Generally, a reader interfaces with a PC for the majority of its processing requirements. A terminal is a self-contained
processing device. Both readers and terminals read and write to smart cards.
Contact
This type of reader requires a physical connection to the cards, made by inserting the card into the reader.
This is the most common reader type for applications such as ID and Stored Value. The card-to-reader
communications is often ISO 7816 T=0 only. This communication has the advantage of direct coupling to the
reader and is considered more secure. The other advantage is speed. The typical PTS Protocal Type Selection
(ISO7816-3) negotiated speed can be up to 115 kilo baud. This interface enables larger data transport without
the overhead of anti-collision and wireless breakdown issues that are a result from the card moving in and out
of the reader antenna range.
Contactless
This type of reader works with a radio frequency that communicates when the card comes close to the reader.
Many contactless readers are designed specifically for Payment, Physical Access Control and Transportation
applications. The dominant protocol under the ISO 14443 is MIFARE, followed by the EMV standards.
Interface
A contact reader is primarily defined by the method of it’s interface to a PC. These methods include RS232
serial ports, USB ports, PCMCIA slots, floppy disk slots, parallel ports, infrared IRDA ports and keyboards and
keyboard wedge readers. Some readers support more than one type of card such as the tri mode insert
readers from MagTek. These readers support magnetic stripe-contact and contactless read operations all in
one device.
