We just order vending machines from manufacturers, do we still need to care about the internal payment system configuration?
Of course it needs to be cared for. For vending machine manufacturers, just an order has been completed. For users, the real value lies in the continuous and reliable operation of the vending machine, whether there is a reliable after-sales guarantee and easy after-sales accessories.
The payment system is the most critical component of the vending machine, because it is particularly important to choose a common payment device and payment accessories. Therefore, MDB is of great significance as a global payment interface compared to serial ports and other non-standard interfaces. Users can purchase suitable accessories that meet the standard agreement by themselves at a later stage.
And the supplier of key parts is also very important, for example, Waferstar has been registered and has been continuously developing for 18 years, and what better than 18 years of research and development history can prove the quality of the product and the recognition of the market. Therefore, many customers specify the MDB-RS232 adapter of waferstar when ordering vending machines from manufacturers.
What is MDB-RS232 and why do I need the MDB-RS232 ?
The first purpose of the MDB-RS232 (MDB2PC) is to build a vending machine. Your motherboard, such as an Android motherboard, Raspberry Pi, an industrial computer, or PLC does not have an MDB interface, and the payment device for example coin validator,bill acceptor you choose is an MDB interface. Then you need this MDB adapter.
MDB is the protocol developed by NAMA members. The "Multi-Drop Bus" (MDB) protocol is not compatible with the standard PC RS232 protocol and therefore a hardware and software converter is necessary. The MDB-RS232 is a designed to convert the MDB protocol to an RS232 protocol and also performs the necessary voltage conversion. The MDB-RS232 also relieves the Polling requirements thereby allowing the same PC to perform other tasks easily.
The MDB-RS232 is necessary to interface the standard Vending machine MDB protocol to a standard PC because:
The MDB uses 11 Bits and a nine (9) bit byte.
The polling requirements for the various MDB devices are excessive (20-200 ms) but the normal PC can not meet the polling requirements.
The MDB-RS232 takes care of the polling requirements and generates an interrupt on the serial port of the PC.
This methods allows the PC to perform normal operations and respond to interrupt driven comm events in the UART buffer.
All data from an MDB device is available to the PC.
Additionally, all commands can be sent from PC to the MDB device.
The MDB-RS232 interfaces the MDB vending slave device to the PC via the serial port (DB9).
How to start to use the MDB-RS232 ?
Firstly, You need to prepare a DC24V power adapter in advance, current can reach at least 3A DC power supply. This is because while the adapter supplies power to the MDB box, it also supplies power to payment devices such as bill validator and coin acceptor through the MDB wire from the adapter box. Therefore, sufficient supply current is required. You need to confirm whether your motherboard has a COM (DB9) port. If not, you may need to prepare a RS232 to USB adapter in advance. Of course, you can directly order MDB-RS232 with USB interface later.
Of course, the MDB-RS232 of the USB interface is connected to the motherboard, and the USB driver needs to be installed on the motherboard. In this way, when the USB version of MDB-RS232 is plugged into the motherboard, a virtual COM port will be generated. The RS232 communication control can be carried out in accordance with the COM port mode.
Of course, the hardware connection is relatively simple. A professional hardware engineer is not necessarily required. However, you need to have a professional software engineer to complete the subsequent VMC software development work. At the same time, you also need to research and read the MDB standard protocol so that you can fully control the equipment and develop a higher quality software system.
Therefore, after received the MDB-RS232 samples, you need to connect the MDB bill acceptor and coin acceptor (of course we also can connect the MDB cashless device together at the same time), connect the other DB9 end to the computer, and turn on the Waferstar's MDB pc test tool (open the correct serial port). Then start to power on the devices with DC24V. After power is supplied, MDB-RS232 will automatically send polling POLL commands to each MDB device, and all valid data after the device is powered on will be forwarded to the computer's serial port. At the same time, you can also send MDB commands to control the payment device through the MDB test software. For example, "Enable", "Disable" and so on. You can use bill currency and coins for testing. After receiving the banknotes or coins, the data will be sent to the computer in time.
In this way, after a simple test, we will have a preliminary understanding of the MDB protocol and commands. Then we can compare the MDB protocol to learn and understand according to the sent commands and the received data.
Next, you can start your own application design, you can choose to use the WINDOWS system, of course, many customers will also choose to use the Android system motherboard.
Of course, there will be some problems in the your design process, and we can also consult the technicians of waferstar. We will provide the best assistance to help you understand and complete the project design quickly.
What is the difference between MDB-RS232 and RS232-MDB box?
