Elechouse PN532 NFC Module V3 for Arduino etc.

Javier

@Lokki I bought one of these for mi Raspberry pi 2. I would like to know how to conect to it.
What would be an easy way? Perhaps with a TTL to USB cable directly to a usb raspberry port?
I am newbie :D

Lokki

@Javier, sorry connect which to the Raspberry Pi? They have a pin header which provides GPIO access for things like I2C interface (for a PN532 reader module) and programmable pins that will allow you to control relays to affect real-world parts of your vehicle.
I don't particular like Raspberry Pi and so I don't have a huge amount of experience using them, but that's the basics right there.
But no. Probably not TTL converters, and probably not via a USB port.

Pingi

Hi all,

I've ordered the same module and fighting with that for more that a week, but without any success. I've the version 3 of the NFC module and WDLduino UNO. I've switched the NFC module to use I2C (switch 1 on, switch 2 off). The problem is, that the sample code does not go through the initialization state, so the loop never starts. Also the initialization does not write that the board is not found, it only hangs. What is also interesting, that the power light on the NFC module is also off.
I've 2 ARDUINOs (the same type) and also two NFC modules (ordered from different stores), but both have the same issue. Do you have any idea, what could be the problem or what else can I check?

Some additional notes: I've turned on the debugging on the NFC library, so I know, that the code is hanging on PN532_I2C::wakeup, the _wire->endTransmission(); never comes back (PN532_I2C.cpp).

Any idea or help would be appreciated.

Lokki

Hi @Pingi , what you've got there so far all looks correct physically, but the fact that the power light isn't coming on is interesting - it definitely should when power is connected, regardless of what is running on the code side of things.
You might need to double check all that, possibly use a multimeter to make sure that you're actually getting power at the reader unit.

zafod

Hey guys, need your help with similar problem as discussed earlier. My PN532 NFC module V3 won't work in I2C mode. I've switched the switch to correct possition, I've tried with both 3.3V and 5V. The module is powered (LED is on). When everything is connected, the COMM manager only says "Hello" and nothing else. If I disconnect one of the cables, it will say "Didn't find PN53x board". I have changed the initial "elif" statement, as written in the handbook, so it will work in I2C mode. However, I still can't get past the "Hello".
Any suggestions?
Many thanks ;)

Javier

I have the same issue. I am trying to conect a elechouse PN532 NFC module V3 to arduino nano and nothing. Same problem. Only says "hello".

Lokki

What code and libraries are you guys using to try to make it happen?

Pingi

Hi @Lokki, thanks for you answer, I've tried a lot of different ways, how to power the NFC board, but the power led is still off. So, I've decided to open a complain at the store where I've bought the NFC shield, as in my opinion, the power led should at least work, otherwise the shield is non-functional.

Lokki

@Pingi No worries. With mine, the power led is on when power is applied, no matter whether data is hooked up or not.

zafod

@Lokki Hey, thanks for getting back to me. I'm using the recomended library by Elechouse (on github under elechouse/PN532) together with included NDEF library. I also tried Don's NDEF library, but I think they're the same.

Lokki

@zafod no worries. Just make sure that you've extracted the libraries correctly (it was a couple of windows installs ago for me now, but there was difficulty in placing/extracting directories with one of the library sets).
Then maybe try it with my dodgy bit of code, just to see what happens - that will still let you view output from the reader the same way.

Javier

I could make it work.(sorry from my english..I am an uruguayan native :) )
I took my libraries from this tutorial:
http://www.instructables.com/id/NFC-Ring-Lock-Box/
Also , this are some steps that i did:

I asigned read/write permissions to arduino libraries folder.
Just put on libraries the same from tutorial
I changed the conexion pin to 3.3V , not 5V from arduino to nfc reader.
Before upload the code, y pressed arduino nano reset button some seconds!, after that y upload the code.
I modified the code removing that was not required.
Its seems that the lines thats gets the firmware doesn´t work.

