ID Tech EzWriter User Manual

Magstripe reader & writer

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ID TECH EzWriter

USER MANUAL

EzWriter

MagStripe Reader & Writer

WorkShop

Utility

Technical Guide

For Model Number IDWA

80058501-002-G

Jan 20, 2010

1 of 65

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Summary of Contents for ID Tech EzWriter

Page 1 ID TECH EzWriter USER MANUAL EzWriter MagStripe Reader & Writer WorkShop Utility & Technical Guide For Model Number IDWA 80058501-002-G Jan 20, 2010 Copyright © 2010, International Technologies & Systems Corporation. All Rights Reserved 1 of 65...
Page 2 ID TECH EzWriter FCC WARNING STATEMENT This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Page 3 ID TECH EzWriter LIMITED WARRANTY ID TECH warrants to the original purchaser for a period of 12 months from the date of invoice that this product is in good working order and free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service.
Page 4: Table Of Contents
Compare..........................23 Erase ..........................23 Sequential Write ......................24 Read & Writing File Operations ..................25 Read To File ........................25 Write From File ......................25 Database Application.......................26 EzWriter Technical Reference Guide ..................31 Introduction........................31 Description........................31 Accessories ........................31 Terms & Related documents ...................32 Specifications ........................33 Interface...........................34 RS-232:........................34 USB-RS232: ........................35...
Page 6: Introduction
(customer defined) data format. All formats use F/2F data bit encoding (writing) and either 210 or 75 bits per inch (BPI) data densities. The EzWriter can read and write both High coercivity and Low coercivity (Hi-Co & Lo-Co) magnetic stripes.
Page 7: Quick Start
The WorkShop software runs on Microsoft Windows platform for EzWriter with an RS232 or USB communication interface. All the software is provided on a CD or is available on the ID TECH website in the form of a downloadable ZIP file. The downloaded Zip file has internal files, which must be extracted before using.
Page 8 The USB interface operates though a serial COM port like an RS232 device. The USB communication uses a special USB-RS232 driver included in the supplied CD or is available from the ID TECH website. EzWriter is a “Self-Powered” USB device and must be powered using the 24VDC power adaptor provided with EzWriter.
Page 9 ID TECH EzWriter If the Workshop CD is installed or the PC has an internet connection, then select the “(Recommended)” button and Click Next > to continue. The wizard searches for and installs the first driver. Close the Wizard by clicking “Finish”.
Page 10 ID TECH EzWriter Select “Browse” & establish the path “C:\Program Files\IDT EzWriter Workshop\USB Driver”. Select next and the Wizard locates and loads the driver from the folder. The wizard searches for and installs the first driver. The New Found Hardware Wizard appears a second time to install a second driver.
Page 11: Using Workshop
One of the protocol options buttons is already selected; this indicates the protocol in which EzWriter is already set. Change the protocol options if desired. The IDTECH protocol is recommended for use with Workshop. The IDTECH protocol allows more function selections.
Page 12 ID TECH EzWriter Notice: The “Connecting the unit. Please wait…” notice may appear several times as Workshop establishes communication with EzWriter. There is a delay period between the “Connecting” notice closing and the “Workshop” window appearing. The initial WorkShop Window is shown above with the firmware version shown in the Message text box.
Page 13: Writing On A Card (Quick Start)
ID TECH EzWriter Writing on a Card (Quick Start) The WorkShop window has a separate text box for each magnetic stripe track: Track 1, Track 2, & Track 3. Above each box, a label shows the track number and the encoding format.
Page 14 Do not change any other selection. Click OK to return to the WorkShop window. There are two sample cards provided with the EzWriter. One is a Lo-Co type and the other is a Hi-Co type. Either one or the other can be used. The coercivity in the Setup window must be set to match the card type used.
Page 15: Reading A Card (Quick Start)
“Write(3) OK!”. End the card writing process by click the “End” button in the “Please Swipe a Card” window. Note: The EzWriter has two magnetic heads; one is for writing and the other is for reading. The Reader/Writer performs a read after write operation when writing cards. When a card is swiped, the card passes over the write head first and then the read head.
Page 16: Workshop Utility
ID TECH EzWriter WorkSho p U tility The EzWriter and WorkShop software together provide the card reading & writing functions most often needed for magnetic stripe use. These functions & operations are available from a single WorkShop window. Following is a summary of the WorkShop functions:...
