The RedBee RFID Reader

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   There is no official way to add an external antenna to the RedBee reader, but if you wanted to cut the circuit board trace and take a stab at adding your own, it could work. Most likely though you'd end up with a busted reader. The antenna on the board was specifically engineered for maximum range.

The only antenna type that is actually suited to a cylindrical glass tag is a cylindrical antenna. The only reader I've seen with an antenna like that is sold on eBay by a seller who scooped up a bunch of these units which are no longer in production. He sells bunches of them from time to time, and they are easy to spot. A black rectangular casing with a separate cylidrical coil antenna. I have several of these and they work great with my 3x13 tag. Cheap too.

I'll look into the magnets again, but I really would rather wait until someone figured out a way to encase them in titanium without too much heat damage to the magnet... like "flash pasturizing" them. Like we've all seen in breast implants gone bad, silicon is limited in it's lifespan. As for interference, I don't forsee any problems :)

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amal Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 22 November 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2061	Post Options Post Reply Quote amal Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 July 2010 at 3:06pm
	There is no official way to add an external antenna to the RedBee reader, but if you wanted to cut the circuit board trace and take a stab at adding your own, it could work. Most likely though you'd end up with a busted reader. The antenna on the board was specifically engineered for maximum range. The only antenna type that is actually suited to a cylindrical glass tag is a cylindrical antenna. The only reader I've seen with an antenna like that is sold on eBay by a seller who scooped up a bunch of these units which are no longer in production. He sells bunches of them from time to time, and they are easy to spot. A black rectangular casing with a separate cylidrical coil antenna. I have several of these and they work great with my 3x13 tag. Cheap too. I'll look into the magnets again, but I really would rather wait until someone figured out a way to encase them in titanium without too much heat damage to the magnet... like "flash pasturizing" them. Like we've all seen in breast implants gone bad, silicon is limited in it's lifespan. As for interference, I don't forsee any problems :)
	Amal ;) www.amal.net

FourQ Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 19 June 2009 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 88	Post Options Post Reply Quote FourQ Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 July 2010 at 3:09pm
	@Mitch, I've had a bunch of Neodymium magnets in my palm by accident, and subsequently intentionally after I discovered that the magnet must be closer than 2cm to kill the tag. It's not something I make a habit of doing but I've got away with it nicely.

Mitch Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 30 June 2010 Status: Offline Points: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mitch Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 July 2010 at 3:31pm
	http://cgi.ebay.com/RFID-Reader-transponder-key-fob-security-/250637978262?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a5b300a96 Is this it Amal? If so, do you think it would read a 2x12mm implanted tag if the antannea was directly behing my front windshield? Or would I need a 3x13mm one? Also, would this work for my car unlock project using a spare keyfob? If yes, I think I found my solution. Sorry for so many questions. I'm definetely a novice when it comes to this stuff.

amal Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 22 November 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2061	Post Options Post Reply Quote amal Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 July 2010 at 6:50pm
	Yes, that is the reader. This reader has no problem reading 3x13 tags and it usually does well with 2x12 tags too. I have this reader in my car and the antenna is attached to the inside of my windshield. I can unlock my car with my 3x13 tag and my wife can unlock it with her 2x12. I think the reader supports storing up to 40 or so different EM4102 tag IDs. The form-factor (glass tag, keyfob, key card, etc.) doesn't matter. No worries on the questions, that's what this forum is for! Edited by amal - 21 July 2010 at 6:51pm
	Amal ;) www.amal.net

eldon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 25 February 2010 Status: Offline Points: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote eldon Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 July 2010 at 7:07pm
	@Mitch - Hi Mitch - I have a magnet from Steve Haworth implanted in the same place as you. I have tags implanted in both hands and the magnet doesn't cause any problems for me.

Mitch Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 30 June 2010 Status: Offline Points: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mitch Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 July 2010 at 7:15pm
	Fantastic! Just ordered one. Do you have this hooked up to a spare remote like in chapter 3? I'M SO EXCITED!

Mitch Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 30 June 2010 Status: Offline Points: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mitch Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 July 2010 at 7:16pm
	Glad to hear eldon. Thanks for the reply!

amal Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 22 November 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2061	Post Options Post Reply Quote amal Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 July 2010 at 7:16pm
	Yep. The remote for my VW GTI was the best way to go since the locks and alarm are both part of the same system, and hacking them wouldn't be a very worth while use of time.
	Amal ;) www.amal.net

eldon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 25 February 2010 Status: Offline Points: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote eldon Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 25 July 2010 at 6:39pm
	So I was just wondering, is the Windows 7 login code available separately from the kit or is that the only way to get it? -Eldon

amal Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 22 November 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2061	Post Options Post Reply Quote amal Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 July 2010 at 6:47am
	Hi Eldon, The deal I have with Trossen Robotics is that the software and source code is to remain exclusive to the kit. The reason for this is that the work I did with RoboticsConnection on the RedBee reader itself was free consulting. I then put a ton of work into coming up with project write-ups and source code for the RedBee kit, with the only compensation being a small kickback on every kit sold. If the source code/software were available for free I think that would seriously undermine my potential pay-back :) Hope you understand. Edited by amal - 26 July 2010 at 6:48am
	Amal ;) www.amal.net