This is the code( i don´t wnow hoy to formatead it)

#include <Wire.h>
#include <PN532_I2C.h>
#include <PN532.h>

PN532_I2C pn532i2c(Wire);
PN532 nfc(pn532i2c);

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  Serial.println("Hello!");
  nfc.begin();
  nfc.SAMConfig(); // configure board to read RFID tags
  Serial.println("Waiting for an ISO14443A card");
}

void loop() {
  String ringUid;
  boolean success;
  uint8_t uid[] = {0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0}; // Buffer to store the returned UID
  uint8_t uidLength; // Length of the UID (4 or 7 bytes depending on ISO14443A card type
  
  success = nfc.readPassiveTargetID(PN532_MIFARE_ISO14443A, &uid[0], &uidLength);

  if (success) {
    Serial.println("Found a card!");
    Serial.print("UID Length: ");
    Serial.print(uidLength, DEC);
    Serial.println(" bytes");
    Serial.print("UID Value: ");

    for (uint8_t i=0; i < uidLength; i++) {
      Serial.print(" 0x");
      Serial.print(uid[i], HEX);
      ringUid += String(uid[i], HEX);
    }

    Serial.println("");
    // Wait 1 second before continuing
    delay(1000);
  }
}

(edit) indent express train ran by @andreas

Lokki

@Javier, glad you're back.
I've fixed the code insertion, if you "edit" your post you'll see what I've done with the three backticks at the start and end of the code there.

Have you got the libraries installed on your computer properly? These are the ones I use, they're for the module.

https://github.com/elechouse/PN532

Make sure that you follow these instructions, they're on the front page of the github:

Getting Started

Download zip file and extract the three folders(PN532, PN532_SPI, PN532_HSU and PN532_I2C) into libraries of Arduino.
Downlaod Don's NDEF library and extract it into libraries of Arduino's into a new folder called "NDEF" (Note if you leave this folder as NDEF-Master Arduino will not be able to use it as a library)
Follow the examples of the PN532 library

Javier

I already tried with that libraries without success. My only interest was to make it work with I2C mode so, the tutorial fits perfect for me. I also read on internet that all libraries where not necesaries, just only 2 on my case.

From internet I found people that make it work doing some of one of the step that i did.
Example: reset the button, removing firmware lines of code, changing voltage source from 5v to 3.3V.

Perhaps, libraries where not my problem, I not isolated the real problem.
Perhaps the problem is the combination of chinese arduino nano V3.0 with elechouse nfc reader V2.0.
It's cost me a lot of investigation to make it work with that combination.

My next step is comunicate nfc readings with my raspberry trought arduino. :D

Lokki

@Javier ah, ok.
It seems like you're not getting anything back at all from the PN532 module to indicate that communication with the arduino has started, so there's definitely an issue there of some sort. Whether it's programming, the wiring or the clone arduino is tricky to say (especially over the internet without seeing things in front of me).

Pingi

Hi @Lokki ,
My complaint regarding the NFC shield was accepted by the seller, so I ordered a new board. With this new board I got a step further, the power led is now working, but the card detection still now, the code does not goes through the initialization phase (nfc.begin()), it just holds on that line and never returns. Do you have any idea what could be the problem? I'm absolutely disappointed, as this is the third NFC shield and I'm still at the same stage ...
I'm using I2C communication, the switches were setup based on that (channel 1 on, channel 2 off), see picture below.

Any idea would be really appreciated!

Lokki

@Pingi that's definitely better than the last one!

Just to step back from everything and clear things a little, if you guys need to troubleshoot I'd recommend going via the elechouse manual from ~page 5. Once you've verified that it is hooked up correctly and is functioning with the example code then you have a known point to work forward from.

http://www.elechouse.com/elechouse/images/product/PN532_module_V3/PN532_ Manual_V3.pdf

Pingi

@Lokki thanks for your suggestion, but that manual I have earlier than my first NFC shield. What I've understood from that manual I've used while wiring. The sample codes are also from there...
I've checked the document 10 times also the wiring, tried to re-install the libraries, but the result is the same. That's why I've uploaded the photo, maybe you or somebody else has better eyes or more experience, what to check or where to look around...

Lokki

@Pingi are you still using 19200 as the serial speed? If so, could you try some other settings there, up to 115200?

Shpalman

hello
I'm having the same problem: arduino one brake on the line nfc.begin();
I'm new in arduino and nfc, but I've downloaded pn532 libraries, set pin 1-0 on the board, all the 4 wires are ok (vcc, gnd, sda, scl); the serial speed is set to 115200
in this code:

  #include <Wire.h>
  #include <PN532_I2C.h>
  #include <PN532.h>
  #include <NfcAdapter.h>
  PN532_I2C pn532i2c(Wire);
  PN532 nfc(pn532i2c);
  
void setup(void) {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  Serial.println("Hello!");
  nfc.begin();
  Serial.println("second Hello!");

the serial write just the first Hello!
I can't find a solution... Help me!!

ok
now it works!
in SPI mode (jumper 0 - 1) and SCK MISO MOSI SS VCC GND

thank you all
Massimo