# MSR90 Magnetic Stripe Reader **URL:** \ **Category:** General Guidance\ **Created:** [September 19, 2023, 11:49am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/msr90-magnetic-stripe-reader/1169965 "2023-09-19T11:49:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![newtoarduinoworld](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@newtoarduinoworld](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/newtoarduinoworld)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 11:49am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/msr90-magnetic-stripe-reader/1169965/1 "2023-09-19T11:49:25Z")
Hello Everyone, I've been working on connecting an MSR-90 Magnetic Carder Reader to my Arduino board. Originally, the device had a USB connection, its not like the other magnetic reader I've seen on the internet where they have this lots of wires. I tried to remove the exterior cover of the reader just like what i saw on the internet and it has only 4 wires, thinking that it came from the USB cable. Im a beginner in the Arduino world , and J only have questions that I hope you can answer. 1. do i need to use a host shield for me to connect the reader to the Arduino? or do i just remove the cover and cut the USB port and connect the 4 wires directly which is this: ground, 5V power, D+, and D-. I've spent some time looking through the forums, but I haven't found any success. Do anyone you have any experience with this device, or connecting a Magnetic carder to an Arduino board? Thank you for your time, and for any input, you may have. I hope someone answers my question, we really want to pursue the project. Thank You so much ---
**Author:** ![awneil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@awneil](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/awneil)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 11:55am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/msr90-magnetic-stripe-reader/1169965/2 "2023-09-19T11:55:59Z")
You will need a USB Host - so, if your Arduino does not have a USB Host built-in, you will need a Host shield of some sort. It would be wise to first try it in a PC, to see what it enumerates as - then see if there's any suitable Arduino library available to implement that... ---
**Author:** ![newtoarduinoworld](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@newtoarduinoworld](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/newtoarduinoworld)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 12:09pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/msr90-magnetic-stripe-reader/1169965/3 "2023-09-19T12:09:46Z")
thanks for the reply, does that mean I can't directly connect the usb cable wires to the Arduino. also what do you mean by trying it out to find its library, do u mean the magnetic reader or the host shield? im sorry, I'm rlly new to this ---
**Author:** ![awneil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@awneil](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/awneil)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 12:16pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/msr90-magnetic-stripe-reader/1169965/4 "2023-09-19T12:16:42Z")
What Arduino are you using? Not all of them have a built-in (aka "native") USB Host. > [@newtoarduinoworld](#): > > what do you mean by trying it out to find its library, do u mean the magnetic reader or the host shield? A search to see if you can find a library for your particular reader would obviously be the first step. If you can't find one, then you'll need to find something more generic, and see if it can be adapted. > [@newtoarduinoworld](#): > > I'm rlly new to this This isn't really a beginner project - you'll need to understand a fair bit about USB, its Device Classes, etc to make progress ... ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_KD7HB](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/paul_kd7hb/32/1127958_2.png) [@Paul\_KD7HB](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Paul_KD7HB)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 1:06pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/msr90-magnetic-stripe-reader/1169965/5 "2023-09-19T13:06:13Z")
> [@awneil](#): > > This isn't really a beginner project - you'll need to understand a fair bit about USB, its Device Classes, etc to make progress ... And you will need to understand the "stripe" on the card. The standard used to be there are three tracks. Each recorded at a different rate with different data. Can your reader read all three tracks and how will you tell it which track to read? Do you have documentation for your reader? ---
**Author:** ![qubits-us](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5daacb/32.png) [@qubits-us](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/qubits-us)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 2:20pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/msr90-magnetic-stripe-reader/1169965/6 "2023-09-19T14:20:16Z")
Hi @newtoarduinoworld , Welcome to the forum.. Swipe card readers, a bit old school but still viable.. Probably should try one with a serial interface.. being replaced by chip cards and NFC/RFID.. [Arduino RFID Reader](https://store-usa.arduino.cc/products/nfc-rfid-reader-with-two-transponders) have fun.. ~q ---
**Author:** ![awneil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@awneil](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/awneil)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 2:36pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/msr90-magnetic-stripe-reader/1169965/7 "2023-09-19T14:36:54Z")
> [@qubits-us](#): > > Probably should try one with a serial interface Or, at least, try this USB one with a PC first - see if it comes up as something easily accessible like a COM port or HID ... ---
**Author:** ![qubits-us](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5daacb/32.png) [@qubits-us](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/qubits-us)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 2:44pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/msr90-magnetic-stripe-reader/1169965/8 "2023-09-19T14:44:52Z")
@awneil , In my opinion, if swipe cards are needed then a serial interface would be easier to work with.. If this is a new development I would proceed with NFC or RFID anyways.. sorry if you don't agree, to each his own.. happy trails.. ~q ---
