NFC cards with a NTAG216 chip are plastic cards with a standard credit card dimension (86 x 54 x 0.85 mm). The top layer contains a coating so the cards can be printed with thermal printers.
They operate on a frequency of 13.56 MHz, which is a frequency range for proximity cards that operate within proximity distances – usually up to 10 cm.
NTAG216 is a NFC Type2 chip, is compatible to the ISO/IEC 14443-3A standard, and has a 7-byte long unique ID number that can be used for identification purposes.
The most frequent use of NTAG216 chips is to store the content of a digital business card. The standard format for exchange business card information is called ‘vCard.’
Such a card is automatically recognized by various NFC phones, even with different operating systems, and the user can easily transfer a contact information to his phone.
The encoding of the vCard is quite simple and can be done even with free NFC apps like the NFC Tools. You have to click “Add Record” – select “Contact” – write your data in the fields, and click “Write.”
Options for customization (for pricing please send us an inquiry)
For printing smaller quantities (1–500 pcs), we usually use high quality thermal retransfer printers which print each card separately with CMYK colors. This type of card can have multiple artwork variations or personalized data which doesn’t affect the price.
The advantage of thermo retransfer printers is that they print one card at a time and allows us to print even a single card when needed. The disadvantages of thermal retransfer print are high costs of ribbons and slow speed, so it makes it less cost effective for higher quantities.
When producing more than 500 printed cards, we use offset printing technology and other professional manufacturing equipment. Beside the CMYK colors, we can print gold, silver, or Pantone colors as well. These cards can be serialized or personalized during the manufacturing process or later on with thermal printers.
Our other customization services include:
- Numeration or personalization form Excel table
- Printing different kind of barcodes and QR codes
- Reading and printing the chip ID numbers in various formats
- Chip encoding – the content of digital business cards, writing custom data, change keys.
If you need printed cards or other customization services, please send us an inquiry with the desired card quantity and deadline.
Reading test for NFC cards with a NTAG216 chip
We have tested the NTAG213 cards with different kinds of readers and measured the reading distances. This is not an official test, but it was made to inform you what reading distances you may expect with your application.
The reading distance between the card and the reader is affected by many different factors, like the size of the antennas and quality of the chips, the interferences of metal, and electromagnetic signals, etc.
Technical specification for cards with NTAG216 chips
Chip manufacturer: NXP Semiconductors
Chip: NTAG216
Standards: ISO/IEC 14443-3A (NFC Type 2).
Memory size: 888 bytes of data
Security: 7-byte long preprogrammed chip Unique ID number, ECC-based originality signature, 32-bit password protection to prevent unauthorized memory operations and Field programmable read-only locking function
Operating frequency: 13.56 MHz
Reading distance: up to 10 cm (usually up to 5 cm)
Card dimensions: CR80 (85.60 x 53.98 mm)
Thickness: 0.84 mm
Material: PVC
Printing options: offset print, thermo re-transfer, thermo transfer
Technical documentation for chips NTAG216 and software tools are available here:
https://www.nxp.com/products/rfid-nfc/nfc-hf/ntag-for-tags-labels/ntag-213-215-216-nfc-forum-type-2-tag-compliant-ic-with-144-504-888-bytes-user-memory:NTAG213_215_216
If you need printed cards, please send us an inquiry to info@rfidspecialist.eu with the desired card quantity and deadline and we will send you an offer.