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Glossary of Terms

Technical jargon can be frustrating, we know. Which is why we've put together this glossary, to help you understand all the little details.

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Search for a term or a keyword below, and a definition will be displayed for that term and any related terms.

Acquirer

A specific form of bank, or financial institution, that is responsible for the processing of transactions through the card terminal.

For the terminal to be able to approve or decline transactions accordingly, you will require an account with an Acquirer. You are identified by your Acquirer via your Merchant ID (MID), and your terminals are identified by their Terminal ID (TID). Your Leasing Company/ISO will work with both the Acquirer and Castles Technology to administrate your accounts to integrate with your terminal.

Queries specifically involving transactions, settlements/reports & receiving of funds, are best directed to your Acquirer.

Our terminals are configured to operate with several different possible Acquirers, often this will depend on which ISO/Leasing Company you have leased your terminal from.

Acquirer Disabled

One of the common error messages that can appear when your terminal is not logged on with the Acquirer.

A logon process needs to be carried out, if you are unsure if and how you can do this yourself, please contact our helpdesk.

Android

The operating system that is installed on some of our devices, Android is also a very common operating system for mobile phones and some computers.

App: CastlesPay

The sale application on our Android terminals, like the S1F2. This app enables you to enter transaction amounts for customers to present their payment card to process the payment, it also is responsible for settlements, and providing reports.

App: Register

You may have an application on your S1F2 terminal called Register. This application is an ePOS system that requires you to have purchased a license through your Leasing Company/ISO to use. If you have this application on your device, and wish to know more, please contact your Leasing Company/ISO.

Approved

If a transaction has been accepted by the Acquirer, your terminal will display "approved".

Auth Code

An auth code can refer to a few different things:

Auth codes are generated on each transaction to indicate that the transaction was accepted, receipts printed from the terminal will have the auth code displayed.

Auth codes are generated when taking a Pre-Auth transaction, for that transaction to later be finalised through a Completion transaction.

Auth codes can also be provided by an Acquirer's auth centre, in the event that a referral is required.

Auto Reboot

Some terminals are pre-configured to automatically reboot at a set time. We set this time to be outside of normal operating hours for most businesses. If your terminal is automatically rebooting within your business operating hours, please contact our helpdesk.

Auto Registration

On GPRS terminals, this is the feature that will allow a terminal to automatically switch to another mobile network, if the current one is having issues connecting.

This can be turned off or on. When it is off, you must assign the device to a specific mobile network.

Autosettle

A feature on our terminals that can be configured to any preferred time for your settlement to happen automatically, depending on the Acquirer, this may get pre-set to a time late at night - usually after 10pm.

When this is set, as long as your terminal is left on and goes to a screensaver when left idle, is on charge, with a stable network connection, and with the sale application open (i.e. as long as the "Enter Amount" screen is visible) the autosettle will occur at the time that was specified. When you return to the terminal the next day, you should see a report printed from your device to indicate the completion of this.

This process can be interrupted if any of the above conditions are not met, one of the most common being network connection loss.

The autosettle time can be easily changed at any time by contacting our helpdesk and requesting the change, we will update this on your terminal's profile, and then instruct you to update the terminal.

Bad MAC

One of the common error messages that can appear when your terminal is not logged on with the Acquirer.

A logon process needs to be carried out, if you are unsure if and how you can do this yourself, please contact our helpdesk.

This term is not related to "MAC address" or "MAC filtering", which are networking terms.

CNP

Customer Not Present, sometimes referred to as Manual PAN Entry or just Manual Entry, a transaction that can be done when the customer is not present e.g. over the phone, by providing at least the long card number, expiry date & usually a CVV code; in some cases will also require numerical address information such as their house number and the numbers from their postcode, for example AA1 2BB would just be "12"

CVV

Card Verification Value, the three digits usually found on the back of a payment card, although some card issuers now have removed this from their cards entirely.

Card Issuer

A card issuer is a financial institution, such as a bank, that has provided a payment card to an account holder.

Card Scheme

The card scheme is the payment network that the payment card is a part of. Such as: Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, JCB etc.

