Los Angeles Metro TAP Card -> NFC? - Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I did some Googling and in another forum saw a poster mention that LA Metro TAP Cards use NFC. I sometimes forget my TAP card as I lighten my every day carry to a minimum as I head out at night. But I always take my phone.
Is there an app that lets you use the Nexus 5's NFC capabilities to store TAP Card fares? I Googled and searched here but didn't see too much for LA Metro. There's apps for other cities but not LA. Anyone have any thoughts or point me in the right direction?

I use the tap cards as NFC tags. I'm pondering in just buying them from my local transportation for $1 each.
NFC ReTag app let's you use them for triggers. Also let's you use them for Tasker tasks too., that means endless possibilities.
Metrolink (Los Angeles) monthly passes also uses NFC.
I'm not sure if you can use it to store fare balances though. I've never tried that and doubt that's possible.

Related

Earn money with your android device

Earn money with your phone through wifi and phone cell towers UK included.
Navizon have just released a new software version of Navimote (v1.07) for Android handsets.
Ever wondered how you could transform the miles you travel into cash in your account. Well, now you can with Navizon rewards.
When you use Navizon with a GPS device, every Wi-Fi access point and Cell tower that you pass by will be logged and turned into points on your account.
If they are discovered by you (If you are the first one to map them)
15 points for each cellular tower
3 points for each Wi-Fi access point
If they have already been mapped by someone else
(except in a few areas)
1 point for each Wi-Fi access point
2 points for each cellular tower
Once you have 10,000 points, you can redeem them for a reward, and $15 will be wired to your Paypal account (minus the Paypal fee in the amount of $0.29).
Note: You may also choose to redeem a reward for a free upgrade to Navizon Premium.
The idea is fairly simple: some users who have GPS enabled phones, or a standalone GPS device map the wireless landscape (ie. the location of Cell towers and Wi-Fi Access Points) wherever they go, so that other users who don’t have GPS will be able to use a positioning system that works independent of GPS.
Instead, location is achieved by triangulating those same Wi-Fi and/or Cellular signals, whose location is now known thanks to the "mappers."
Like in every community, there are the people who do the work and others who benefit from it.
So users who don't want to map any points, but still want the full featured version of Navizon, need to buy it.
But the money is not going in our pockets, it is going in the pockets of those who make Navizon possible, by mapping the wireless landscape wherever they go.
SetUp Instructions.........
Please uninstall the old one and search for Navimote in the market.
The new one is version 1.0.7.
When you start Navimote, click "menu".
It has the usual options (enable/disable, register token and manage account).
Under the "advanced" option you have "Reset network settings":
Use this is you can't be located - it will re-establish the connection with the server.
And you also have the new options:
Power mode:
High = Navimote will always attempt to use the GPS on, in order to collect data
Normal = Navimote will will attempt to use the GPS only when the phone is connected to an external power source. This makes sense for people who always connect the phone to a car charger when driving.
Navizon account:
Enter your Navizon username/password and you will accumulate points in your Navizon account when you collect data.
Sync:
Upload the data you have collected to the Navizon server.
Just like all other versions of Navimote, the collected cells/wifi or the number of rewarded points are not displayed on the screen - so you will have to check your rewards page on http://www.navizon.com if you want to see your points status. (You can use "manage account" to do this)
I recommend that the power mode is set to normal, and that the phone is connected to external power when you're in the car.
Upload the data every now and then (maybe once per day) and you'll see points accumulating in your account.
To collect as many points as possible, make sure that your phone is configured to let applications use the GPS, and also try to leave WiFi on when collecting.
(Power/profile managers may interfere with the GPS and the WiFi state, so if you use one of these please make sure it does not prevent Navimote from using the GPS and that it does not switch off WiFi.
I use a profile manager and have configured it to allow GPS use and switch WiFi on whenever the phone is connected to AC power. I've also configured Navimote with the "Normal" power mode and it works well.)
Sign Up Here!
Once signed up visit Android Market on your device and download Navimote. In settings you can input your username and password.
Happy earning.
EDIT: Works WorldWide!
potter1984 said:
Earn money with your phone through wifi and phone cell towers UK included.
Navizon have just released a new software version of Navimote (v1.07) for Android handsets.
Ever wondered how you could transform the miles you travel into cash in your account. Well, now you can with Navizon rewards.
