We
have found that most card readers in the AV-TS Black Wedge units are not
capable of reading our standard "memory only" voter smart card. To
allay any fears about our current production, all Blue and White AV-TS units
ever produced are fully capable of reading all versions of the smart cards
that we deliver. And all desktop smart card readers are capable of
reading all versions of the smart cards that we deliver.
The reason for this incompatibility is due to the
Model of the smart card reader installed in the Black Wedge units. The
Black Wedge units were made with the original Model 171 smart card
reader (a.k.a. 171TDAI, 171T1DAI,
regardless of revision). The Blue and White units are made with a
newer Model 171A smart card reader. The Black Wedge
units can only read/write "microprocessor" type cards, they cannot
read/write "memory only" cards. However, the newer Model 171A readers
(a.k.a. 171A, 171ATDAI regardless of
revision) can read/write to all types of cards we deliver. I have
confirmation on this information from Axiohm Corporation who manufactures
these card readers.
The four types of smart cards we have delivered can
be categorized by the shapes of their contact areas.
There are two microprocessor
types, the "L" shape and the "oval" shape. There
are two "memory only" types, the "X" shape and the "Atmel" type.
Please see the attached JPEGS for a pictures of these contact
shapes.
The only state we run Black Wedge units is in
Tennessee and then in three counties, Shelby, Bradley, and Rutherford.
These accounts should only be using the "microprocessor" type of card as
voter cards. These accounts have been using the "microprocessor"
type smart card all along because when they were sold the units, that type
of card was the only one available. Most of their smart cards will
already be of the right type. It has only been recent shipments of
smart cards to Shelby County that has brought this to
light.
Fair warning: If anybody does any Monday
morning quarterbacking on this one, I'll come looking for you to find out
why this information wasn't disseminated before.
Ian