subject: Magnetic Card Reader - a Popular Component [print this page] Magnetic Card Reader - a Popular Component
Magnetic Card Reader is a point-of-sale (POS) device used for interpreting data encoded on a magnetic stripe card.Millions of Magnetic Card Reader, magnetic stripe check readers are installed worldwide. Magnetic Card Reader is used mostly for security and financial transaction purposes. They are also used in financial institutions, retail stores, telecommunication companies, kiosks, gaming, transit, schools, sports and recreation facilities and clubs for identification and transportation purposes. The Magnetic Card Writer are available in different models and sizes. A full size Magnetic Card Reader comes with built-in keyboard wedge interface which are able to read credit card information directly into a PC's draft capture program. A Magnetic Card Reader comes in various interface formats - RTTL, RS-232, USB/keyboard and keyboard wedge interfaces.Magnetic Card Reader and Credit Card Reader are manufactured in accordance to ISO specifications like - ISO 7810, ISO 7811, ISO 7812, ISO 7813, and ISO 4909. These specifications define the physical properties of the card, including size, flexibility, location of the magstripe (magnetic stripe), and magnetic characteristics.Magstripes come in two varieties: high-coercivity and low-coercivity. High-coercivity magstripes are harder to erase, and therefore are appropriate for cards that are frequently used or that need to have a long life. Low-coercivity magstripes require a lower amount of magnetic energy to record, and hence the card writers are much cheaper than machines which are capable of recording high-coercivity magstripes. A card reader can read either type of magstripe, but a high-coercivity Magnetic Card Reader(s) are used in very high volumes in the mass transit sector, replacing paper based tickets with either a directly applied magnetic slurry or hot foil stripe. Slurry applied stripe cards are generally less expensive to produce but are perceived to be of lower quality. These cards typically would not comply with the standards for payment and other cards mentioned elsewhere in this article. A Magnetic Card Reader works by reading the magnetic tape adhered to credit cards, badges, permits, passes and tokens. The information in the magnetic tape can range from account information, credit information etc. The tape is read by the Magnetic Card Reader incorporated into ATMs, identification readers and payment terminals and forwarded to the central data processing services.
