NFC consumption

Table 3. Frequency tolerances of quartz resonators used in
wireless technologies

Note:1 NFC provides data synchronization, crystal is only needed for
maintaining the specified frequency band of the radio module.

How secure is NFC

NFC-enabled devices can both receive and transmit data at the same time, allowing them to detect inconsistencies if the received signal does not match the transmitted signal.

The risk of interception of your data is extremely small, especially given the minimum range of the technology. The same Bluetooth, operating within tens of meters, is much more vulnerable to external interference.

This also applies to payment details: the token generated for contactless payment will not allow intruders to gain access to your card. And the very fact of intercepting an encrypted identifier looks unrealistic.

In addition, contactless payment requires confirmation via fingerprint, password or face scan. Without all this, the purchase cannot be made. This means that even if the smartphone is stolen, no one will be able to use it as a payment instrument.

How to check if there is NFC?

This technology can be found not only on smartphones, but also on other devices, for example, tablets also have similar functionality. The NFS receiver occupies a minimum of space and is usually “comfortably” placed between the battery and the body cover of the device. How do you know if your equipment has such an innovation?

Speaking of other objects, readers and writers can be embedded in other products used in everyday life. This technology is used when paying for travel cards in public transport. In household appliances, modern refrigerators with smart functions are the first in the frequency of use.

This can be said about the developers of the hardware of the products, and the software, so that new devices and software are increasingly being released that allow highly efficient use of the NFS.

It is worth noting that this technology is supported by Android operating systems version 4.0 and higher, as a function built into the Beam system. In order to check the presence of the module on your phone, you need to go to its settings, select the wireless networks item and click on “More” (Advanced.).

If the NFC item is checked there, you can be congratulated, the phone supports the standard, and you are reading this article for a reason. To activate its work, you just need to check the box next to this “cherished” item.

Would you like to try the technology in practice, but don’t know if this is possible on your device? Let’s check.

To do this, carefully open the back cover of a smartphone or tablet, in a situation where it can move away without damage and inspect the gadget’s battery.

In the presence of NFC development, you will see this abbreviation there. If the cover of the phone/tablet is not removable, then the corresponding icon or abbreviation will be located on the outside.

If for some reason you do not want or cannot remove the cover, you can make sure that this method of communication is available in the device settings.

Find the “Wireless networks” tab, then “More …” and if NFC is available on the device, then there will definitely be a corresponding item.

NFC activation

If you found it on your device, you must also activate access to NFC technology. You can do it like this:

1. go to the “Settings” section and then “Wireless networks”, “More …”, where earlier you could make sure that NFC is available;
2. confirm by clicking on the item “Allow data exchange when combining {amp}gt; device name {amp}gt; with another”;
3. Android Beam is immediately activated on an Android smartphone. If this does not happen, click on it and select “Yes” so as not to disrupt the system;

I want to stop spending money on unnecessary things. What to do?

To deny the convenience of digital payments is as strange as to doubt the rotation of the Earth around the Sun. However, it is not at all necessary to become a retrograde, to carry a wallet with crumpled banknotes and a mountain of little things with you everywhere. Especially if you approach the problem wisely, guided by the achievements of modern science. Psychologists recommend different methods of financial management. Depending on your temperament, one or the other option may work better.

An adult is able to critically evaluate his behavior if he approaches this issue with all seriousness. Before buying anything, ask yourself three simple questions: “Do I really need this?”, “Why take this much?” and “Am I ready to pay so much for the goods now?

Attention management at the stage of purchase does not help? Well, let your conscience gnaw at you. To control your shopaholism, you can use various helper apps that visualize expenses in the form of beautiful graphs. 67% of monthly budget spent on AliExpress knick-knacks? The visibility of costs sobers up quickly and powerfully.

