iPhone Possible NFC issue

[mxrider88]

Hi everyone, running iOS 13.2 on 11pro, I have noticed the HomePod handoff feature doesn’t work reliably, sometimes is quick sometimes the phone needs to be on top of the HomePod for 10 seconds sometimes it doesn’t work at all.
Now, I was playing around with the shortcut app, I wanted to create an automation that sends a text when I tap a NFC tag (I don’t have any, I used my passport). When I create the shortcut and the phone is requiring to scan the tag, it detects it in a split second. Once the shortcut is created, there is no way to make it work. I think the phone isn’t detecting the nfc tag at all outside of the setup procedure of the automation.
In short, the phone can’t see tags just by tapping, it needs to be in a scanning mode. This would explain the reason why handoff doesn’t work properly with HomePod too.

Could someone try and confirm this?
Do we have a big with the nfc reader?

I will try with POS machine to pay without first waking up Apple Pay and see if the interface comes up.

 

[cynics]

Separate issues.

HomePod doesn't have NFC (FCC ID doest include NFC frequency output). Apple uses Bluetooth RSSI to determine range. They have using this method for since at least the launch of iBeacon in 2013. This is why none NFC devices can handoff.

The iPhone XS and newer have background NFC scanning. The device can be locked however the screen needs to be on. NFC has 3 different modes, card emulation, read/write and p2p. So testing at a POS machine won't accurately carry over to scanning a tag.

Do you have a link for the tags you bought? The NFC chips/memory and tag size make a difference. For the iPhone 11 NTAG213 29-30mm round is probably a safe bet. Minimal specs for you needs produce better reliability. Your iPhone is powering the tag using a magnetic field its producing. The closer your phone is the more power it can provide. The tag will activate the when a pre defined amount of current is available. So a tag that requires less power has a better range when tag and reader antenna sizes are matched.

Can you list, or screen your Shortcut script? There should just need to use an automation with "When" and "Do". You'll need to toggle off "Ask Before Running" if you want it completely automated.

 

[mxrider88]

Excellent insight thank you so much for the information!

I don’t have proper nfc tags available at the moment I was just playing around so I used my passport. When I scan it to create the shortcut it picks it up right away but when I try to scan it to trigger the action it takes several attempts and 2/3 seconds to trigger, when it works.
The action is exactly as you described, when nfc (the one I scanned) is detected, DO send message or I also tried DO open URL.
It works, just it takes ages to detect the nfc tag (my passport), while during the setup of the shortcut it detects it right away with zero lag. That’s why I thought there is an issue with passive scanning. And yeah the display is on.

thanks again for the reply!

 

[Puonti]

My experience is the same when using a passport. During automation creation the embedded tag is scanned instantly but trying to trigger the automation outside of the app doesn't appear to work (screen on).

 

[mxrider88]

Thanks for trying!
It’s quite weird..

 

[DeanL]

Thanks for trying!
It’s quite weird..

It’s not weird: it’s not because your passport has NFC that it can be used as an NFC tag for Shortcuts.
Shortcuts will read any NFC transponder for the purpose of creating a shortcut, but the iPhone won’t read in the background any NFC transponders, only proper NFC tags.

 

[mxrider88]

ok it makes sense. It shouldn’t scan and accept it in first place though.
but it makes sense.

So no issue, good news!
Thanks to everyone!