Ultra electronic 300plus quick start Parallel Port Configuration

Ultra Electronics Card Systems Quick Start Guide

Mag Encoding using the WINDOWS Driver

If you wish to use the magnetic encoder from within a WINDOWS application, create a text string with a tilde (~) symbol at the beginning and place the string anywhere on the image, using a black true type font.

For example, to encode the word "HELLO" on to Track 1 at 210 bpi on a HiCo card, the instructions and data string placed on the image should be:-

~1,BPI210,MPC7,COEH,%HELLO?

The Magicard 300M printer allows you to encode HiCo and LoCo cards, at 75 or 210 bpi, on any of the three tracks, at 5 or 7 bits per character, with complete freedom.

To ensure the encoded card is recognised by the swipe reader the encoded data must comply with the ISO Standards. For copies of specifications contact:

AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE

11W. 42ND Street

New York, New York 10036

Tel: (212) 642-4900

Parallel Port Configuration

Non-ECP Operation

If you are using Windows 3.x or if you are using Windows 95 but are unfamiliar with the process of reconfiguring your parallel port for ECP operation, we suggest you use the driver in its “NON-ECP” mode. This is the default mode, and you do not have to do anything other than install the driver to use it. The NON-ECP mode is compatible with Windows 3.x and Windows 95 and uses the parallel printer port in its conventional “Centronics” configuration. In this mode download will take around 17 seconds.

ECP Operation

The ECP mode of the driver can be used only with Windows 95 and uses the parallel port in its “Enhanced Capability” mode to provide a faster download time of around 7 seconds.

Unfortunately, although most PC’s are stated to be “ECP compatible” there are still many so called compatible PC’s which cannot be properly configured to operate efficiently in ECP mode, either because the interface hardware on the motherboard is incompatible, or because the BIOS firmware does not fully support ECP mode.

There have even been some reports of Windows 95 itself containing bugs which interfere with ECP operation under certain conditions.

To use this mode you need to select ECP mode for the LPT1 port using the control panel, and you may also need to set up your BIOS to operate efficiently in ECP mode.

Which Mode Should I Use

Windows 3.x: Use the NON-ECP mode.

Windows 95: If you are unhappy about reconfiguring your computer’s BIOS, or are uncertain whether your computer is fully ECP compliant, we suggest you use the NON-ECP mode. You can always switch to the ECP version later when you are ready, or when you install new system hardware.

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