Some schemes are not accepted by default, and need to be approved to be added to your terminal i.e. AMEX. You should discuss this with your Leasing Company/ISO and/or your Acquirer.

We cannot add AMEX without being provided with the necessary details from your Leasing Company/ISO first.

Cardholder Not Verified

A message that will appear on transactions where the customer did not verify a transaction with a PIN number. Provided your terminal also displayed that the transaction was approved, the transaction was successful.

This message can appear on receipts for contactless, swipe and CNP transactions, as these do not require a PIN entry.

Cashback

If enabled on your terminal, you can add cashback to transactions, this is a feature that allows you to charge a customer an additional amount for the purpose of receiving an equivalent amount of cash from your cash register.

Some card schemes, card issuers, or types of card or transactions will not allow cashback.
We cannot enable cashback without authorisation from your Leasing Company/ISO. You should contact them first.

Cashier Processing

If cashier processing is enabled on your terminal, it is possible for you to assign cashier numbers that can help identify who is responsible for individual transactions on the device.

Castles Technology

Castles Technology are manufacturers of card terminals, supplying several Leasing Companies/ISOs with our various models. We also provide a technical support helpdesk to these ISOs.

Our helpdesk can only assist with technical queries about the terminals, we have no access to your funds, bank account details, or contract details.

Chargeback

A form of payment dispute that customers can apply for through their card issuer, if allowed by the card issuer, the requested funds can be paid back to the cardholder.

You should discuss disputes with your Acquirer.

Charging Base

Our wireless terminals often come with a charging base, also known as a dock or cradle, to charge the device. You will also be supplied with a PSU cable to plug into the charging base to provide power to it.

Our charging bases have various LED light indicators that will turn on to indicate that it is receiving power.

Chip & PIN Reader

The chip & PIN reader allows payment cards with a chip to be inserted into the terminal, and the customer can enter their PIN number to authorise the payment. Some cards issued overseas (mostly from the United States) prompt you to check the signature on the back of a payment card, instead of a PIN.

If a PIN is entered incorrectly 3 times in a row, the card will become blocked, the cardholder will need to call the card issuer or visit a local branch and verify their identity to unblock the card.

Chip and PIN is sometimes abbreviated to C&P, not to be confused with CNP.

Communication type: Dial

A terminal that is Dial enabled, will use PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) to communicate with the Acquirer for transactions, and Castles Technology to download updates.

Your terminal will have a port labelled "Dial" or with 📞 if it is capable. You will need an RJ11 modem/dial cable to connect through this method.

Dial connections and the PSTN network are extremely outdated in comparison to modern standards. In November 2017, BT announced that they would be switching off the PSTN network by 2025. This has since been scheduled to happen on 31st December 2025, you will need to be set up with another form of connection before then. Many new devices will no longer include a port for connecting via PSTN.

Communication type: Ethernet / IP

A terminal that is Ethernet or IP enabled, will use an Ethernet cable to connect via LAN to the internet, and communicate with the Acquirer for transactions, and Castles Technology to download updates.

Your terminal will have a port labelled "LAN" if it is capable. You will need an RJ45 ethernet cable to connect through this method; minimum type CAT5 required, anything above CAT5 will also work (CAT5e, CAT6, CAT7 etc.) but will not make a difference to network speed or performance.

Communication type: GPRS

A terminal that is GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) enabled, will use a SIM card to connect to the GPRS network, similar to how a mobile phone does, to communicate with the Acquirer for transactions, and Castles Technology to download updates.

Communication type: Wi-Fi

A terminal that is Wi-Fi enabled, will be able to connect wirelessly to a Wi-Fi network to connect to the internet, and communicate with the Acquirer for transactions, and Castles Technology to download updates.

Your terminal will need to be configured with the Wi-Fi password/key set within the router's settings or supplied by your Internet Service Provider, in some cases we may have supplied you with a Netis or TP-Link access point, which will have its own password or activation code.

Completion

The process to finalise a Pre-Auth transaction using the physical card, or card details, and an auth code that is provided on the Pre-Auth receipt.

Contactless Reader

The contactless reader on your terminal allows payment cards with contactless to be used to complete transactions by presenting the card to the designated area, most terminals will have this near the screen or printer.

