Point Of Sale POS Software - Fastsell Deluxe POS Equipment Supported

No specific point of sale equipment is required to run the Fastsell Deluxe Point of Sale for Windows program.
Businesses can run Fastsell Deluxe POS without any point of sale equipment at all. POS hardware is recommended for maximum functionality, speed, customer service, accuracy and profitability.

If you are planning to purchase your equipment from us, you can skip most of this section.

Any equipment we sell with the purchase of Fastsell is fully supported by Fastsell. If you deviate from equipment on this list, we will not be able to help you. But, support is readily available from hardware manufacturers.

Many items not on the supported equipment list will still work with Fastsell Deluxe POS. However, the items on our supported equipment list have been tested and are known to work. Additionally, as Windows and hardware systems continue to evolve, incompatibilities can arise. Items on our supported equipment list are first to receive attention when future Windows versions require program modifications.

All equipment on our supported equipment list is common and available from directly from us. To ensure continuing compatibility with our system and easy setup and use, we strongly recommend you do not purchase equipment outside our supported equipment list.

Supported Operating Systems

Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows 2000, Windows XP
Computer Requirements 1.   Any Pentium Class or better machine running Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000 or XP.
2.   To run a receipt printer, the computer should have a standard printer port (parallel port).
3.   If you intend to use a standard keyboard wedge type of bar code reader, the computer should have a standard (PS2) keyboard port.
4.   If you want to print system reports, bar code labels, or mailing labels, you will need a standard laser or inkjet printer.
5.   While not required, a high capacity disk drive such as a CD-RW is necessary for making external backups of your data.

Supported Bar Code Scanners

Any keyboard wedge type bar code scanner that work with your computer will work with Fastsell Deluxe POS. The keyboard wedge interface is the easiest to use.

You simply insert this type of bar code scanner between your keyboard and computer with a Y-Cable that comes with the scanner. When the scanner scans a bar code, it decodes the numbers and sends them to the computer via the keyboard interface. The nice thing about these keyboard wedge scanners is that they work with any program that is expecting keyboard input. You may scan into Excel, Word, Notepad, or any program that you would normally type into. They also don't take up an existing port on your computer. There are primarily two types of scanners being sold today. The CCD (charged coupled device) and the laser. We have found that the CCD reader is more than adequate for most businesses. We generally suggest that liquor stores and convenience stores go with the laser scanners as the CCDs have a little trouble with some of the bottles and cans such as Coors for example with low contrast labels and printing. .

Be careful if you are purchasing a bar code reader for a laptop. The keyboard ports on many of these are not standard and many do not supply enough power for the scanner. Special bar code scanners are available for laptops.

How can I get a serial bar code scanner to work?
If you have not yet purchased a bar code scanner, by all means get a keyboard wedge interface. If you already have a serial interface scanner, you can still get it to behave as a keyboard wedge type.
1. Select Start, Settings, Control Panel.
2. Select Accessibility Options.
3. Select the General tab.
4. Check the Support SerialKey Devices box.
5. Select the Settings button to enter the device's Serial Port and baud rate.

Supported Receipt Printers
Before Windows 2000/XP we could pretty much get any printer to work using the Windows Generic/Text only printer driver. However, the Windows 2000/XP Generic/Text only printer driver does not have the same capabilities as the 95/98/Me driver did. Because of this, it is necessary to use the manufactures printer drivers to control receipt printers with Windows 2000 or XP. We must specifically program and test for each one of these drivers.

With Windows 95, 98, Me you can use almost any receipt printer by using the Windows Generic Text only printer driver to drive it. However, with Windows NT, 2000, or XP you will need to use the printer driver that is designed for the specific printer.

Microsoft is moving away from the 95, 98, Me series. Windows XP, both the Home and Professional versions, are the NT & 2000 series operation systems. Eventually you will end up with an operating system in this NT series. It is better to purchase a printer that will work with the NT series even if you don't see yourself going there at this time.

The following printers are the most widely sold receipt printers available. They are provided at excellent prices by us.

We suggest you stay away from the serial interface printers. They require cables specific to each printer, they require finding and setting your serial ports correctly, they often have buffer problems, they simply are not worth the trouble when standard printer port models are available at the same price. The only true advantage worth the effort would be if you need long distances such as back to a kitchen printer, warehouse, or stockroom for picking merchandise.

There are many companies selling knockoffs of these printers that they claim to be 100% compatible. We have not found a single one off these that is 100% compatible. If you purchase one of these you will be very disappointed as it will likely not work with our program.

Impact Printers:
Star SP212 Receipt Printer (Parallel Interface)
(An excellent, very popular impact printer.)

Star SP512 Receipt Printer (Parallel Interface)
(An excellent, very popular impact printer.)

