Wireless NFC Reader – µFR Nano Online

Wireless NFC Reader µFR Nano Online is a cross-platform NFC Reader/Writer based on Digital Logic’s proprietary API and communication protocol, combined with an ESP32 system on a chip microcontroller.

ESP32 add-on hardware marks the µFR Nano Online as a unique new product in the Digital Logic portfolio. It’s featuring NFC Reader/Writer with USB, RS232 (UART TTL), Ethernet, WiFi, and other ESP32 supported wireless connectivity protocols, user-controllable beeper, RGB LEDs,  4 pin IO Port (2 pins input/output, 2 pins input only) and one port for connecting the additional uFR Nano RS232 NFC Reader. The device is also provided with an optional RTC (Real Time Clock) and external EEPROM upgrade.

All this fits in a compact housing of only 86 x 27 x 9 mm.

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Software

Firmware

COM Protocol

Libraries

Video Tutorial

Who is it for?

µFR Nano Online Reader/Writer is primarily intended for development companies and individuals (professionals and hobbyists) for further applications and turnkey solutions development. It is mainly implemented in projects that require Ethernet, WiFi, and other 2.4GHz wireless communication. GPIO pins allow interaction with other electronic devices. Besides, the reader supports running custom firmware (ESP-IDF or Arduino), convenient for clients who intend to build stand-alone NFC solutions. For this reason, it comes with a fully-featured Software Development Kit, including firmware, libraries, source code examples, and documentation for various platforms, operating systems, and development environments. We launch upgrades frequently (including firmware, libraries, and API), all available to download at our official website for FREE.

In addition to all mentioned above, our free, extensive, and fast-responsive support brings Wireless NFC Reader/ Writer µFR Nano Online to an outstanding position in this industry sector.

Hardware

Since the µFR Nano hardware is one of the integrated parts of this device, µFR Nano Online also uses the entire SDK package like all other devices of the µFR series.

SDK includes:

• SDK in multiple programming languages
• Cross-platform libraries
• NFC tag emulation
• Digital Signing support
• Working with MIFARE cards (Classic, Ultralight, Ultralight C, DESFire, DESFire Lite, Plus), NTAG2xx, NTAG DNA, JCOP (Java Cards)
• Firmware, library, and software SDK upgrades
• Browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, and Opera)
• Etc.

ESP32 add-on board provides:

• Additional communication types such as Wi-Fi (UDP, TCP, HTTP, Web Socket), Ethernet (UDP, TCP, HTTP, Web Socket), Ethernet,  and other 2,4GHz wireless connectivity protocols (Low Energy, Serial & HID)
• External device communication ports such as configurable GPIO (4 pins) and UART TTL
• EEPROM, RTC (Real Time Clock), and battery for RTC – optional add-ons
• 2 RGB LEDs
• Enabled storing software code inside the device
• IDF and Arduino code support

Hardware Compatibility

µFR Nano Online is fully compatible with other µFR Series devices. This allows a quick and easy upgrade of all ongoing projects based on other µFR Series devices. Therefore, developers do not need to modify previously written code to integrate it with new hardware. Likewise, the new API set for network connectivity is extremely intuitive and easy to implement.

The introduction of ESP32 support allows users to write their ESP32 code in an Arduino-like IDE, and to create a completely stand-alone working device capable to operate autonomously.

Firmware

Digital Logic proprietary interoperable firmware runs on all MCU platform based µFR Series hardware. The reader and the host establish communication through the high-speed FTDI chip direct access.

At the core, on the communication level, the device uses a Digital Logic unique proprietary communication protocol. 
µFR Series firmware contains many complex built-in functions that can be called via libraries explained in API docs.

Most of the functions are developed to make „ life easier” for developers and integrators by decreasing their development time, such as: 

• Support for multiple RFID NFC readers on a single host
• The entire set of commands for MIFARE Classic® manipulation (according to the manufacturer specification)
• Various addressing schemes (Block, BlockInSector)
• The key storage handling (on-way, write-only, no reading of Key stored )
• Various applying Key modes (by index, or by the scheme)
• Value block manipulation
• Using entire memory structure as linear space ( convenient for most card types)
• NFC tags handling, NDEF format parsing in the firmware
• AES128 “on the fly” built-in hardware encryption, which is extremely important for working with complex DESFire security keys
• AES128 encryption of files and keys in DESFire cards
• MIFARE Plus support
• MIFARE Ultralight C support
• APDU command structure support, where applicable (ISO 14443-4 layer)
• Asynchronous UID sending from reader to host COM port when a card is present – the feature is user-programmable.

