ISO 14443 Type A cards

MIFARE Ultralight, MIFARE Classic, MIFARE DESFire, and other ISO 14443-A cards work out of the box. These are the most common NFC cards and key fobs sold for access control and loyalty programs.

ISO 14443 Type B cards

ISO 14443-B cards (common in banking and government ID applications) are also supported when using the ACR1255U-J1 reader.

What data is used

Only the card's hardware UID is read — no data is written to the card, and no personal information is stored on it. The UID is a permanent, factory-assigned identifier unique to each card.

Recommended cards to hand out

MIFARE Ultralight C key fobs are inexpensive (under $1 each in bulk) and durable. Sticker-format NFC tags can be attached to existing student ID cards or belts. Search for 'MIFARE Ultralight key fob' or 'NFC sticker 13.56MHz' from any electronics supplier.

Requirements

An Android tablet or phone with built-in NFC hardware and Google Chrome installed. Most modern Android tablets include NFC; check your device specs if unsure.

Enable NFC on the device

Open the Android Settings app, go to Connections (or Network & Internet) > NFC, and turn it on. The exact location varies by manufacturer.

Open the kiosk in Chrome

Open Google Chrome (not the default Android browser), paste your location's kiosk URL, and navigate to the NFC tab. Chrome will request NFC permission the first time — tap Allow.

Tap to check in

Members simply touch their card or fob anywhere on the back of the tablet near the NFC antenna (usually center-back). Check-in completes in under a second.

Hardware required

ACS ACR1255U-J1 Secure Bluetooth NFC Reader. Available directly from ACS (acs.com.hk) or distributors such as Identiv, ID Tech, and Amazon. Approximate retail price: $80–$120 USD. The reader supports USB and Bluetooth and can read ISO 14443 Type A/B cards.

Charge the reader

Charge the ACR1255U-J1 via the included USB-A cable before first use. A full charge takes about 4 hours and provides roughly 8 hours of continuous BLE use.

Power on the reader

Hold the power button until the LED pulses blue. The reader is now in BLE advertising mode and visible to nearby Chrome browsers.

Open the kiosk in Chrome

Open Google Chrome on your Mac, Windows PC, or Android device. Paste your location's kiosk URL and navigate to the NFC tab.

Connect the reader

Tap the 'Connect Reader' button that appears on the NFC tab. Chrome will show a browser-native Bluetooth device picker listing nearby readers. Select your ACR1255U-J1 from the list and click Pair.

Confirm connection

The NFC tab shows a green 'Reader connected' indicator once paired. The reader is now ready. Chrome remembers the pairing — on the next visit, tap 'Connect Reader' again and the browser reconnects in seconds without re-prompting.

Members tap to check in

Members touch their card or fob to the front of the reader. A successful read triggers an immediate check-in. If the card is not yet enrolled, the kiosk prompts for a PIN to link it.

What is a keyboard wedge reader?

A keyboard wedge NFC reader connects via USB or Bluetooth and types the card's UID as keystrokes followed by Enter — the operating system sees it as a keyboard. No browser permissions or special apps are required, making it the only option for iPad and non-Chrome browsers.

Recommended hardware

Any ISO 14443-compatible HID reader configured in keyboard emulation mode. Common models: ACR1252U (USB, ~$50), Elatec TWN4 (USB/BLE, ~$120), HID OMNIKEY 5022 (USB, ~$60). For iPad, use a reader with a USB-C connector or a USB-C adapter.

Configure keyboard wedge mode

Most readers ship in keyboard mode by default. If yours does not, download the vendor's configuration utility and set the output mode to 'Keyboard HID' with 'Enter' suffix. For the ACR1255U-J1, install ACS's Bluetooth Configuration Tool and switch the output mode to 'Keyboard Emulation'.

Connect the reader

Plug the USB reader into your device, or pair the Bluetooth reader using your device's standard Bluetooth settings — do NOT use the kiosk 'Connect Reader' button for this mode.

Open the kiosk

Open the kiosk URL in any browser and navigate to the NFC tab. No additional setup steps are required — the hidden input field on the NFC tab is kept focused so it captures the keystrokes from the reader automatically.

Members tap to check in

Members hold their card near the reader. The reader types the UID and the kiosk processes the check-in immediately.

