Capption NFC tag installation guide

Encoding

Follow these steps to encode, test, and lock any blank or writeable NFC tag with a Capption link. Due to Apple restrictions, the tag encoding process currently requires an Android device.

Writing

First, write the correct data to the NFC tag.

1. Download NFC Tools on your Android phone.
2. Run NFC Tools and accept or dismiss any first-run prompts.
3. Select the WRITE tab.
4. Select Add a record.
5. Select URL / URI.
6. Leave https:// selected in the drop-down menu.
7. Identify the Tag ID for your desired target in the Capption admin interface.
8. In the URL field, input capption.app/Tag_ID substituting "Tag_ID" with the correct identifier. The URL for this guide's Capption is https://capption.app/1719585126.
9. Verify that you've input the ID correctly, then press OK.
10. Select Add a record once again.
11. This time, select Application.
12. In the Application field, enter com.capption.app, then press OK.
13. Tap the Write command just below More options.
14. Hold your phone's NFC antenna above the tag. You should receive confirmation that the tag was written. If you receive a failure message, just try again. If failure messages persist, see Troubleshooting below.

Testing

Next, test this tag with an Android or iOS phone.

1. Hold your phone next to the tag. Reminder: Android phones have NFC radios on the back, Apple phones on the top edge.
2. iPhone X and newer users should see the Capption automatically. Android users download the app first if not already installed.
3. Taps will open exhibition text in Capption using your phone's default language and text settings.

Locking (optional)

Finally, if you're satisfied with the tag's performance, you may lock it to prevent tampering.

1. Select the OTHER tab in NFC Tools.
2. Select Lock tag.
3. Click Yes to accept the Lock tag warning prompt.
4. Hold your phone over the tag to lock it. You should receive a confirmation prompt stating that the tag locked successfully.

Note: after locking, a tag cannot be rewritten to another Capption Tag ID. To change the content a user sees, you'll have to edit that Tag ID's content in the Capption administrative interface.

Troubleshooting

You may occasionally encounter stubborn tags, inconsistent reading or writing, or unusual difficulty tapping.

1. Bad data. Occasionally, WRITE actions either fail or report failure after a partial success. Use NFC Tools' READ function to scan the tag, scroll to the bottom, and verify whether your desired URL / URI and Application records exist.
2. Duplicate records. A reported write failure may still write data. Then, when you reattempt the writing process, you may add two more records to that tag's memory. If your READ action shows more than 2 records, Erase the tag (see below) and start afresh.
3. Dud tags. About 1 in every 500 tags simply won't work. Trash it and move on.
4. Poor reads after installation. 99% of the time this is due to the tag being placed on a metallic surface. Metal dissipates the magnetic field required for NFC tags to function. You've got two options if you encounter this: mount that tag somewhere else or contact us for a special shielded, on-metal tag.

Erasing

If you want to start over with a functioning, unlocked tag, erase its contents.

1. Select the OTHER tab in NFC Tools.
2. Select Erase tag.
3. Click Yes to accept the Erase tag warning prompt.
4. Hold your phone over the tag to erase its data. You should receive a confirmation prompt stating that the tag erased successfully.

Tag placement

After encoding, anyone who can peel off and apply a sticker can place an NFC tag and immediately make their exhibit more inclusive. Adhere to the following installation guidelines for optimal results:

1. Placement in relation to the Capption indicator. You don't have to be perfectly precise when placing a tag behind the printed C callout logo. When tapping, people wave their phone a little bit, so placement within 1/2"/1.27cm should do.
2. Indicator material and thickness. NFC radio waves successfully penetrate paper, wood, plastic, and most glass up to (and sometimes beyond) 1"/2.54cm thick. Most insitutions place their Capption NFC tags behind foam core, acrylic, or phenolic wall labels approximately 1/4"/6mm thick. Stone and metal barriers will stop the radio waves, as will metallic screens with gaps smaller than 7/16"/~10mm (like your microwave oven).
3. Metal backing materials. Metal dissipates the magnetic field that makes NFC work. Metal mounting surfaces require NFC tags prepared with special shielding.
4. Surface mounting. It's possible (and occasionally desirable) to mount NFC tags on top of the wall label or other surface. In this case, we recommend placing a second sticker with the indicator logo atop the NFC tag.
5. Weather protection. Outdoor applications work best (and longest) when the NFC tag sits behind a weather-rated protective material. Even 1/16" interior hospital sign plastic has protected Capption's outdoor test tags perfectly, year round for two years on the north-facing eves of a central Minnesota outbuilding!
6. Tamper protection. Tamper protection happens in two ways: physically and digitally. Placing an NFC tag behind a wall or indicator label precludes 99.9% of visitors' physical tampering potential (unlike QR codes), as they're much less likely to deface something they can't see. Locking tags (described above) prevents mischievous visitors from rewriting an unlocked NFC tag with a malicious URL or similar.