Bluetooth is off, and Wi-Fi are off on my iPhone. But the payment went through.
I Print to my Printer today, and the print job just goes through.
All of this was performed while hovering over these devices.
So, does an iPhone use RF (as in RFID) for all of this?
iPhone 6, 12
Well, technically, it uses NFC (Near Field Communications) which is an inductive coupling. It sort of uses RF, but at very low power and low frequency (13.7 Mhz) compared to Wifi, Bluetooth or cellular. It has a range of 4 cm (1.5 inches).
NFC and RFID are two different technologies. NFC is a secure, encrypted short range (1 1/2") method to transfer information (such as a credit card number) RFID has a much longer range and uses a totally different technology. It's the technology behind the sensors that detect that you are leaving a store with an RFID tag still attached to the merchandise you are carrying. But it is quite universal; for example, the "chip" implants in pets to track them, UPC tags on merchandise in a warehouse that can be used for inventory processes; a worker just walks (or rides) down the aisle in the warehouse and her detector counts all of the items in that aisle. No need for old-fashioned physical inventory processes. An RFID tag can be passive (as in the examples I've listed) or active, meaning it has a power source and can have a range of hundreds of feet. An example is the E-ZPass "tags" that are used for toll collection on the US east coast, and the similar but incompatible system used on the west coast. Not only can they be used to for toll collection, there are frequently sensors along major highways that read the tags (without charging any money) that could be used to track specific vehicles, but mostly are used to measure traffic flow (how long did it take that tag to go 10 miles), which then drives the highway signs that tell you how long it will take to get to a specific exit. As well as going into a database for traffic flow modeling. Newer technology doesn't use RFID for this function; instead they just read your license plate.
Anyway, I haven't read much about retailers using RFID to track you or your purchases, but it's quite possible. And when you go to a mall and sign in to their Wifi you are "paying" for the convenience by providing information to the mall's database of where you are shopping and how long you are in each shop. They then sell this information to data aggregators.
Apple Pay uses RF.
Your printer is a mystery - although there’s a lot you have not told us about this. An example is whether AirPrint is involved.
Well, I can understand why you did it but read this article written by one of the old geezer (experienced communications expert) regulars on the forum. He corrects a lot of misconceptions about WF and BT. You likely won't bother turning them off next time.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Battery Drain and oth… - Apple Community
"Apple Pay uses RF"
Thanks!
"Your printer is a mystery - although there’s a lot you have not told us about this."
Using an iPhone, it seems to just go through. I was hovering over the LCD screen of the HP printer. I am using the LCD screen on the printer, and the printer is just being seen. I was not the other room, where hovering the LCD screen is simply just not an option.
"Why do you keep WiFi and Bluetooth off?"
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, are, indeed what I use. Both were deactivated for the night, as local power service was just not accessible (using Solar). Simply put: I wanted to save power, so that is why both specs were deactivated.
For what it’s worth, I have seen Philly_Phan ask the same question and reference the same article in other previous posts. Like you, I still turn Wi-Fi (and, more rarely, Bluetooth) off when I know I won’t be using them.
Connectivity is the spec of concern here, not its power. Being "off the grid", ultimately, I wanted to save power. It was cold where I was, so maybe both specs would go dead. All there was, was solar. Who knows how long I world have been there (so-to-say)? Lot's of power or none, it would ultimately drain it all. Indeed, I am aware of the little amount of power drainage.
To me, we’re comparing the inconvenience of going to Settings and swiping a button versus the extra work the iOS device has to perform finding, connecting to, then disconnecting from and/or ignoring Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth connections, especially while traveling. Generally, I prefer the Settings - swipe the button rather than stress the device. Power is a secondary consideration.
I can't imagine how I could possibly disagree any more.
Keeping WiFi off while traveling makes the Maps app less accurate and that causes ME stress. Keeping the Bluetooth off means that I'm unable to listen to my favorite music or listen to my favorite audio book and that also causes ME stress. I've NEVER heard of any iPhone being damaged by this kind of stress but humans can easily be damaged. Oh well, do as you will.
And regarding the Maps app, it’s hard for me to imagine its accuracy is improved by jumping on and off Wi-Fi while moving about. Plus my iPhone has assisted GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo. I haven’t checked, but I believe most recent iPhones do as well.
You need more imagination. First, it doesn’t “jump on and off networks”. It only connects to networks it has connected to in the past. Which is probably none when you are traveling. But it also has a database of WiFi networks and their precise locations, so it listens and uses those network locations to improve the accuracy of GPS, especially when you don’t have a clear view of the sky and at least 4 satellites. Such as in any city with buildings taller than 5 or 6 stories. And your phone uses GPS, or GLONASS, or Galileo, not all 3 at once. And assisted GPS means GPS assisted by WiFi and cellular triangulation as well as ground-based GPS sites. But those are far between, and are mostly around airports and military installations.
Interesting comments - noted, thanks.
As an aside, my cars have had navigation systems for quite a few years now, and all have performed reasonably well in downtown areas.
Anyway, I do take note of all your remarks above.
That’s interesting! Thanks for that.
I ask because I remember the MythBusters wanting to do some segment(s) about “retailers and their usage of RFID chips.” Come find out, they were BUSTED by the media!, and the like, way-back-when.
In my opinion, by obtaining the data Retailers get and then selling it, I’d say it becomes a part of the controversy of the big ordeal over “Invasion of Privacy.”
Anyways, a cat never had one of those tags implanted implanted in the ‘90s. If it did, I wonder if it have been relocated.
I think the box might have RFID chip, but maybe not. I can't find one if it is there. And I've noticed that when you buy a phone in an Apple store the scan the barcode; if it had RFID they wouldn't have to.
Apple Pay at the Register --- Is it RF or Bluetooth?