Epson TMU200D (Parallel Interface)
(For Fastsell Deluxe POS 3.50 and below -- for Version 4.01 and above see TMU220D)
Epson TMU220D (or TMU200D) (Parallel Interface)(For the TMU220D you must be using Fastsell Deluxe POS Version 4.01 or above)
Thermal Printers:
Epson TMT88II & TMT88III Thermal Printers (Parallel Interface)
(An excellent, very popular thermal printer.)

Supported Cash Drawers

Printer Driven Cash Drawers:
Most every receipt printer sold today has a cash drawer driver built into it. These drivers reduce the overall cost of a system because the printer driven cash drawers do not require power supplies or electronics to talk with the computer, the printer handles both of these functions. A cash drawer that opens from a serial port usually costs more than the exact same drawer that opens by a printer.

Any printer driven cash drawer that works with the supported printers will work with our system. Be careful if you purchase a printer and cash drawer from different dealers. Some will not work and we can't support hardware purchased from others. The Star and Epson printers both use the RJ-11 (telephone connector) to attach to cash drawer to the printer. However, the cables are wired differently.

Serial Cash Drawers:
Serial cash drawers are necessary for those who are not going to use a receipt printer. You may not be printing receipts at all or may print invoices on a standard laser or ink jet printer. If this is the case, you will need a serial cash drawer.

Normally, a serial port does not have enough power to throw a cash drawer solenoid, so serial cash drawers come with power supplies (wall transformers). You can purchase serial cash drawers that come without power supplies. These cash drawers use the serial ports handshaking lines to charge large capacitors between transactions. They are then discharged through the solenoid to open the drawer. Fastsell Deluxe currently does not support this type of cash drawer, so make sure a power supply is included with any serial drawer you purchase.

Serial cash drawers are designed to open in two ways. (1) Any signal out the selected serial port will open the drawer. These are generally recognized by their triggering of the cash drawer when the computer is turned on or off. (2) A specific signal is required to open the drawer. Our program is designed to work with either type.

Parallel Cash Drawers:
There are a few cash drawers designed to work straight from a parallel port. These are not very common and not supported.

Supported Pole/Customer Displays
Remember that Fastsell Deluxe also supports a second monitor running as a customer display.
Currently we support the EMAX VFD, the Logic Controls PD-2000 or PD-3000, and the CD-5220 (our display) serial displays.

Emax Settings:
1. Select Office, Setup, Equipment Setup, Pole Display Tab
2. Pole Display Type = Ultimate (Emax or PD-3000)
3. Serial Port Settings = 9600,n,8,2
4. Select your Serial Port

Logic Controls PD-2000 or PD-3000:

1. Select Office, Setup, Equipment Setup, Pole Display Tab
2. Pole Display Type = Ultimate (Emax or PD-3000)
3. Serial Port Settings = 9600,n,8,1
4. Select your Serial Port

CD-5220:
1. Select Office, Setup, Equipment Setup, Pole Display Tab
2. Pole Display Type = CD-5220
3. Serial Port Settings = 9600,n,8,1
4. Select your Serial Port

Supported Credit Card Software
Credit card software is not required. Many of our customers use the credit card machines that they already have leased or bought. If you do not have one is it highly recommended that you start with a PC software based system.

Fastsell will interface with the free sofware we provide (through Signature Processing (Nova & US Charge only),

And PC Charge Pro which we sell through most processing networks. XP Pro recommended.

Supported Magnetic Strip (Credit Card) Readers

Credit card software is not absolutely required. Many operators use credit card machines that they already have. It takes a little longer, but it all depends on the speed and convenience of customer service that you are seeking.

There are many magnetic strip readers on the market. Some of them will work with our system and some will not. We have low prices on these devices, so to ensure compatibility we suggest you purchase from us.

If you have a programmable magnetic strip reader, program the following information:
Track 1 Header = % (percent sign)
Track 1 Terminator = ?
Track 2 Header = ; (semicolon)
Track 2 Terminator = ? plus Carriage Return

Standard Printers

For Printing Receipts, Reports, or Bar Codes with Windows 2000 or XP

Parallel or USB should work fine.
Any Laser or Ink Jet printer should work for printing Receipts/invoices, reports, or bar codes. (Lasers are better for bar codes, but ink jets will work, but are subject to smudges and smearing.). Dot matrix 80 column printers will not work for any printing with Windows 2000 or XP operating systems. The Dot Matrix receipt settings in the office are to maintain compatibility with Windows 95, 98, & Me

Many dot matrix printers can print receipts when using the Windows 95, 98, or Me operating systems. You must use the Generic/Text Only Driver that is included with these Windows 95, 98, or Me versions of Windows. Tearing off receipts is always a difficult task with these printers and it is always preferable to use a laser or ink jet. No report printing using dot matrix printers is available due to the requirements of Windows 95, 98, or Me and XP. This is normally used for multiple copies. You may find one that will work, but try it on Fastsell Deluxe before you buy it.

We have a number of preconfigured plug and ring hardware packages available or you can purchase others in our catalog. Just make sure that what you buy falls within the guidelines above.