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