When you use Navizon with a GPS device, every Wi-Fi access point and Cell tower that you pass by will be logged and turned into points on your account.
If they are discovered by you (If you are the first one to map them)
15 points for each cellular tower
3 points for each Wi-Fi access point
If they have already been mapped by someone else
(except in a few areas)
1 point for each Wi-Fi access point
2 points for each cellular tower
Once you have 10,000 points, you can redeem them for a reward, and $15 will be wired to your Paypal account (minus the Paypal fee in the amount of $0.29).
Note: You may also choose to redeem a reward for a free upgrade to Navizon Premium.
The idea is fairly simple: some users who have GPS enabled phones, or a standalone GPS device map the wireless landscape (ie. the location of Cell towers and Wi-Fi Access Points) wherever they go, so that other users who don’t have GPS will be able to use a positioning system that works independent of GPS.
Instead, location is achieved by triangulating those same Wi-Fi and/or Cellular signals, whose location is now known thanks to the "mappers."
Like in every community, there are the people who do the work and others who benefit from it.
So users who don't want to map any points, but still want the full featured version of Navizon, need to buy it.
But the money is not going in our pockets, it is going in the pockets of those who make Navizon possible, by mapping the wireless landscape wherever they go.
Sign Up Here!
Once signed up visit Android Market on your device and download Navimote. In settings you can input your username and password.
Happy earning
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is this only for uk? or usa as well.
Kush.Kush™ said:
is this only for uk? or usa as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No its for the USA aswell sorry forgot to mention that
potter1984 said:
No its for the USA aswell sorry forgot to mention that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol iight did you get my message
Kush.Kush™ said:
lol iight did you get my message
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea thanks for that m8
Glad to have you onboard
Just to update have already started logging cell towers up, and have 4,526 points already within 3 hrs, This app is MINT!!
this stuff legit or is it hokie?
Sounds Hokie.
10000 towers thats 15 dollars for every tower in Arizona.
You'll never make 10,000 points at that rate, unless you seriously travel. And if you have the money for all of that traveling, what's 15 dollars to you?
This sounds like a good way for a company to trick a bunch of muppets into going out and field sweeping for radio sources, for them, instead of having to hire someone...
Is this each time you pass a tower you get points, or does it have to be "new" towers? So if I pass one, I can only get points for it once? Say, if I keep this on during commuting to work and back, I will only get points the first time I pass them, and then never again?
will this work in Australia?
When you pass already mapped towers, yes you still get points. Just not as much as the first time you map it.
Yes this app works world wide.
If you hit the navimote web site their faq will tell all on how it works.
And yes this is legal, the faq will tell you how the money is made
Also this app will benefit people who travel a lot in their jobs. Or very keen ramblers! Lol.
This program is great I have always used navizon or navimote.
Varking said:
Is this each time you pass a tower you get points, or does it have to be "new" towers? So if I pass one, I can only get points for it once? Say, if I keep this on during commuting to work and back, I will only get points the first time I pass them, and then never again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Think You owe me a Copy right appology!!!
Y you say??
Next time make your OWN post, dont just copy and paste, Its lazy, and just shows how intelligent your are, Ctrl + a, Ctrl + c, Ctrl + v.
Are you telling me thats all you can muster??
NOT COOL BRO NOT COOL.....................................
I tried this app, but just didn't understand how to see if you earned any points...After about a 2 hour drive, I went to sync my account and it said there was nothing to sync. I love the idea, just can't get it to work.
oMenaceTigero said:
I tried this app, but just didn't understand how to see if you earned any points...After about a 2 hour drive, I went to sync my account and it said there was nothing to sync. I love the idea, just can't get it to work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The sync on the app is not nesseccary the app automatically sends the info off!. The Sync option is their incase you have no data connection, so upload when you get home.
You can check the points you have earnt from the web interface, but it takes a few hours to show up on the site.
Check your account on the web, If you have set it up properly then the points will be their
Just an update....
i had had my First £15 back today!! Woop Woop, 2weeks 1 day from installing the app.
Hope everyone else will follow suit soon
Tell Me Some New Ways if any?
Suggestion: Tell Me Some New Ways if any, that will increase interest of reading your Thread,
Thank you,

[Q] Multi-day hiking with Infuse.

