Can I punch a hole safely into my Caltrain Clipper Card?
December 16, 2010 6:39 PM Subscribe
BART/caltrain filter: Where would it be safe to punch a hole in my Clipper transit 'smart' card?
Their website claims: 'Can I punch a hole in my Clipper card, so I can wear it around my neck or clip it to a belt or purse?
The Clipper card should not be altered in any way. Punching holes in the card, bending it or otherwise altering it could damage the small antenna used to send information between the card and the card reader. If the antenna is damaged, the card will not function properly.'
Which seems like a load of crap to me. Visually I *think* I can see where the presumably rfid chip is... and think this hole punching fear mongering is just a scare tactic. Anyone braver than me already try or willing to try first ;)
Their website claims: 'Can I punch a hole in my Clipper card, so I can wear it around my neck or clip it to a belt or purse?
The Clipper card should not be altered in any way. Punching holes in the card, bending it or otherwise altering it could damage the small antenna used to send information between the card and the card reader. If the antenna is damaged, the card will not function properly.'
Which seems like a load of crap to me. Visually I *think* I can see where the presumably rfid chip is... and think this hole punching fear mongering is just a scare tactic. Anyone braver than me already try or willing to try first ;)
Best answer: It's more complicated than you thnk. Note the antenna wire running along the perimeter, with a thin strand going to the RFID chip. You'd need to know exactly where all that stuff is - if you nick any of it, probably game over. On the other hand, if you CAN figure out where all that wire is (your card may be different), you're good to go.
posted by range at 7:15 PM on December 16, 2010
posted by range at 7:15 PM on December 16, 2010
Think about this: the card doesn't have a battery. What powers the electronics on it?
That's what that antenna is about. The fixed detector pumps a big (a relative term) RF blip periodically and the card picks it up as pure energy and stores it in a capacitor. It ain't much, but it's enough to power the chip long enough for it to respond with the number it's programmed with.
That wire in range's photo is vital and it has to be that long. If that wire gets cut, then the card won't pick up enough energy to operate.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 7:25 PM on December 16, 2010
That's what that antenna is about. The fixed detector pumps a big (a relative term) RF blip periodically and the card picks it up as pure energy and stores it in a capacitor. It ain't much, but it's enough to power the chip long enough for it to respond with the number it's programmed with.
That wire in range's photo is vital and it has to be that long. If that wire gets cut, then the card won't pick up enough energy to operate.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 7:25 PM on December 16, 2010
What everyone else here said. If you can avoid the antenna loop, you should be fine. However, it'll probably be tricky.
posted by schmod at 9:30 PM on December 16, 2010
posted by schmod at 9:30 PM on December 16, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks for responses. Pretty much confirms what I thought, but was hoping someone has already taken the plunged for my specific card, or taken one apart already FOR SCIENCE!!!
I should spring 7 bucks for an additional card, close my eyes and just punch it... but I'm holding out hope someone will come forward before I do that.
posted by rampy at 9:33 PM on December 16, 2010
I should spring 7 bucks for an additional card, close my eyes and just punch it... but I'm holding out hope someone will come forward before I do that.
posted by rampy at 9:33 PM on December 16, 2010
I would get a clear badge holder (random shopping links). I have my Clipper card clipped on the same holder as my work badge and don't need to remove it to scan on Muni. If you go to Office Depot you can probably get one for a buck.
posted by sfkiddo at 9:39 PM on December 16, 2010
posted by sfkiddo at 9:39 PM on December 16, 2010
Response by poster: @sfkiddo, I thought about it. I have one for my work badge (the retractable kind) But the reasoning I was using was if I wanted to use caltrain on weekends I wouldn't want to carry my badge (or transfer it). Now that I've typed that, it seems silly... but I'm trying to really streamline certain repetitive parts of my daily life/routine and some how concluded I wanted this on my keychain instead of my wallet or behind my work badge. *Shrug*
posted by rampy at 9:57 PM on December 16, 2010
posted by rampy at 9:57 PM on December 16, 2010
You could dissolve the old Translink cards in acetone.
Buy a new card, give it a shallow acetone bath, preferably in a clear container. Record the layout and punch appropriately on another card.
posted by zamboni at 10:00 PM on December 16, 2010
Buy a new card, give it a shallow acetone bath, preferably in a clear container. Record the layout and punch appropriately on another card.
posted by zamboni at 10:00 PM on December 16, 2010
You could dissolve the old Translink cards in acetone.
