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DIY RFID Beer Safe

Monday, November 3rd, 2008 – running time 31:35
DIY RFID Beer Safe
Dave and Pat break down the basics of RFID technology and show you how to put it to use by building an RFID beer safe!

RFID, or Radio Frequency ID, is everywhere: key cards in office buildings, electronic tollbooths and even passports. But how do you take that technology and use it for something a little more personal?

Today on Systm we will be looking at how RFID technology works and demonstrate one possible use for around the home by building our very own RFID-enabled beer safe. It's just the thing to keep your brew safe from thirsty and inconsiderate roommates, friends or even in-laws!

Of course you can't walk into any Radio Shack or electronics store and buy RFID gear off the shelf. You'll probably have to get most of the gear online and two of the best places to do that are APSX and Trossen Robotics. Both offer Parallax's BASIC Stamp programming board that David uses in this episode. The kits will run around $100 but provide pretty much everything you need to get started. You'll also find RFID readers, servos, and tags you'll need to complete this project. Jameco is also an excellent source. If you're not sure how to program the board, don't worry - the manuals that ship with the kit are pretty straight forward. Plus Trossen Robotics provides excellent support if you have any issues with the gear.

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haku

Started discussion: November 3, 2008 @ 3:24pm GMT

Episode 76 - DIY RFID Beer Safe

Dave and Pat break down the basics of RFID technology and show you how to put it to use by building an RFID beer safe!

Watch or download here.

xibalba
8 months ago
They should do another show, put lock a laptop, or tag in it to id the laptop to you if ever stolen.
MAD_JIHAD
8 months ago
That was a good episode, im still working on building the DIY projector lol but ill get around to RFID stuff after that. Great show!
Remarkable
8 months ago
Really great episode guys! I think this was the one of the best Systms for a while. Perfect balance of introducing viewers to a technology they may not be be used to working with (RFID), combined with an application of the technology that's perfect for people to get going with, and has low-cost components.

More like this please!
computoman
8 months ago
Good show. Glad to see tech again..
davmoo
8 months ago
Excellent show. I've been thinking about using some RFID technology, primarily to monitor the individual chickens in my small flock so I know which ones are actually entering the nest boxes and laying (and yes, I'm serious, and no, I'm not smoking reefer). The only problem thus far is the range of the RFID devices. Its hard to explain to a chicken that it needs to walk within a few inches of the reader...kind of like talking to a teenager. So I'm still working on that part.

For a future show, please tell us how to build our own device like yours that will take someone that looks like Patrick and turns them in to someone who looks like Camilla. Now *that* would be "must see TV"!
tokenuser
8 months ago
In reply to davmoo:
Its hard to explain to a chicken that it needs to walk within a few inches of the reader...kind of like talking to a teenager. So I'm still working on that part.
You just know that there is going to be a chicken that objects to being scanned like this, and wraps themselves in tinfoil to avoid the scanners.
gamerfreak
8 months ago
Awsome show, but Dave's shirt was better!
Tilman
8 months ago
You should have really talked about the difference between memory tags and computing/crypto tags.

Memory tags where never meant to be used for authentification/authorisation of any kind.
They are often abused as such, which is partly the reason why RFID has such a bad image.
Memory tags (as used on the show) offer NO SECURITY AT ALL!

And even with crypto tags it is not all sunshine. Just think about the Mifare Classic system (widely in use) which was so badly designed that it now offers effectively no security at all after hackers made the effort to try to hack it.

But a nice project, you have here. I like it. Beer fridges need no security.
But you where also talking about home door locking systems, where your system would be plainly crazy and would lower your security to a point of almost non existence. (As far as someone still needs to want to go in your house and have a simple RFID reader to clone your id)
computoman
8 months ago
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2906723
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