Anyone have experience using their Infuse backpacking???. Probably not this soon but ya never know.
I like to use my smartphones for backpacking / hiking and am trying to put some thought in using my lovely Infuse for this purpose. My primary use will be camera and camcorder. Secondarily it allows me to eliminate carrying a separate GPS, reading material, knot tying guide, maps for emergency use, etc.
So with my Infuse...my thoughts are;
* Replaceable battery is a nice feature (as opposed to my ole baby-hand sized iphone4). I should be able to purchase several off ebay to last 5-7 days. Don't mind the extra packing weight .
* Will turn off WIFI, bluetooth, data BUT leave on GPS for photo location. I hope my Infuse's GPS issues (slow locks,etc) will not be a problem.
* I can't stand the power button locks the screen while in the camera app. What a hassle but I think I saw a few "fixes".
* Will need to pick up a otter box (or similar ) case.
* Looks like downloaded geographic maps are abundant via the Market but will only use this for emergency since the battery drain would be too much.
I think the Infuse should work out quite well if I can make the batteries last.
andrawer said:
Anyone have experience using their Infuse backpacking???. Probably not this soon but ya never know.
I like to use my smartphones for backpacking / hiking and am trying to put some thought in using my lovely Infuse for this purpose. My primary use will be camera and camcorder. Secondarily it allows me to eliminate carrying a separate GPS, reading material, knot tying guide, maps for emergency use, etc.
So with my Infuse...my thoughts are;
* Replaceable battery is a nice feature (as opposed to my ole baby-hand sized iphone4). I should be able to purchase several off ebay to last 5-7 days. Don't mind the extra packing weight .
* Will turn off WIFI, bluetooth, data BUT leave on GPS for photo location. I hope my Infuse's GPS issues (slow locks,etc) will not be a problem.
* I can't stand the power button locks the screen while in the camera app. What a hassle but I think I saw a few "fixes".
* Will need to pick up a otter box (or similar ) case.
* Looks like downloaded geographic maps are abundant via the Market but will only use this for emergency since the battery drain would be too much.
I think the Infuse should work out quite well if I can make the batteries last.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can most likely rig something like this to recharge your backup batteries - http://www.adafruit.com/products/390
Don't try to use it to directly recharge the phone.
1) Phone wants to pull as much as it can, which will cause the solar panel to brown out.
2) Phone's built-in charging circuit isn't exactly super-efficient.
gps slow locks
hey if yer haveing slow locks keep data on and change yer info to supl.nokia.com and leave port and change to ms assisted then do a gps test i use sgs toolbox and lib test and it works great and fast no more than 7 sec at the worst of times
I took mine out camping. It wasn't backpacking, so I had access to occasional power.
*The most current Infused ROM has a feature that uses the power button as a camera shutter while the camera is open.
*Load up your intended location on google maps before you go and cache it. Do this for any place you plan on going so you still have the map tiles on the phone without internet.
*makes a great tent light
There is an App called Maverick that you can use as an offline map. Can be used as an offroad navigation. Just test it out and see how it works for you. It has a lot of features that you may be interested in.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA App
Backcountry navigator is a great map app
You can download many different map types or make your own, and change your download map location to your external SD. I'm planning to make the WA state geology maps usable.
I have all of the USGS topos, and road maps for the state of WA, as well as many of the aerials, on my external SD card.
I still prefer google maps for everyday in town uses, but love BC nav for camping and hiking.
Have a good one.

What can you do with NFC tags?

