NFC_Loader.md

TeensyROM NFC Loading system

The NFC loading system makes your TeensyROM enabled C64/128 into an NFC card instant launch machine! Here's a video of it in action.

Table of contents

• NFC Loader Hardware
  • Electronics
  • NFC Tag cards/media
  • Card labels
  • Reader enclosure/case
• Tag programming
  • Programming tag directly with the TeensyROM
  • Programming tag via cell phone (Alternate)
• TeensyROM Software setup

Thank you very much to:

• StatMat for sharing his vision and support for this project!
  • TeensyROM and the OneLoad64 project make a great pair!
• The Zaparoo Project for the genesis and inspiration for NFC launching capability.
  • Happy to help make the C64 an officially supported platform!

NFC Loader Hardware

Electronics

• The PN532 NFC Reader and the CH340 USB to serial UART interface are the two components needed to enable NFC loading. They are available in discrete modules or in combination, here are some purchasing options:

  • Here's the lowest priced combo module (PN532+CH340) we've found, highly recommended!

  • Other combo modules from Aliexpress (Left) and Elechouse (Right)

  • Individual modules from Amazon (and elsewhere):

    • NFC module (PN532)
    • USB/Serial adapter (CH340)
    • Connections to wire these two modules together: GND/GND, Vcc/5V, TxD/RxD, RxD/TxD
    • 

NFC Tag cards/media

• 4 types of NFC tags are currently supported:
  • NTAG215 (Recommended and widely available)
  • NTAG213 (171 characters max)
  • NTAG216
  • Mifare Classic 1k (often bundled with reader electronics purchase)

Card labels

• Labels can be created using this Zaparoo Label Generator
  • Choose the "HuCard (C64)" Card template
  • Recommend printing to glossy sticker sheets, then cut out individually for your tag cards.
    • 

Reader enclosure-case

• These 3D printable case designs by Bedroom Ninja fit the theme perfectly!
  • TapTo NFC-Engine
    • 
  • TapTo NFC-1541
    • 
• Since electronics modules vary in size, unique internal mounting methods may be needed. Tape or glue have been known to work. :)

Tag programming

• Tags are programmed with a text field containing the path to a local file to be executed by the TeensyROM.
  • Text path format requirements:
    • The text can be one of these formats:
      • path/filename (defaults to SD)
      • SD:path/filename (SD card source)
      • USB:path/filename (USB drive source)
      • TR:path/filename (TeensyROM built-in source)
    • Example: SD:OneLoad v5/Donkey Kong Junior.crt
    • filename can be replaced by ? to indicate a random file from the directory
    • Character limit is 246 chars (171 for NTAG213)

Programming tag directly with the TeensyROM

• Using the TeensyROM menu, navigate to the file on SD or USB that you would like to create a tag for
• Press the Left Arrow key to select the file for tag writing.
  • Alternately, press ? to write an NFC Tag that will launch a random file from the currently selected Directory
  • Recommend using random with directories containing <100 items. Functiom must load full directory to pick one at random, so large directories will take longer to pick/launch from.
• Folow the on-screen instructions to load a tag and write to it.
• 

Programming tag via cell phone

• (Alternate programming method)
• Copy/type the paths you want to make tags from into a text file.
• Send/e-mail the text file to your phone.
• Use the (free) NFC tools application to write individual path/filename lines to tags. It's available for iPhone or Android
  • Field requirements: One single NFC Record, Text Type, UTF-8, "Well Known" format (default settings)
• Here's a demo video for tag writing via cell phone. It's made for a different system, but the tag writing process is the same.

TeensyROM Software setup

• Be sure your TeensyROM is using Firmware version 0.5.12 or later for NFC reader support
  • See update instructions here if update is needed.
• Connect your NFC reader to the USB Host port of the TeensyROM.
  • Alternately, a powered USB hub can by used. This allows the NFC reader, USB Thumb drive, and MIDI device(s) to be connected simultaneously.
• Power up your C64/TeensyROM
• In the TeensyROM Main Menu, select F8 to go to the Settings Menu
• Select the letter next to "NFC Enabled" to set to "On"
• A reboot is required for this to take effect. Either select "Re-boot TeensyROM" from the menu, or power-cycle the C64.
• This setting stays persistent when the unit is powered down again.
  • Recommend disabling this option when the reader isn't connected to prevent slow start-up.
  • Automatically disabled while using Ethernet or MIDI applications due to increased latency.

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