User's Manual

Overview
apC/8X Technical Manual 1-9
Card Readers
A card reader is comprised of a read head or reader electronics and a small
circuit board, called a personality board or module. These boards fit into the
reader housing and contain the electronics for accepting magnetic stripe or
Wiegand signal technologies. By setting a switch on the board, you can
determine which signaling technology will be accepted.
The apC/8X interfaces with the following personality modules:
 RM-4
 RM-4E
 RM-DS
 For information about readers, see the Software House Readers, Inputs,
and Outputs (RIO) Guide.
Magnetic Stripe Readers
The magnetic stripe reader is enclosed in an all weather housing with a slot
through which a magnetically coded card is passed, or “swiped.” The
RM-4/4E personality module decodes the data on the card and transmits it to
the apC/8X for processing.
Wiegand Technology Readers
There are three types of Wiegand technology card readers:
 Swipe reader – through which a card is passed
 Insertion reader – into which a card is inserted and removed
 Key reader – into which a key shaped card is inserted and removed
A charging/sensing coil inside a Wiegand reader creates a magnetic field.
When the wires inside the card interact with the magnetic field, they create
low voltage impulses in the coil. Depending on the arrangement of the wires
in the card, the voltage is either positive or negative. The module translates
the impulses and transmits the information to the apC/8X for processing.
Most swipe, insertion, and key Wiegand Readers have a single red LED that
indicates the status of the door. Some models are available with a bi-color
LED to allow greater flexibility in reporting the door status. Software House
RM Wiegand readers have a three-LED display.