[Legacy] USB Card swipers for desktop and Android

How you set up your card swiper depends on the type of device you are using:

• Windows or Mac computers, Chromebooks, or Microsoft Surface tablets: Connect the swiper directly using your device’s USB port.

• Android phones or tablets: connect the swiper to your device using a Micro USB to USB “On The Go” adapter (between $2 and $5). After you connect the swiper to your device, adjust your settings to use both the on-screen keyboard and the external keyboard.

• iOS Devices (iPhones and iPads): These types of card swipers are not currently supported by iOS devices. However, you can purchase an iOS card reader or scan cards using your device’s built-in card scanning function.

When creating a booking in FareHarbor, click the “Swipe card” icon at the upper right of the credit card form.

Wait until you see the green “Ready to swipe card…” animation, then swipe the card. If the card information does not automatically populate in the form, you may need to hit the “Enter” or “Go” button on the on-screen keyboard.

The card number, cardholder’s name, and expiration date will automatically be entered in the credit card form.

Note: The CVC code on the back of the card is not included in the card’s magnetic strip data, so it will not be automatically filled in. If charging a US credit card, don’t forget to enter this code in the CVC box.

If you are having trouble using your card swiper, try the troubleshooting tips below.

Make sure your card swiper is working

The first step is to make sure the card information is being sent to your computer or device. Open any application you can type text into (such as a word processor or note taking app) and swipe a card. You should see something like this:

%B5362261234259317^DOE/JANE          
^17121010000000021000001234?;5362261234259317=17121011501234420010?

If you don’t see a string of numbers and letters like the above, make sure the swiper is connected to your device properly and that the card is facing the right way. If this doesn’t work, you may need to contact the manufacturer to troubleshoot further.

Use the ‘swipe card’ icon

If the card information is showing up in your note-taking app but not in FareHarbor, make sure you’re clicking the “swipe card” icon in the top corner of the credit card form and waiting for the “Ready to swipe card…” screen before swiping the card.

If you forget to click the “swipe card” icon or accidentally click on a different part of the book form, the card information will not be entered correctly.

Check your browser language

For USB card swipers to work correctly, your browser language should be set to “English / US.” If you make changes to your language settings, keep in mind you may need to close and reopen your browser to enable your new preferences.

To check your browser language in Chrome:

1. Go to your browser preferences (Chrome > Preferences).
2. Scroll down and click Advanced.
3. Click Language to view your language settings.
4. Ensure that “English (United States)” is at the top of the list.

Your settings will automatically be saved.

To check your browser language in Firefox:

1. Go to your browser preferences (Firefox > Preferences).
2. Scroll down to the Language section and click “Choose”.
3. Ensure that “English (United States)” is at the top of the list.
4. Click OK to save your settings.

To check your browser language in Safari:

1. Launch System Preferences from your Dock or Apple menu.
2. Select Language & Region.
3. Ensure that “English” is listed as the primary language at the top of the list and that “United States” is selected as the region.
4. Close your System Preferences window.

Check your browser settings

If card information is still not populating correctly, you may have a conflicting setting or add-on in your web browser. To test this, download a new browser that you’ve never used before (for example, if you usually use Firefox, try downloading Chrome). Open the new browser and try swiping a card in FareHarbor. If this works, you may want to switch browsers or double check the settings in your previous browser.

Troubleshooting for Android devices

Certain Android devices require an extra step when swiping a card. If it seems like nothing is happening after you swipe a card from the green “Ready to swipe card” screen, tap the “Enter” or “Go” key on the phone or tablet’s keyboard. This should take you back to the credit card form with the card info properly filled out.

If that doesn’t work, you may have to go back to the keyboard settings and make sure the device is using both the external keyboard and the phone’s keyboard.

Go to Settings > Personal > Language & Input > Keyboard & Input Methods and make sure the swiper is being recognized as an external keyboard. By default, the device should be using both the external keyboard and the phone’s keyboard. It will look something like this: