Barcodes
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| This is an example of a linear barcode |
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How do bar codes work? Different combinations of bars and spaces are used to encode characters into bar codes. Differences in light and dark and the width of the elements are the variables used for encoding. The bar code reader illuminates the symbol and measures the amount of light that is reflected back. The reader determines the pattern of light and dark or wide and narrow, then compares it to the encoding table for that type of bar code (called a symbology) and decodes the symbol.
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How many kinds of bar codes are there? Hundreds of bar code symbologies have been created, but less than two dozen are widely used. Each symbology has its own pattern of bars and spaces and its own rules for encoding data. There are two basic types of bar codes: linear and two-dimensional (2-D).
Linear codes encode data in bars and spaces in a single line. The U.P.C./EAN symbol is the best-known example of a linear bar code but most companies choose to use a Code 39 or Code 128 barcode on plastic cards.
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How are symbologies different? Symbologies differ primarily by the type and amount of data that they can hold. Some symbologies offer full alphanumeric encoding, while others only encode numbers. Symbologies may be fixed or variable length. However, size isn’t unlimited, because the symbol must remain compact enough to be recognized by the reader. Two-dimensional symbologies can hold significantly more data than linear codes. |
What kind of bar code should I use?
There is a large variety of bar codes available to ensure that you can find a symbology that meets your needs. The most important variables that determine the best symbology are: the amount of data that needs to be encoded, the space available to print the bar code and the type of data to encode.
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How much data can a bar code hold?
Variable-length symbologies can be used to encode only a few characters, if desired, while 2-D codes encode thousands of characters. The data capacity of variable-length bar codes is limited by the size of the symbol, which is in turn limited by the ability of the bar code reader. |
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QR Tag
(2D Barcodes) | |
Scan this QR Tag with your smartphone QR tag reader
for an example of what you can do with 2D barcodes. |
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What is a QR Tag? QR Tags, also called QR barcodes, 2D barcodes, or quick response codes. Two-dimensional codes encode data in an additional dimension. The two principle types of 2-D codes are stacked and matrix symbologies. Stacked symbologies resemble multiple linear symbols stacked on top of each other. Matrix symbologies feature blocks or lines in a grid or geometric pattern. There are also hybrid 2-D symbologies and other variations. |
Why add QR codes to marketing material? This type of barcode can be decoded using a smartphone with a QR code reader. QR codes have proven to be very useful in marketing and convenience related applications adding an additional level of engagement from the consumer. |
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Magnetic Stripe Cards | |
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What is a "Track"? The magnetic stripe found on the back of the magstripe cards has a possibility of up to three areas or "tracks" of data for the ISO standard, identified as tracks 1, 2 and 3. Each track has a different encoding format. Track one contains up to 79 alphanumeric characters. Tracks 2 and 3 contain only numeric characters; 40 and 107 characters respectively. We have an outline of the track restrictions in our Downloads area. The track for JISII cards (a Japanese standard) shall be located in the area including two lines 6.3 mm and 11.7 mm from the top edge of the magnetic card but the encoded width in this track shall be more than 6 mm wide.
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What are HiCo and LoCo?
Hi-Co (high coercivity) is a type of magnetic stripe tape made up of magnetic particles that can stand under difficult operating environments the particles will not be easily effected when closing to a magnetic field. When high-co magstripes come into contact with magnetic fields such as a telephone handset , the information on the stripe is not altered, unlike lo-co. cards which are subject to erasure. Since the two types of stripes are made up of very different material, it is necessary to use an encoder specifically made for the type of stripe you are encoding.
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Do I need a special reader to decode HiCo cards?
All stock magnetic stripe readers you purchase from CardsPlus will offer both HiCo and LoCo reading capabilities. |
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MIFARE RFID Cards | |
| This is what a MIFARE cards looks like internally. |
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What is MIFARE?
MIFARE technology is a 13.56 MHz contactless technology that is owned by Philips Electronics. MIFARE is often considered to be a "smart card" technology. This is based on the ability to read and write to the card. In reality, MIFARE is simply a memory card (as opposed to a processor card).
The MIFARE contactless smart card and MIFARE card reader/writer were originally developed to handle payment transactions for public transportation systems. With a short read-range, MIFARE was uniquely suited to perform increment/decrement functions. Although contact smart cards could also do the job, contactless readers are faster and easier to use, and there is virtually no maintenance on the readers, or wear and tear on the cards.
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How many applications can be performed with one MIFARE card?
Up to 15 different applications can be stored on a MIFARE card, and these applications will be separate and secure from one another by using unique keys (passwords) for each sector. The only requirement is that the various application providers must cooperate in the programming of the MIFARE Applications Directory (MAD), and that the keys to this directory must be available to all application providers.
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How do I print on a MIFARE card? Because of the delicate nature of this type of technology, certain print methods are not recommended. Any print method where the print head touches the card is too harsh for the technology and will damage the card (and may compromise the printer too). Manufacturer recommendation for contactless chip cards is offset printing and retransfer printing as these are the only methods will not reduce the lifespan of the card or damage the technology within the card.
Each contactless card has a fine antenna and a small chip sandwiched between the sheets of plastic. When printed on a standard Direct to Card printer, the card is heated once each time a colour is printed on the card- a total of 5 times for the standard full colour card. The rate that the metal antenna cools down is different than the rate that the plastic cools, making the antennae brittle and thus, the life of the card is reduced. We recommend using EDIsecure's XID8300 for the most reliable and cost effective retransfer solution. |
What variants does MIFARE offer? The MIFARE name (derived from the term MIkron Fare Collection System) covers seven different kinds of contactless cards. These are the most popular 3 types in South Africa.
MIFARE Classic
- employ a proprietary protocol compliant to ISO/IEC 14443-3 Type A, with an NXP proprietary security protocol for authentication and ciphering. You can expect 1k or 4k memory.
MIFARE Ultralight
- reduced-cost ICs that employ the same protocol as MIFARE Classic, but without the security part and slightly different commands. There is 512 bits (64 bytes) of memory available.
MIFARE DESFire - are smart cards that comply to ISO/IEC 14443-4 Type A with a mask-ROM operating system from NXP. You can expect 2, 4 and 8 KB of memory available.
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