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Oyster Cards - How do they work!?!

LewiePLewieP Registered User regular
edited February 2007 in Help / Advice Forum
So me and a friend have been discussing how Oyster cards work, technology wise, and we are pretty confused.

They have to be cheap, they are mass produced and given out willy nilly.

The work either way round and any way up on the scanners.

Each one is unique, there are millions usd every day.

How does every bus/tube station in London know how much money you have on them.

I read the wiki on them, and it doesn't really go into the technical details of the system.

Any ideas/anyone know how it works?

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LewieP on

Posts

  • japanjapan Registered User regular
    edited February 2007
    They're RFID tags. Small unpowered transponders that are arranged such that the reader can induce a voltage in a coil of wire, creating just enough current to transmit a response.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFID

    japan on
  • Jimmy KingJimmy King Registered User regular
    edited February 2007
    I'd start by following the link given on the page you linked which explains smart cards.

    Basically, though, they use rfid to communicate with the billing system and take your money. Beyond that, I have to assume it's pretty much like an atm card, re-fillable gift card, etc.

    Jimmy King on
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  • corcorigancorcorigan Registered User regular
    edited February 2007
    They're not that cheap. They require a £3 deposit. That's quite a lot for a card, think how many credit cards get spammed to you.

    Lot cheaper than tickets though.

    corcorigan on
    Ad Astra Per Aspera
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