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Stripe Card Reader Network Requirements

Euri Romanov avatar
Written by Euri Romanov
Updated over 2 weeks ago

To make sure your card reader works properly, it’s important that your network meets the following requirements. If it doesn’t, you may experience connection issues or the reader might not work at all.


Network Configuration

  • IPv4 Support:

    • Your network must support IPv4.

    • Note: Networks using only IPv6 are not supported

  • Single Connection Type (WiFi or Ethernet)

    • If your reader supports both WiFi and Ethernet, choose one connection type to avoid issues.

WiFi Requirements

  • Network Security:

    • Ensure that your WiFi network uses WPA/WPA2/WPA3-Personal or WPA2/WPA3 EAP-PEAP Enterprise encryption.

    • The network must be password protected.

Ethernet Requirements

  • The network must support 10/100 Ethernet devices.

Device-Specific Requirements

  • Private IP Address:

    • Terminal readers must have a private IP address assigned.

  • IP Address Consistency:

    • If your network uses dynamic IP addresses, ensure the IP address for each Terminal reader remains the same for at least a full workday.

  • Network Session Duration:

    • The network session should be set to last at least a full workday to avoid disruptions.

Additional Requirements for Terminal SDK Users

  • Same Local Network:

    • The reader and your point of sale device must be connected to the same local network.

  • Direct Communication with POS Device:

    • The reader should be able to communicate directly with your point of sale device over the local network.

  • DNS Resolution:

    • DNS servers used by your POS device must be able to resolve internet addresses to local IP addresses.

  • Frequency

    • Mbps (Megabits per second): This measures the speed of data coming into your router. For example, if you have a 200 Mbps connection, that speed can be shared among all devices connected to the router.

    • GHz (Gigahertz): This refers to the frequency at which the signal is transmitted from the router to your devices. A 2.4 GHz signal covers a wider area and can penetrate walls better, while a 5 GHz signal is stronger but has a shorter range and may have trouble passing through obstacles.

By meeting these network requirements, you’ll ensure smooth connectivity and uninterrupted service with your smart reader and point of sale setup.

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