ID Innovations Classic Line Series Magnetic Stripe Readers - Manual (Page 7)

Features
7
If you have a POS application that requires, or can support, an RS232 Magnetic Card Reader, you can use the ID
Innovations Incorporated USB Magnetic Card Reader. In this mode, the Card Data will be output to a Virtual COM port on
your system. Simply select this COM port in your POS application and you will be up and running in no time.
Note: In order to use this feature you will need to download the Free software driver from our Website at
www.idinnovations.com
Once you have downloaded and installed the software driver, you can create the Virtual COM port to be used by your POS
software. Simply install the driver icon in your startup folder on your computer and it will be loaded each time your
computer is powered up. When the driver is loaded all Card Data will be transmitted to the COM port and into your
application.
Note: In most RS232 installations you have to match up the COM port settings of the Card Reader and POS software.
However, when using the ID Innovations Incorporated USB Virtual COM port driver you need not concern yourself with
this step. The driver will automatically present the Card Data in the proper Baud Rate, and Parity settings for your
application.
Installation – USB HID Mode
The ID Innovations Incorporated Magnetic Card Reader can be operated in several different modes. As explained above it
can be used in either a Keyboard Wedge or Virtual COM port mode of operation. In addition to these modes, you can
interface to the Magnetic Card Reader using USB Human Interface Device (HID) Class specification Version 1.1 Windows
API calls. In these modes the Magnetic Card Reader behaves like a vendor defined HID device so that a direct
communication path can be established between the Host application and device without interference from other HID
devices.
The ID Innovations Incorporated Magnetic Card Reader provides two different HID interfaces. The first interface can be
used to Sequentially receive Card Data in ASCII form in multiple 5 byte Input records. The format of the Card Data
transmission is dependent on the program settings of the Magnetic Card Reader. The second HID interface transmits the
Card Data in a Formatted mode where Tracks 1, 2 and 3 are transmitted in a single large Input record. In this mode of
operation the Input record is a fixed size, therefore all bytes of this record are transmitted regardless of the Tracks read by
the Magnetic Card Reader or the program settings.
Note: For more information on either of these modes and program assistance in developing your applications contact
ID Innovations Incorporated.
Installation - Keyboard Wedge (PS2 Style)
The Card Reader is installed between the computer and the keyboard. The keyboard cable is plugged into the Card
Reader using the connector labeled "KB". The Card Reader is then connected to the computer using the connector
labeled "PC". The PS2-Y cable is a wedge cable that has two 6 pin Mini-DIN connectors for both the keyboard and the
PC.
Installation – Serial (PS2 Style)
To install the Card Reader serially you will need a ID Innovations, Serial Converter. The Serial Converter is used to
convert TTL signal levels to RS-232 signal levels. The Serial Converter is readily available in a 9-pin straight cable
configuration for direct connection to PCs and a 25-pin Y cable configuration for connection between a Terminal and Host
devices. When connecting the Card Reader to the Serial Converter the PC side of the Card Reader cable should be
connected to the 6-pin connector of the Serial Converter. If you are connecting the Card Reader to a 25-pin Serial
Converter, the 25-pin connector marked TERMINAL should be connected to the Terminal side and the 25-pin connector
marked HOST should be connected to the Host side. For information on cable pin-outs see Appendix D
Note: Do not connect a keyboard to the Card Reader when operating in Serial mode. If you have a keyboard
connected to the Card Reader when power is first turned on, the Card Reader will revert back to the Keyboard Wedge
mode of operation. A keyboard should only be connected to the Card Reader after power is turned on, so that you
may configure the Card Reader using the keyboard.
Note: If you have a device with a powered serial port, that provides +5v @75ma, you may connect the Card Reader
directly by using a simple cable adapter and configuring the Card Reader for Inverted Serial Output, see Inverted
Serial Output for more information.
Installation - Wand Emulation (PS2 Style)