One of our customers has asked if we can interface with a serial magnetic card reader/encoder from a old EPOS system. The device has no make only the MW-3170 model number.
Does anybody know how I can communicate with the device? I am currently looking for a programming manual on Google, without much success.
It reads cards conforming to these standards ANSI 3554, ISO 7811/3 and is likely a serial device with a DB-9 connector judging by its age. Why don't you just call one of the vendors and ask for more information?
EDIT: It looks like I was right about the interface:
COMMUNICATIONS
Transmission Type : Asynchronous
Interface : RS232C
Baud Rate : 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600 BPS
Data Length : 7 bits or 8 bits
Parity : Space, Odd, Even, Mark
Start Bit : 1 bit
Stop Bit : 1 bit
I'd further guess that it is probably an ASCII interface that would be easy to reverse-engineer even if you can't obtain documentation. Even if it is binary you can likely figure it out as long as you have magnetic cards containing known data.