I just discovered that such things even exist, and I'm intrigued by the idea. You just tap the tag with the phone and it can do stuff? What sort of stuff? How much stuff per tag? Do I need specific types of tags for the S4? I'm sort of geeked up by the idea of making my phone do stuff like it's magic.
I myself am just getting started with nfc tags. The 1 thing I've read about most is to automate a few tasks, for example when you get in your car and tap the nfc tag you can have the phone turn off wifi, turn on mobile data, turn on bluetooth etc.
I currently have 1 tag that I leave on the dash of my car and it is set to turn off wifi and turn on gps and bluetooth. I also have programmed the phone to say "welcome to the bat mobile"! (just to test it out). Also, on tapping on the same tag again when I'm home it does the opposite but says "welcome home".
The Galaxy S4 will work with NTAG203 nfc tags and not the older mifare 1k tags, as far as I know.
To get started you'll need:
1) NFC Capable phone
2) NFC tags. (I got some NTAG203 from eBay. 5 tags for $5 incl. shipping).
3) An app such as NFC Task launcher. I find this app to be the best and for some reason I am able to write more data to tags than for example the Samsung Tectile app.
Once you have the app installed and the tags. It's actually quite easy to get going.
There could be commercial uses for these tags if you own a business. You can program your company's website/address/phone and place them for marketing. People who have nfc capable phones can then tap on this tag to get the information.
Hope this helps!
Very interesting. It sounds like one could, for example, place a tag on a phone holder and have it launch Google Navigator. What would be even better is being able to execute a command after the app launches. That way, it would automatically ask you to speak the destination.
Sounds pretty cool.
ifcnece popularity
I have never used NFC tags either, coming from Apple devices. You mention that you have a tag in your car holder. Does this mean that the navigation app etc starts when you place the phone in the holder, and then quit those apps when you remove the phone from the holder? Or do you have to remove the phone and and then touch the NFC tag once again to deactivate the navigation app and such?
dj_aj said:
The Galaxy S4 will work with NTAG203 nfc tags and not the older mifare 1k tags, as far as I know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I've read, you're right. I also found this thread discussing the differences and actually mentioning another type that works with the S4.
torroa said:
I have never used NFC tags either, coming from Apple devices. You mention that you have a tag in your car holder. Does this mean that the navigation app etc starts when you place the phone in the holder, and then quit those apps when you remove the phone from the holder? Or do you have to remove the phone and and then touch the NFC tag once again to deactivate the navigation app and such?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes the navigation app starts when you place the phone in the holder, however if you are talking about using the same NFC tag, the app will not quit when the phone is removed.
One NFC tag can only perform preset function(s) all at once, in sequential order. So if the NFC Tag is set to program the Navigation App to start, then programming the next action to close the same app will not do you any good.
To find out the types of functions a NFC Tag can be programmed with, download "NFC Task Launcher" from Google Play and click on "My Tasks".
But you can use apps to set the tag to be a toggle, right? So tap it once, it turns on navigation. Tap it again to turn it off? Or is that just for "togglable" settings like wifi on/off or bluetooth on/off?
flu13 said:
But you can use apps to set the tag to be a toggle, right? So tap it once, it turns on navigation. Tap it again to turn it off? Or is that just for "togglable" settings like wifi on/off or bluetooth on/off?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Applications can be set to launch on one tap and close on the other. These would need to be set as two different actions when you program the nfc tag.
Wifi/Bluetooth/GPS/Mobile Data etc can be set to toggle so you don't need to create separate entries and that will spare the very little data you can write to those nfc tags.
Get Tasker. It's worth it.
You can simply program NFC tags to run a specific Task in tasker.
An example of this usage would be as such....
Get Tasker
Set NFC tag to Run "Task XXX"
Place NFC tag/sticker in Car Dock
Dock Phone to Car
NFC toggles the start of "Task XXX"
In this case... "Task XXX" may do this
Set to loud speaker mode
When receiving calls, auto speakerphone (Couple this with the Wave to answer call gesture)
When receiving texts, read out messages
Auto launch Google Maps and plot a route home
instead of me trying to explain it, i think its better you watch a few video demos on my various play lists. http://www.youtube.com/user/veryannoyingname/videos?sort=dd&tag_id=&view=1 At present there are 53 public play lists sorted by device or feature and a few more private ones which i will make public at a later date probably.
see the NFC play list and Tasker play list and home automation play lists and a few more are there in my couple of how to play lists as well. I frequently update my play lists so check them out at a later date too. Subscribers will be alerted automatically when i upload videos or update play lists.
As I understand the nfc tag is used to store data that a.nfc.phone can read.
The stored data is to issue a command such as call contact, turn wifi on ect..
--*** Be Warned ***--
!!! Always turn nfc off when you go out as I'm sure people have realised this and you might walk past a person with a nfc tag in his pocket, then your phone may start doing unwanted acts such as uploading your account data. !!!
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app
JustSueMe said:
As I understand the nfc tag is used to store data that a.nfc.phone can read.
The stored data is to issue a command such as call contact, turn wifi on ect..
--*** Be Warned ***--
!!! Always turn nfc off when you go out as I'm sure people have realised this and you might walk past a person with a nfc tag in his pocket, then your phone may start doing unwanted acts such as uploading your account data. !!!
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NFC tags with over very short distances, see my video uploads on YouTube linked below.