In WAFERSTAR's online shop, there is an MDB-RS232 adapter. There is also an RS232-MDB adapter. They look similar in appearance, but they are actually two completely different products. If customers do not read the product description carefully,then will easily place an order incorrectly. Please read the following carefully. If you are not sure, you can also contact us before ordering.
MDB-RS232 is used to connect the MDB bill acceptor,coin validator,cashless payment device to the RS232 device, for example a computer or PLC. then you will design the Software that will run in the PC and work as the master main vending controller. For example,you develop the kiosk information machine. then you need to connect the MDB bill acceptor,coin validator to computer,but you don't know how to connect the MDB interface payment device to computer, because computer only has the RS232 port, no MDB port.then you need to order the MDB-RS232 adapter (MDB2PC Adapter ).
RS232-MDB is used to connect the pc to existing vending machine.then you will need to design the Software that will run in the PC,POS or other RS232 devices and work as the slave cashless payment device.and then you PC will work as a cashless payment device to existing vending machine. For example,you want to use the PC to give payment credit to existing vending machine, or if you want to make the internet connection to the vending machine and give credit to vending machine remotely, then you need to order the RS232-MDB adapter (PC2MDB adapter ).
From the above description, it can be seen that in fact, RS232-MDB can be used as a cashless payment device and can be connected to the MDB-RS232 device. Here MDB-RS232 is directly connected to the PC as a host device. The RS232-MDB is a kind of slave payment device which is parallel to the Bill acceptor and coin validator at the same time.
I have understood the difference, what I need is MDB-RS232. Order Samples now! .........
Now I understand the difference between them, what I need is RS232-MDB. I want to continue to learn about RS232-MDB..........
What is the new MDB protocol V4.3 ?
CHICAGO — August 22, 2019 — NAMA announced today the release of the latest version of the Multi-Drop Bus (MDB) standards – Version 4.3.
This spring, NAMA VDI Task Force Chair Chris Lilly (Compass Group USA) appointed an ad hoc technical standards committee headed by Bob Ross (Ellenby Technologies, Inc.) with special assistance from Scott Hudis (Fawn Engineering Corp.), and Joe Simpkins (USA Technologies, Inc.) to implement revisions to MDB Version 4.2. Fifteen NAMA members volunteered to participate in this latest update, and significant contributions were also provided by the European Vending Association (EVA) with guidance from Vladimir Lopatin (Uvenco Group).
“As VDI coordinator, I applaud the fine work of this committee under the skillful leadership of Chris Lilly, Bob Ross, and Vladimir Lopatin,” said Michael Kasavana, Ph.D., NAMA Endowed Professor Emeritus. “Committee members provided valuable input that impacts our industry tremendously. MDB Version 4.3 allows for a comprehensive treatment of cashless transactions across convenience services. The MDB standard has a long history of quality and reliability, and MDB Version 4.3 is built on the same proven principles,” he concluded.
The MDB Version 4.2 standard had not been revised for eight years. MDB Version 4.3 is now available as a downloadable PDF on the NAMA website. Download your copy here. It is important to note that compared to the earlier version, MDB Version 4.3 revisions only appear in ‘Section 7 - Cashless Devices.’ The revised Section 7 is color coded to help clarify the changes. All other sections of MDB Version 4.3 remain identical to those of MDB 4.2.
If can Connect the Nayax credit card reader VPOS to Android board ?
In fact, because any MDB cashless payment device needs to comply with the standard protocol, it can be connected to the Android motherboard via MDB-RS232 and send commands to control it. so nayax vpos, pax im20 or IM30, then all are no problems.
Of course, Cashless payment equipment is different from cash payment (bill or coins), and generally requires the support of the card issuing company.
For example, credit card payment needs to be approved by the bank at the time of payment. Therefore, Cashless devices need to be connected to the payment system before they can be used.
Such as NAYAX equipment, although it can be connected to any vending machine. However, you must be sure it can be connected to the NAYAX system through other 4G or other networks. The Nayax system need to confirm the security and registration of the device. Therefore, when using this type of device, you must first communicate with the service provider for example Nayax company to ensure that the device you need to use is valid and can connect to the payment system.
If I need to buy the SDK ?
In fact, there is Fast User Manual for use, plus a preliminary test with the PC test tool. Software Engineer will have a basic understanding of MDB payment equipment and protocols. We do not recommend customers to purchase SDK. After purchasing samples and testing the equipment in accordance with the manual, the remaining work is actually the software design of the vending machine system for the customer. The MDB payment part is only a very small part of the software system (of course the stability of the payment system is very important). Therefore, an experienced software engineer can easily complete the design of the serial communication part.