Whoops, reading comprehension error. You could cut up Translinks, while newer Clippers have the aerial you can't cut.
posted by zamboni at 10:06 PM on December 16, 2010
Whoops, reading comprehension error. You could cut up Translinks, while newer Clippers have the aerial you can't cut.
posted by zamboni at 10:06 PM on December 16, 2010
Best answer: You can get a Clipper card for free at Walgreens, and you can just tell them you want to load it online.
posted by lvanshima at 11:08 PM on December 16, 2010
posted by lvanshima at 11:08 PM on December 16, 2010
Best answer: Maybe instead of punching a hole, try stabbing at the card with a hot poker (heat a metal skewer on the stove) that will melt rather than cut. I imagine that would make a hole through the plastic of the card, but not slice through/destroy wiring.
posted by needs more cowbell at 12:33 AM on December 17, 2010
posted by needs more cowbell at 12:33 AM on December 17, 2010
I have one of the old Translink cards, and the RFID chips is clearly visible on the "left" side of the front, if you hold it so you can read the text (here is a photo). Obviously Translink became Clipper, but I don't know whether they altered the card design.
They did alter the design- the Clipper has a better antenna.
You can just get a sleeve for the card and punch a hole in that. Clipper works fine through a layer of plastic.
posted by oneirodynia at 11:31 AM on December 17, 2010
They did alter the design- the Clipper has a better antenna.
You can just get a sleeve for the card and punch a hole in that. Clipper works fine through a layer of plastic.
posted by oneirodynia at 11:31 AM on December 17, 2010
Best answer: I had the same idea (needs more cowbell) to use heat over leverage/force hole punch... (or acetone used sparingly/carefully in one spot.
Although I was hoping to lazy web this... you guys are right. I ordered a new card for 2 bucks (they're currently waiving the 5 buck charge... didn't know about the walgreens thing, will investigate)
visual inspection does seem to bear out the common design of a chip and an antenna along the outside ridge, but I can't tell if i'm imagining that or not...
posted by rampy at 10:37 PM on December 17, 2010
Although I was hoping to lazy web this... you guys are right. I ordered a new card for 2 bucks (they're currently waiving the 5 buck charge... didn't know about the walgreens thing, will investigate)
visual inspection does seem to bear out the common design of a chip and an antenna along the outside ridge, but I can't tell if i'm imagining that or not...
posted by rampy at 10:37 PM on December 17, 2010
Response by poster: No update yet... but I was thinking. If I did dissolve my card completely, is it feasible to replace the antenna with tighter wrapped coil and create a DIY caltrain clipper fob?
posted by rampy at 1:09 PM on December 21, 2010
posted by rampy at 1:09 PM on December 21, 2010
Response by poster: So, my 2nd clipper card with only 2 bucks on it arrived today. I tried the LED flashlight "xray" technique espoused in one of the blogs linked above... and would you believe that the new card has a much thicker "track" of outside antenna than the first one and different chip placement? I received these about a week and a half apart.
If you can get or have the older one it may be more punch/hole melt friendly... I'll let you know tomorrow how it goes.
posted by rampy at 7:35 PM on December 21, 2010
If you can get or have the older one it may be more punch/hole melt friendly... I'll let you know tomorrow how it goes.
posted by rampy at 7:35 PM on December 21, 2010
Response by poster: sucessful clipper hole melt: TBD tomorrow morning
posted by rampy at 7:45 PM on December 21, 2010
posted by rampy at 7:45 PM on December 21, 2010
Response by poster: SUCCESS!
I'm not sure why, but this small 'hack' makes me happy :)
posted by rampy at 9:16 AM on December 22, 2010
I'm not sure why, but this small 'hack' makes me happy :)
posted by rampy at 9:16 AM on December 22, 2010
Best answer: Inspired by this, I went and dissolved a new Clipper card in a 90ish percent acetone bath and was able, after about 2 days of carefully removing layer by layer of plastic, to extract the RFID chip and antenna intact.
I then stuck it between the pages of a moleskine to maintain the loop shape of the antenna and I was able to pay my muni fare with it.
I noticed that signal strength is definitely related directly to antenna shape, as I was unable to tag the chip when the antenna was in certain other configurations. More testing is warranted.
I have yet to figure out what it would be most fun to embed the chip in while maintaining a readable antenna configuration.
posted by quasistoic at 10:12 AM on January 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
I then stuck it between the pages of a moleskine to maintain the loop shape of the antenna and I was able to pay my muni fare with it.
I noticed that signal strength is definitely related directly to antenna shape, as I was unable to tag the chip when the antenna was in certain other configurations. More testing is warranted.
I have yet to figure out what it would be most fun to embed the chip in while maintaining a readable antenna configuration.
posted by quasistoic at 10:12 AM on January 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
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Why don't you get a new Clipper card at the BART station with a minimal balance (or use up the balance on your current card), punch the hole, and see if you can re-load it?
posted by rkent at 7:09 PM on December 16, 2010 [1 favorite]