Python library with additional text user interface to be used as a standalone solution.

Introduction
How it was started?
Dependencies (what is needed to run this code?)
Device permissions
Interpreter
Quick reference for MSR605X class
Break procedure
Quick reference for Interactive class
Known issues
Devices used for testing
Disclaimer
License

This project aims to be the easiest possible, but fail-safe Python solution for HID-type MSR605X magstripe reader/writer device,which might be used as a library or as a standalone program with typical text user interface.

Maybe the code isn't the cleanest, but I wanted to make it a one-file solution for ease of use. That's why I decided to write such a detailed readme file, which might be considered a documentation.

Last time I (finally!) moved to the Linux Mint system (which I really love). However, I couldn't make official MSRX program run properly under Wine (which was a bit shocking as Wine is a very good solution and MSRX seems to be one of the easiest piece of software to run) and the other MSR-related projects found on the internet just weren't working for me for strange reasons (assertion errors, etc.). I then decided to start something really simple to be able to read and write ISO cards (at least). I thought it would probably never work, but when the first operations succeeded, I wanted to go further - that's how MSR605X class was written. And when it was ready to use I started writing Interactive class to provide basic text user interface support.

The only additional library that is needed to run this code is hid library, which on Linux Mint can be found in APT under the name python3-hid (where it is described as "cython3 interface to hidapi").
The sys library (which You can find in imports at the top of this code) is here only for user input/output support (interpreter).

In order to use this solution, You have to have rights to read and write to the USB device. This is a bit tricky under Linux as You have to carefully find Your device and then create a udev rule file. Otherwise You'll have to run this code as a root (e.g. use sudo), which I do not recommend as it is not a good idea, especially for a long time (and not safe at all).

Here is an example of my 99-hid.rules file placed in the /etc/udev/rules.d/ directory:

SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="0801", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0003", MODE="0666"
KERNEL=="hidraw*", ATTRS{idVendor}=="0801", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0003", MODE="0666"

I know, it is not the safest option to use 0666 mode, but others simply didn't work for me (even with OWNER and GROUP set). Fortunately, I'm the only user of my computer. ;)

After creating such file, if You don't want to restart Your system, to make this rules work, type in the terminal those two commands:

sudo udevadm control --reload-rules
sudo udevadm trigger

Now, if everything finished properly, MSR605X should be available to use without root permissions.

That's pretty simple - You can use it just like any other console tool. Just pass any commands and arguments You need. The only difference is that this tool interprets all passed arguments as a task list, which means that You can, for example, ask for five reads executed one after another or even change used device at the runtime.

Legend:
* - command sets 8 bits per character mode

Just pass two empty strings at the beginning and then string for the third track:
./msr605x.py -w "" "" "2026=04=07"

Like in the example above, pass empty string to the first track:
./msr605x.py -bi "" 210

This command is interpreted a bit another - You have to pass numbers indicating which tracks have to be erased, for example:
./msr605x.py -e 3
OR
./msr605x.py -e 3 2
OR
./msr605x.py -e 2 1 3

This is not supported, because MSR605X provides no command for such usage (or at least MSR605 as I do not have documentation for MSR605X).
The only way it can be used is to provide all two parameters for leading zeroes and all three parameters for bits per character setting.

Example of leading zeroes setting:
./msr605x.py -z 61 22

Example of bits per character setting:
./msr605x.py -bc 7 5 5

These commands are probably unsupported by MSR605X. I programmed them as they are mentioned in "MSR605 Programmer's Manual", because maybe there are MSR605X-like magstripe devices that support those commands (let me know if they work if You have device other than mine).

You've probably set the device address and report ID to be used for communication but haven't used any device commands to do actual communication. As this has no sense it is treated as a parameter error.

Please type such command:
./msr605x.py -l -h -m -f -i0 -i1 -i2 -i3 -i4 -i1 -tc -zs -gc -ts -tr -bc 7 5 5 -bi 210 75 210 -z 61 22 -sr -hr

A break procedure is a simple piece of code which can decide if readData method has to continue its operation or if it has to stop right now. It might be useful in situations, where external procedure might want to stop waiting for user to swipe the card.

It can be as easy as (let's say 10 stored in someInformation variable means that we have to stop):

def breakProcedure:
	global someInformation
	return someInformation == 10

You're probably using Hi-Co card and just connected the MSR605X to the USB port.

Please note, that MSR605X loves to start in Lo-Co mode. You can check it by getting coercivity setting straight after connecting the device to the computer.
Any write operation (card erase and copy included) will obviously fail in such setup (Hi-Co card writing in the Lo-Co mode), so You have to switch to Hi-Co before writing to such card.

That's the way manufacturer created this device. Yellow LED on command in fact turns on green and yellow and turns off the red one.

Yup, unfortunately. This command actually turns off green and yellow LED and turns on the red one.

Those tests are mentioned in the MSR605 Programmer's Manual, but seems unsupported in the MSR605X (always return FAIL). It is unlikely that my device has problems with memory or sensors as everything works properly. However I decided to leave those tests in case they would work for somebody.

I only have one MSR605X device, which announces itself to the system as DEFTUN MSR Reader in FS Mode / MagTek Magstripe Insert Reader (0801:0003). It is possible that there are other devices marked as compatible with MSR605X that won't work with this solution. If You can test it - please, tell me if anything works or not.

I've made much effort to provide here working codes with hope they'll be useful and free from any bugs. However I can't guarantee anything.

The software is provided here "AS IS" and I take no responsibility for anything.
You're using it on Your own risk!

Free. Please use this code with respect to the author (me).

Bartłomiej "Magnetic-Fox" Węgrzyn,
April 14, 2026