This payment method does not usually require PIN entry, occasionally your terminal may prompt a customer to insert a card and enter their PIN number, if the card issuer requires a check to ensure the cardholder is still in possession of the card - generally when the card is being used an abnormal amount within a day.

Contactless Reader is sometimes abbreviated to CL.

DHCP

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, also known as dynamic IP. A networking protocol that automatically assigns valid IP addresses and other network parameters to connected devices.

Most modern domestic networks are configured for DHCP by default. The opposite of static IP, where each device requires a set of parameters, including IP address, to be manually assigned to a device.

DPD

DPD is the courier service Castles Technology use to collect and deliver replacement terminals, as well as collecting your faulty terminal at the same time.

Some consumable items will also be sent with DPD.

Declined

The most common message you will see when a transaction is not successful. The reasons for the decline can vary, you should contact your Acquirer, or us, if you are unsure of the cause.

Dial Tone Wait

A setting on our devices that support dial connection, which delays the dialling of a necessary phone number to establish connection to the Acquirer or Castles Technology, in cases where the dial tone on the line may be delayed.

We will sometimes change this setting during troubleshooting to see if this improves your connection reliability.

EAP

Extensible Authentication Protocol, or 802.1x EAP, is a security protocol that can be configured on networks that require specific credentials before the connection is allowed.

This is similar to Wi-Fi networks that have a password/key that is entered when prompted, EAP requires various additional credentials to connect to a network protected by it, and sometimes a network will require both a password/key as well as the EAP credentials.

These credentials should be provided by your network administrator, or your Internet Service Provider. If you have been given these details but are having difficulty connecting your terminal to the network, please contact our helpdesk.

Firewall

A set of rules applied to your internet router that determines what network traffic is allowed, or disallowed, through your network. This traffic is identified with Port Numbers, and can be configured using a method called Port Forwarding.

Some networks with more cautious security settings have been known to disallow network traffic from both Acquirers and Castles Technology's update servers, in these cases we advise to check your firewall settings and use Port Forwarding to create exceptions to allow this traffic. If you are not sure how to do this, we would advise you to speak to your Internet Service Provider, or an IT professional.

Function

An option on some of our terminals that allow an operator to enter a code into the device to access special functions, or shortcuts to functions, on a device.

Most functions are for our helpdesk agents to use to assist with troubleshooting a device as efficiently as possible.

ISO/Leasing Company

Independent Sales Organisation, also referred to as a Leasing Company. They are responsible for the leasing contract you have for the terminal that we have supplied to the ISO. They are also the mediator between you and the Acquirer.

Keypad

The feature of the terminal that allows operation of the device - from entering PIN numbers during transactions, to navigating menus of the device.

Some devices have a physical keypad, whilst our touchscreen devices have a digital keypad that will appear when such operation is required.

LAN

Local Area Network, the name of a group of interconnected devices in a small area to have a singular internet connection. your home network and business network will usually be defined as a LAN.

If your terminal is Ethernet or IP enabled, you will have a LAN port on the back of the device.

If you have been supplied a Netis or TP-Link access point, both of these devices will need to be connected from your existing Wi-Fi router's LAN port to the Netis/TP-Link's WAN port.

Linux

The operating system that is installed on some of our devices, Linux is also a very common operating system for some computers.

Logon

The process of logging a terminal on with the Acquirer's system.

Some new terminals may require this before the terminal is ready to use, and occasionally terminals can become logged off from the Acquirer for many reasons. When this happens you will usually see "Bad MAC", "Security Error" or "Acquirer Disabled".

A terminal being logged off from the Acquirer is an automated system that can occur for many reasons, we are not notified of the cause.

MAC Address

In networking, a MAC (Media Access Control) address is a unique 12 character alphanumeric value used to identify devices connected to a network, example: 00-B0-D0-63-C2-26.

You may need to add a device's MAC address to the MAC address filtering list, within your router's settings, if it is a security requirement on your network. If you are not sure if you need to do this, or how, please contact your network administrator or Internet Service Provider. If you need to find the MAC address of your terminal, please contact us.

This is not related to the term "MAC Reset" or "Bad MAC", neither of which are networking terms.

