Waveshare NFC HAT: PN532 Contactless Reader for Pi

The Waveshare NFC HAT with PN532 chip adds contactless read/write capability for access control, attendance, and data exchange.

NFC and RFID Basics

• 13.56 MHz, range ~10 cm
• Reads MIFARE Classic, Ultralight, NTAG tags
• NDEF format for URLs, text, contacts

Specs

• NXP PN532, ISO14443A/B, MIFARE, FeliCa
• I2C/SPI/UART selectable via DIP switches
• Read range up to 7 cm

Setup

1. Set DIP switches to I2C mode.
2. Enable I2C on Pi.
3. Install: pip3 install adafruit-circuitpython-pn532

Python Code

from adafruit_pn532.i2c import PN532_I2C
import board, busio
i2c = busio.I2C(board.SCL, board.SDA)
pn532 = PN532_I2C(i2c)
pn532.SAM_configuration()
while True:
    uid = pn532.read_passive_target(timeout=0.5)
    if uid: print(f"Card: {uid.hex()}")

Projects

• Office access control with door lock relay
• Student attendance system with timestamp logging
• Library book checkout
• Digital business card on NFC tag

Security Notes

• MIFARE Classic encryption is broken — use DESFire for real security.
• UIDs can be cloned — add server-side validation.
• Combine NFC + PIN for higher security.

Frequently Asked Questions

What cards work?

MIFARE Classic 1K/4K, Ultralight, NTAG213/215/216.

Read credit cards?

Can detect them but cannot access payment data.

Read range?

3-7 cm with built-in antenna.

Card emulation?

Yes, PN532 supports emulation mode.

Conclusion

The NFC HAT adds contactless identification to Pi projects for access control, attendance, and smart labels.

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