µFR Nano Online supports the following operation modes:

• Transparent mode – The device acts like a regular NFC reader and communicates with a host (PC, mobile…) via USB cable
• Slave mode – Device acts as a regular NFC reader but communicates with a host (PC, mobile…) via Wi-Fi or Ethernet
• Master mode – Standalone mode. The device sends all scanned card information to a predefined server address via the HTTP POST method. It doesn’t require a host (PC, mobile…). It requires a stable network connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
•  2.4GHz Serial – The device acts as a regular NFC reader but, communicates with the host (PC, mobile, etc.) via the 2.4GHz low-power wireless protocol supported by ESP32
•  2.4GHz Low Energy- The device acts as a regular NFC reader, but communicates with the host (PC, mobile, etc.) via the 2.4GHz low-power wireless protocol supported by ESP32
• 2.4GHz Low Energy HID – The device acts as a keyboard emulation device (for example like a barcode reader). It sends card UID to a paired device’s text input field.

The μFR Firmware key feature is the ability to call all its functions using our communication protocol.
Therefore, the μFR device implementation is possible on almost any platform with a serial interface by using the communication protocol.

Frequent firmware updates include new features, improvements, and bug fixes while preserving backward compatibility with the previous versions. 
Accordingly, project code and developed software are safe, so there is no need for any changes after a firmware upgrade.

All firmware updates and upgrades are FREE and available at the Digital Logic official GitLab repository.

IMPORTANT: Unlike other µFR series devices, µFR Nano Online also supports custom-developed firmware enrollment for the ESP32 microcontroller. This feature is enabled by the OEM Unlock option of the online flasher. It replaces the reader µFR Firmware and allows the developer to run custom firmware for ESP32. ESP32 can run Arduino and ESP-IDF code.

Software Development Kit

This RFID NFC reader comes with a fully-featured Software Development Kit with external libraries, examples with source codes, documentation about API reference, communication protocol, and many useful software tools.

Libraries are cross-compiled for various platforms and so far support:

• Windows x86/x64
• Windows ARM/UWP
• Linux x86/x64
• Linux ARM/ARM64/ARMHF
• macOS x64
• iOS x64
• Android
• Arduino
• ESP32.

All examples are written for all major developing platforms and languages, such as:

• Java
• Java Applet
• JavaScript (egg. NFC Reader Browser Extension)
• Node JS
• PHP
• Lazarus
• Borland Delphi
• C
• C++ Borland Builder
• C++ WxWidgets
• Microsoft® Visual .NET family: C++.NET, C#.NET,VB.NET
• Python
• Arduino IDE examples.

Our team is ready to develop additional  SDK examples in other programming languages on client requests. The request realization speed depends on our current project plans and eventual partnership agreement.

Package includes a set of very useful SDK source code software and executable apps. Some of these are:

• MIFARE Classic® (1k, 4k, EV1) cards and tags programming software
• MIFARE® DESFire® (Light, 2k, 4k, 8k, EV1, EV2) cards and tags programming software
• MIFARE PLUS® (2k, 4k) cards and tags programming software
• MIFARE Ultralight® (EV1) cards and tags programming software
• MIFARE Ultralight® C cards and tags programming software
• NTAG® (2xx, DNA, Tag Tamper) cards and tags programming software
• Application for common NDEF messages creating and writing into NFC tags
• Credit cards reding app (public data only)
• Formatter – software tool for card/tag formatting and programming
• uFR2FileSystem and uFR2File Lite – Keyboard simulation app, with a data reading, data parsing into several formats, and sending data to MySQL database via HTTP
• uFR Shell – Shell-like environment for easy testing and automation
• Browser extensions (add-ons) for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera
• Application for reading ePassports (Machine Readable Travel Documents)
• Digital Signing app
• APDU commands sending software
• JCOP cards programming software.

