The CardPointe Desktop card reader (ID TECH VP3350)

Overview

The CardPointe Desktop card reader (ID TECH VP3350) is a USB card reader that allows your business to accept:

Magnetic stripe/swipe (MSR) payments
Chip/EMV payments
Contactless/NFC payments

This guide provides information for setting up, using, and troubleshooting the CardPointe Desktop card reader, including both the ID TECH VP3350 and ID TECH Augusta models.

For information on using the CardPointe Desktop card reader with the CardPointe Virtual Terminal, refer to the Card Reader + Virtual Terminal Guide.

For information on integrating the CardPointe Desktop card reader and SDK with your application, refer to the CardPointe Desktop SDK Developer Guide.

Note: The ID TECH Augusta has reached end of life and is no longer available for purchase.

The ID TECH VP3350 replaces the Augusta and includes the same core functionality, along with support for contactless EMV (NFC) payments.

Requirements

Before using the CardPointe Desktop card reader, ensure the following requirements are met:

Your merchant account must be boarded to the First Data Rapid Connect processor
You must use a CardPointe Desktop card reader provided and pre-provisioned for your merchant account

The device is preconfigured with the settings required for compatibility with the CardPointe Desktop SDK solution.

Modifications to the device, as well as devices obtained from third-party vendors, are not supported.

Setting Up Your Device

Setting up the CardPointe Desktop card reader is simple.

Connect the device to an available USB port on your workstation
Once connected, the device illuminates and is ready for use

Inspecting Your Device

The device should be inspected upon receipt and periodically during use for signs of tampering.

When inspecting the device:

Check for signs of physical damage or alterations
Connect the device and review the LED indicators
A solid red LED may indicate that the device has been tampered with
Verify that the hardware and firmware versions match the version purchased
Inspect the EMV and MSR card slots to ensure no overlay adapters or shim devices have been installed

The device includes multiple tamper detection mechanisms designed to identify physical intrusion attempts.

If a tamper event occurs:

All sensitive data and cryptographic keys are immediately erased
The device enters a non-operational state
The status LEDs remain solid red

If the device shows any signs of tampering, contact CardPointe Support for assistance.

Using Your CardPointe Desktop Card Reader

The CardPointe Desktop card reader is designed to make accepting payments quick and simple.

The device operates in keyboard mode, meaning card data is sent to your application similarly to manually typing data using a USB keyboard.

To process a payment:

Tap a contactless card or mobile wallet
Insert a chip card
Swipe a magnetic stripe card

The device automatically captures and sends payment data to your application.

The device also uses LED indicators and audio signals to show successful or unsuccessful card reads.

Understanding the LED Status IndicatorsVP3350 LED Indicators

The VP3350 includes:

A built-in speaker
Four tri-color LEDs (red/green/yellow) located on the front of the device

These indicators provide device and transaction status information.

Device State	LED Status	Sound
Unit Ready	LED 1 blinking green; LEDs 2–4 off	One short beep
Transaction Started	LED 1 solid green; LEDs 2–4 off	None
Transaction Successful	All LEDs blinking green	One long beep
Transaction Failed	All LEDs off	Two short beeps
Unit Tampered	All LEDs blinking red	Continuous beep
Device Deactivated	All LEDs blinking yellow	Continuous beep
Power Off / Low Power Mode	All LEDs off	None

Augusta – EMV Slot LED Indicators

The Augusta EMV card slot includes a blue LED that indicates when to insert or remove a card.

Color	Activity	Description
Blue	Solid	Insert card
Blue	Flashing (1 second interval)	Remove card

Augusta – Tri-Color MSR Slot LED Indicators

The Augusta also includes a tri-color LED (red/green/blue) located near the MSR slot for additional status information.

Color	Activity	Description
Blue	Solid	Device is idle and ready for use
Blue	Flashing (500 ms interval)	Device ready for MSR or EMV card
Blue	Flashing (1 second interval)	Remove card
Green	Solid	Card seated
Green	Solid (2 seconds)	EMV transaction successful
Red	Solid (2 seconds)	MSR read unsuccessful, EMV read unsuccessful, or card inserted incorrectly
Red	Solid until card removed	Read or transaction unsuccessful; remove card
Red	Solid	Device tamper detected

Troubleshooting Your Device

The following topics provide additional information for troubleshooting issues with your CardPointe Desktop card reader. Contact CardPointe Support for additional support.

Can I Use My Own Device?

No. CardPointe devices are pre-provisioned with the required settings for compatibility with our platform and services.

Devices obtained from other vendors, as well as modifications to the device configuration, are not supported with this solution.

My Device Has a Solid Red LED and Has Malfunctioned

A solid red LED may indicate that the device has detected tampering.

Inspect the device for any signs of physical damage, alterations, or tampering. For additional information, refer to the “Inspecting Your Device” section of this guide.

If the device displays a solid red LED, contact CardPointe Support to report the issue and receive further assistance.