What's the difference between magnetic stripe HiCo or LoCo? What's the difference between magnetic stripe HiCo or LoCo?
Two types of magnetic stripes are the more diffused: HiCo (High Coercivity) and Loco (Low Coercivity). The main difference between them is the extent of magnetisation : coded data on a HiCo last some years, and much less on Loco.
LoCo are also more sensitive to electromagnetic fields (such as mobile phones products) and are demagnetised easier. LoCo cost on average is € 0.01 less than HiCo.
Almost all readers on the market can read both HiCo and LoCo , but not all coders can write to both types of magnetic stripe (it changes the magnetic field intensity delivered by the coding head for data 's magnetisation).
HiCo are easily identifiable because they are black coloured (such as ATM) and are also known as a "High Density".
LoCo are distinguished by a brownish colour and are marked with magnetic strips of "Low Density".