NRF52840DK NFC Sample applications not working on Zephyr

[Mikeyd0407]

Hi,

I'm trying to setup my NFR52840 DK to act as a NFC tag so that I can read some simple data on my phone via NFC transfer.

I have tried a few NFC sample applications (record_txt & record_launch_app) but I can not get my phone to detect anything. I have tried loading the applications on a couple of NRF52840 DKs and have tried multiple NFC antennas (so I'm pretty sure the hardware is not at fault as at least one of the two boards should work). I have tried a few Android phone apps (Nordic's 'nRF NFC Toolbox' and NXP's 'TagInfo'). I confident that my phones NFC is working okay (as I use it on Android pay and I also have an old hotel security NFC key card that can be read by both apps).

I set the target as the NRF52840 DK when imported the sample code into VS Code editor.  I built the code using a pristine build in Zephyr without any errors or warnings. Lokking at the kconfig GUI, it suggests that the NFC is enabled for the build.

When I flash the device I get the usual messages in the COM terminal window (for the 'record_text' sample it displays:

***Booting nRF SDK 2.5.0 ***

Starting NFC Text Record example

NFC Configuration Done

So the code seems to be executing okay.

When I put my phone over the antenna to read the TAG information nothing happens. LED1 is not illuminated and the phone doe not detect an active TAG.

Please can you give me some ideas of where I might be going wrong or is there a problem with the Zephyr sample applications?

Best regards

Michael

[Jared]

Hi there,

I just tested the sample with my nRF52 DK on NCS v2.5.0 and it worked for me.

Have you done any modifications to the sample? Have you made sure that NFC is turned ON, on your phone?

regards

Jared 

[Mikeyd0407]

Hi Jared,

Yes I have two Nordic NRF52840 DK kit (unmodified) and three NFC trace antennas. My phone has  NFC enabled and I can read an NFC TAG (an old room hotel key).

Are you using Zephyr as the development environment - which example are you running?

Kind regards

Michael

[Jared]

Hi Michael,

Yes, nRF Connect SDK v2.5.0, tested with both nRF52840 and nRF52832 DKs, sample is record_text sample,

regards

Jared 

[Mikeyd0407]

Hi Jared, is that the SDK in Zephyr (which is the SDK I am using)?

Can you share the generated hex file output so that I can try it to test my hardware.

Also is it possible to share the Zephyr project (in it's entirety so I avoid any import issues (as when I bring the record_test sample into Zephyr mine doesn't work).

What phone app are you using to scan the tag?

Cheers 

Michael 

[Jared]

Hi,

Yes that is the Zephyr based SDK, namely nRF Connect SDK.

I used the v2.5.0.

Here is the build folder with hex file:

2475.build.7z

I've tested with the Google Pixel 7 Pro and with a Samsung phone as well.

regards

Jared 

[Mikeyd0407]

Hi Jared,

Sorry I haven't got back to you earlier as I have been busy on other urgent projects.

Unfortunately I am still having issues with this. I have downloaded the zip file and extracted the Zephyr.Hex file (117kb) from the Zephyr directory. I have flashed the hex code to Two of my NRf52 DK boards it using the NRF programmer utility.

Both boards seem to program okay (no reported errors).

When I use the Nordic NRF NFC tag tool on my phone, neither board is detected as a NFC tag device.

My phones NFC tag reader seems to be working as it still detect an old NFC hotel room key card (as shown in the picture).

I tried to open your project in Zephyr to recompile/debug the code but it says that the project does not contain an application source:

Any ideas as where I could be going wrong? Is there a hardware switch on the NRF52 DK, or if it just a case of plugging in the NFC antenna?

Kind regards

Michael