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BenMack99
Graduate
December 2, 2022
Solved

Choice of NFC Reader IC, ST25R3911B or ST25R95

  • December 2, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 1403 views

Hiya, I'm a bit of an NFC newbie, looking for advice on which NFC Reader IC to use, ST25R3911B or ST25R95.

We have a product that uses a ST25DV04KC tag for config data, and I'm designing a handheld tool for configuring these products. Pretty basic stuff, the tool will read and write the ST25DV04KC eeprom. However we're also hoping to do firmware updates of the target (product) micro via NFC, I guess using a bespoke bootloader in target, and ST25FTM library code. The tool's micro is STM32F412, target product STM32G030, sw dev using STM32CubeIDE etc..

Just wondering which reader chip will be the easiest to get up and running? I'm looking at the ST25R3911B just cos I have the X-NUCLEO-NFC05A1 board. But the ST25R95 looks simpler, cheaper and more widely available. STSW-ST25R-LIB appears to support both.

Any advice gratefully received, I'm on a steep learning curve ;)

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Best answer by Brian TIDAL

    Hi,

    ST25R3911B, ST25R3916/ST25R3916B and ST25R95 readers both share the same RF Abstraction Layer API. The ST25 embedded NFC library and the FTM demo can be run on any of these readers. The ST25R3911B is an high performance reader with an output power (1.4W) higher than the ST25R95 one and with a higher reading distance. The ST25R3911B has also more features (such as the Automatic Antenna Tuning) than the ST25R95. The choice between the ST25R3911B and the ST25R95 depends on your application. I would recommend to order an X-NUCLEO-NFC03A1 (ST25R95 reader) and to benchmark the 2 readers with your application.

    Rgds

    BT

    2 replies

    B
    Brian TIDALAnswer
    Technical Moderator
    December 5, 2022

    Hi,

    ST25R3911B, ST25R3916/ST25R3916B and ST25R95 readers both share the same RF Abstraction Layer API. The ST25 embedded NFC library and the FTM demo can be run on any of these readers. The ST25R3911B is an high performance reader with an output power (1.4W) higher than the ST25R95 one and with a higher reading distance. The ST25R3911B has also more features (such as the Automatic Antenna Tuning) than the ST25R95. The choice between the ST25R3911B and the ST25R95 depends on your application. I would recommend to order an X-NUCLEO-NFC03A1 (ST25R95 reader) and to benchmark the 2 readers with your application.

    Rgds

    BT

    B
    BenMack99Author
    Graduate
    December 5, 2022

    Thanks Brian, much appreciated

    I'll order that NFC03A1 and have a play, compare with NFC05A1

    It sounds like there will be little difference between the two ICs from a development effort point of view, assuming we use the STSW-ST25R-LIB. We don't need the extra range, this will be used at less than 4cm range.

    I'm now looking at FTM firmware update demos, particularly for a target STM32G030 or similar, I don't suppose you have any suggestions?

    I have the ST25PC-NFC app running with an ST25R3911B-DISCO reader, and notice it has an FTM firmware update demo. I have an X-NUCLEO-NFC04A1 and NUCLEO-F030R8 to use as a target. I just need to work out how this all works

    Thanks again, Ben

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