FARGO electronics HDP600 User Manual page 323

RESTRICTED USE ONLY
Setting the Magnetic TOF
Use this setting to position the magnetic data at the correct distance from the leading edge of
the card.

The Magnetic TOF is the distance from the edge of the card to the Start Sentinel (SS).

The Start Sentinel marks the beginning of the encoded data. (Note: According to the
magnetic recording standard (ISO 7811), the correct Start Sentinel distance is 0.293
inches ± 0.020 inches (7.44 mm ± 0.51 mm) from the leading edge of the card.)
Step Procedure
1 a. Print a magnetic selftest by selecting MENU, Print Test Image, Magnetics
Test. (If the magnetics test is not listed, refer to the section on Changing
Encoder Settings.)
b. Measure this distance by making the data visible using a magnetic viewer or
developer solution.
c. Alternatively, use a magnetic card analyzer to measure the Start Sentinel
distance.
2 a. Use a magnetic viewer or developer solution or spray to make the magnetic
data visible (in order to identify the Start Sentinel as the first set of magnetic
lines or first one-bit, which are visibly closer together than the large number
of evenly spaced lines or leading zero-bits that fill the space to the edge of
the card, as shown below).
b. Use a magnifying device with a built-in measuring scale to measure the
distance from the edge of the card to the Start Sentinel in the data, as shown
below.
3 If the Start Sentinel is too far from the leading edge of the card, reduce (or make
negative) the Magnetic TOF setting.
OR
If the Start Sentinel is too close to the leading edge of the card, increase (or
make positive) the Magnetic TOF setting.
HDP600 High Definition Card Printer/Encoder User Guide (Rev. 2.3)
Fargo Electronics, Inc.
11-21