Rowe 5900 MDB upgrade

[aks]

Hi all, newbie here. I have found myself in charge of an older cash only snack vending machine (Rowe 5900) at my workplace and I am looking to transition to cashless payment. I am considering two options and I am wondering if anyone has any advice.

I am curious what the general consensus is on coin mech-MDB upgrade modules like this one sold by Capital vending: https://www.capitalvending.com/mdb-parts-15.html#product-details-tab-specification I haven't seen much talk about these and I am wondering why? I am thinking I will remove cash options altogether and use only card payments since the cost to upgrade everything to MDB is limiting. Would this solution work for such a set up? Are these devices just inferior?

The second (perhaps safer) option is to buy an UCB kit from Vendors Exchange. I've seen people here say good things about this kit so I feel relatively confident it would work out all right, my only hesitation is the price-- if the coin mech module would work out fine, I'd love to save $200.

Thanks so much for your help, this forum has been very useful as I try to learn more.

[AZVendor]

The problem with Rowe machines is that no one makes a good aftermarket logic board for them.  InOne and the UCB are not for Rowe machines.  If Capital has a board for it then it's probably a Greenwick board as that's the only one I'm aware of to update a Rowe machine.  It has to be a board update because none of the factory electronics are capable of handling a card reader. When you upgrade you will have the cost of the upgrade board PLUS an MDB coin mech and bill acceptor, just so you can install a card reader.  That machine isn't worth it.

[lacanteen]

That kit from Capital is a logic to MDB converter. I know they were popular 15 years ago, but it's old technology and may not run a card reader. 

[aks]

4 hours ago, AZVendor said:

The problem with Rowe machines is that no one makes a good aftermarket logic board for them.  InOne and the UCB are not for Rowe machines.  If Capital has a board for it then it's probably a Greenwick board as that's the only one I'm aware of to update a Rowe machine.  It has to be a board update because none of the factory electronics are capable of handling a card reader. When you upgrade you will have the cost of the upgrade board PLUS an MDB coin mech and bill acceptor, just so you can install a card reader.  That machine isn't worth it.

Thanks for your response! So is it not possible to install *only* a card reader without coin mech or bill acceptor? The machine is currently at a university where nearly everyone has a card and not many people carry cash. I was planning to make it card only when I upgrade.

Vendor's exhange does have a UCB board specifically for Rowe machines. From my understanding the module from Capital is just a plug in to convert MDB signals into coin mech signals. I'm trying to decide which one to pursue for a card-only machine.

I'm familiar with the general consensus that Rowe machines are not worth the upgrade, however we already have it in the space and I am in the fortunate position of not needing to make a large profit from vending-- we are in a makerspace and have just been using the machine to sell materials and snacks.  Just trying to move to cashless as cheaply and quickly as possible.

 

[AZVendor]

Well, I didn't know the UCB would work in this machine so that's your solution then. It will probably allow you to do cards only but read the literature about it or ask Vendors Exchange about it.

[Gsully]

Vendors does make a plug in ucb for the Rowe 5900, i dont know if you can run the machine without a coin mech but Vendors Exchange may be able to tell you, One option other then card reader is A payrange modules. Also keep in mind that biller space may be to small for a biller attached card reader and require a separate card reader unit.