Of course, if Engineer is not an experienced serial port communication design, or want to simply understand the command design and processing, you can also buy the SDK. The SDK mainly includes the source code of the PC test tool. The most important thing is that if you purchase the SDK, we will provide more technical support for the MDB protocol. Such as protocol analysis, instruction processing, and flow design. These can save you part of the design time.
Of course, our services will not be specific to a certain programming language, nor will we analyze the customer’s software code.
I want to design a vending machine. Is it enough to buy MDB-RS232 ?
MDB-RS232 is just a payment device used to connect the MDB interface, such as bill acceptor, coin validator, and Card readers (Cashless device) to serial devices, such as your Android main board, your industrial computer (PLC), etc., to complete the payment interface. In this way, you can design a program on the VMC to control the payment device and receive payment data.
In other words, MDB-RS232 is only an interface for receiving and paying, not all of the vending machines. You also need to configure the power supply system, drive circuit, sensor circuit and so on.
For example, if you need to design an information query machine, you may need a printer to be connected.
For example, if you are designing a self-service coffee machine, you may need a drive board, the main board sends instructions to drive the motor to grind coffee, and needs to detect the status of various sensors and so on.
Is MDB-RS232 adapter necessary to design a vending machine ?
In fact, this is not necessarily true.
Because there are many kinds of payment devices, such as pulse interface (of course you will need a pulse-to-serial device, we can also provide it). You can also directly use payment devices with RS232 interface. Then you can directly connect to the serial port of VMC. Of course, the biggest problem of this design is that the serial port protocol is not an international standard protocol, it is a protocol defined by each manufacturer. This is not universal and replaceable. That is to say, you must use the same equipment when you maintain and upgrade in the future. If you export to other countries, the maintenance of the sales will be very troublesome.
The MDB interface equipment is an international standard. Any brand manufacturer, any currency type equipment, any coin device, banknote device, credit card reader, as long as it is an MDB interface, must comply with the same protocol. In this way, it can be easily replaced with any manufacturer's equipment during post-production and maintenance, and will not be restricted.
What are the advantages of Waferstar's MDB-RS232 compared to other supplier's ?
1. We are a company established in 2006 with a history of 15 years. We have been engaged in the production of MDB adapters for more than 12 years. If it is our old customer, you will know our design history. Years of design experience and product updates have given us rich experience in production, design, maintenance and technical support.
2. Since the system design, sales and market training of vending machines take a long time, we can continue to provide technical support and after-sales service for many years. If you choose a product from an unstable company, after you complete the design, the supplier company may go bankrupt, business changes, product discontinuation, product quality issues and other accidents may occur, resulting in the embarrassment that you cannot continue to buy. Or after encountering some product or technical problems, you will never get technical support or solutions.
3. We have a competitive price. Of course, for self-service vending products, price is definitely not the most important thing, because stability is very important in unattended situations. Only then can the machine generate trouble-free benefits for customers.
4. We provide solutions and upgrades for a series of products, and our upgrades will provide compatibility. To provide our customers with good product support.
How to get the PC testing software and SDK
After purchasing WAFERSTAR's MDB-RS232, we will provide an easy-to-understand Quick User Guide. A PC testing software will also be provided. In this way, after you prepare the motherboard and accessories, you can directly test and control the mdb payment device with WAFERSTAR's demo PC test software. Such as receiving payment, enabling and disabling devices, etc.
Of course, if you need the source code of the PC test software, you need to purchase the SDK. The SDK also includes more detailed and Quick-response technical support (this is the key point) and two USB-to-serial adapters.
After purchasing the SDK, our technical staff will assist you to understand the MDB protocol, analyze the errors in the receiving and sending of MDB commands, including subsequent understanding of the protocol. It is equivalent to a small amount of expense for you and one more technical guidance of the MDB protocol to help you quickly understand and complete the development.
If MDB-RS232 box can connect double Cashless payment device ?
1. Our 2020 verion MDB-RS232 box and the MDB-RS232 Pro engineer version can support the cashless 01 and cashless 02 at the same time.
2. Our MDB Pro Engineer version also can support the USD and Age verification
3. Normally for new customer,just use our MDB-RS232 V2020. if you need to develop the vending machine with the age verification function,then would need to order the Pro engineer version.
If WAFERSTAR can provide the technical support to test the AGE and USD device ?
Yes,we will provide the necessary technical support for USD and AGE Verfication device test. of course,you need firstly order or have a standard MDB interface USD (slave) or AGE Verfication device. or you can order a simulator box for Age or USD device.
How to order the MDB-RS232?
Normally customer can order the MDB-RS232 box directly from wafer company. For the samples,can order from aliexpress store: https://cnkiosk.aliexpress.com
