The Pescara protocol converter is a cost-effective interface board that allows existing games, kiosks, change machines and the like to connect to modern, high-performance bill validators without the need to change any of the host machine’s application software.

Although the board is very low-cost, it is an intelligent board, fitted with a high-performance, field-reprogrammable microcontroller. This microcontroller comes pre-programmed with a range of master and slave protocol handlers.

At time of writing, the standard Pescara board provides the following protocol conversions.

Rotary Switch Setting vs. Conversion
0Do not use.
1Mars Vend Serial host to ccTalk bill validator.
2Mars Vend Serial host to ID003 bill validator.
3Ardac 2 host to ccTalk bill validator.
4Ardac 2 host to ID003 bill validator.
5ccTalk host to ID003 bill validator.
6GPT 2 host to ccTalk bill validator.
(With dynamic bill mapping)
7GPT 2 host to ccTalk bill validator.
(With fixed, default bill mapping)
8Pulse Serial host to ccTalk bill validator.
9Scaled Pulse Serial host to ccTalk bill validator.
ADo not use.
BPulse Serial host to ID003 bill validator.
CScaled Pulse Serial host to ID003 bill validator.
DGPT V2 host to ID003 bill validator.
(With Escrow capability)
EGPT V2 host to ID003 bill validator.
(Without Escrow capability)
FPulse Serial to ccTalk bill validator demonstration mode.

Although the standard Pescara hardware and software build carries out the protocol conversions listed above, other build variants are available providing, for example, opto-isolated pulsing capability or current-loop communications.

Furthermore, custom hardware and software builds can be undertaken, though this is likely to be subject to MOQ (minimum order quantity) conditions.