Page 17: Workshop Window
ID TECH EzWriter IDTECH protocol mode; see the asterisks items in the Functions List above. Using the IDTECH protocol is recommended. WorkShop Window WorkShop operates from this window. There are several areas (boxes) within the window. Above each box is a descriptive label. Starting from the top left, the Message box provides a “result”...
Page 18: Message Box
ID TECH EzWriter Message Box The Message Box always displays the result of the last action. Mostly, it indicates a successful read or a successful write operation after swiping a card through the slot. When the operation can be performed on more than one card, the result message provides a count of successful card operations.
Page 19: Setup
(LRC) character is automatically calculated by WorkShop and added to the end of track data. Listed below are format parameters that can be changed: EzWriter format selections include: o The Data density can be selected as either 75 or 210 bits per inch.
Page 20 ID TECH EzWriter There are “default” buttons in each tab window; these default buttons force the format settings in the window to be reset to the standardized ISO settings. See Appendix B for additional technical information. Note: Always use the Default Setup settings unless there is a known, specific, and understood reason for not using the default settings.
Page 21 ISO required distance of the SS from the edge of the card. High Coercivity: This is a check box in the Format window. The EzWriter writes on HI-Co or Lo-Co magnetic stripes. This box selects the coercivity the EzWriter is to use. The default is Lo-Co.
Page 22: Write
ID TECH EzWriter End Sentinel Characters: This character marks the end of the track data field. There is a Longitudinal Redundancy Check character (LRC) following the end sentinel. The LRC is used for error checking the data bits. The LRC is calculated by WorkShop and added automatically when writing to a card.
Page 23: Read
Compare process, click on the End button to close the prompt window. Erase This function can be used to erase data on the card tracks. The EzWriter must be set for the correct operating coercivity of the card(s) to be erased. See the Setup section for information on selecting the writing coercivity.
Page 24: Sequential Write
ID TECH EzWriter Sequential Write This function allows creation of a special sequential number “field” in the Track text boxes. The sequential field can be one or more number characters. The sequential number field can be the only characters written in the track or the sequential number can share the track with other “fixed”...
Page 25: Read & Writing File Operations
ID TECH EzWriter Read & Writing File Operations The Read & Write File operations provide a means to read cards, saving the read track data to a file and using the same file to write the same information to a new set of cards.
Page 26: Database Application
ID TECH EzWriter Database Application WorkShop does not provide direct access to industry standard data base applications. The word “database” is used here for the convenience of describing the WorkShop function & operation, which emulates a database process. The WorkShop Database Application provides a method for writing on cards using data from two files.
Page 27 ID TECH EzWriter The Usage file in this example was created using Notepad. The Usage file has two functions: it may contain the Card Type and card Setup format rules “[SETTING]”; it must contain a data definition “[DATA]”. The Card Type and card format SETTING parameters are the same Card Types as in the WorkShop window and the same formatting parameters found in the WorkShop Setup tabs.
Page 28 ID TECH EzWriter The data written on the first card is shown. The number in brackets { } indicates the card track number: SLAM-DUNK~SPORTS~EVENT=DAVID=12340999 12340=999=250205 (nothing is written on track three) Using only track 1 as the example, the “SLAM-DUNK SPORTING EVENT=” is a fixed card data field;...
Page 29 ID TECH EzWriter ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// // ID TECH Sample database Usage file // The "//" at the beginning of a line specifies the line is a comment and line content // is NOT used for database functions or operations. [SETTING] // This is the SETTING section. In this example, all the lines begin with "//", so the // content here is for your reference &...
Page 30 ID TECH EzWriter The Excel csv Sample file has the following variable data fields: This same file can be opened from Notepad, as shown below: The filename extension, .csv, means a comma separated values file. As seen in Notepad above (and like in the Excel example), each row is one record of variable information written on one card.
Page 31: Ezwriter Technical Reference Guide
