How to Connect Arduino and RFID

On this instructable I will try to show how to interface a RFID sensor with the Arduino. I am using the RFID sensor from seeedstudio the serial version of it. There are a few parts you will gonna need. I also bought some RFID keys.

UPDATE: Now it works with IDE 021

Step 1: What You Gonna Need?

- Arduino Board
- RFID Sensor from seeedstudios
- Wires
- Protoboard
- RFID tags (125kHz) from seeedstudios

Step 2: Plugging All Together

Connect the antenna on the appropriate pins like the first photo.

Plug the RFID sensor to the protoboard like the second photo above.

Only 3 wires are required to interface, 2 wires for supply and another for the serial line(communication)
The wires as connected as the third photo shows.
On RFID sensor: PIN 1 -> Tx
PIN 2 -> Rx (Not Used)
PIN 3 -> NC
PIN 4 -> GND
PIN 5 -> VCC (+5V)

Tx from RFID board goes to Digital PIN 2 on Arduino Board.

That is all you gonna need to wire.

Moving on to next step, the software.

Step 3: The Code

I'm not a software guy, so this code is just for demonstration.

I don't make any kind of checksum at the tags code, but it seems to work fine.

The code is really simple. I used a new library for the serial, using software emulation.

With the two white cards you can deny or allow the access of others keys.

Any doubt, please ask me.

Edit (05/11/12):
code update for new Arduino version

Step 4: Results!

There is no LED, sound or LCD for debug or visualization, just through the serial line.

The video demonstrate how to use the software. I didn't post any kind of explanation as text on the video. I hope that the images spokes more then words, xD

Any doubt or suggestion, feel free to ask, or correct me.

Please, if you like it, rate it,

thank you