PN532 breakout board - No NFC device found

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syrou
 
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PN532 breakout board - No NFC device found

Post by syrou »

Hello,

I'm trying to make a PN532 breakout board work with the official FTDI USB cable. I've followed these instructions both in Ubuntu 12.04 and 10.04, in two computers:

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get install libusb-dev libpcsclite-dev
sudo apt-get install libusb-0.1-4 libpcsclite1 libccid pcscd libftdi1
wget http://libnfc.googlecode.com/files/libnfc-1.6.0-rc1.tar.gz
tar -xvzf libnfc-1.6.0-rc1.tar.gz
cd libnfc-1.6.0-rc1.tar.gz
./configure --with-drivers=pn532_uart --enable-serial-autoprobe
make clean
make
sudo make install
sudo ldconfig
But when I try to poll an NFC card by using the command "nfc-list -v" it always answers with a "No NFC device found".

This is the dmesg output regarding the FTDI cable (when I plug it in):

Code: Select all

[42557.448034] usb 9-1: new full-speed USB device number 2 using uhci_hcd
[42557.873680] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbserial
[42557.873695] USB Serial support registered for generic
[42557.962128] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbserial_generic
[42557.962132] usbserial: USB Serial Driver core
[42557.973464] USB Serial support registered for FTDI USB Serial Device
[42557.973774] ftdi_sio 9-1:1.0: FTDI USB Serial Device converter detected
[42557.973803] usb 9-1: Detected FT232RL
[42557.973805] usb 9-1: Number of endpoints 2
[42557.973807] usb 9-1: Endpoint 1 MaxPacketSize 64
[42557.973808] usb 9-1: Endpoint 2 MaxPacketSize 64
[42557.973810] usb 9-1: Setting MaxPacketSize 64
[42557.976229] usb 9-1: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
[42557.976243] usbcore: registered new interface driver ftdi_sio
[42557.976244] ftdi_sio: v1.6.0:USB FTDI Serial Converters Driver
[42832.232044] usb 9-1: USB disconnect, device number 2
[42832.232194] ftdi_sio ttyUSB0: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now disconnected from ttyUSB0
[42832.232210] ftdi_sio 9-1:1.0: device disconnected
[42835.260016] usb 9-1: new full-speed USB device number 3 using uhci_hcd
[42835.467081] ftdi_sio 9-1:1.0: FTDI USB Serial Device converter detected
[42835.467115] usb 9-1: Detected FT232RL
[42835.467118] usb 9-1: Number of endpoints 2
[42835.467120] usb 9-1: Endpoint 1 MaxPacketSize 64
[42835.467123] usb 9-1: Endpoint 2 MaxPacketSize 64
[42835.467125] usb 9-1: Setting MaxPacketSize 64
[42835.469082] usb 9-1: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
Is my NFC board broken?

adafruit
 
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Re: PN532 breakout board - No NFC device found

Post by adafruit »

Can you post up a picture of your setup and the NFC board? we do test them so its unlikely it doesnt work, but libnfc is very finicky and seems to cause people problems (which is why we suggest using the board with a microcontroller)

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ktownsend
 
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Re: PN532 breakout board - No NFC device found

Post by ktownsend »

I'm not sure if every example works with every chipset/config setting ... some gave me problems, and I believe nfc-list may be one of them. I'd really suggest using the nfc-poll command to see if that works.

syrou
 
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Re: PN532 breakout board - No NFC device found

Post by syrou »

Hello,

This is a picture I just took. There is one thing I noticed, the PN532 chip is slightly off place.

Image

Have checked the solder points and it is ok.

