MOD-RFID1356MIFARE with LibNFC

[bat bast]

I want to use this card with LibNFC, but the library doesn't recognize it.
The devices matrix doesn't show this card with NXP 532, but it was used in others models (cf. http://http://nfc-tools.org/index.php?title=Devices_compatibility_matrix).

Is there a way to use LibNFC with this card?

Many thanks.

[w]

I have the same need, and am disappointed that there is no information on talking directly to the PN532 IC, e.g. using SPI. I do see a connector on the PCB markings pins like 3V3, GND, MOSI, NSS, IRQ, P12 (?). These can be found in the PN532 datasheet, and look like one could communicate directly to the PN532. But then there is another microcontroller talking to these pins, which is probably still in the way.

Perhaps ideally the Olimex firmware would provide some kind of pass-through mode, or else to be able to write our own firmware and provide an interface e.g. to the PN532's HSU (High Speed UART) directly, or bypass the Olimex firmware entirely - but we may need to stick with the chosen host interface (l0 and l1 determine which host interface is used, but if they are driven by the microcontroller than it would be configurable).

There is also a possibility that the Olimex firmware has an (undocumented) pass-through mode.

Curious to hear anything from Olimex if there would be a possibility of talking to the PN532 directly.

[LubOlimex]

MOD-RFID1356MIFARE has no passthrough mode implemented. The design of MOD-RFID1356MIFARE has PN532 and main chip AT90USB162 there are UART, I2C, and SPI hardware connections and interface is selected by values of resistors regarding SEL1 and SEL0 (by default these two chips communicate via SPI). All functions of the firmware are described at the wiki:

https://www.olimex.com/wiki/MOD-RFID1356MIFARE

Unfortunately, I don't see this being implemented. The reason is simple we are out of space for any additions of the firmware. We even removed part of the on-board help to save few bytes. It would require re-designing with bigger chip and re-writing the firmware from scratch.

[w]

Thank you for sharing these details, and the tradeoffs involved.

[w]

One remaining idea: provide a specific firmware image that just provides pass-through.

[LubOlimex]

Sure, but I feel like just that MOD-RFID1356MIFARE serves another purpose than what you want. It would be cheaper and more efficient to get a PN532 module that exposes I2C, SPI, UART and has no additional main chip with firmware to get in your way. This way you can access it via any method you want, even via simple USB-serial/UART cable.