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Credit Card Reader questions
 

So I don't know a lot about them, and I can't seem to find the information I am looking for in layman's terms.

I am looking for a basic USB card reader that will output the information on the card: number, expiration, cvv into a .txt file or something else basic like that (i've read that some card readers do this). Now I read on another site that they had 2 different card readers that did this, one that left the data as is, and another one that organized the data into easily readable data.

Now is there really a different there? The prices they had were something like $150 and $220. I've seen them on nextag going for anywhere from $50+.

Also I've read about 3 different tracks on a card? How many tracks would I need to read in order to get the information I want?

I am looking for the best deal for my money, but also don't mind paying a little more for ease of use.

Thanks!

Wish I knew more about this to be helpful - all I heard as in tipwise is that the M-260 (something like that) is a solid credit card reader of info.

A card reader is nothing more than an input device, think of it as another keyboard without keys. If you swipe the card in Notepad, it'll show up as if you typed it in.

All card readers are pretty much the same, in terms of what they read, so just find the cheapest one. There's no CVV on the strip since that's how they verify if you're holding the actual card.

Interesting post.

I personally own a MSR-605. Now mine is strictly just a card reader and a writer. It doesnt swipe credit cards and link up to a merchant.

Not all credit cards use 3 tracks and its even more rare in the United States. Track 1 will includ the credit card holders name, the same name that is printed on the front of the credit card. Its in plain text but its also in its own little algorithm. Track 1 is also only used by credit card terminals mainly to read to print your name on the receipt or when you goto an atm, it says "Welcome Joe Blow" Of course you can edit it to say whatever you want and the card will still work as its suppose to.

Track 2 consist of the actual credit card info, such as the 15 or 16 digit credit card number and the expiration. It DOES NOT show the cvv2. Track 2 looks something like this: 1234567890123456=13062011128400000060 ... The first set of numbers "1234567890123456" is the card number. The "1306" is the expiration date written backwards, so it really means 06/2013.. The rest of the numbers are bank codes and other info that the terminals and atms use. When processing a credit card/debit card, terminals really only use the Track 2, thats why skimmers only steal the track 2.

Now I know nothing about swiping a card into notepad. Like I said i have a MSR-605 and I use the software that comes with it. I have to click on a button in the software that says Read, Write, Erase, etc. And the software tells the hardware (MSR-605) what it is suppose to be doing when I swipe the card. If I swipe it, Track 1 & Track 2 will show up on the screen and it can then be saved into notepad or any other document for that matter. With the Write function, I input into the software what I want for Track 1 and then for Track 2, click Write, then swipe the card. Erase, well, it does exactly that. Click Erase, swipe card, now theres nothing on the mag strip.

Well, this is a little knowledge from me personally and what I know, not just what I've read on the website. Axcend, I'm not sure if this was the answer you were looking for. But if you have any questions, you are more than welcome to send me a PM.

Heaps of knowledge nowhere else found on this forum that I see. Unfortunately, I and rsot are in the same layman's boat.