The PATH SmartLink Card
The New York/New Jersey Port Authority released a new option for paying for PATH train travel in 2005: The PATH SmartLink Card. It allows you to pre-pay for a certain number of trips. The benefit is the RFID chip embedded in the card that allows you to pay for your fare without taking the card out of your wallet.
I decided to test out the RFID Shield on the SmartLink card reader.
One day, I put our SmartLink card into the RFID Shield for Credit Cards with the intention of testing it soon. Within a few days, I had to go into New York City, tooking the PATH train. Being used to just waving the wallet by the reader, a moment of confusion ensued when our familiar motion did not produce the anticipated result. Quickly, I remembered that I had put the SmartLink card into the RFID Shield. I removed the RFID Shield from my wallet and did some quick testing. Indeed, it blocked the reading from every angle. Once I have done enough testing I became satisfied that it does prevent the reading of the data from the RFID-enabled SmartLink card, and removed the card from the shield. I swiped the naked SmartLink card, paid my fare, place dthe SmartLink card into my wallet, and put the RFID shield next to it.
Coming home, I was again surprised that the the SmartLink card did not pay for my fare as I swiped my wallet next to the reader. I remembered the RFID SHield, but the SmartLink card was not in it anymore. I have taken it out. It was still preventing the reading of the RFID chip even though the card was not in the sleeve anymore.