Usb Magnetic Card Reader

Due to the very advantages of efficient, secure data storage and encryption, magnetic cards are becoming increasingly popular. A magnetic card is usually more durable than an ordinary printed card and includes printed as well as encrypted confidential data special to the card's intended use.

Popular forms of magnetic cards are identity cards (ID), access cards, credit cards, debit cards, discount cards etc. Magnetic cards are mostly used because they are extremely difficult to tamper with. All types of magnetic cards require a reader since the data encrypted and stored inside the magnetic stripe can only be read by computer or computer like decrypting device.

Most of the universal magnetic card readers can read cards that meet ANSI, AAMVA or ISO standards. They are widely used in point-of-sale (POS) or simply checkout points. They are also used at access points like home or office entrances, security gates etc. In fact, magnetic card readers can be used anywhere where you want people to verify certain individual information to a central or standalone database in order to grant access or enjoy certain facilities like credit purchase or discounts.

Depending on the function and purpose of use, magnetic card readers can be of different types, sizes and features. One such type is the portable, USB magnetic card reader. USB magnetic stripe card readers have a USB interface with or without a RS232 or PS/2 interface. The USB interface allows easy connection to laptops or desktop computers.

USB magnetic card readers usually don't need any additional drivers in today's computers/laptops. However, they may include software and/or a driver installation disk. The accompanying software allows you to read the encrypted data in a special template or form. USB card readers are small in size and light in weight thus more convenient to use in potable computer systems. They are very easy to operate and require no specialized training or handling.

Like other types of card readers, USB magnetic card readers may be of single, dual or three track capability and may be of a life of a million passes or swipes. Other features include bi-directional readability, dual-LED, low power consumption (powered from the USB terminal), faster operation speed etc. Compared to other types of magnetic card readers, USB readers stand out more advantageous in almost all cases.