Besides, have also tried with nfc-poll command and it also tells me that there is no reader plugged in:

Code: Select all

$ sudo nfc-poll
nfc-poll uses libnfc 1.6.0-rc1 (r1326)
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyUSB0 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.bus.uart	Serial port speed requested to be set to 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.chip.pn53x	Diagnose
trace	libnfc.chip.pn53x	Timeout values: 500
trace	libnfc.bus.uart	TX: 55  55  00  00  00  
trace	libnfc.chip.pn53x	SAMConfiguration
trace	libnfc.chip.pn53x	Timeout values: 1000
trace	libnfc.bus.uart	TX: 00  00  ff  03  fd  d4  14  01  17  00  
trace	libnfc.bus.uart	Timeout!
error	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Unable to read ACK
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS0 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.bus.uart	Serial port speed requested to be set to 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.chip.pn53x	Diagnose
trace	libnfc.chip.pn53x	Timeout values: 500
trace	libnfc.bus.uart	TX: 55  55  00  00  00  
trace	libnfc.chip.pn53x	SAMConfiguration
trace	libnfc.chip.pn53x	Timeout values: 1000
trace	libnfc.bus.uart	TX: 00  00  ff  03  fd  d4  14  01  17  00  
trace	libnfc.bus.uart	Timeout!
error	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Unable to read ACK
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS31 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS30 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS29 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS28 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS27 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS26 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS25 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS24 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS23 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS22 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS21 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS20 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS19 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS18 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS17 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS16 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS15 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS14 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS13 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS12 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS11 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS10 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS9 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS8 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS7 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS6 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS5 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS4 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS3 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS2 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.driver.pn532_uart	Trying to find PN532 device on serial port: /dev/ttyS1 at 115200 bauds.
trace	libnfc.general	0 device(s) found using pn532_uart driver
nfc-poll: ERROR nfc-poll.c:111
nfc-poll:     Unable to open NFC device.
Has anyone this board working with this particular setup?

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ktownsend
 
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Re: PN532 breakout board - No NFC device found

Post by ktownsend »

The chip placement should fine. All boards are tested one by one before they are sent out, so I'm almost certain it's a config issue either with the FTDI cable or adapter you're using, or with the way libnfc was built. What are you using for your cable? Do you have TXD and RXD connected correctly? If you're not using an FTDI cable try switching the two pins, for example.

syrou
 
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Re: PN532 breakout board - No NFC device found

Post by syrou »

I am using this FTDI cable: http://www.adafruit.com/products/70. I suppose I don't have to swap TXD/RXD cables on the PCB connector.

Does anybody know a bulletproof recipe to test this board? I think I followed the correct instructions from my work colleague, as the resemble others I found on the internet.

adafruit
 
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Re: PN532 breakout board - No NFC device found

Post by adafruit »

the best test is to follow our arduino examples since thats what we know works best. we could try replacing the board if you have run out of ways to test

syrou
 
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Re: PN532 breakout board - No NFC device found

Post by syrou »

Thanks for the answers. I finally got a reply to an nfc-list command (by issuing two fast queries in debug mode). It seems to be a problem with the HSU wake up function implemented in libnfc which seems quite unreliable (maybe timing issues). So being the hardware 100% OK, I will try to solve my problem in the libnfc forums.

BitFlipp3r
 
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Re: PN532 breakout board - No NFC device found

Post by BitFlipp3r »

Hello,

I also bought the PN532 breakout board and an FTDI USB cable (bought here http://www.watterott.com/de/TTL-232R-US ... verter-33V) to use it with libnfc.
I followed the instructions here http://www.microbuilder.eu/Blog/11-02-1 ... Linux.aspx to setup libnfc but both nfc-list and nfc-poll say that no NFC-device can be found. I tried it with version 1.4.1, 1.6.0 and 1.7.0.
The FTDI-drivers are installed and the cable shows up correctly as usb device.
I wired the board like you can see in the picture that syro posted above (Jun 14).

My problem is that I don't have much (close to none) experience with this kind of hardware. I only bought the board because I need to read and write mifare classic cards for my bachelor thesis and the discription for the board stated clearly that it would work with libnfc. Now I don't really know how to search for the error. The read led lights up when I connect the board but libnfc can't find the device. If anybody could point me in the right direction for a proper way to debug my setup or has an idea what I might have done wrong I would be really glad :?

