RFID Tag-programmer

Yes. The tags in Jeti RFID-System can be programmed from transmitter and Jetibox. Works, but it’s a bit slow due Jetibox and sensor doing also a lot of other stuff. Since i had a OLED-display in my million-box I decided to make a RFID Tag programmer. And as it’s done here in RC-Thoughts here’s the code, schematic and instructions shared so you can make one for you.

RFID Tag-programmer Features

Very simple:

  • Easy and fast way to program or change values on RFID tags used by Jeti RFID-Sensor.
  • USB-powered, no transmitter needed
  • Uses affordable parts

Hardware

You need very little components and parts:

Note about RFID-module: Look pictures below of the sensor (The small green one). The RC522 board and display.module needs to be identical and have SPI interface. OLED-display needs to be I2C with SDA and SCL connection.

For programming the Arduino you also need a USB to TTL adapter.  (Example link to ebay)

Schematic

I’ll admit, there is a few wires to connect here. Just take one at a time and you will be fine. RFID-connection is the same as in RFID-Sensor, Jeti receiver-cable is changed to US-cable, display and buttons added.

So, the schematic is as follows:

  • Arduino VCC -> RFID 3.3V and Display VCC
  • Arduino GND -> RFID GND and Display GND and Both buttons
  • Arduino Pin 5 -> RFID RST
  • Arduino Pin 10 -> RFID NSS
  • Arduino Pin 11 -> RFID MOSI
  • Arduino Pin 12 -> RFID MISO
  • Arduino Pin 13 -> RFID SCK
  • Arduino Pin A4 -> Display SDA
  • Arduino Pin A5 -> Display SCL
  • Arduino Pin A1 -> Action Button
  • Arduino Pin A2 -> Value Button
  • Arduino Pin RAW -> USB-cable RED +5VDC
  • Arduino pin GND -> USB-cable BLACK GND

NOTE: Some boards have GRN where my boards have GND. Do NOT use GRN, use GND!

Programming RFID-Programmer

Go and get the RFID-Programmer.ino file from my Github here. You need to use the libraries included in Github repository. For info on how to use these look in RFID-sensor how-to here.

Usage of RFID-Programmer

Use is easy. Everything is controlled with the two buttons:

  • Action Button – Short press: Changes value multiplier between x1 – x10 – x100 and x1000
  • Action Button – Long press: Advances to next screen
  • Value Button – Short press: Adds to currently displayed value (One multiplied with multiplier)
  • Value Button – Long press: Resets value to zero

Menus are disabled if there is no tag present, also if you remove the tag in the middle of menu’s programmer will reset to start-logo.

As usual one video says it all:

Really easy!

Arduino Pro Mini and memory

I almost did bite the bullet on this one. My first version had wrong resolution on OLED-screen, the screen is 128×64 and I used it as 128×32. After correcting this I ran out of memory on the Arduino, after all it’s only 2048 bytes big and bigger resolution needs more buffer-memory for the screen. So if you want to do some mods always test-compile and monitor the memory-usage. And even if it compiles make sure to test it, there’s some funky stuff on screen when Arduino runs out of memory.

Disclaimer

Always make sure everything works as it should. Do not use faulty devices. neither RC-Thoughts and/or me are in any way liable or responsible for anything you do with your equipment or to others with equipment used as described here. You should never use LUA-apps for operation-critical functions.

If you find something that is not working or is behaving strangely please let me know. I’m a car-mechanic by training, not a programmer-geek :)

Most important thing

Is to have fun building!