Magnetic Encoding

Magnetic encoding, a form of card personalization, is a treatment each plastic card receives to include unique, variable data. This ties a card to a particular card holder/member. The unique data encoded on the magnetic stripe provides the link to the electronic processing equipment of your stored value, credit card, or points based program - i.e. your point of sale machine.

There are a few options to consider for your magnetic encoding. Spectrum Card can provide different encoding solutions based on your program needs:

* Hi Coercivity (HiCo) and Low Coercivity (LoCo)
* One, two or three track encoding

The coercivity of the stripe refers to the strength of the magnetic field required to "write" data to the card. The stronger the coercivity, the better chance you have of the stripe retaining its data over time. Temporary or short-term use cards (i.e. under a year) can probably suffice with the LoCo stripe.

The magnetic stripe can include up to 3 "tracks" on which different pieces of data can be stored. Spectrum Card can pre-program your magnetic stripe for you prior to shipping, or you can write to the stripe yourself with a special, inexpensive magnetic stripe writer.

NOTE:

1) Card programs that require encoding also require imaging. This provides necessary protection for the functionality of your program if a cards's magnetic stripe was unable to be read by your card reader hardware.
2) Hotel key cards do not require imaging or encoding before shipment. A unique numbering sequence is by added by the hotel locking system at the hotel at the time of issuance.

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