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adafruit_support_mike
 
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Re: PN532 breakout board - No NFC device found

Post by adafruit_support_mike »

It sounds like you're working from a setup that's different from our known-to-work configuration, so specific details count.

First, what kind of device are you using to communicate with the PN532? A Raspberry Pi, a general Linux computer, or something else?

Second, let's take a look at your hardware just to make sure nothing is out of place. You can attach a photo to a post (800 x 600 pixels is usually a good size), or put an image on a server you already know and put the URL between IMG tags.

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adafruit_support_bill
 
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Re: PN532 breakout board - No NFC device found

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

Make sure that there are no tags in-range when you are trying to connect. I have seen sometimes that it has difficulty connecting to the PN532 when there is a tag in range.

BitFlipp3r
 
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Re: PN532 breakout board - No NFC device found

Post by BitFlipp3r »

Hello,

I'm using Kali - Linux 64bit (http://www.kali.org/) to communicate with my device. It's based on debian.
I also saw another thread where you criticized that the pin headers are not soldered to the board (http://forums.adafruit.com/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=37032). I also just put the headers loosly on the on the board (like I said, I have no experience with this kind of hardware :oops:). I will solder the connections properly and report back if that was the issue. Thanks for your help :D

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adafruit_support_mike
 
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Re: PN532 breakout board - No NFC device found

Post by adafruit_support_mike »

Ah..

Yes, the pins need to be soldered in place. The signals that move through them change quickly, and even the slightest bump will generate enough noise to kill the connection.

Do solder the headers. Use plenty of flux, put the tip of the iron in contact with both the pin and the copper pad on the circuit board, then touch the solder to the side of the pin away from the iron. Hot solder flows toward heat, and one of the most common problems people have when they first start soldering is that they touch the solder directly to the iron. They end up with a big glob of molten solder hanging from the iron and none on the parts that need to be connected, and then things just get worse.

Post a photo of the connections when you're done and we'll make sure they're good.

BitFlipp3r
 
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Re: PN532 breakout board - No NFC device found

Post by BitFlipp3r »

Hello,

I have soldered the connections in place now and everything is working fine :D

Although I still had one other issue: Since the --enable-serial-autoprobe argument is no longer valid in libnfc > 1.7.0, I had to make a config file with the line "allow_intrusive_scan = true" in order for the breakout board to be found (as described here: https://code.google.com/p/libnfc/source/browse/NEWS). This might be useful for other beginners.

Thanks for your help!

Greetings
Michael

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webnology.ch
 
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Re: PN532 breakout board - No NFC device found

Post by webnology.ch »

Here is a small description for libnfc on ubuntu 12.04 and latest git libnfc (1.7.0)
hope it can be helpful

$ sudo apt-get install autoconf automake libtool
$ sudo apt-get install libusb-0.1-4 libusb-dev libpcsclite1 libpcsclite-dev libccid pcscd
$ sudo apt-get install git
$ sudo git clone https://code.google.com/p/libnfc/
$ cd libnfc
$ mkdir /etc/nfc
$ mkdir /etc/nfc/devices.d/
$ sudo nano /etc/nfc/devices.d/pn532_via_uart2usb.conf

paste the following 5 lines into the pn532_via_uart2usb.conf:

## Typical configuration file for PN532 board (ie. microbuilder.eu / Adafruit) device
name = "Adafruit PN532 board via UART"
connstring = pn532_uart:/dev/ttyUSB0
allow_intrusive_scan = true
log_level = 3

$ sudo autoreconf -vis
$ ./configure --prefix=/usr --with-drivers=pn532_uart --sysconfdir=/etc
$ sudo make clean
$ sudo make
$ sudo make install all

plugin ure ftdi usb

$ cd examples
$ sudo ./nfc-poll

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