This section of the User Guide pertains to the information for communication directly with the EzWriter. This information is intended to support the development of application specific software that directly operates with the EzWriter. This information is not need when using the ID TECH supplied WorkShop Utility.
Page 32: Terms & Related Documents
An assembled Circuit Board RS232 Reference Standard for serial asynchronous communication Slot The card path opening for passing a card through an EzWriter Swipe The operation of moving a card through the EzWriter slot Universal Serial Bus—a high speed connection to the host...
Page 33: Specifications
ID TECH EzWriter Specifications Environmental This product is to be used in an indoor environment. Operating temperature: 0ºC to 50ºC, 5 to 95% relative humidity, non-Condensing Shipping: -40ºC to 70ºC, 5 to 95% relative humidity, non-Condensing Storage: -10ºC to 60ºC, 5 to 95% relative humidity, non-Condensing...
Page 34: Interface
ID TECH EzWriter Interface The communication parameters (port settings) are fixed for both USB & RS232 operation. The parameters are: Baud rate: 9600 Data bits: Parity: None Stop bit: RS-232: A 6.0’ cable with DB-9 female connector with a 2.1 mm, center-positive power Jack molded into the DB-9 housing.
Page 35: Usb-Rs232
ID TECH EzWriter USB-RS232: The USB interface uses PC compatible communication drivers, which emulate an RS232 COM port operation through a USB serial connection. This approach allows the application to use the more available USB connections through a virtual COM port.
Page 36: Command & Response Introduction
ID TECH EzWriter Command & Respon se In tro du ction The ID TECH EzWriter is designed to industry norms. There are two command sets to allow backward compatibility to past versions of hand swipe Reader/Writers. One Command set is compatible with the model IDT-3840 Reader/Writer product and is labeled as the IDT Command Set.
Page 37 Hex code: 1B 65 Response: <ESC> y [1B] [79] Description: This command is used to verify that the communication link between computer and the EzWriter is up and good. Command: All LED off Command code: <ESC> <81> Hex code: 1B 81 Response: none Description: This command is used to turn off all the LEDs.
Page 38 Hex code: 1B 86 Response: <ESC> 0 [1B] [30] if test ok Description: This command is used to verify that the card sensing circuit of the EzWriter is working properly. The EzWriter does not response until a card is sensed or the Reader/Writer receives a RESET command.
Page 39 Hex code: 1B 87 Response: <ESC> 0 [1B] [30] ram test ok <ESC> A [1B] [41] ram test fail Description: This command is used to request The EzWriter to perform a test on its on board RAM. Command: Set Leading Zero Command code: <ESC>...
Page 40 Hex code: 1B 6D Response: [Raw Data Block] <ESC> [status byte] Description: This command requests the EzWriter to read a card swipe but send without ASCII decode. Refer to [Raw Data Block] & [Raw Data] Format. Command: Write Raw Data Command code: <ESC>...
Page 41 Command: Detecting EzWriter Command code: 9 Hex code: 39 Response: <ESC> 4 Description: This command is used to detect if the EzWriter is existing or not Copyright © 2010, International Technologies & Systems Corporation. All Rights Reserved 41 of 65...
Page 42 ID TECH EzWriter Command: Shift to AMC protocol Command code: <ESC> AMC Hex code: 1B 41 4D 43 Response: <ESC> 0 : Description: This command is used to shift the protocol to AMC and perform a reset in AMC protocol.
Page 43 ID TECH EzWriter For example, when reading a card (encoded data on track 2 only) on dual track model, data is transmitted like: 1B 73 1B 0100 1B 02 [L2] [string] 3F 1C Initialization HOST Direction EzWriter Command code: (Reset) <ESC>a...
Page 44 ID TECH EzWriter READ DATA Example HOST Direction Reader/Writer Command (read command) code:<ESC>r HEX code: 1B, 72 (status ACK) (Wait until swipe card) Command ACK: <ESC>s<ESC> 01,%01?<ESC> 02, 23?<ESC> 03, 45??<FS><ESC> <status> HEX code: 1B, 73, 1B, 01, 25, 30, 31, 3F, 1B, 02,...
Page 45: Amc Compatible Command Set
XOFF/XON commands. After a power-on or reset, the unit is initialized to XON (communications enabled) mode. EzWriter, in the AMC mode, must get commands from the host to operate the LEDs. Workshop sends these commands to EzWriter to emulate the IDT protocol operation.
Page 46 ID TECH EzWriter AMC Commands and Responses The following sections describe the commands that the host can send to the reader, this is followed by a section describing the reader responses to the host. There are three groups of commands, which can be sent to the reader. The first is used to manipulate the reader (LED’s, status, etc.).
Page 47 (39H) Version Report ACTION Transmit version information. Send this when you want to know the version of the firmware currently loaded. Example “ID TECH Reader/Writer Version 2.0 061001” <ESC> (1BH) Abort ACTION Abort current command and transmit an Acknowledge response (“^” 5EH) if issued: After a single character “Load Encode Data”...
