S8X3 Series Reader Card Formats

Introduction

The S8X3 is a series of contactless smart-card readers utilising the 20mA current loop pseudo-
random communications. The S8X3 readers are capable of reading “Philips MIFARE” and “Philips MIFARE DESfire” smart cards.

For either type of card, the S8X3 supports the use of un-encoded cards (that is the inbuilt unique card
serial number (CSN)), or cards encoded with a card number and site code. Several encoding formats
are supported by S8X3 readers.

Card Formats

The S8X3 readers are capable of storing and reading two different card types/formats from the
following types:

• Non-encoded MIFARE.
• SmartMAX encoded MIFARE.
• Non-encoded MIFARE DESfire.
• SmartMAX-encoded MIFARE DESfire.

These readers are configured to „lock-in‟ the first two card types/formats presented to it immediately
after it has been installed, these two card type/formats will need to be encoded on to the „setup‟ cards.

It has been discovered that it is possible when the reader has been set to only read the “SmartMax-encoded MIFARE” or the “SmartMAX-encoded MIFARE DESfire” formats, to inadvertently cause the reader to read the CSN from an encoded card, when not wanted by incorrect card presentation to the reader. This can have an unwanted side effect, in that if the reader had been very recently warm started, under certain circumstances the reader would then „store‟ the CSN format as one of its valid reading types.

To prevent this from happening it is suggested that the following procedure is used:

1) Ensure you have two encoded cards available. One encoded using the same format
    as the cards to be used with the system, a second with a format which will never be
    used on the system.
2) Power down the S8X3 reader for 30 seconds and then re-apply the power.
3) After 30 seconds present the “Non-system” encoded card and wait for the reader to
    bleep (this may take up to 5 seconds for the reader to learn and store this type/format).
    Remove the card and present it to the S8X3 reader and wait for the reader to bleep.
4) Power down the reader for 30 seconds, and then re-apply the power.
5) After 30 seconds present the card correctly encoded for use on the site, and wait for
    the reader to bleep, (this may take up to 5 seconds for the reader to learn and store
    this type/format). Remove the card and then present it to the reader and wait for the
    reader to bleep.

Following this procedure the S8X3 reader should be prevented from reading the CSN from the card
even when the card is presented to the reader.