How card readers connect to your tills
The difference between connecting a reader through Verimly, directly from the POS over the local network, and by Bluetooth, what each needs from your network and which features need which.
On this page
A card reader can get its payments from the till in three ways. Most venues should keep the default, Through Verimly's server (recommended): it works on any network and supports every feature. The other two are for specific situations: one till that talks to a reader on the local network itself, or a small Bluetooth reader on a single till.
The three ways compared
| Through Verimly | Directly from the POS | Bluetooth | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Readers | S700, S710, WisePOS E, T600 | S700, S710, WisePOS E, T600 | WisePad 3 |
| How it works | Every till at the location sends payments to the reader through Verimly. | One till on the same network connects to the reader and takes payments itself. | The reader is paired with one till over Bluetooth. |
| Network | Any network with internet, including 4G | Same local network as the till, with the requirements below | Within a few metres of the till |
| Tills that can use it | Every till at the location | Only the till connected to it | One till at a time |
| Bar tabs | Yes | No | No |
| Show the order on the reader | Yes | No | No |
| Set up in | Back office | Back office, then on the till | On the till |
Through Verimly's server (recommended)
This is the default for every smart reader. The till asks Verimly to start the payment, Verimly sends it to the reader, and the result comes back to the till. The till and the reader don't need to see each other on the network; each only needs internet.
Because Verimly drives the reader, any till at the location can use it, and features that need the server work: bar tabs (the hold on the guest's card) and Show the order on the reader.
Directly from the POS over the local network
The till connects to the reader itself over your venue's network. Choose it only when one till uses the reader and you have a reason to keep payments on the local network. While a till is connected, only that till uses the reader, and bar tabs and the cart on the reader aren't available.
What your network needs:
- The reader and the POS are on the same Wi-Fi or wired network, with local (private) addresses.
- Devices on the network can reach each other: no client isolation or guest network.
- DNS rebinding protection is off on the router or DNS filter, so the POS can find the reader's local address.
- The reader uses Wi-Fi or a cable, not both. Wi-Fi 6-only networks are not supported.
- On iPhone and iPad, the Verimly POS app may use the local network (Settings › Privacy & Security › Local Network on the device).
Switch a reader to direct:
- In the back office, go to Settings › Card payments and open the location.
- Open the reader. Under Connection, choose Directly from the POS over the local network.
- On the till, go to More › Settings › Connections, choose Add, then Card reader, then Smart reader on this network, and pick the reader.
"Tills at this location pick it up within seconds." In the reader list, a direct reader shows the badge Direct from POS.
Bluetooth
A WisePad 3 is always connected by the till it's paired with; this can't be changed. Pair it on the till under More › Settings › Connections › Add › Card reader › Bluetooth reader (WisePad 3). Keep it within a few metres of the till and charged. See Register a card reader.
If another till needs the reader, it can choose Take over on its Connections screen. The reader then disconnects from the first till.
Common questions
Which should I choose?
Through Verimly, unless support or your network setup tells you otherwise. It's the only option that supports bar tabs and showing the order on the reader, and it lets any till use any reader at the location.
Can I switch back?
Yes. Open the reader in Settings › Card payments and choose Through Verimly's server (recommended). You can't switch while the reader is taking a payment or holds an open bar tab; wait until it's finished.
Does the connection mode affect card tips?
The tip setting is per location, not per connection. See Card tips.
If something goes wrong
- "This card reader is connected directly to a POS app. Take the payment from that app." (
CARD_READER_SDK_MODE): the reader is set to direct, and this till isn't the one connected to it. - "This card reader is driven through the server, not connected to this POS app." (
CARD_READER_SERVER_DRIVEN_MODE): the till tried to connect directly to a reader that goes through Verimly. - "Bar tabs can't use a reader connected directly to the POS app yet.": switch the reader back to Through Verimly, or use another reader for tabs.
- "The reader can't be reached on the local network.": check the network requirements above.
All reader errors are explained in The card reader is offline or not found.