card in the array will ever work. Cheers CJ

do i need to use arduino with RFID reader starter kit to save tags ID ?