PMRW-003 series

magnetic card reader/writer

Chapter 1 Introduction
PMRW-003 series magnetic card reader/writer can be connected with any
computer or terminal with the RS-232 serial interface, and it can be used to
read/write the information on the magnetic strip of the card or the information of
bankbook. This series magnetic card reader/writer has the following features.
Easy programming, read/write can be happen simultaneously as sweeping card,
double check function of read/write, stable and reliable characteristics, good
compatibility (being able to identify the read/write command set for many magnetic
strip sets), better universal capability. So they can be widely used in many fields
such as finance, post and widely used telecommunication, communication, Customs,
etc., especially in reading/writing credit card, the magnetic cards and bankbook

Chapter 2 Type Explanation

Definition of magnetic Card reader/writer
PMRW-003
1: 1st track; 2: 2nd track; 3:3rd track
4: 1st track + 2nd track;
5: 2nd track + 3rd track;
6: 1st track + 2nd track + 3rd track;

Chapter 3 Technical Specification and Function

1.Technical Specification
(1) Operation Conditions:
Temperature: 0℃-45℃
Humidity: 10%-90%RH
(2) Power Supply: DC+5V 280 mA
(3) Sweeping card speed: 10-120cm/s
(4) Read/write standard: ISO7810, ISO7811-1,2,3,4,5/IBM format
(5) Record density: 1st track: 210BPI
2nd track: 75BPI

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 3rd track: 210BPI
(6) Number of record characters:
1st track: 76
2nd track: 37
3rd track: 104
(7) Communication mode:
Serial asynchronous communication (RS-232)
(8) Life of magnetic head: ＞500，000 times

2. Function
(1) Sweeping card by hand
(2) Auto-check power-up, auto-discriminate many record formats with out command
controls for each track.
(3) Double indication of read/write, light and beep.
(4) Being able to read/write various magnetic cards and bankbook with any media
including the transparent medium.

Chapter 4 Computer Connection Mode and Pin Definition

1. Connection with the Terminal with +5V power supplied (most of

terminals have +5V power supplies connected to the serial ports)
(1) Connection Schematic Diagram

Auxiliary Magnetic card

Terminal
Serial Port Reader/Writer

(2) The output cable of the magnetic card reader/writer is a 9-pin D type socket, its
pin definition as follows:
Pin NO. 1 2 3 5

Function +5V TXD RXD GND

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2. Connection with a computer or terminal without +5V power supply:
(1) Connection Schematic Diagram

Host
RS-232 port
computer
(Terminal) Special double head
Keyboard port Cable for serial port

Magnetic card
reader/writer

Host keyboard plug of host keyboard

(2) The output cable of reader/writer is a special 2-head D type 9-pin socket. The
cable can be connected with the host keyboard circuit for supplying power, and the
socket is connected with the serial port of the computer or terminal.

Definition of D type 9-pin socket

Pin NO. 2 3 5
Function TXD RXD GND

The function of the special 2-head plug pins

Male Socket
Pin NO. 1 2 3 4 5
Function CLK DAT NC GND VCC

Female Socket
Pin NO. 1 2 3 4 5
Function CLK DAT NC GND VCC

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3.Connection with serial port expander
Connect Schematic Diagram

Serial port
Host computer
or terminal

Host port
External power
supply +5V

Serial equipment A port K port

Serial port
Expander
Magnetic strip
C port
reader/writer B port

Printer

Password
Keyboard

Chapter 5 operations

The following operations can be carried out when the reader/writer is connected
to the computer or Terminal correctly.
1. Auto-check power up
The red, yellow and green indicators light at the same time when power is up or the
reset command is received, then go out after several seconds. Beeper beep once
represents pass of auto-check, or mistake occurs and the red indicator lights for long
time.

2. Read operation
The green indicator lights for long time when the reader/writer receives the read
command. The operator should face the trade mark and sweep the magnetic card or

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 bankbook through the card slot from right to left in the stable speed, on which the
magnetic strip faces the operator’s body. If reading is correct, the green indicator
goes out and the beeper beeps once. Otherwise the red indicator lights and the
beeper beep for three times.

3. Write operation
The yellow indicator lights for long time when the reader/writer receives the write
command. The operator should face the trademark card sweep the magnetic card or
savings account book through the card slot from right to left in the stable speed, on
which the magnetic strip faces the operator’s body. If reading is correct, the yellow
indicator goes out and the beeper beeps once, otherwise the yellow indicator goes
out, the red indicator lights and the beeper beeps for three times.

