Question about changes to SparkFun RFID Qwiic Reader

[mariedoyle]

Hello. We’ve previously used the SparkFun RFID Qwiic Readers without issue, but are struggling with undercounting RFID scans and occasionally scanning an nonexistant (repeated identical - 3102000232) tag across multiple devices.

We have not changed anything about the code or build, but did notice that in our most recent batch of RFID Qwiic Readers, the addresses were changed (we’ve updated these from 7D/7C to 13/14 in our code accordingly and detect the readers just fine). It looks like new firmware was also updated on these new readers.

What is different about the 2 readers so that we can better troubleshoot our issues?

[TS-Russell]

Are you using more than one RFID reader on one i2c bus?

Are you using python?

[mariedoyle]

We are daisy chaining two readers, so I think that counts as running 2 on 1 I2C bus. Wiring diagram is attached if I am incorrect on that point.

We are not running on Python. We use the Arduino IDE.

Best,
Marie

(attachments)

[TS-Russell]

Alrighty - have you disabled all but one set of pull up resistors on the i2c bus? You accomplish this by severing the traces labeled “i2c” in this photo (using an exacto knife or similar), be sure to leave only one set intact and re-try

[mariedoyle]

Ah, when we tried that previously, we severed those jumpers on BOTH readers. We will try that tomorrow and let the systems run overnight and get back to you.

Thank you!

[michaelheiml82]

@mariedoyle take a look at my posting, it might be the same issue. I also bought the first reader just recently.

Qwiic RFID wrong readings after 20 reads

too bad since the reader we are discussing here is the only Qwiic RFID reader from Sparkfun. Sparkfun offers the M7E Hecto, but that one is 10 times the price ($300) and has no Qwiic, so no option at least for me. Then there is the Sparkfun USB-C Reader, price is OK, no Qwiic but pin breakouts, only problem is I do not know if it can be used without USB-C (hookup guide is not clear about that) and I cannot see how to connect that one to the Micromod Single mainboard as I already must use RX/TX for the BNO086 IMU RST/INT signals. I could not find an Adafruit Stemma/Qwiic compatible alternative; Adafruit offers a Stemma/Qwiic compatible RFID tag, but no reader. It would be great if Sparkfun replies to this topic as it clearly shows that the product is broken as it is sold/in stock with resellers at the moment.Are there are any solutions or plans about the issue @TS-Russell ? Anyone internally where you could forward that issue to?

[mariedoyle]

Hello,

We are trying the I2C jumper modifications on one of the boards currently. But now that I’m back in the office I was able to look at the chips on the “old” (7D/7C addressed reader) vs “new” (13/14).

The old readers read:
ATMEL355B2B
TINY84-20U
231016U

The new readers read:
ATMEL355B2B
TINY84-20U
2230TEH

So they boards are physically different. I’m assuming the last number is referencing a batch number? Might this have a different firmware on it?

[mariedoyle]

@michaelheiml82 I’ve actually been in contact with @happy_kass about this and unfortunately they are different issues, BUT I’m guessing they stem from the same source.

We only ever see 1 unique false RFID that reads <10 times in 24 hours, so it doesn’t sound as extreme an issue. However, we previously did not have this problem, so we’re trying to get down to the bottom of it.

We are daisy chaining 2 scanners together, and we’re currently testing cutting one set of I2C jumpers on a reader to see if this resolved our issue, per Russel’s suggestion. I can keep you updated.