Alex This MAY help - - From the described complexity it almost certainly puts out decoded data (plus a clock if not a serial version). - The device probably has RS232 or parallel output , or maybe is a keyboard emulation which plugs in between keyboard and PC etc. - Try to work out which from any connectors. - Work out power supply connections - look at IC's, electrolytic filter capacitors etc - there will probably be an on-board regulator. - Apply power - to regulator input if you find one. To 5v rail if no regulator. Chances are it WILL be 5v but other is possible but unlikely in any except newest equipment. - Swipe card. look for output signals - an oscilloscope is near essential here. If out put is on a single line it is serial, probably 8 or possibly 7 bit data. If it's a parallel unit you might have n data bits and a clock/strobe. Hope this helps. Have fun. Russell McMahon -----Original Message----- From: Alessandro Zummo To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU Date: Tuesday, November 24, 1998 2:09 AM Subject: card reading > Hi piclisters. > > I've got a motorized 3-tracks magnetic card reader > and obviously i don't have the docs :-( > it ha a 26 pn connector and some ic on it.. > most of them are 40xx cmso logic, while > two of them are chips related to > the control of the motor...there are > three chips left: > > 64H107 and two M54916 > > i think they're involved in the F2F decoder, > but i was unable to find any info on them... > the manufacturer logo is a strange "S" > and they're produced in japan (at least the 64H107) > which is drawed in a reversed fashion on the 64H107 > > Anyone can help me? i would like > to control it from a pic... > >-- > > - *Alex* - > > http://freepage.logicom.it/azummo/ >