MagTek MODEL MT-85 - Manual (Page 14)

MT-85 RS-232 Reader/Encoder
8
Audio Alarm
The audio alarm beeps once when a card is read or encoded successfully. The alarm beeps three
times for a read or encode error. The alarm also beeps when a message is transmitted to the unit;
one beep for a good receipt of the message, three for an error in receipt of the message. The unit
beeps three times for a time-out error that occurs if a card is not swiped within 30 seconds.
ENCODE MESSAGE FORMAT
The format of the encoded data for three tracks is as follows:
<STX> <SS> track data 1 <ES> <SS> track data 2 <ES> <SS> track data 3 <ES> <ETX>
where:
<STX> is the Start of Text character (0x02, or control B on the keyboard).
This character prepares the Encoder to receive a message.
<SS>
is the Start Sentinel for each track to be encoded. Each track of
card data must start with its identifying Start Sentinel and end with
an End Sentinel (which is always a question mark (?)). You may
encode any combination of the three tracks, but they must be sent
in 1, 2, 3, order. The Start Sentinels are as follows:
Track SS Symbol Format
1 % percent sign 7-bit format
2 ; semicolon 5-bit format
3 + plus sign 5-bit format
track data is the actual data to be encoded on each track. These must be legal
characters for that track. That is, you cannot encode letters on
Tracks 2 and 3 in 5-bit format, so these should not be sent. (See
Appendix A.)
<ES>
is the End Sentinel for each track encoded. The End Sentinel is a
question mark (?) for all three tracks. This must end each set of
track data.
<ETX> is the End of Text character (0x03, or control C on the keyboard).
When this character is received by the encoder, it will switch to the
encode mode until either a successful encode or an abort command
is received.