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Pairing Mobile Card Reader

Updated

  • Make sure Bluetooth is turned on, on your mobile device. You should see the little Bluetooth symbol at the top of your phone’s screen. If you don’t, go into the settings to enable it.

  • IMPORTANT With Android devices, the IDTech VP3300 BT must be paired with their mobile devices when NOT plugged in. It must only be using the Bluetooth connection when the pairing occurs. After that, the reader can be plugged into a USB connection if desired (which would be the case if you were charging the device).

  • VP3300BT will stay connected to the host indefinitely (via Bluetooth) if powered via the USB cable. If the unit is operating on battery power, it will go to sleep after 20 seconds of idling, to extend battery life. To perform a transaction again, simply press down on the Bluetooth function button to re-establish the Bluetooth connection.

LED Indicators

Color Description
Blue
  • Slow Blink – indicates that you can connect to the device
  • Fast Blink – indicates that you are connected to the device
Yellow
  • Will come on after the card is inserted or swiped, and the card is being read
Red
  • Will come on if the card can not be read, or if the card can not be authorized (is declined). You will see details in the App.
Green
  • This will come on very briefly after the card is authorized. This displays very quickly, and you should not be concerned if you do not see it – you will see an indication in the app that the card was read successfully

 

 NOTE: The reader must be powered on to process cards. A slow-blinking blue light indicates the reader can connect to it. The device is set to go to sleep after 20 seconds if connected only via Bluetooth. You need to press the start power button on the left side of the device to wake it up when you need to use it. If you wish to keep the device from going to sleep, connect the USB cable to the device after it has been paired. Pairing must happen when disconnected to the USB cable; then you can connect to the USB. The USB cable connects to any device with a USB connection such as a laptop or a USB charging cord.

 

Do you have any tips on making sure my Bluetooth mobile device and the VP3300BT can pair with each other?

  • Make sure the two devices are in close enough proximity to one another. While you wouldn’t think someone might try to pair an iPad with a keyboard if the two weren’t sitting right next to each other, it’s probably worth noting that you should make sure any devices you're trying to pair are within five feet of one other.
  • Power the devices off and back on. A soft reset sometimes can resolve an issue. With phones, an easy way to do this is by going into and out of airplane mode.
  • Remove old Bluetooth connections. If you're having trouble pairing your phone with the reader, it could be because your phone is trying to connect to an old device. Some older devices are very simple. They just try to connect with the last thing they pair with. If a Bluetooth device was previously paired with something else, turn off that other gadget. And if you are no longer planning on using that other gadget, unpair it from your Bluetooth device to prevent future issues. In iOS settings, you can remove a device by tapping on its name and then Forget this Device. In Android settings, tap on a device’s name, then Unpair. After removing a device, start at step 1 above. You can also reset Bluetooth on devices that can pair to more than one device. This clears all pairings from the device so you can start fresh. Search "reset" device name to instructions from the manufacturer.
  • Charge up both devices you're trying to pair. Some devices have smart power management that may turn off Bluetooth if the battery level is too low.
  • Delete a device from a phone and rediscover it. If your phone sees a device but isn’t receiving data from it, sometimes it helps to start from scratch. In iOS settings, you can remove a device by tapping on its name and then Forget this Device. In Android settings, tap on a device’s name, then Unpair. After removing a device, start at step 1 above.
  • Move away from the Wi-Fi router. Another potential obstacle to successful pairing is interference from devices that use the same spectrum, such as your Wi-Fi router. Wi-Fi has been designed to cope with this, but having your devices directly on top of the router might not be a good idea.
  • Move away from a USB 3.0 port. Interference from USB 3.0 is also possible. Newer laptops, for example, often have a higher-speed USB 3.0 port, so if the connection isn't happening, try pairing your Bluetooth gadgets away from the computer.
  • Make sure the devices you want to pair are designed to connect. Whether it’s a headset, speaker, mouse, keyboard, camera, or something else, your device has a specific profile that spells out what it can connect with. If you’re not sure, check the user manual.
  • Update the hardware’s firmware. If you’re not sure how to get the latest firmware for your hardware, check with the device manufacturer.
  • Limit data shared between devices. Android and Windows devices let you choose the information you share between devices. So, for instance, you can choose to share phone audio, media audio, contacts, and text messages with your car. If you don't need to share all of the data, deselecting one or more of the types of information may enable the devices to pair. For Android devices, go to Settings > Bluetooth and select the device. If there are options to select, they will appear. For Windows, go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers and right-click on the Bluetooth device in question. Then select the Services tab to choose which types of information to share.
  • Clear the Bluetooth cache (Android only) Sometimes apps interfere with Bluetooth operation and clearing the cache can solve the problem. Go to Settings > Backup and restart > Reset network settings.