MAC Filtering

The process of adding MAC addresses to a list of devices that are allowed access to a network, usually this option is found within your router's settings.

Contact your network administrator or Internet Service Provider if you need help with this.

MAC Reset

A MAC reset may be required to reset the logon between the terminal and the Acquirer. This requirement varies based on the Acquirer.

This term is not related to "MAC addresses" or "MAC filtering", which are networking terms.

Magnetic Stripe / Swipe Reader

The magnetic stripe reader, also known as a swipe reader, allows for a payment card with a magnetic stripe along the length of the card.

A swipe reader is usually located on the right-hand side of a terminal.

Swipe the entire length of the card along the swipe reader when prompted to complete a transaction with this method. The terminal may prompt you to check the signature on the back of the payment card.

Merchant ID (MID)

Your Merchant Identification Number. Your MID is how Castles Technology, your Acquirer, and your Leasing Company/ISO, identify you as a customer. Your MID is different to your Terminal ID (TID), usually you will have one MID, with one or more TIDs linked to it.

Merchant Password

A password that is usually set when you initially set up the card machine, intended to be used in processes that need additional verification that the merchant is operating the terminal. For example: refunds, reports & settlements.

Your terminal will usually be pre-set with a default password; if you need to find out what that is, or how to change that password, please check your terminal documentation, or contact our helpdesk.

If you have forgotten your merchant password, or it isn't accepting your password, please contact our helpdesk.

Mobile Data

On GPRS terminals, mobile data is how the device receives data packets from the internet.

On our Android terminals - this must be switched on for your terminal to work.

Mobile Hotspot

Most modern phones have a mobile hotspot option that provides a Wi-Fi network broadcasted from your phone, that will use your mobile network data to communicate with the internet. As it will use your phone's network data, as long as you have data allowance remaining, it will use this allowance - transactions will not use much data but software updates can.

We may occasionally ask you to try this whilst troubleshooting connectivity issues with a Wi-Fi network, as it can help us determine if the root cause of the issue is with your Wi-Fi network.

This can also be used as a backup in special circumstances where your normal Wi-Fi network is down. Please contact our helpdesk if you require help with connecting to your mobile hotspot.

Model Number

All devices that we supply have a model number to identify the device or "family" of devices that it belongs to.

For example the V3M2 and the V3CT3 both belong to the Vega 3000 family of devices, with M2 and CT3 referring to the variations of what communication type they use (Wi-Fi/GPRS and IP respectively).

We may ask you to confirm your model number if we need to confirm that your device is manufactured and/or supported by us.

Netis

One of the brands of access points that we may supply with our terminals, we have two models in operation: WF2411E (White) & WF2412 (Black).

These devices need to be connected to your existing Wi-Fi router's LAN port, to the Netis's WAN (blue) port, with an ethernet cable.

Your terminal may require an activation code to connect to the Netis, please contact our helpdesk if you need any help connecting to the Netis.

Network Band: 2.4GHz

One of two common Wi-Fi network radio bands used worldwide. Opposed to the 5GHz band, 2.4GHz has slower speeds, but increased range.

Many older devices, including our older terminals, have compatibility issues with Wi-Fi routers broadcasting a 5GHz signal, but most routers have dual band for 2.4GHz and 5GHz either as one SSID or as two separate SSIDs. If it is combined as one SSID, this can cause the compatibility issues.

If you think you have a compatibility issue with your terminal connecting to your Wi-Fi network, you can contact your Internet Service Provider to see if they have any advice.

Network Band: 5GHz

One of two common Wi-Fi network radio bands used worldwide. Opposed to the 2.4GHz band, 5GHz has faster speeds, but reduced range.

Many older devices, including our older terminals, have compatibility issues with Wi-Fi routers broadcasting a 5GHz signal, but most routers have dual band for 2.4GHz and 5GHz either as one SSID or as two separate SSIDs. If it is combined as one SSID, this can cause the compatibility issues.

If you think you have a compatibility issue with your terminal connecting to your Wi-Fi network, you can contact your Internet Service Provider to see if they have any advice.

Operator Password

A password that protects settings within the terminal that are for helpdesk agents to access when assisting you with troubleshooting your device.

