Opening and waiting for events - Serial port

[Guest]

I am having a hard time to read data off of magnetic stripe reader on my
Symbol MC50. I am using OpenNETCF.IO.Serial and datareceived() event. I
need a good example to open a port and read data from a regular credit card.

I tried testing the SerialVB app in VB and it's not reading any data. Can
someone tell me what the steps are in coding to access a serial port device.
All I am trying to do is hook up a msr to pocket pc and swipe a card and read
data. That is all.

Please suggest.

 

[Darren Shaffer]

if you are using the clip-on MSR for the MC50 from Symbol,
the Symbol SDK for .NET includes classes to enable, query,
and disable that MSR. Serial control is included in that. The
SDK also comes with sample apps to control the integrated MSR.
You can download that SDK from devzone.symbol.com

I've been trying to do something similar from an MC50
to an external MSR which is part of a Zebra Cameo printer
and have been having trouble with that myself - the Symbol
SDK won't handle an external MSR. It seems like some sort
of timing issue in serial communications (I am using OpenNETCF
for that project) and I just haven't cracked it yet but will post a
solution once I have it.
--
Darren Shaffer
..NET Compact Framework MVP
Principal Architect
Connected Innovation
www.connectedinnovation.com

 

[Guest]

Thanks for replying, Darren.

I am using MSR5000 that works with Symbol MC50s. They have applications,
but do not work with the magnetic stripe cards I have. Works great with
credit cards. The data on track 2 and 3 is not reading with my cards. They
are 210 bpi 7bits/track ISO cards.

I tried OpenNETCF and I cannot get that to work either. I cannot get
"DataReceived" event handler to work at all. I can open the ports and that
is all.

Please suggest what I neeed to do.

 

[Darren Shaffer]

to be honest, what I would do is open a support incident with
Symbol because they may have other customers who are trying
get use Track 2 & 3 at the density you are talking about and this
is going to be some work for you to get going.
--
Darren Shaffer
..NET Compact Framework MVP
Principal Architect
Connected Innovation
www.connectedinnovation.com

 

[Guest]

That's where my adventure began. I called Symbol and opened a case with
them. I sent them sample cards that we use since they are not working
properly.

I think it's a bug in their SDK that doesn't read certain type ISO cards.

 

[Dick Grier]

Double-check with Symbol to make sure that your reader is the correct model.
Early versions of the MSR5000 simply did not read Track 3. However, even
these would read Tracks 1 and 2 correctly.

I have only used it with CFSerialIO (from my homepage), but the code should
be almost identical.

Dick

--
Richard Grier (Microsoft Visual Basic MVP)

See www.hardandsoftware.net for contact information.

Author of Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to Serial Communications, 4th
Edition ISBN 1-890422-28-2 (391 pages) published July 2004. See
www.mabry.com/vbpgser4 to order.

 

[Dick Grier]

Again, make sure that your reader actually will read all three tracks. As I
said in my other reply, the MSR5000 readers that I used (more than a year
ago, now), would not work for Track 3. Period.

--
Richard Grier (Microsoft Visual Basic MVP)

See www.hardandsoftware.net for contact information.

Author of Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to Serial Communications, 4th
Edition ISBN 1-890422-28-2 (391 pages) published July 2004. See
www.mabry.com/vbpgser4 to order.