What the app changes

The MyDojang mobile app wraps the same kiosk and student pages you use in a browser, but with direct access to the device's NFC/Bluetooth hardware — bypassing the browser restrictions Apple applies to Safari and Chrome for iOS.

iPhone — built-in NFC scan

On iPhone, a 'Scan card with phone' button appears on the NFC tab (both the kiosk and the student Assign Card dialog). Tap it, then hold the card to the top of the phone near the camera — the built-in NFC chip reads the card directly, no external reader needed.

iPad — Bluetooth reader via the app

iPads have no built-in NFC chip, so an ACR1255U-J1 Bluetooth reader is still required. Inside the app, the 'Connect Reader' button pairs with the reader over Bluetooth exactly like Chrome does on Mac/Windows — this is the one case where an iPad can use a Bluetooth NFC reader at all.

Getting the app

Ask your MyDojang contact for the current install link (App Store listing or TestFlight, depending on rollout stage). Sign in with the same staff account you use on the web dashboard.

Launching kiosk mode from inside the app

From the portal header (once signed in), tap 'Kiosk mode' and either scan the location's QR code or paste its kiosk token/URL (find both under Dashboard → Locations → Show QR / Kiosk URL). The app pins to that location's kiosk screen — no browser tab required.

Standalone setup — no sign-in required

A front-desk iPad doesn't need a staff login at all: on the app's sign-in screen, tap 'Set up as check-in kiosk' below the form and scan the location's QR code (Dashboard → Locations → Show QR) or paste its kiosk token. The device pins to that location's kiosk immediately.

Auto-boot after restart

Once an iPad has been set up as a kiosk (either path above), it remembers that location and boots straight back into kiosk mode every time the app is relaunched or the device restarts — staff never see a login or setup screen again.

Exiting kiosk mode

A small 'Exit kiosk mode' link appears at the bottom of the kiosk screen when running inside the app (never in a browser). Tapping it forgets the saved kiosk and returns to the app's sign-in screen, ready to be set up for a different location if needed.

Bluetooth NFC readers do not work on iPad in a browser

Apple restricts Web Bluetooth on all iOS and iPadOS browsers. The 'Connect Reader' button will not appear on Safari, Chrome for iOS, or any other iOS browser. Use Option C (HID keyboard wedge) or Option D (the MyDojang app) instead.

Recommended setup for iPad in a browser

Connect an ACR1252U or similar USB-C NFC reader to the iPad's USB-C port. Ensure the reader is configured in keyboard emulation mode. Open the kiosk in Safari or Chrome for iOS and navigate to the NFC tab.

Bluetooth alternative for iPad in a browser

Some HID-mode Bluetooth readers (e.g., Elatec TWN4 in BLE-HID mode) pair via iOS Bluetooth settings and appear as a keyboard. Pair it once in Settings > Bluetooth, then it works silently with the kiosk without any pairing step in the browser.

Simplest setup — the MyDojang app

If you'd rather skip keyboard-wedge configuration entirely, run the kiosk inside the MyDojang mobile app (Option D) and pair the ACR1255U-J1 directly with the in-app 'Connect Reader' button.

'Connect Reader' button not visible

The Bluetooth Connect button only appears in Google Chrome on Mac, Windows, or Android. It will not appear in Safari, Firefox, or any iOS browser. Switch to Chrome or use a HID keyboard wedge reader instead.

Reader disconnects after a few minutes

The ACR1255U-J1 enters sleep mode after ~3 minutes of inactivity. Tap any key on the reader or tap a card to wake it. The kiosk will automatically reconnect. To keep the reader awake, configure the sleep timer in the ACS Bluetooth Config Tool.

Card not recognized

If the kiosk shows 'Card not recognized', the card is not yet assigned to a member. The member can tap the card and enter their 6-digit PIN to enroll it on the spot, or a staff member can assign the card via the student's profile page.

HID reader types wrong characters

Keyboard wedge readers output key codes, not characters. If the UID arrives garbled, the device keyboard layout may not match. Ensure the device is set to US English keyboard layout, or consult your reader's configuration utility to set the output encoding.

Chrome Bluetooth picker shows no devices

Ensure the ACR1255U-J1 is powered on (LED pulsing blue) and within 10 feet of the device. On Mac, grant Chrome Bluetooth access in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Bluetooth. On Windows, ensure Bluetooth is enabled in Settings.