This article provides an introduction to physical devices such as Ticket Printers, Ticket Scanners and PIN Pads / Chip Readers. Collectively these items are known as ‘Hardware’.
The article explains how these devices work with Spektrix and how to start using them.
If you are already familiar with hardware and Spektrix, you can skip straight to the end of this article for further information on each type of Hardware.
Connecting Spektrix to hardware
Spektrix connects to hardware in two ways:
- Via the Box Office App (for PIN Pads, Ticket Printers and USB Cash Drawers)
- Via the Scanning Interface (for Ticket Scanners)
You need to download the Box Office App to your PC to use it, whereas the Scanning Interface is accessed online through a web browser.
WARNING: The Spektrix Box Office App is a Windows-only application; it can't be installed on a Mac
The Spektrix Box Office App
The Spektrix Box Office App is a piece of software which allows Spektrix to communicate with the hardware physically connected to a PC.
You should install the App on any computer directly connected to a PIN Pad, Ticket Printer or USB Cash Drawer. The App needs to be kept running on that PC for the connected hardware to work.
You only need to install the App on those computers directly connected to a piece of hardware.
Read Installing the Spektrix Box Office App for instructions on how to install and configure the App.
Ticket Printers
Ticket Printers allow box office teams to print tickets and card receipts for customers. Ticket Printers communicate with Spektrix via the Box Office App.
TIP: After you add Ticket Printers to the Box Office App, they are available across your organisation and anyone can print to them; you just need to keep the Box Office App running on the PC the printer is connected to.
Most organisations choose BOCA (US and Canada) / BOCA (UK and Ireland) or Stimare printers. Both brands work well with Spektrix.
The BOCA Lemur (shown above) and STIMA CMP (shown below) are widely used. Other models are also available from both manufacturers.
Before deciding which model of Ticket Printer is best for your organisation, read our Introduction to Ticket Printers.
When you are ready to order a Ticket Printer, read these articles appropriate to your location:
REMINDER: If you are considering other brands of Ticket Printer, contact our Support team to check their compatibility with Spektrix.
You can find more information on installing Ticket Printers in these articles:
PIN Pads / Chip Readers and Card Payments
PIN Pads / Chip Readers allow box office teams to take card payments directly through Spektrix. These are also known as Contactless Devices, Card Readers, Chip & PIN machines or PEDs.
Spektrix works with integrated devices, meaning that card payments are processed directly within Spektrix.
You can find more information about card payments, specific to your region, in the following sections:
Card Payments in Canada
PIN Pads / Chip Readers are not currently integrated with Spektrix in Canada. Instead, card details are either typed or swiped into Spektrix, or processed as an Interac debit payment and entered as a Custom Payment Type
Since no hardware is used directly with Spektrix to process card payments in Canada, users in Canada may skip to the section for Ticket Scanners
Card Payments in the US
Spektrix users in the US who take card payments in-person at the Box Office will normally use at least one PIN Pad / Chip Reader.
The Ingenico Lane 3000 Chip Reader (shown below) can be used by organizations in the US who use Worldpay as their Payment Gateway.
Organizations in the US who do not use Worldpay, can still type or swipe card details into Spektrix manually.
When you are ready to order a PIN Pad / Chip Reader for use in the US, proceed to:
Card Payments in the UK and Ireland
Spektrix users in the UK and Ireland who take card payments in-person at the Box Office will need at least one PIN Pad.
The Verifone P400 (shown below) is widely used in the UK and Ireland.
When you are ready to order a PIN Pad for use in the UK and Ireland, proceed to the follow article:
Ticket Scanners
You can print barcodes or QR codes on both physical and print at home tickets with Spektrix using The Ticket Design Tool. This enables your Front of House teams to scan tickets on entry.
Unlike other types of hardware, Ticket Scanners do not use the Box Office App. Instead, they use The Spektrix Scanning Interface.
To begin scanning tickets, you will need the following:
- Access to the Scanning Interface
- Ticket Scanners
- A stable Wi-Fi connection, or mobile/cellphone signal depending on which Ticket Scanners you use
- Barcodes or QR codes on your tickets
For more information on barcodes and QR codes, read The Ticket Design Tool.
Several different Ticket Scanners work with Spektrix. These are:
- Saveo BOLT and Saveo Pocket Scan 2 (All regions)
- Zebra TC21 and Zebra TC26 (All regions)
- Janam XT30 (US and Canada only)
The Zebra and Saveo scanners listed in this article (including the Saveo BOLT shown below) can be used in all regions.
TIP: Some Ticket Scanners require additional mobile / cell phones to operate. Read our Introduction to Ticket Scanners for more information.
If you are planning to use Ticket Scanners, make sure you are familiar with these articles:
- Introduction to Ticket Scanners
- Ordering a Ticket Scanner (US and Canada)
- Ordering a Ticket Scanner (UK and Ireland)
The Scanning Interface
Spektrix uses the Scanning Interface to communicate with Ticket Scanners. You can read more about the Scanning interface in the following article:
Unlike the Box Office App which is installed locally on a PC, the Scanning Interface is accessed through a web browser.
You’ll need the Scanning User on your user profile to access the Scanning Interface. You can find more information about user profiles in our article Adding and Editing Users.
TIP: Please read our Introduction to Ticket Scanners before using the Scanning Interface.
Further Information
For an overview of the Box Office App and each type of hardware, read the following articles:
- Introduction to the Spektrix Box Office App
- Introduction to Ticket Printers
- Introduction to PIN Pads (UK and Ireland)
- Introduction to Chip Readers (US only)
- The Spektrix Scanning Interface
- Introduction to Ticket Scanners
These articles will help you understand, set up and troubleshoot each type of hardware.