How to turn your cell phone into a CharlieCard

By adamg on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 8:39pm

First, get some acetone.

H/t AlertNewEngland.

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Comments

whole card

By ahack on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 8:54pm.

From the comments on Hackaday:

couldn’t you have just put the whole card into your phone case?

Wouldn't fit under the back

By dudebro on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 10:10pm.

Wouldn't fit under the back of an iPhone, tolerances are way too tight. Some android phone, yeah.

I think a better option would be to sandwich the card in your phone case.

Was thinking about doing some form of this hackm but I wonder what MBTA personel will think when they see you tap your phone.

I keep mine between the phone

By anon on Wed, 07/18/2012 - 9:11am.

I keep mine between the phone and the case. Works like a charm and I never have to fumble for it.

Yeah, but a lot of those

By SomeNerd on Wed, 07/18/2012 - 3:28pm.

Yeah, but a lot of those hideously fat foam cases iPhowners seem to love have card holders built into their backs. Just put yer chaaaahlie caaaahd in there!

Umm

By anon on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 9:38pm.

Does step two involve a steamroller? 'cause I'd dig watching that.

This hack stinks.

By Boston_res on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 10:50pm.

It stinks really bad. Do this outside. That acetone is smelly. Did I already mention how much doing this smells? It's also probably a good idea not to smoke around all of that acetone.

Wallets?

By BlackKat on Wed, 07/18/2012 - 7:27am.

This seems kind of silly unless the habit is for people to not carry their wallet anymore. and then where do you put other cards like your credit/debit or ID?

The reader can scan your card through a leather wallet stuffed with other cards and money and such just fine. You don't even need to take the card out.

Yeppers

By adamg on Wed, 07/18/2012 - 8:19am.

I will vouch for the wallet thing, although I try to keep my card at the bottom of the stack (i.e., closer to the reader when I tap my wallet).

You can do this with other

By mmac on Wed, 07/18/2012 - 9:45am.

You can do this with other things too. Put it into a watch or make it into a bracelet. I suspect you would get some strange looks from bus drivers when you wave your wrist to pay the fare. Worth it.

Early in the Charlie era, I

By anon on Wed, 07/18/2012 - 4:10pm.

Early in the Charlie era, I saw someone tapping their phone against the card reader on a ticket machine. I asked if they needed help. They said they were helping the T test a phone that had a Mifare chip in it, but it wasn't working too well.