**Author:** ![awneil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@awneil](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/awneil)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 2:50pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/msr90-magnetic-stripe-reader/1169965/9 "2023-09-19T14:50:21Z")
> [@qubits-us](#): > > if swipe cards are needed then a serial interface would be easier to work with Indeed - especially if the "host" is to be an Arduino, and the developer has no experience with USB! > [@qubits-us](#): > > If this is a new development If it were a new development, it would be better to use supported and documented equipment - but it sounds like @newtoarduinoworld is just trying to make some use of old parts from a junk store ... ? EDIT Looking at this: [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Credit-Card-Reader-Magnetic-Tracks/dp/B07SV1X1VM](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Credit-Card-Reader-Magnetic-Tracks/dp/B07SV1X1VM) It seems it won't appear as a COM port - so most likely a HID device? ie, you swipe a card, and the numbers appear as if typed on a keyboard? ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_KD7HB](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/paul_kd7hb/32/1127958_2.png) [@Paul\_KD7HB](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Paul_KD7HB)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 2:55pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/msr90-magnetic-stripe-reader/1169965/10 "2023-09-19T14:55:06Z")
If that is the case, then the ABA standards may not even apply to the reader. Industrial readers will require use of cards with their custom coding and recording standards. ---
**Author:** ![newtoarduinoworld](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@newtoarduinoworld](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/newtoarduinoworld)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2023, 10:07am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/msr90-magnetic-stripe-reader/1169965/11 "2023-09-20T10:07:36Z")
thank you for the replies, i appreciate them. actually this is our research project, and wev've already passed out papers so theres no going back now. im using arduino uno, also do u think it would be better if i just use a card reader thats non usb connected ---
**Author:** ![awneil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@awneil](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/awneil)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2023, 10:08am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/msr90-magnetic-stripe-reader/1169965/12 "2023-09-20T10:08:46Z")
> [@newtoarduinoworld](#): > > do u think it would be better if i just use a card reader thats non usb connected Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_KD7HB](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/paul_kd7hb/32/1127958_2.png) [@Paul\_KD7HB](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Paul_KD7HB)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2023, 1:05pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/msr90-magnetic-stripe-reader/1169965/13 "2023-09-20T13:05:34Z")
> [@newtoarduinoworld](#): > > im using arduino uno, also do u think it would be better if i just use a card reader thats non usb connected A USB card reader is powered by the USB. If you use other connections, you will need a separate power source for the reader! ---
**Author:** ![diexd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f0a364/32.png) [@diexd](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/diexd)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2023, 3:12pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/msr90-magnetic-stripe-reader/1169965/14 "2023-09-20T15:12:16Z")
Well if it acts like a keyboard when swiped it you can copy keylogger arduino code on github pages, never used those usb readers tho ---
**Author:** ![newtoarduinoworld](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@newtoarduinoworld](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/newtoarduinoworld)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 9:49pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/msr90-magnetic-stripe-reader/1169965/15 "2023-09-25T21:49:13Z")
hello again everyone, I've research and just found out that almost every magnetic card reader (MCR) that's non usb connected, like this one ![FFO2XJ4FYIYO0PH](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/b/b/8/bb89d95ffed2412f9c2c374f6931b58e3fa73b37.jpeg) are obsolete, its rare to find these again. but if u find something like that, id really appreciate it if u drop the link here.πŸ˜„ anyways, heres how the MCR looked like when i opened it ![bcf24ac1-7e04-4505-a54c-6b0633bc6034photo](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/a/3/6/a36236df63556e9a2b67b16f68322f7760dd32ef.jpeg) ![5f7dce3e-e14f-4a4a-81a4-5bff4e4e1da0photo](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/3/9/4/3945bf93560736b08c958c056268df09b023b2ea.jpeg) u can see those 4 wires, which u guys said I can't connect to the arduino directly if im correct. i have so many questions in my mind right now😭 other people are saying i should use a UART, usb host shield, or cant i just directly connect usb wires to Arduino. im gonna research more if i fo have, thank u for the replies. πŸ˜„πŸ˜„ ---
**Author:** ![awneil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@awneil](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/awneil)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 10:49pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/msr90-magnetic-stripe-reader/1169965/16 "2023-09-25T22:49:13Z")
If it is USB, then you need a USB Host to connect it to. Simples. > [@newtoarduinoworld](#): > > other people are saying i should use a UART They are saying that it would be easier for you to use a reader which has a UART interface. > [@newtoarduinoworld](#): > > cant i just directly connect usb wires to Arduino. For the USB to work, it has to be plugged into a USB Host socket. ---
**Author:** ![newtoarduinoworld](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@newtoarduinoworld](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/newtoarduinoworld)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 3:34am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/msr90-magnetic-stripe-reader/1169965/17 "2023-09-26T03:34:44Z")
hello thanks for the reply, im thinking on switching our project to rfid but out teacher said that i should try to connect the reader to the Arduino first, so i guess ill try using the usb hostπŸ˜„ ---
**Author:** ![awneil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@awneil](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/awneil)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 8:00am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/msr90-magnetic-stripe-reader/1169965/18 "2023-09-26T08:00:05Z")
Again, I strongly suggest that you connect it to a PC first - to get to know what it requires, how it appears to the USB Host, what data it sends, etc. You will need to know that before you connect it to an Arduino USB Host - because you will need to know what you are going to have to implement... ---
**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/system/32/1140315_2.png) [@system](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2024, 8:00am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/msr90-magnetic-stripe-reader/1169965/19 "2024-03-24T08:00:55Z")
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