Chapter 6 Record Format and Record Character set

1. The PMRW-003 series readers/writers can auto-discriminate the
following five record formats in read operation.
Record Start
Write characters Stop Character Comment
format order Character
Standard
Format 1 B See character set F
ISO Format
Format 2 B See character set C

Format 3 D See character set F

Format 4 BA See character set F

Standard
Format 5 BA See character set C
IBM Format
The record format in write operation is determined by setting switch SW2 (Format
1 or Format 5)

2. Character set as follows:

(1) The character set of 1st track is the standard ASCII character set.

character SP ! ” # $ % & , ( ) * + , - . /

ASCII code 20H 21H 22H 23H 24H 25H 26H 27H 28H 29H 2AH 2BH 2CH 2DH 2EH 2FH

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character 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ： ； = ＞

ASCII code 30H 31H 33H 33H 34H 35H 36H 37H 38H 39H 3AH 3BH 3DH 3EH

character @ A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O

ASCII code 40H 41H 44H 43H 44H 45H 46H 47H 48H 49H 4AH 4BH 4CH 4DH 4EH 4FH

character P Q R S Y U V W X Y Z [ \ ] ^ -

ASCII code 50H 51H 55H 53H 55H 55H 56H 57H 58H 59H 5AH 5BH 5CH 5DH 5EH 5FH

Note: all the above characters can not be transferred in write-in and
read -out
(2) Character set of 1st and 2nd tracks
Character set 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 : ; = >
ASCII code
30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 3A 3B 3D 3E
(Hexadecimal Code)
Record character 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B D E
Read-out character 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 : ; = >

Chapter 7 Maintenance
The maintenance should be done in daily in order to ensure its reliable
operation.
The maintenance ways are the following:
1. Cleaning the magnetic head
Clean the head before the daily use or in the case of occurring mistakes in
reading/writing several times:
A. Sweep the dry cleaning card through the guide slot for 5-10 times, keeping
the felt face closing the magnetic head.
B. In the case of dirt head, moisten the felt face of the cleaning card with the
cleaning liquid or alcohol, then sweep the cleaning card through the guide slot for
several times keeping the felt face closing the magnetic head, then sweep the dry
cleaning card through the slot for several times.

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 2. Cleaning wheel of the Encoder
A. Moisten the cleaning card with the cleaning liquid or alcohol, sweep the
cleaning card through the slot for 10 times in general, keeping the felt face closing
the magnetic head.
B. Sweep the dry cleaning card through the slot for 2-3 times.
3. Cleaning the guide slot
A. Round the cleaning card with a piece of gauze, and put it on the edge of the
slot.
B. Put the card into the slot by the edge of the magnetic head, move the card
and clean both sides of the magnetic head, don’t touch the head.
C. Do not leave fibers of the gauze in the slot or on the head

Appendix1 Command set

Function Command Format of Data Return Remark

Reset DEL (7FH) -----

Liaison ESC (1BH) ACK (06H)

---- Correct: STX% 1st track data?;
2nd track data?+3rd track
data? ETX BCC (02H25H 1st
Read card track data 3FH3BH 2nd track
data 3FH25H 3rd track data
3F03H BCC
Error: NAK (15H)
STX% 1st track data ?; 2nd Correct: STX% 1st track data?
track data? + 3rd track data? 2nd track data BCC
ETX BCC (02H25H 1st track (02H25H 1st track data
Write card data 3FH3BH 2nd track data 3FH3BH 2nd track data
3FH2BH 3rd track data 3FH2BH 3rd track data
3FH03H BCC 3FH03H BCC )
Error: NAK (15H)

Notes:
(1) PMRW-003 series magnetic card reader/writer exchanges the Information
with the host computer in the way of data package. The format of the data
package is the following: STX% 1st track data? 2nd track data ?+ 3rd track

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 data ? ETX BCC Where STX (02H) is the header flag of the data package;
ETX (03H) is the trailer flag; “%(25H)”, “;(3B)”,“+(2B)” is the start character
of 1st, 2nd, 3rd track respectively;“?(3FH)” is the end character of each track
data; BCC is the check byte of the package (NOR Sum) including ETX(03H)
except STX(02H).

(2) In read operation, each track data can be put into the data package only in the
correct reading and be transferred up to the host computer (the start and end
character of the corresponding track is added to the package), the operation
returns “NAK (15H)” when the reading for all three track data fails.

(3) In write operation, the host computer adds the start/end Character on the
corresponding track data, puts it into the data package and transfer down to
the reader/writer. If the write operation is correct, the written-in data are read
out and return to the host computer in the way of data package. If the write of
some track is mistaken, then the operation fails and returns “NAK (15H)”.