Magnetic Strips

This is achieved by charging tiny bits within a magnetic strip on one side of the card. The technology of magnetic strips has largely built the new debit and credit card model. Magnetic strips are utilized in many daily transactions and are applied to various types of cards used for identification. Magnetic strips for writing or encoding information on cards since the tiny iron-based particles that are components of the strip can be magnetized in different directions by devices that produce strong magnetic fields.

How Magnetic Strips Work

Information can be written or encoded on a magnetic strip on a card. This is so because the magnetization of the small iron particles of the magnetic strip can occur in various directions by a device that can produce a strong magnetic field, called a solenoid.

This solenoid is a coil that is wound into a tightly packed helix. The wire is wound around a metallic core of high permeability, capable of producing a magnetic field when current flows through it. This device encodes the required information onto the magnetic strip, which is therefore pasted on the plastic card.

Magnetic Strip Encoding

After the magnetic strip is encoded, a unique serial number is stored on the magnetic strip. The POS system or the access control lock device is the one that recognizes the serial number, providing access to the stored funds on the POS system or opening a locked door.

Types of Magnetic Strips

The types of magnetic strips include:

High-Coercivity Magnetic Strips (HiCo)

These types of magnetic strips are harder to erase. They are a lot more appropriate for frequently used cards or cards that require extended life. High coercivity magnetic strips are typically black, and a stronger magnetic field is used to encode them. Their durability is high.

These magnetic strips also resist damage from most magnetic fields or magnets. This is due to their stronger magnetic field, which makes the data encoded on them less likely to be unintentionally erased when the magnetic strip is exposed to an external magnetic field.

Low-Coercivity Magnetic Strips (LoCo)

These magnetic strips do not require a large amount of magnetic energy to record; they require a low amount instead, reducing their cost. Low-coercivity magnetic strips are mostly used on loyalty cards, membership cards, gift cards, and fundraising cards.

Typically, these magnetic strips are brown, and their encoding is done at a low-intensity magnetic field. They are easier to erase and common in short-term applications. They can be damaged if they come into even brief contact with a magnetic field.

Applications and Benefits of Magnetic Strips

The applications and benefits of magnetic strips include:

Applications of Magnetic Strips

• Access control systems
• Time and attendance
• Gift cards
• Credit cards
• Employee ID cards
• Season passes
• Visitor badges
• Hotel room keys

Benefits of Magnetic Strips

Magnetic strips offer many benefits through their application on magnetic stripe cards. They help by adding value and security to ID cards, membership cards, and gift cards. The following is a list of benefits offered by magnetic strips on magnetic stripe cards:

• They have a low cost compared to other technological cards.
• The data on the magnetic strips can be re-written and updated when required.
• They bring higher data capacity compared to most barcodes.
• Magnetic strip cards are more secure than barcodes.
• Magnetic strips are easy to use and exhibit higher speed. This makes them suitable for point-of-sale applications and transit applications.
• Their standards are well established, resulting in high compatibility.