# Magstripe Reader - PS/2 Interface - 3 Tracks (1&2&3)

**Type:** Product page · **SKU:** ADA853 · **Brand:** [Adafruit](https://core-electronics.com.au/brands/adafruit-australia)
**Page:** https://core-electronics.com.au/magstripe-reader-ps-2-interface-3-tracks-1-2-3.html ([markdown](https://core-electronics.com.au/magstripe-reader-ps-2-interface-3-tracks-1-2-3.html.md))

Decode what's hidden on your credit cards, or use it for an access system - this mag-stripe card reader can decode all three tracks! Adafruit like this small and easy...

## Pricing

- **Price:** $114.95 (inc GST) — $104.50 AUD, exc GST
- **Quantity discounts:** 10+ $101.36 (exc GST) · 50+ $99.27 (exc GST)

## Availability & dispatch

- Out of stock — the product page offers email notification when it returns.

## Description

Decode what's hidden on your credit cards, or use it for an access system - this mag-stripe card reader can decode all three tracks! Adafruit like this small and easy to use mag-stripe reader for being so microcontroller-friendly. Instead of a USB port, it has a PS/2 interface and acts like a 'keyboard'. In fact, its designed to be a 'pass through'/'keyboard wedge' device for point-of-sale terminals. What's nice about PS/2 is that it uses a single connector for power and data, and uses two data pins. When a card is swiped, the raw data is decoded, parity-checked and spit out as if they were typed on a keyboard. There is one magnetic head but you can swipe in either direction and will emit data in the right order. Nearly all microcontrollers have existing PS/2 keyboard examples that would work fine with this swiper. For Ardiuno users, Adafruit tried out PJRC's PS2\_Keyboard library with great success - just check the 'simple text' example for which pins you can connect to on your 'duino (on an Uno Adafruit used digital pins 2 and 3). We suggest [Adafruit's PS/2 adapter cable](https://core-electronics.com.au/ps-2-wired-connector-panel-mount-minidin-6.html) to make the wiring easy. Swipe any magnetic card and you'll see the data appear in the serial terminal! This reader will read and decode all three tracks of standard magnetic-stripe cards. It cannot write to cards, and cannot be modified to write to cards. We also have a two-track reader which is less expensive but does not read track #3. Wikipedia has a great article on magnetic stripe cards which will help you determine if you need a three-track reader or if a two-track reader is good enough.

## Technical Details

- 29mm (1.6") wide
- 90.5mm (3.56") long
- 26.4mm (1.04") tall
- 196cm (77") cable
 
 ![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/rohs_icon_8216055e11.jpg)

## Images

- [Product image 1](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/catalog/product/8/5/853-00.jpg)