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Apollo Local Interfaces

Payter terminals require access to the Internet in order to authorise and complete EMV payments, as well as for Terminal Management and other services. In addition, the terminal requires a Controller to function - an integrated host system. It is important to understand early in the Project what input method will be used by the Integration Solution.

Local Interface Options​

Definition: The means by which the Payter terminal is able to receive commands and interact with integration controllers.

The Apollo family of terminals can be controlled via these options:

  • A TCP/IP connection via the RJ45 Ethernet connector
  • A Serial connection via a USB-C Serial Adapter*
  • An MDB controller* using a 5 port molex connection

In addition to these control methods, it is possible to have successful Autoscan payment approvals be output to a Pulse Board*

* These options require additional hardware from Payter, available upon request.

important

A key decision to be made by any solution Integrator is whether to use a Local or a Remote (Cloud) interface. With the Cloud interface, the solution is reliant on External Connectivity.

TCP/IP​

This connection requires a local area network (LAN) to be in place that both the Payter terminal and the Integration Controller have access to.

  • It is possible via configuration to have the Payter terminal use the LAN for Integration requests and responses only, with the terminal being reliant on a SIM connection for all external communication.
  • This connection method is for the Payter Session Protocol approach ONLY

Serial Connection​

This connection requires the Payter-supplied USB-C to Serial (9 pin) connector, available upon request.

  • The terminal would use a different method for external communication in this case
  • The USB-C 'locking' mechanism is not as robust as the RJ45 standard, so Payter do not recommend this approach.
    • It is targeted predominantly at users who have migrated from the P6X Serial-only terminal
  • This connection method is for the Payter Session Protocol approach ONLY

MDB (Multi Drop Bus)​

This connection requires the Payter supplied MDB cable, and also requires a compatible Vending Machine Controller (VMC).

  • The connection includes power and data as per the MDB standard
  • This connection method is only used with Vending Machines, and the machine itself acts as the controller.

Pulse Board​

This is a small circuit board containing 2+ relays, that connects to the terminal via a supplied USB-C to USB Mini-B cable.

  • This output is only used with the Autoscan & Pulse integration method
  • This output requires a corresponding electronic circuit set up to receive the relay outputs