Setting up NFC Devices

What you need

NFC tags are small, passive stickers that store a short piece of text. No batteries, no Wi-Fi. Cheap NTAG213, NTAG215, or NTAG216 stickers work on both Android and iPhone. A pack of 50 costs a few dollars online.

Writing a tag

1. Open the PunchMonkey app and go to Write NFC Tag.
2. Type a short, unique ID for the tag — for example LEG1-START or CP-BRIDGE. IDs are case-insensitive.
3. Tap your phone to the tag. The app confirms when the write succeeds.
4. Optionally lock the tag so it can never be overwritten.

Organizing your tags

Label each physical tag immediately after writing it. A permanent marker on the tag or a printed label holder keeps you from mixing up legs and checkpoints on race day.

Use a consistent naming scheme — for example LEG1-START, LEG1-FINISH, LEG1-CP1, LEG1-CP2 — so the IDs are self-documenting when you enter them in the web console.

Testing a tag

After writing, use the app's Scan / Read mode to confirm the tag returns the ID you wrote. Compare it to what you entered in the console for the corresponding leg or checkpoint.

Tag form factors

NFC chips come in several physical forms — pick whatever suits your course:

• Stickers / labels — the most common and cheapest option. Peel-and-stick onto any non-metallic surface. Easy to conceal on a course.
• Hard cards — credit-card-sized rigid plastic. Good for checkpoint stations that will be handled repeatedly or might get wet.
• Key fobs / discs — small round tokens with a hole for a lanyard or zip-tie. Easy to attach to posts, trees, or equipment.
• Wristbands — typically used when the tag travels with a person rather than staying on the course (e.g. a volunteer wearing the tag for teams to tap).
• Epoxy / on-metal tags — if you need to mount a tag on a metal surface (a sign, a railing), use an "on-metal" tag specifically designed to work on metallic backing.

NTAG213, NTAG215, and NTAG216 chips work across all these form factors and are compatible with both Android and iPhone. For a typical course, sticker tags in bulk are the most economical choice.

Tag placement on the course

• Mount tags on non-metallic surfaces — metal blocks the RF field. Plastic, wood, and foam all work. Use on-metal tags if metal is unavoidable.
• Place them at a comfortable phone-tap height (waist to chest level).
• In wet conditions, consider waterproof tag holders or laminated backing.