2

I have an S4 with which I try the Yubikey Neo with NFC on. I also tried another tag but I can't get any response from the phone whatsoever. Not even a beep. NFC is turned on for sure.

I bought an (relatively) expensive original battery (not from any suspicious ebay dealer) and it says Near Field Communication on it, as I understand the antenna is located ontop of the battery.

Does anyone have any ideas why it doesn't work? Is there a way I can test if the NFC is completely dead, or some logs I can look into? I have tested various apps for my tags but can't seen anything.

Improve this question
16
  • There is nothing related to NFC marqued on batteries, original or fake! What you bought seems to be a fake, even though it was expensive. And what do you mran by the antenna is located obtop of the battery? Didn't you find any option in the settings about NFC?
    – esQmo_
    Feb 21, 2017 at 10:33
  • 1
    Well, as I understand it, the NFC antenna for the S4 is located on the outside of the battery. Have a look at static.trustedreviews.com/94/000029781/1f6a_orh500w750/… . It clearly says "Near Field Communication" on it.
    – JohnyTex
    Feb 21, 2017 at 10:49
  • I can see a rectangular pattern on my battery so it seems the antenna would really be there.
    – JohnyTex
    Feb 21, 2017 at 10:49
  • The antenna is located on the back cover. Not on the battery itself. Check if there is an option related to NFC in the Settings.
    – esQmo_
    Feb 21, 2017 at 10:54
  • 1
    You are right on NFC being on battery, it is the RFID which is on the reader. AFAIK, battery logs or other logs do not provide view of NFC circuit working. My best guess would be faulty battery, syncs you have tried multiple tags / apps. Unfortunately, expensive doesn't mean original +1
    – beeshyams
    Feb 21, 2017 at 11:22

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
1

Luckily a friend of mine has an S4, here its back. See the 4 gold metallic pins? Those are the NFC antennas connectorsenter image description here

The antenna is on the back cover, not visible on the photo bellow, his back cover is not an original one, so no NFC antenna. enter image description here

It doesn't make sense the NFC antenna be ON THE BATTERY ITSELF! Despite the fact is it written on the battery. My S5 battery also has Near Field Communication writing on it.

If NFC doesn't work, you should check if your back cover has something similar to this from my S5: enter image description here

EDIT:

Effectively, the battery contains a built-in NFC antenna. And it is recommended to handle the battery carefully to avoid damaging the NFC antenna, may be that's what happened to you.

Improve this answer
8
  • Could we get some clarity into this subject? Someone?
    – JohnyTex
    Feb 21, 2017 at 13:58
  • I suspect one of the terminals are for charging: technobezz.com/…
    – JohnyTex
    Feb 21, 2017 at 14:04
  • I wonder if it can also work as an ordinary NFC antenna?
    – JohnyTex
    Feb 21, 2017 at 14:05
  • andytags.com/blog/…
    – JohnyTex
    Feb 21, 2017 at 14:07
  • 1
    It turns out that you were right. On some models, the NFC antenna is really located on the battery. I Just looked closely to an S4 battery and there you can clearly see the antenna.
    – esQmo_
    Feb 21, 2017 at 18:53
0

It turns out it was the battery that didn't work. I tested with the battery of another phone that worked -and then it worked!

The battery that worked had serial#:

YS1DC02FS/2-B

While the battery that didn't work (fresh from the store):

AA1H721WS/2-B

All the batteries that didn't work started with

AA...

Someone else hinted me in that direction in another thread. Now what's up with batteries whose serials are starting with AA? It says NFC on them and the antenna is visible through the decal. Why don't they work? One of them had original laser markings that I read none of the fakes usually have. What's going on? Someone?

something

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .