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First 90 minutes

Make one good scan.

Finish with one Cardputer reading five cards. Stop there if you like. One clean scan is enough for the first day.

Adult presentPower off before cablesDo not write card memory
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1 · Put the parts on the table

Five numbered groups: one Cardputer ADV, one NFC reader, one USB-C cable, one four-pin cable, and five RFID cards
1 Cardputer ADV 2 Unit NFC 3 USB-C data cable 4 HY2.0-4P cable 5 Five cards

Set out one Cardputer ADV, one Unit NFC, five cards, one tested USB-C data cable, and one HY2.0-4P cable.

Look for

Five groups. Nine objects. Nothing is powered or warm.

Try this

Match labels against the hardware guide. Put all other parts away.

2 · Check power and USB

SWITCH ON → USB → PORT FOUNDThe ADV must be on to charge

Switch the Cardputer on. Connect it to the Mac mini. Check that one serial port appears and stays connected. Label the cable "DATA."

Look for

The same port stays visible.

Try this

Try another data cable, then another USB port. Do not change software yet.

3 · Put “FIELD KIT READY” on screen

FIELD KIT READYThis must return after every normal boot

Grown-up step. Open the official Cardputer ADV Arduino guide. Select the documented Cardputer ADV board and library. Load its simplest display example. Change the screen message to FIELD KIT READY. Build, upload, and reboot once.

Only if download mode is needed

  1. Switch power OFF.
  2. Hold G0.
  3. Connect USB power.
  4. Release G0.
Look for

A normal reboot shows the message again.

Try this

Check board and port. Repeat the exact G0 sequence. Do not attach NFC yet.

4 · Plug in the NFC reader

POWER OFF → PLUG IN → POWER ONBlack GND · Red 5V · Yellow GPIO2 · White GPIO1

Power down. Attach Unit NFC to the Cardputer’s HY2.0-4P port. Start the external bus at 400 kHz using the M5Unified-resolved pins and the official Unit NFC example.

Look for

The ST25R3916 answers at 0x50.

Try this

Power off. Reseat both ends. Check cable direction. Run an I²C scan.

5 · Scan five cards

STAR 1 · STAR 2 · STAR 3 · STAR 4 · BUILDEROne card in the scan field at a time

Scan each card. Record its UID and the card type reported by the official library. Add a removable label. Do not write to card memory.

Look for

Five different UIDs. Each reads again at close range.

Try this

Move other cards away. Bring one card slowly within 40 mm.

6 · Try a wrong card, a repeat, and a restart

CORRECT = 1 · WRONG = 0 · REPEAT = 0 · REBOOT = RESUMEThese four results must work
  1. Scan an enrolled card. Count one step.
  2. Scan an unknown card. Show a calm retry. Count nothing.
  3. Hold the known card over the reader. Do not count again.
  4. Remove it. Scan again. Acknowledge it, but keep the count.
  5. Power-cycle. Restore the same step.
Look for

All five tests match the line above.

Try this

Fix UID format, removal detection, debounce, or saved state before adding a story.

Next session

Build The Lost Star: four clues, five linked cards, and one shared ending.