Equipment Reference Guide

Equipment Reference Guide

A collection of the various equipment we use and explanation of it's purpose in your point of sale system

Terminal

A Terminal is a specialized computer system used to manage sales transactions in a retail or hospitality environment. This is the heart of your operations when operating the OrderCounter POS software

Cash Drawer

This hardware component is used to store the cash for transactions. The drawer is typically located under the Terminal and can be locked to provide security for the money inside. The cash drawer can be opened from OrderCounter by using the "No Sale" function.

Receipt Printer

This device is used to print receipts or other types of documentation in retail, hospitality, and other business environments. These printers are typically connected to a Terminal or Cash Drawer and are designed to print receipts quickly and efficiently. They are typically connected to a cash register via a RJ-11 (Telephone) Cable and connect to the terminal directly using a printer cable or through the network using an ethernet cable.

Card Reader

The card reader is used to read payment cards, such as credit or debit cards, during a sales transaction. The card reader is typically connected to the Terminal or Switch, and it enables the merchant to accept payments from customers who use payment cards. We do not store information from these devices.

Switch

A switch connects multiple Terminal, Card Readers, Receipt Printers, and other peripherals to create a local area network (LAN). The switch is responsible for routing data between devices on the network and ensures that information is delivered to the appropriate destination. Unlike a Router, a switch does not provide a network connection but connects them.

Router

A router connects the local POS network to the internet or to other networks. The router is responsible for routing data between the local network and external networks, ensuring that information is delivered to the appropriate destination. The router controls your connection to your internet. 

Ethernet Cable

An Ethernet cable connects various devices, such as Terminals, Card Readers, Receipt Printers, and Routers, to each other and to the network. Ethernet cables use a standard interface called RJ-45 and are designed to provide high-speed data transfer rates over relatively long distances.

Telephone Cable

Telephone cables to connect peripherals such as printers or card readers. This is because some older systems were designed to use the same cabling infrastructure as telephones, which made it easier to install and maintain the system. You will mainly see telephone cables used to connect Receipt Printers to Cash Drawers

Printer Cable

A printer cable is a type of cable used to connect a terminal or card reader to a Receipt Printers. The cable is typically a serial or USB cable, and it allows the Terminal or Card Reader to send print commands to the Receipt Printers.

​

• Related Articles

• Quick Reference Guide

  Changes or suggestions can be made here: https://tinyurl.com/ordercounterrg

• Creating Menu Categories

  “Menu Categories” are groups that contain Menu Items, the buttons used to actually sell an item. Each menu item must belong to a Category To manage Menu Items, go to Control Panel > Menu management > Menu Categories (Create / Edit) You can display up ...

• Order Types

  Order Types Order types change how the system behaves. If you choose “Takeout” for example the first screen will ask you to choose a customer. If you choose “Table order” it will ask you to choose a table. This is not something to be overlooked and ...

• To Go

  This is a quick service order type and will not allow you to suspend a sale. It is used mostly in quick service restaurants where the order will generally be to go. There is no Send order button as the order will be sent automatically when the ...

• Bar Tabs

  Bar Tabs is a quick service Order Type that will allow you to save tabs If you ring through some drinks and pay straight away it works just like one of the quick service options. If you press “Save and Send” you will be asked for a name for the tab. ...