Magnetic Stripe Options for ID Card Printers

The Magnetic Stripe Card

Magnetic stripe cards come in two basic types: low coercivity (lo-co) and high coercivity (hi-co). Coercivity refers to the amount of magnetic energy needed to write data to the card. A hi-co card takes more magnetism to write the information, and so it will take more magnetism to erase the data. This makes it less likely to be lost under normal conditions. Card reader/encoder specifications will deterime the type of card you will need for your company.

Standard magnetic track encoding allows for up to three tracks of data to be recorded on the stripe. There are specifications for what kind of data and what the leading and trailing charcaters need to be for each track. Consult with the provider of your magnetic card reader/encoder for more information.

The Magnetic Stripe Encoder

The magentic reader/writer in most printers is a very familar looking item. Look into many cassette recorders, and the same kind of technology is there. A read/write head (usually with a protective glass coating) is housed in a metal case, and the magnetic material is run over the surface to be encoded.

For most printers, magnetic encoding is an option that is built in at the factory. All the printers we carry offer magentic encoding as an option. Some printers (Evolis Pebble and Dualys; Datacard SP35, SP55 and 75) are upgradable after purchase. The Fargo DTC-400 is unique in allowing the end user upgrade the printer to magnetic encoding--just remove one screw and plug the encoder module in!