PABX

Private Automatic Branch Exchange, a switchboard used to connect devices within a telephone network with the PSTN.

We have a setting on our devices that support dial connections called PABX that allows you to enter a PABX prefix, for example, in cases where you need to enter a number before the intended phone number, to dial out from inside your telephone network; the number 9 is commonly used for this.

If you think you need to enter a PABX prefix, please contact our helpdesk.

PAN

Primary Account Number, the long card number usually found on the front of a payment card, although some card issuers now have this on the back of the card, or have removed it entirely.

PIN

Personal Identification Number, the 4 digit code assigned to a payment card, by the card issuer or the cardholder, that needs to be entered to complete a Chip & PIN transaction.

Some cards issued overseas (mostly from the United States) prompt you to check the signature on the back of a payment card, instead of a PIN.

If a PIN is entered incorrectly 3 times in a row, the card will become blocked, the cardholder will need to call the card issuer or visit a local branch and verify their identity to unblock the card.

PSU

Power Supply Unit, the cable that plugs into a mains socket and into your terminal or charging base, to provide power to the device.

Paper Roll

The roll of receipt paper that must be inserted into a terminal to provide receipt and report printouts.

In order for paper roll to work in our devices, you must use 57mm x 40mm thermal paper.

Our terminal printers all use heat to transfer information to the paper, no ink is required.

Port Forwarding

The method to create exceptions in your network's firewall to allow specified traffic through. you will need Port Numbers to specify the traffic you want to allow.

If you are not sure how to do this, we would advise you to speak to your Internet Service Provider, or an IT professional.

Port Number

Used to identify and specify the type of network traffic coming in and going out from a network. These numbers are unique to a specific service. please contact our helpdesk if you think you need to Port Forward and we can locate the relevant Port Numbers for you.

Power Cycle

The IT professional term for "turning it off and back on". Much of our troubleshooting process will begin with asking whether you have tried restarting the device, this is because it can resolve a significant portion of minor faults.

We do advise trying this when you encounter a problem, as it can save you time calling our helpdesk. All of our handheld terminals have a power button on them that can be held down for ~5-10 seconds to shut down the device, you can then hold down the power button again to turn the device back on.

In addition, it is advised to power cycle your router from time to time, the advice on this can vary from being once a month, or daily. This can solve a large number of faults linked to connectivity, from network speed, to signal coverage, to network access and beyond. We would also advise to try this if your terminal is Wi-Fi enabled, and the issue you are facing could be attributed to connectivity.

Powerline Ethernet Adapter

Powerline ethernet is a technology that converts existing electrical wiring in a building into an ethernet network, by having a powerline adapter plugged into a mains socket near your router, with one or more adapters located near devices that require a wired connection.

Powerline ethernet can be an inexpensive solution to connecting wired LAN devices over greater distances, as long as the adapters are plugged in on the same circuit. We recommend researching this solution thoroughly before investing into it.

Pre-Auth

A type of transaction that can be processed to check whether an account has sufficient funds for a transaction, which then will require a Completion to resolve that transaction at a later time.

Often used in a similar capacity to a deposit, as it sets up the authorisation of the transaction to allow that to be completed with the physical card, or card details, and an auth code that is provided on the Pre-Auth receipt.

Processing

The message you will see on terminals when they have established connection with the Acquirer and are waiting for the transaction to be approved or declined.

A similar message can also appear when our terminals are attempting a software update.

Program Manager

If your Vega terminal (V3M2, V3CT3 or V3C) has a screen displaying "Program Manager" at the top. Do not press any buttons and please contact our helpdesk immediately.

This screen controls the applications on the terminal, it is possible for you to delete the applications on the terminal if you are not careful.

RB Out of Balance

An error message that can appear on the terminal when there is an issue matching the batch between the terminal and the Acquirer.

This message is unique to terminals where Elavon is the Acquirer.

Please contact our helpdesk if you see this message.

RJ11

The type of connector jack used for modem/dial cables. Often confused with RJ45 ethernet cables as they look similar, but RJ45 is slightly larger and won't fit into a dial port. The easiest way to identify these cables is to count the pins on the connector, an RJ11 connector will have 6 pins.

