The MagTek 21040104 triple track magnetic stripe swipe card reader is black, has a built-in USB cable to connect to the host system, can be mounted to a counter or surface, and can be used to swipe and read the magnetic stripe on the back of a credit or debit card or another magnetic stripe card. Three-track magnetic card readers can read and capture data from all three tracks typically present in a magnetic stripe to complete a transaction. The bidirectional configuration of the reader enables cards to be swiped backward or forward at a speed of up to 50" per second. Triple DES (Data Encryption Standard) encryption helps protect transaction data and prevent unauthorized access.

The built-in USB cable measures 6' long and can be plugged into the USB 2.0 port of a computer or another host system (sold separately) to transmit card data and power the magnetic card reader. An LED indicator turns red to alert the user of a decoding error. Adhesive strips can be used to mount the magnetic card reader onto a counter or another flat surface. The reader's magnetic head has an expected lifespan of up to 1,000,000 card swipes. The magnetic card reader weighs 5.8 oz. with the USB cable and measures 1.23 x 1.28 x 3.94 x inches (H x W x D). (H is height, the vertical distance from the lowest to highest point; W is width, the horizontal distance from left to right; D is depth, the horizontal distance from front to back.) It can read magnetic stripe cards that meet International Organization for Standardization (ISO), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) standards.

MagTek manufactures card and check readers, personal identification number (PIN) pads, scanners, and card and PIN issuing systems. The company, founded in 1972 and headquartered in Seal Beach, CA, meets International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard 9001:2008.