9.2. Card readers and cards

Card readers are typically connected to the printer via USB. Selected printers (HP) may have a hardware integration pocket that allows a card reader to be mounted inside the printer and be connected typically via a USB mini connector. Readers can be keyboard (KBD) emulating and non-keyboard emulating.

*Use of card reader with Epson and Konica Minolta is coming functionality and not supported at this time and the selection of supported card readers may vary.

Card reader vendor IDs and product IDs

Card readers with the below vendor ID (VID) and product ID (PID) are supported.

How to find the card reader’s vendor ID and product ID

1. On your Windows computer open the Device Manager.
2. Connect the card reader to the USB port.
3. Select Human Interface Devices.
   Depending on the card reader, it may appear under Ports (COM & LPT) instead.
4. Double-click the device of interest to open Properties.

*Finding the card reader’s VID/PID can be a bit tricky. Try to connect/disconnect it from the USB port and look for what device disappear and re-appear. Or, just check them all.

5. Select the Details tab
6. In the Property drop-down menu, select Device instance path
   The USB HID VID and PID are displayed. Example: USB\VID_09D8&PID_0420

See also:

• How to find the card reader IDs on Lexmark printers.

Types of card readers

• Proximity card readers
  Contactless card readers that uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. Some readers support both low frequency (125kHz) and high frequency (13.56MHz) and multiple protocols within those frequencies, including, popular ones like: Mifare, HID Prox, EM, Hitag, iClass, Indala, Legic and many more. The user presents the card (keyfob or tag) by holding it near the reader so it can scan it.

*Printix does NOT sell card readers and cards. Please refer to the documentation provided by the supplier of your card reader.

Troubleshooting card readers

• Card reader does not work with a printer
• Card reader does not work with a particular card
• Multiprotocol cards
• Present one card at a time
• HP printer says: USB error

Card reader does not work with a printer

First verify that the connected card reader has been registered:

1. Open the Printer properties page and look for the Card reader section.
   If there is no entry, then try to power cycle the printer.

If the printer does not support keyboard emulation and the reader does, then it will not work and vice versa. To establish if the reader support keyboard emulation connect the reader to the USB port of a Windows computer.

1. Open Notepad.
2. Present the card to the reader.
   The card number is written if the reader is setup for keyboard emulation. Otherwise it will not write anything.

Card reader does not work with a particular card

If the reader works with some cards, but not with others there could be a number of reasons:

• The card is defect. A proximity card contains an antenna and if the card appear worn and perhaps bend, the antenna may have been damaged.
• The protocol needed to read the card has been disabled.
• The card is using a protocol that is not supported.

Multiprotocol cards

If you suspect a card is a multiprotocol card, it is always good to present the card in two different ways to the reader:

• Move the card slowly towards the reader.
• Drop the card quickly and directly onto the top of the reader.

If for example the card support both HID iClass and HID Prox. Dropping the card quickly will (depending on the reader) result in two beeps and reading of both card numbers. Presenting the card slowly will return only the HID Prox card number (as it has a better reading range).

Present one card at a time

If you are storing multiple proximity cards in a wallet and is placing the wallet on top of the card reader, it will vary which card is read. The same applies if you have multiple key fobs chained together. You should present only one card (or key fob) at a time.

Proximity protocols

High frequency (13.56 MHz)

IS014443A

• Mifare Classic
• Mifare Mini
• Mifare DESFIRE EV1
• Mifare Plus S,X
• Mifare Pro X
• Mifare SmartMX
• Mifare Ultralight
• Mifare Ultralight C
• SLE44R35
• SLE66Rxx (my-d move)
• Legic Prime
• Legic Advant
• Pay Pass

IS014443B

• Calypso
• CEPAS
• Moneo
• Pico Pass
• SRI512, SRT512
• SRI4K, SRIX4K

IS018092/ECMA-340

• Sony Felica
• NFC Forum Tag 2-4

IS015693

• EM4×33
• EM4×35
• HID iClass
• ICODE SLI
• M24LR16/64
• MB89R118/119
• Pico Pass
• Tag-it
• SRF55Vxx (my-d vcinity)

Low frequency (125 KHz)

• AWID
• Casi Rusco
• Cotag
• EM4100, 4102, 4200
• EM4150
• EM4305
• FDX-B
• G-Prox
• HID Prox
• Hitag 1, 2, S
• Indala
• IoProx
• Keri
• Miro
• Nexwatch
• Paxton Net2
• Pyramid
• Q5
• T5557
• T5567
• TITAN
• UNIQUE
• ZOODIAC