Driver License Readers
From TraCS Florida
Various technology exists to read information from a Driver License. TraCS supports Magnetic Stripe Readers as well as Barcode Scanners. The Magnetic Stripe Readers are sometimes cheaper, easier to configure, and easier to use. However, the Barcode Scanners work with more licenses. Some licenses have only barcodes, while licenses that have a magnetic stripe often also have a barcode. More information from the TraCS National Model site can be found here
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Magnetic Stripe Readers (MSR)
 | While there are multiple options for driver license readers, TraCS Florida recommends the SureSwipe Reader by MagTek. You can also purchase this model reader through L-Tron. The SureSwipe reader captures 3 tracks of data from all ISO and AAMVA encoded magnetic stripe cards. A green/red LED indicator on the reader provides the operator with status of the reader operations. |
TraCS Software is compatible with model numbers:
- Single Sided: 21040102
- Double Sided: 21040140
WARNING: TraCS is only compatible with the Human Interface Device (HID) compliant readers, and is not compatible with "Keyboard Wedge" type MSR's. If purchasing MagStripe readers for use with TraCS, be sure to purchase three (3) track HID type readers. However, if a Keyboard Emulation type has already been acquired from MagTek, it can be reconfigured to operate in HID mode (see Troubleshooting).
More information regarding MagTek can be found on the TraCS National Model site.
Magnetic Stripe Reader Usage
Generally users should open the form, and then swipe all Driver Licenses before filling out the form. The bottom left Status bar in TraCS will indicate that it detected the information:
As you proceed through filling out the form, the fields related to individuals will have a drop down list with all of the individuals that have been scanned:
Selecting one of those individuals populates their information in all of the related fields:
Magnetic Stripe Reader Configuration
Under TraCS->Tools->Options->Barcode, there is an "Enable" checkbox at the bottom under USB Swipe Reader. Close out of TraCS and restart the software. TraCS will search for the Magnetic Stripe Reader the next time it restarts.
After restarting TraCS, if a compatible device could not be found, then the message "Unable to initialize/configure the USB Mag Stripe reader. Please verify the settings in the Barcode tab of TraCS Options." is displayed after logging in. Please see Troubleshooting if additional help is needed.
If you have the MSR option enabled, and do not have a MSR plugged in, this message will be displayed. Simply disable the MSR option and the message will no longer appear.
Automated MSR Configuration
The TraCS Florida Forms Installer v1.53 and greater can be configured to automatically enable the USB Swipe Reader detection. See Automating Configuration.
Troubleshooting
Converting from Keyboard Emulation mode to Human Interface Device (HID) mode
If your swipe reader does not appear to be working with TraCS, try downloading this application:
With this application, you can test if your swipe reader is set to Keyboard Emulation mode. If so, we can help you reprogram it to work with TraCS. For instructions on how to do this, please use our Guide to Configuring MagTek Swipe Readers to Work With TraCS.
If your reader is set to HID mode and data is still not transferring to the TraCS forms, please see Data Not Transferring
Data Not Transferring
If the magstripe reader is not transferring information to the TraCS Florida forms, please try the following:
1. First make sure the magstripe reader is enabled within TraCS. To do this, open TraCS and go to Tools/Options/Barcode. Under "USB Swipe Reader", make sure both the "Enable" and "Use State to Decode" options are checked. Clear the check box for "User Barcode" if it is selected, as it has been known to cause issues in some cases.
2. If the MagStripe reader is still not working, we need to next determine if the problem lies with the equipment or with the TraCS software.
Diagnostic Application
1. Download the diagnostic application: MagTek Support
2. Run to extract files and make a note of the location where the files are extracted to. Browse to the extract location. This can usually be found at - C:/temp/MagTek/USBMSRDemo107Install/Disk1/
3. Run the Setup.exe to install the program. Open the application from Start->All Programs->MagTek->MagTek USBMSR Demo. Swipe the license through the reader. The information from the drivers license should populate in the white box.
4. Afterwards, please contact the TraCS Florida Support Team and let us know of the results so that we can further assist you. Click here to Contact Us.
Barcode Scanners
L-Tron Launches Next Generation 4810LR 2D Imager scanner
For those intersted in barcode scanners, TraCS Florida recommends using L-Tron scanners customized for TraCS. When contacting L-Tron, please indicate that you intend to use the scanners with TraCS, and they will ensure you receive the models compatible with TraCS. For sales information or support for L-Tron scanners, please contact L-Tron. More information from the TraCS National Model site can be found here.
4810LR-153 Installation Instructions
1. Plug the cable into the 4810LR 2D imaging scanner and then plug the other end into one of your computer’s USB Ports.
2. Your computer will start the “Found New Hardware Wizard” installation process. Place the “46/47/4810 USB-Serial Port Emulation Drivers” CD in the CD drive and when prompted, select this as the source for the driver. If you do not have a CD drive, download the USB Serial Emulation drivers from http://www.l-tron.com click on support and select TraCS. If you are not familiar with these procedures and the one in paragraph 4, refer to page I-4 of the manual “Application Note: USB Interfaces” on the driver CD.
3. Check the control panel under “System”, “Device manager”, “Communication Ports” to see what com port the USB to Serial Driver has been installed. It will be designated as a “4800dr” class device. If you plug the Imaging scanner into a different USB port in the future, that USB port will be mapped to a different COM port.
4. Configure the bar code scanner option in TraCS Administration Utilities using the COM port number you found in the device manager and by selecting the Welch Allyn scanner. Set the exposure setting to"2".
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5. If you are using the imaging scanner to collect signatures, select the “picture” option.
6. If you elect to use the microphone style mount, attach the mounting tab to the imaging scanner with the (2) #4-40 flat head Phillips machine screws. Attach the hanging clip to any convenient surface with the two sheet metal screws which are also enclosed.
Troubleshooting
If the imaging scanner should ever stop communicating with the TraCS application, the first troubleshooting step is to scan the “return to default” bar code. This returns the scanner to the defaults which TraCS is expecting:
Scan to return the imaging scanner to factory defaults:
Double check to insure that the COM port assigned in the device manager matches the COM port in the TraCS Options.
Other Hardware Resources