The first step is to check the mobile application of your own bank: it works automatically and monitors all card spending – in which store you spent, when and how much. Was the card issued by a financial institution that is not familiar with new technologies? You can use software from third parties, but you will most likely have to enter data manually. Money Lover and Zen Money are supported on all popular platforms. The editorial Honor 10 tested the operation of applications for Android.

Money Lover and Zen Money

Divide and Conquer

Do you easily find an excuse for any payments and your conscience does not touch you at all when viewing financial charts? Well, there is another option. It is used by gamblers – people who are addicted to gambling. They cannot completely overcome their passion, so they resort to a psychological trick: the budget is simply divided into parts according to different cards.

All three approaches didn’t work and you keep making compulsive purchases? Then the problem is clearly not NFC, a credit card with a good limit, or derealization of money. In this case, you should contact a specialist psychologist and get qualified advice. But still, there are much more pluses in NFC payments than minuses.

Don’t worry if you don’t find the built-in function, there is a way to connect NFC to your device. But you can only do this if the panel cover on the back and the SIM card slot on your smartphone/tablet are removable. Installing NFC in this case is not difficult.

The best solution is to install a special module – an external communication device. It is compatible with almost all smartphones, easy to use and gives you access to NFC without buying a new phone.

Main types: chips, SIM cards, external devices, stickers. The last of them are of two types: passive – which do not allow data to be exchanged, and active – use Bluetooth and Wi-fi communication channels for transmission, which significantly increases energy consumption.

These stickers are attached to the outer shell of the phone, which is also not very practical.

The most popular are the following:

• NFC SIM. Now available for purchase from most mobile operators. You can find out about the availability of such a SIM in the communication salon. You only need to install the finished card in your phone or tablet. This type of module is the most affordable and easy to install.
• NFC antenna. The second way, for which you will need to purchase an NFC antenna. You can do this in the communication salon. Next, the antenna is attached to the SIM card and inserted into the device.

As you have already seen, installing the module is quite simple and safe: you do not need to download additional applications or programs. However, these services do not completely replace the Android Pay app, but are just some of its many features.

An NFC tag is a miniature device in the form of a chip that can be attached almost anywhere: from the phone to being inserted under the skin!

We will not use such radical methods, but it is worth noting that contacts, settings, a URL and other data and commands can be placed on the chip. All gadgets can support the tag.

In order to read data from such a device, you need to find a specialized official application on Google Play and then, after installation, you can give the tag various commands to execute.

Table 5. Data rate for various wireless networks
technologies

The technology can also be used to transfer files.

To transfer data, you need to do the following steps:

1. make sure that you have completed the activation of NFC and Android Beam;
2. unlock the device, exit the “sleep mode”;
3. check device detection with each other;
4. connect;
5. transfer data between devices;
6. a specific beep will sound at the end.

Most of the target wireless market segments are characterized by
periodic transmission of a small amount of information between the sensor and
central device. Among the applications in which it is required to implement
such a scenario for the use of wireless communication, household appliances can be noted,
automation devices, remote control, human-machine interfaces
(HID), smart meters, payment systems and many others.

All these
Applications must meet the following requirements: ultra-low power consumption,
low cost and compact size. The requirement for ultra-low consumption is mainly due to the fact that
systems must run for extended periods of time on batteries or devices
energy storage. For example, if in the mall in every store
install a radio beacon whose battery needs to be changed quite often, then
the maintenance cost of this system can be reduced to zero
the benefits of using wireless technology.

Advantages and disadvantages of NFC

The main advantages are:

• low price;
• small dimensions of the device;
• high transmission speed;
• support on almost all mobile devices.

It is worth highlighting the cons:

• relatively small range;
• Not all devices are equipped with an NFC chip.

So, thanks to these notes, you have learned quick and easy ways to test your device for the ability to transmit information and interact with other technical means using Near Field Communication. By following the simple instructions in this article, you will also be able to find out for yourself if your smartphone has this technology, you will be able to integrate NFC into your phone and transfer the necessary files at high speed.