One of our customers has asked if we can interface with a serial magnetic card reader/encoder from a old EPOS system. The device has no make only the MW-3170 model number.
Does anybody know how I can communicate with the device? I am currently looking for a programming manual on Google, without much success.
It reads cards conforming to these standards ANSI 3554, ISO 7811/3 and is likely a serial device with a DB-9 connector judging by its age. Why don't you just call one of the vendors and ask for more information?
EDIT: It looks like I was right about the interface:
COMMUNICATIONS
Transmission Type : Asynchronous
Interface : RS232C
Baud Rate : 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600 BPS
Data Length : 7 bits or 8 bits
Parity : Space, Odd, Even, Mark
Start Bit : 1 bit
Stop Bit : 1 bit
I'd further guess that it is probably an ASCII interface that would be easy to reverse-engineer even if you can't obtain documentation. Even if it is binary you can likely figure it out as long as you have magnetic cards containing known data.
After further searching, I found programming software for the MW-3000 series card readers/writers on Partner Tech USA.
Using a serial port monitoring software, you can reverse-engineer the commands sent to the card reader.
To read from the card reader, send the following command.
<STX>R7<ETX>
Hex: 02 52 37 03