Summary of HandySwipe portable magnetic card reader using PIC16F688
The HandySwipe is a portable magnetic card reader project using a PIC16F688 microprocessor. It interfaces with a MagTek Type 2 card reader to capture data from credit cards and driver's licenses, displaying it on an LCD screen. The device stores up to 50 cards, runs on four AA batteries, and offers serial connectivity for downloading data in CSV or raw bistream formats compatible with StripeSnoop.
Parts used in the HandySwipe:
- MCP-USB programmer from Olimex
- PIC16F688 microchip
- MagTek brand TTL card reader
- Small character LCD screen
- Four AA batteries
- CSS compiler (C code)
- Serial connection interface
- Play with the MagTek reader
- Try out an efficient LCD interface for use with a PIC microprocessor
I got my reader for less than five bucks from All Electronics. All the parts combined are under $20.
Here’s a shot of the completed project:
Software
For programming, I use the MCP-USB from Olimex. I got it from SparkFun, and I highly recommend their getting started document. It’s fully compatible with MPLAB, and I’ve never had problems with it. I cut a hole so I could just leave my programmer right in the its original box. Here it is with the 16F688 chip I used for this project.I’m using a MagTek brand TTL card reader, which has a pretty generic serial interface. The actual bits are sent using a typical data/clock pair, and there’s a “card present” line to let you know when to start paying attention. This diagram from the data sheet shows all three interface lines in action:
For more detail: HandySwipe portable magnetic card reader using PIC16F688
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What type of magnetic stripes does the HandySwipe read?
The device reads Type 2 stripes, which are the most common format found on credit cards and drivers' licenses. -
How many cards can the HandySwipe store?
The device has the capacity to store up to 50 cards in its memory. -
What power source does the HandySwipe use?
The project runs on four AA batteries. -
Can I download data from the HandySwipe to my computer?
Yes, it features a serial connection that allows downloading memory in CSV format or raw bistream format. -
Is the HandySwipe compatible with StripeSnoop?
Yes, the raw bistream format is compatible with StripeSnoop for advanced parsing and analysis features. -
Which microprocessor is used in this project?
The project utilizes the PIC16F688 microchip. -
What programmer was used for the software?
The author used the MCP-USB programmer from Olimex for programming the device.