Page 48 ID TECH EzWriter Reader Responses on page 59 for details. This is the command version of power cycling the reader. Note This command byte is not recognized as a command within data strings. (23H) Configuration Request ACTION Transmit a byte representing the configuration of the unit as follows: Table 2 –Configuration Byte...
Page 49 ID TECH EzWriter ACTION The unit performs the following operations: Turn green/red LED colors ON or OFF, as specified. Transmits an acknowledge response “^” (5EH). A bicolor LED is used. If both red and green are ON, the LED appears amber/yellow.
Page 50 ID TECH EzWriter Magstripe Card Read Commands ® Table 3 – Magstripe Card Read Command Summary ASCII Name Length Arm to Read Clear buffers, wait for card read Arm to Read with speed Same as P but send “(“ at start of prompts Magstripe data and “)”...
Page 51 ID TECH EzWriter (50H, uppercase) Arm to Read ACTION The unit performs the following sequence: Clear the read data buffers for all tracks. Transmit command acknowledge (“^” 5EH). Wait for card swipe. Transmit read acknowledge (“^” 5EH) after card swipe. After an “Arm to Read” command is received and acknowledged.
Page 52 ID TECH EzWriter (49H) Transmit “Error Data” ACTION The unit performs the following sequence: If the previous read command resulted in an error (response was '*', e.g. no end sentinel, parity or LRC error), transmit the data regardless of the error(s). If there was no error, transmit '+'.
Page 53 ID TECH EzWriter Magstripe Card Write Commands Table 4 – MagStripe Card Write Command Summary ASCII Name Length Load ISO Standard Data To encode cards with standard ISO for writing Track 1 format Load ISO Standard Data To encode cards with standard ISO...
Page 54 ID TECH EzWriter Load Data Commands Use these commands to load data into the unit‘s encode storage. (41H) Load ANSI/ISO standard data for encoding track 1 (42H) Load ANSI/ISO standard data for encoding track 2 (43H) Load ANSI/ISO standard data for encoding track 3...
Page 55 ID TECH EzWriter (45H) Load Custom data for encoding track 1 (46H) Load Custom data for encoding track 2 (47H) Load Custom data for encoding track 3 FORMAT These commands may be either 2 or 3 bytes long. 2 byte command – Used to load custom data with no internal null characters allowed. The command character is followed by an ASCII number (3,4,5,6 or 7) which specifies the number of bits per custom character.
Page 56 ID TECH EzWriter (4FH) Set Write Density to 210bpi on tracks 1 and 3 (6FH) Set Write Density to 75bpi on tracks 1 and 3 (4EH) Set Write Density to 210bpi on track 2 (6EH) Set Write Density to 75bpi on track 2...
Page 57 Typical low coercivity (~300 Oersted) setting = 036 Typical high coercivity (4140 Oersted) setting = 255 This is an AMC compatible command. EzWriter only supports either low or high coercivity, all settings above 170 is high coercivity; otherwise, EzWriter is set to low coercivity operation.
Page 58 ID TECH EzWriter (5AH) Arm to Write, no RAW verification ACTION The unit performs the following sequence: Check that valid write data exists in Encode Data storage buffer. Send “*” error if not. Else, Clear read buffers; Transmit Command acknowledge (“^” 5EH); Wait for card swipe. Transmit acknowledge (“^” 5EH) after card swipe.
Page 59 ID TECH EzWriter Reader Responses There are two types of responses that the unit, solicited and unsolicited. The unit produces a solicited response after receiving a command from the host. This includes command acknowledgements, card data, etc. The unit produces an unsolicited response normally due to a user’s action or a power on situation.
Page 60: Special Amc Emulation Settings
‘k’ – Yellow LED off (To be compatible with UIC MSR206-HL) ‘l’ – Yellow LED flash (To be compatible with UIC MSR206-HL) ‘9’ To detect EzWriter under IDT protocol or to get version string in AMC protocol Switching Between Protocols: ‘ToIDT’...
Page 61 R/W. Program parameters: Com1wr xx 16 1 1 1001, where xx corresponds to one data file. 3. The EzWriter will not write a “No Data” track. The definition of a “No Data” track is an attempt to write a start sentinel character, and end sentinel character, the LRC, and there are no data characters.
Page 62: Maintenance
ID TECH EzWriter Maintenance The EzWriter requires cleaning of the card slot on a regular interval. The interval is approximate and should be after every 50,000 card swipes. Regular cleaning insures oils and debris do not accumulate on the operating components.
Page 64: Appendix B: Card Formats
ID TECH EzWriter Appendix B: C ard Fo rmats Table 7 – ISO Card Format Trac Densit Bits/ Total Character Set Start Field y (bpi) Char Characters Sentinel Sentinel Separat Alphanumeric Numeric only Numeric only * Includes ODD parity bit...
Page 65: Aamva
ID TECH EzWriter Track 2 and 3 allowed characters Table 2 – Numeric Character Set Bits Character < > (1) These characters are for hardware control purposes only. (2) Start sentinel (3) Field separator (4) End sentinel AAMVA Table 8 – AAMVA Card Format...

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