RJ45

The type of connector jack used for ethernet cables. Often confused with RJ11 modem/dial cables as they look similar, but RJ11 is slightly smaller and won't fit into a LAN port. The easiest way to identify these cables is to count the pins on the connector, an RJ45 connector will have 8 pins.

Referral

Referral can mean a couple of different things:

Some transactions require a referral password, and for you to contact the authorisation centre for your Acquirer to provide additional authorisation for the transaction. This should be a rare occurrence, if your terminal is asking for a referral password on every transaction, please contact our helpdesk.

Some genuine decline messages can be accompanied with "referral" messages that can mean different things depending on the letter you get with it. You should contact your Acquirer if you believe you have seen one of these messages and are concerned.

Referral Password

A password that is usually set when you initially set up the card machine, this is different to your merchant password, intended to be used when a transaction requires additional authorisation, you should contact your Acquirer's authorisation centre if you are prompted to enter a referral password.

A referral password is usually 5 digits, of non-recurring and non-consecutive numbers (i.e. not 55555 or 12345). If you don't know your referral password, please contact our helpdesk.

Refund

Allows you to pay funds back to a customer through the terminal by using a payment card.

Reports

Various reports can be printed from your terminal, a settlement will print an accompanying report, but you can also print other reports without completing a settlement.

The types of reports you can print, and the information available on them, can vary based on the Acquirer the terminal is connected with.

If you have any specific queries about what reports you can print, and what information is provided on them, these are best directed to your Acquirer.

Roaming

Roaming is usually referred to as using mobile data outside of your native country where you usually use your mobile phone, on our Android terminals - this must be switched on for your terminal to work.

SSID

Service Set Identifier, in simple terms, it is the displayed name of Wi-Fi networks that will appear on devices when scanning for Wi-Fi.

The SSID can usually be changed in your router settings.

Saved EOD

A feature available on some terminals, usually based on the Acquirer it is connected with, this allows the last settlement report that was completed to be reprinted.

Can be used to reprint the settlement in the event that the terminal ran out of paper or had a printing error during the settlement.

Screensaver

A moving image or set of images that will appear on a terminal screen when it is left idle - to slow deterioration of the screen components, and prevent "screen burn", which is when a fixed image is displayed on a screen for too long and can become permanently imprinted onto the screen.

Security Error

One of the common error messages that can appear when your terminal is not logged on with the Acquirer.

A logon process needs to be carried out, if you are unsure if and how you can do this yourself, please contact our helpdesk.

Serial Number

All devices that we supply have a unique serial number located on a label on the back of the device, this number helps us track our devices and identify them.

We may ask for your device's serial number to locate your account if you cannot provide a TID or MID, we also require this number to swap your device in the event of a fault that requires the device to be replaced.

Settlement

A settlement, sometimes referred to as an End of Day (EOD) or Batch, is the action of 'settling' the totals on your terminal; which attempts to match the batch of transactions, from the day of trading held on the terminal, with the Acquirer's batch. This action needs to complete in order for the Acquirer to agree the totals, and send the funds to the intended merchant bank account.

Software Update

Our terminals are configured to automatically download updates to the software on the terminal every month, usually this will happen in the background without disruption. However, if the terminal is experiencing connection issues, this process can be interrupted. Please contact our helpdesk if your terminal is failing to update.

Static IP

A type of network configuration that allows you to assign fixed IP addresses to devices on a network.

Most modern domestic networks are not configured this way by default, instead using DHCP. However, static IP has some advantages in certain use cases.

If your network is set up for static IP, you will need to obtain specific information from your network administrator or Internet Service Provider to connect your device. Please contact our helpdesk if you need to set this up.

Supervisor Password

A password intended to protect more sensitive menus in a terminal, usually for a helpdesk agent to access when assisting you with troubleshooting your device.

Swap Service

We have a swap service for our devices that require replacement due to a fault that cannot be resolved remotely by our helpdesk. Our helpdesk will troubleshoot your device to determine if a swap is necessary, we will only swap a device if we exhaust our troubleshooting steps and are unable to verify the device's functionality. It is very important that we carry out this process fully, otherwise a swapped device may experience the same issues.

