MagTek MagnetStrip Reader

gistfile1.py

#!/usr/bin/python

import sys
import usb.core
import usb.util

VENDOR_ID = 0x0801
PRODUCT_ID = 0x0002
DATA_SIZE = 337

# find the MagTek reader

device = usb.core.find(idVendor=VENDOR_ID, idProduct=PRODUCT_ID)

if device is None:
    sys.exit("Could not find MagTek USB HID Swipe Reader.")

# make sure the hiddev kernel driver is not active

if device.is_kernel_driver_active(0):
    try:
        device.detach_kernel_driver(0)
    except usb.core.USBError as e:
        sys.exit("Could not detatch kernel driver: %s" % str(e))

# set configuration

try:
    device.set_configuration()
    device.reset()
except usb.core.USBError as e:
    sys.exit("Could not set configuration: %s" % str(e))
    
endpoint = device[0][(0,0)][0]

# wait for swipe

data = []
swiped = False
print("Please swipe your card...")

while 1:
    try:
        data += device.read(endpoint.bEndpointAddress, endpoint.wMaxPacketSize)
        if not swiped: 
            print("Reading...")
        swiped = True
        if len(data) == DATA_SIZE:
            break

    except usb.core.USBError as e:
        if e.args == ('Operation timed out',) and swiped:
            if len(data) < DATA_SIZE:
                print("Bad swipe, try again. (%d bytes)" % len(data))
                print("Data: %s" % ''.join(map(chr, data)))
                data = []
                swiped = False
                continue
            else:
                break   # we got it!

# now we have the binary data from the MagReader! 

enc_formats = ('ISO/ABA', 'AAMVA', 'CADL', 'Blank', 'Other', 'Undetermined', 'None')
print("Card Encoding Type: %s" % enc_formats[data[6]])

print("Track 1 Decode Status: %r" % bool(not data[0]))
print("Track 1 Data Length: %d bytes" % data[3])
print("Track 1 Data: %s" % ''.join(map(chr, data[7:116])))

print("Track 2 Decode Status: %r" % bool(not data[1]))
print("Track 2 Data Length: %d bytes" % data[4])
print("Track 2 Data: %s" % ':'.join(map(str, data[117:226])))

print("Track 3 Decode Status: %r" % bool(not data[2]))
print("Track 3 Data Length: %d bytes" % data[5])
print("Track 3 Data: %s" % ''.join(map(chr, data[227:336])))