Card reader terminal with external contactless antenna

A method, comprising:

• receiving, via a first short-distance communication antenna in an external contactless card reader, an electromagnetic signal that includes card data from a contactless payment card;
• converting, by the first short-distance communication antenna, the electromagnetic signal into an analog signal;
• and
• transferring the analog signal from the external contactless card reader to a card reader terminal, wherein the card reader terminal includes:
• a secure controller, located in a secure area within the card reader terminal, configured to perform financial transactions;
• and
• a short-distance receiver circuit, located in the secure area within the card reader terminal, wherein the short-distance receiver circuit is connected via separate paths to the first short-distance communication antenna and a second short-distance communication antenna, and the short-distance receiver circuit is configured to convert the analog signal to a digital signal that can be processed by the secure controller.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, at a short-distance receiver circuit located in a secure area of a card reader terminal, an analog signal from one of a first short-distance communication antenna or a second short-distance communication antenna, wherein:
• the first short-distance communication antenna is located in an external contactless card reader;
• and
• the first and second short-distance communication antennas are connected via separate paths to the short-distance receiver circuit;
• converting, by the short-distance receiver circuit, the analog signal to a digital signal;
• and
• performing, by a secure controller located in the secure area, a financial transaction based on card data included in the digital signal, wherein the card data is received by the first or second short-distance communication antenna from a contactless payment card.