Gasboy MCE300 - Manual (Page 8)

03/07/03 1-1
Section 1
INTRODUCTION
PURPOSE
This manual has been created to help familiarize you with your GASBOY MCE 300 and MCE
300HE Magnetic Stripe (MAG) Card Encoders. We strongly recommend that you read this
manual BEFORE you try to operate your unit. Unless otherwise specified, when this book refers
to the MCE 300, it includes both the standard MCE 300 and the MCE 300HE.
OVERVIEW
The GASBOY MCE 300 Motorized Mag Card Encoders provide the flexibility to easily encode and
read your own mag cards. New accounts or employees can be added to your system right away.
Lost or stolen cards can be replaced without delay. If you have experienced the delays involved in
ordering new or replacement cards, you will appreciate the ability to encode your own mag cards.
The GASBOY MCE 300 and MCE 300HE are microprocessor-based units which utilize motorized
encoders. The motorized encoder automatically transports the card over the heads for write/read
operation. The MCE 300 is a low coercivity* encoder and uses standard low coercivity cards. For
applications requiring additional resistance to accidental erasure of data, the MCE 300HE is
available. The MCE 300HE is equipped with a high coercivity encoder and requires high coercivity
cards.
*NOTE: Coercivity relates to the amount of magnetic force needed to write or overwrite data on
the magnetic stripe. High coercivity requires more magnetic force than low coercivity.
Operation of either MCE 300 requires an ASCII data terminal (e.g. CRT, terminal printer) for
configuring the unit and entering the data to be encoded. GASBOY card system users may use
their existing Panasonic or Texas Instrument terminal printer for the data terminal. The data
terminal is connected to the MCE 300 through one of two asynchronous communication ports.
The second port is for connection of an optional printer.
Through the use of the data terminal you can easily configure the MCE 300 to your specifications.
The loading of card data is made easy by the use of automatically loaded standard, incrementing
and/or decrementing fields. In many cases, only a few digits of information need to be loaded to
encode the entire card thus greatly reducing the time required to encode cards. A battery backed
memory saves your configuration and any card data in the file when the unit is turned off.
Standard features of the MCE 300 enable you to encode and read mag cards, print card data,
generate PINs (Personal Identification Numbers) used on GASBOY CFN and Series 1000
Systems, and even produce labels that can be affixed to cards for specific identification of that
card. The unit also automatically performs a read verification of each card after it is encoded to
insure the card was encoded properly. Unauthorized use of the system is prevented by requiring
the entry of a security access code before commands can be entered.
Although sophisticated in nature the GASBOY MCE 300 is easy to use. Past card encoding
experience is not required to operate the unit. Should problems arise, help is readily available
from our toll-free customer service center and authorized service representatives.