Contactless standard
ISO/IEC 15693 vicinity card testing
ISO/IEC 15693 is the vicinity contactless standard — 13.56 MHz like ISO 14443, but designed for a longer read range, used in library, asset-tracking and some access applications.
What is ISO/IEC 15693?
ISO/IEC 15693 defines vicinity cards (VICC) and the coupling devices (VCD) that read them, at 13.56 MHz. Compared with ISO 14443 proximity cards, vicinity cards work over a longer range — up to around a metre — at the cost of lower data rates.
It is used where longer-range, low-cost reading matters: library media, asset and inventory tracking, and some access and ticketing systems.
How ISO 15693 is tested
The conformance test methods for ISO 15693 are defined in ISO/IEC 10373-7, which specifies the reference setup and the analog and protocol measurements for vicinity cards and readers.
Test it with cilab
Test ISO 15693 vicinity cards and readers
The ci230 covers ISO/IEC 15693 VICC and VCD testing alongside ISO 14443 — the same integrated instrument, the same absolute-analog approach, and no separate sniffer antenna.
Explore the ci230Frequently asked
What is the difference between ISO 15693 and ISO 14443?
Both operate at 13.56 MHz, but ISO 14443 is proximity (short range, higher data rate) while ISO 15693 is vicinity (longer range, up to about 1 m, lower data rate). They use different protocols and test methods (10373-6 vs 10373-7).
Is ISO 15693 NFC?
ISO 15693 is supported by NFC readers as the NFC-V technology type, but it sits outside the core NFC Forum payment and peer-to-peer scope. It is mainly used for tagging and tracking.
Related standards
ISO/IEC 14443 proximity card testing
ISO/IEC 14443 is the foundation of contactless — the 13.56 MHz proximity standard behind payment cards, transit, eID and access. Almost every NFC and EMV® contactless product builds on it.
Test methods & calibrationISO/IEC 10373-6 contactless test methods
ISO/IEC 10373-6 is the 'how to test' standard for contactless proximity cards. It defines the reference equipment and measurement methods that EMV® and NFC Forum analog test plans build on.
Test smart. Certify easy.
See how cilab runs ISO/IEC 15693 on your bench — book a demo with one of our engineers.
Request a demo