Choice of interface tables

These tables present all of the interface options and their pros and cons.

Interfaces to receive data from the VTAP reader

USB keyboard emulation

USB ComPort and Serial
(RS-232, RS-485, TTL/3.3V logic)

Read mode

Active

Active/Passive

Command-response

Yes

Pros

•Very simple set up

•Easily understood by non‑technical staff
•No third‑party software integration or development required

•Can read pass/card data without the receiving application being in focus on an operating system

•Commands can be sent to request data, read or change settings

•Dynamic configuration changes possible

•Can be integrated in existing custom software/script

Cons

•Requires the receiving application to be open and in focus for every pass read (cannot be in the background). The cursor must be in the correct position to receive keyboard input.

•As keyboard responses differ between UK/US and Apple keyboards some characters may change with operating system keyboard language settings, requiring a special keyboard map (see KBmap setting).

•Equipment reboot needed to initiate USB ComPort

Interfaces to send commands or transfer files (firmware, config or keys) to the VTAP reader

USB mass storage emulation

USB ComPort and Serial
(RS-232, RS-485, TTL/3.3V logic)

Pros

•Very simple set up

•Easily understood by non‑technical staff

•USB connection on most PCs

•Updating firmware requires simple copy/paste operation

•Config.txt file (and LED.ini file on VTAP50) can be opened and edited simply in a text editor such as Notepad

•Serial connections widely used in industry

•Remote file transfer can be done easily using Zmodem, without the operating system file manager

•More suitable for scenarios with multiple VTAP readers connected

•RS-485 ideal for long cable run (up to 1200m)

Cons

•File transfer can be done locally over USB connection

•Detecting addition or removal of mass storage not always reliable on Windows - difficulties for automating file transfer

•May be file caching issues where a deleted file is only detected by the operating system on reboot/remount

•RS-232 is only suited to short cable runs (up to 15m)

•RS-485 is half-duplex, which means communication is in only one direction at a time.

Available interfaces on the VTAP models

The following table illustrates available interfaces on all the VTAP models

VTAP model

Keyboard wedge/
barcode emulation

USB
ComPort

TTL
Serial

Serial
RS-232

Serial
RS-485

Bluetooth
keyboard

VTAP50-OEM

Yes

VTAP100-OEM

Yes

VTAP100-USB-CC

Yes

VTAP100-PAC-485-CC

Yes

VTAP100-PAC-W

Yes

VTAP100-PRO-BW

Yes