unless the NFC tags were in the other chaps back pocket and your phone was in your trouser front pocket and you were close enough to be rubbing yourself on the other person's backside even then you would be lucky to be triggering off any such thing.
you actually demo such a hack working on another person's phone. I know there are a couple of such videos on YouTube. But seriously can anyone show a demo of such a hack working. If it did then all your credit cards that come with NFC on them now would be pillaged left right and centre by crooks and NFC tags would not come pre installed on credit and debit cards now by many major banks. Don't you think that would have tested out for such hacks on the nfc enabled credit and debit cards and NFC enabled Google phones with Google wallet features.
bubblesmoney said:
NFC tags with over very short distances, see my video uploads on YouTube linked below.
unless the NFC tags were in the other chaps back pocket and your phone was in your trouser front pocket and you were close enough to be rubbing yourself on the other person's backside even then you would be lucky to be triggering off any such thing.
you actually demo such a hack working on another person's phone. I know there are a couple of such videos on YouTube. But seriously can anyone show a demo of such a hack working. If it did then all your credit cards that come with NFC on them now would be pillaged left right and centre by crooks and NFC tags would not come pre installed on credit and debit cards now by many major banks. Don't you think that would have tested out for such hacks on the nfc enabled credit and debit cards and NFC enabled Google phones with Google wallet features.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont think debit cards with nfc would be effected by what i said as you would need a device not a tag.
Im sure that someone will solve range problem, there are many malicious people out there and even if not, there are many ways to get to your phone with out you realising. day to day activitys distract you, people are not as aware as they assume.
Offtopic but slightly relavent. I've had enough time to use a script I made on phone that involves plugging in a cable.so swiping a.tag over phone while your in a cafe isn't going to be hard.
So just be warned
Things aren't always as safe as you think.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app
i have a tag in my car dash mount that toggles wifi and turns on my music app and then at work i have a tag on my pc to toggle wifi again and turn on silent mode. Pretty handy if you ask me rather than unlocking your phone and shuffling through it
lambstone said:
Get Tasker. It's worth it.
You can simply program NFC tags to run a specific Task in tasker.
An example of this usage would be as such....
Get Tasker
Set NFC tag to Run "Task XXX"
Place NFC tag/sticker in Car Dock
Dock Phone to Car
NFC toggles the start of "Task XXX"
In this case... "Task XXX" may do this
Set to loud speaker mode
When receiving calls, auto speakerphone (Couple this with the Wave to answer call gesture)
When receiving texts, read out messages
Auto launch Google Maps and plot a route home
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just ordered some NFC tags based on some of your ideas. It will be fun to screw around with at the least, and they're really cheap!
rtmeikle said:
Just ordered some NFC tags based on some of your ideas. It will be fun to screw around with at the least, and they're really cheap!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check out the nfc play list on my channel where you will see many use case scenarios. Also check out the channel think it's called crowd gadgets on youtube who has many uploads for nfc and tasker combined use videos.
Remember, the S4 only works with a newer type of NFC tags. The old tags that advertised online to work with Galaxy S2, S3, Note 2, etc... WILL NOT work with the S4. I know because i have a bunch of them laying around the house being useless right now.
as far as I know, the new type of NFC tags that work with the S4 hasn't got release yet by Samsung. I dont know if other manufacturer made it tho.
xxlikquidxx said:
Remember, the S4 only works with a newer type of NFC tags. The old tags that advertised online to work with Galaxy S2, S3, Note 2, etc... WILL NOT work with the S4. I know because i have a bunch of them laying around the house being useless right now.
as far as I know, the new type of NFC tags that work with the S4 hasn't got release yet by Samsung. I dont know if other manufacturer made it tho.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
these are the cheapest i found that are non samsung tags and they have the NTAG203 that works with the S4 i use the tags ordered from here daily with no issues.
http://tagsfordroid.com/
jax5ter said:
these are the cheapest i found that are non samsung tags and they have the NTAG203 that works with the S4 i use the tags ordered from here daily with no issues.
http://tagsfordroid.com/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So these tags from Amazon should work with the S4 right since its has NTAG203 chip?
http://www.amazon.com/TagsForDroid-...=merchant-items&ie=UTF8&qid=1370458262&sr=1-4

[Q] Help with re-creating a NFC card on Mobile

Hey, in australia we can get "Smart Riders" which are basically just credit card sized cards that we can use to tag on/off of public transport, as i prefer often don't take my wallet with me i was wondering if there is a way to save the NFC signal from the card onto my Nexus 5 (which has NFC) and then later on use my phone to tag on/off instead of the card
tl;dr is there a android app that can record and then output the same NFC signal
jezus101 said:
Hey, in australia we can get "Smart Riders" which are basically just credit card sized cards that we can use to tag on/off of public transport, as i prefer often don't take my wallet with me i was wondering if there is a way to save the NFC signal from the card onto my Nexus 5 (which has NFC) and then later on use my phone to tag on/off instead of the card
tl;dr is there a android app that can record and then output the same NFC signal
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure...but it sounds similar to what is described in this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2708480 only for the subway in Chicago...

Nfc issues

IDK if it's just me but when using tap and pay it works at some places and not others for example I can't use it on my pop machine at work that has tap and pay but I can go to speed way and use it there. I am just so confused because my last phone had no issues
I too am having problems with nfc

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