COMMON APPLICATIONS

• Electronic payment systems
• Identification systems
• Access control systems
• Subscription services
• Banking systems
• Digital content system
• Customer loyalty systems
• Vending machines
• Time & attendance
• Machine work attendance
• NFC card and tag programming
• NFC NDEF records management
• Network access control
• Inventory management
• Software login management
• Automatic fare collection
• Public transport terminals
• Cashless payment
• Parking systems
• Reception desk services
• Event visitors attendance
• Authentication and authorization
• Libraries, museums, stadium events

FEATURES

• Identity verification, data exchange & contactless transaction
• Useful for the binding device to software license
• Supporting multiple OS (Win, Linux, Android)
• USB compliant interface
• Operating Frequency: 13.56MHz
• Proximity read/write speed up to 424 kbps
• Built-in antenna for contactless tag access, with a reading distance of up to 60 mm
• Supports MIFARE® and other ISO 14443 Type A/B
• Supports ISO18092 NFC tags
• Built-in anti-collision feature
• RFID Reader locking by passwords and keys
• Application Programming Interface:
• Virtual COM through FTDI
• User controllable LEDs
• Three-year warranty

SOFTWARE FEATURES

• NFC cards and tags reading/writing (programming) 
• NFC NDEF Record writing: MIME types, URI types, vCard, SMS, Phone, URL
• Card formatting
• Card linear space emulation
• Card block direct access
• Card sectors and blocks indirect access
• Card Keys and Access Bits management
• Block values management (increment/decrement)
• Asynchronously sending of Card UID to COM port (feature programmable)
• DES and 3DES Software Encryption
• Optional APDU structure (application protocol data unit) with examples of the Credit Card use in public data reading
• Shell-like environment for easy testing and automation
• Web browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera
• Digital Signing source code examples: contactless signing of digital documents with PKI (public key infrastructure) certificates

WARRANTY: 24 MONTHS

All µFR Series devices have an extended “Three-year” warranty.

1) Device setup

To set the device, follow the video instruction with the device functionality and connectivity options overview. This video explains how to connect to the device and set the configuration for one of the operation modes listed above.

2) Operating modes demonstration

• Wi-Fi Master Mode >>> Watch Video Tutorial

• Wi-Fi Slave Mode >>> Watch Video Tutorial

• 2.4GHz Low Energy HID >>> Watch Video Tutorial 

3) Testing on a PC(Wi-Fi)

Follow the device setup and configuration steps:

• Install the latest firmware release for the ESP32 board by using the Flashing tool
• Follow the video demonstration >>>  Watch Video Tutorial
• Install the latest firmware release for the µFR Nano board by using the Flashing tool 
• Follow the video instruction to connect the µFR Nano Online to the Wi-Fi network >>> Watch Video Tutorial

NOTICE: Make sure you remember the newly designated IP address, as you will need it to connect your device once it restarts. In case you forget the IP address, use the following tool to scan your network for µFR Nano Online readers  >>> Download uFR Online Finder

• Follow the previous video instruction to set up “slave mode” and TCP protocol. Click Save and reboot
• Download and run the source code software example for working with MIFARE Classic cards  >>> Download Software Example
• Check the “Use Advanced options” checkbox option to open the additional options for device port opening
• Enter the following parameters to connect to your device:

Reader type: 0

Port name: YOUR_DEVICE_IP_ADDRESS

Port interface: T

Arg: 0

• Click Reader Open option to connect the reader. The beeper will signalize when the device is connected.

If the connection is established, the status bar will display the UFR_OK status message.

Now you can scan, read, or write the data into the card.

4) Testing on a PC(USB)

• Download and run the source code software example for working with MIFARE Classic cards  >>> Download Software Example
• Click Reader Open option to connect the reader. The beeper will signalize when the device is connected. If the connection is established, the status bar will display the UFR_OK status message
• Scan, read, or write the data into the card

Downloads: API Documentation, µFR COM Protocol, Software source code examples with SDK

The documentation contains a detailed explanation of API and communication protocol reference with actual byte-level examples for communication protocol implementation. Our API provides a very comfortable way of implementation, and we highly recommend it. When API implementation is not possible, a communication protocol is a very good alternative. We provide regular updates for all libraries, firmware, examples, tools, and documents. Updates are FREE and are available for download from the official Digital Logic GitLab repository. 

In terms of support, our team strives to always provide quick responses. Depending on the inquiry complexity, you can expect an answer in 24 to 48 hours.

In addition, we are open to custom development requirements based on specific customer needs. Feel free to contact us for any questions or further assistance regarding your projects and implementation.

Relevant links:

• µFR Nano Online resources
• µFR Online Quick Start Guide
• Software repository introduction
• All SDK projects
• µFR Series API
• µFR Series communication protocol:
• Video demonstrations

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