Can anyone test a Square card reader real fast? (lemmy.dbzer0.com)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

5 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Hey I'm not sure if this is the right community for this but it seemed applicable, let me know if I need to delete!

I am seeking anyone with a Square brand magstripe reader (not contactless, magstripe specifically) willing to run a quick test for me. It's just:

Connect Square to computer
Open any text editor
run any card's magstripe (except a chipped payment card. Costco, non-chipped card, gas station rewards card, etc will work fine) through
Does it type out the data from two or three tracks in the text editor, the way traditional USB readers do?

Thank you for your time reading this, and double thanks for anyone willing to test. This is as close as I can get to trying before buying lol.

top 5 comments

sorted by: hot top new old

[-] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago

The only one I have plugs into a microphone jack on a phone

[-] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

Same

[-] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

Ah I presume that means your pc does not, and frankly I'm not sure that'd work even if it did lol.

Thanks anyway!

[-] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I don't have one handy to check I'm afraid, but I believe all square readers are completely useless without their app, so it's very likely a proprietary protocol

[-] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Ahh I was afraid it might be. They make the only USBC magstripe reader in the world lol. I hate to resort to an a-to-c converter dongle and a traditional reader but that may be my fate. Thanks anyway!

this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2025

17 points (100.0% liked)

Ask Electronics

3839 readers

3 users here now

For questions about component-level electronic circuits, tools and equipment.

Rules

1: Be nice.

2: Be on-topic (eg: Electronic, not electrical).

3: No commercial stuff, buying, selling or valuations.

4: Be safe.

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]