We also require the serial numbers of your devices that require replacing.

The swap service you are entitled to may vary based on the Leasing Company/ISO your terminal is leased through and their contract with you, please consult with the Leasing Company/ISO's customer service if you wish to know the exact details of this.

Our swap service in the UK and ROI uses DPD as the courier service that collects and delivers the replacement terminal, as well as collecting your faulty terminal at the same time. We do not have an alternative service.

TP-Link

One of the brands of access points that we may supply with our terminals, we have one model in operation: TL-WR841N.

These devices need to be connected to your existing Wi-Fi router's LAN port, to the TP-Link's WAN (blue) port, with an ethernet cable.

Your terminal may require the Wireless Password/PIN found on the underside of the TP-Link, to connect to the TP-Link, please contact our helpdesk if you need any help connecting to the TP-Link.

Terminal

We refer to our card machines simply as terminals.

There are many synonymous names for these devices, but these can also indicate some variation:
PDQ machines, EFTPOS / EPOS / POS (Electronic Funds Transfer / [Electronic] Point Of Sale) terminals, card readers, and PIN pads.

Terminal ID (TID)

Your Terminal Identification Number. Your TID is how Castles Technology, your Acquirer, and your Leasing Company/ISO, identify your individual terminal(s). Your TID is different to your Merchant ID (MID), as you can have multiple TIDs for several terminals linked to one MID.

Thermal Printing

Our terminal printers all use heat to transfer information to the paper, no ink is required.

In order for paper roll to work in our devices, you must use 57mm x 40mm thermal paper.

Tips / Gratuity

If enabled on your terminal, customers can choose to pay an additional tip through the terminal alongside a transaction.

Training Mode

Training mode can be enabled on a terminal to simulate how real transactions would function without actually charging anyone.

Training mode can be enabled or disabled with the merchant password.

Any transactions taken in training mode are dummy transactions, if you have taken transactions you thought were real while in training mode, these will not appear on your settlements and you will not receive funds from these.

There are several warnings that are visible on screen, and on any printouts from the terminal while in training mode.

If you think your terminal is in training mode and you're not sure how to disable it, please contact our helpdesk.

Void

Allows you to void a transaction out of the current batch before it is settled by using a receipt/invoice number. Not available on all terminals.

WAN

Wide Area Network, a telecommunications network established over a large geographical area. The internet is a WAN.

If you have been supplied a Netis or TP-Link access point, both have a WAN port on them that need to be connected to your existing Wi-Fi router's LAN port.

Wi-Fi Extender

One of a few different Wi-Fi range expansion solutions, "Wi-Fi extender" will sometimes be used interchangeably with "Wi-Fi repeater" but they are functionally different.

A Wi-Fi extender usually requires a wired connection, either through ethernet or powerline, and provides an entirely new Wi-Fi access point for devices to connect to.

Other similar devices capable of Wi-Fi range expansion are Wi-Fi repeaters and Wi-Fi mesh systems, each work in different ways, and as such have their pros and cons depending on the use case. If you are concerned about Wi-Fi coverage, we advise you to research these thoroughly to select the best solution for you.

Wi-Fi Mesh

One of a few different Wi-Fi range expansion solutions, Wi-Fi mesh is an all-in-one solution, where there is one main router, and multiple additional nodes that combine intelligently to provide coverage to all areas of a building; a good example of this is BT's 'Complete Wi-Fi' system.

Other similar devices capable of Wi-Fi range expansion are Wi-Fi repeaters and Wi-Fi extenders, each work in different ways, and as such have their pros and cons depending on the use case. If you are concerned about Wi-Fi coverage, we advise you to research these thoroughly to select the best solution for you.

Wi-Fi Repeater

One of a few different Wi-Fi range expansion solutions, a repeater will duplicate an existing Wi-Fi network and rebroadcast it to extend its coverage.

Other similar devices capable of Wi-Fi range expansion are Wi-Fi extenders and Wi-Fi mesh systems, each work in different ways, and as such have their pros and cons depending on the use case. If you are concerned about Wi-Fi coverage, we advise you to research these thoroughly to select the best solution for you.

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