Subscriber Discussion

Read Distances For Access Control

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
•Feb 05, 2019

Hey guys.  New to door access "kinda".  We have installed a few and primarily have been Kantech.  Having issues with our own in house readers.  They don't seem to read unless we put the fob right on it and sometime even then they don't read it.  I have to rub it up and down completely flat onto the reader.  The reader is mounted on frame on morton bldg.  I am wondering if there is a interference with type of metal or the fact that there is a metal trim on the side of the reader as well.  We had issues with the old school wiegand readers also.  We had to put rubber behind the reader to get it to read at all.   

 

Have any you guys run into issues with new iosmart readers whether it was kantech or HID have read distance almost non existent.   

 

Do you have any recommendations how to fix or help with read distances on metal bldg?

 

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Brian Rhodes
•Feb 05, 2019
IPVMU Certified

What is the model of reader you've installed?  Which credential part numbers are you using?

The typical range will be a factor of the frequency and reader model, but in general you should be getting true 'contactless' range of at least two or three inches.  It sounds like you're getting 0 inches.

The best approach to gasketing or shielding will be dictated by the reader model.

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
•Feb 05, 2019
In reply to Brian Rhodes

KT-MUL-MT-KP is the part number.  On the box it says Typical read range for 13.56MHz for mullion mount is 1.5".  We are using there IOSMART KEYTAG, MIFARE PLUS 2K SMART CARD.  MFP-2KKEY is there part number.

 

 

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
•Feb 05, 2019

Mounting directly on metal surfaces can reduce the read range of RFID type readers, as some of the energy the reader emits to excite the tiny antenna in the credential is absorbed by the metal.  The smaller the antenna in the credential, the more pronounced this effect can be.

If you are using a keyfob, this form factor generally contains a smaller antenna out of necessity to fit it all into the smaller credential (compared to a badge size).

If the metal extends up the sides of the reader where it is mounted, this can also increase the effect and reduce the read range.

I have experienced 13.56 mhz creds/readers having a shorter read range than some 125 Khz readers/creds.  According to some things I have read in the past about 13.56 systems, some of this is by design in order to decrease skimming/cloning/sniffing possibilities  in the wild. Is this necessarily true?  Not sure.

Perhaps try moving the reader off the metal mounting surface and place a thin piece ofck of wood/plastic/rubber or other non-metallic material between the reader and the metal and see if this changes anything.  

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
•Feb 05, 2019
In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2

Thank you for help.  I will try that.  Funny thing is only been an issue with my own building.  Ill post if that helps.    

SD
Shannon Davis
•Feb 06, 2019
IPVMU Certified
In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2

UI2 is correct. The metal building will definitely decrease the read range, especially on a keyfob and especially a multi-class type reader. Also how fast you present the card also plays a role and the security involved in the system. Typically a keyfob will also have a sweet spot where the antenna is.

According to your part number this is a multi-class reader. With HID multi-class their readers have a order in which the readers read the credential. By default theirs are 13.56 first then 125 with about a 500ms delay in the read. This has caused issues with existing customers still having prox credentials. Especially if they are using keyfobs. Typically the customer will not put the keyfob in the correct spot and read it too fast. Also the multi-class readers don't tend to have quite the read range as a single technology reader as the readers will have smaller antennas.

I would imagine the IOSMART readers are similar as well. I found a document in the link below that shows how these are laid out with respect to the antennas. We use a precut plexiglass adapter for this instance of decreased read range.

Flexible ioSmart Card Readers and Cards

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Scott Lindley
•Feb 05, 2019
Farpointe Data, Inc.

UI #1-

Re: The short read range woes, a few other thoughts for consideration...

Voltage:  Saw online where this reader requires 16 VDC.  Suggest you confirm your power supply is supplying the recommended maximum voltage at the reader.

Power Supply:  Can you operate the system from the back-up battery only?  Experience shows power supplies can go bad, injecting noise into the system, with one symptom being shortened read range.

Grounding:  Make certain the system, including the reader, is tied to an earth ground.  Here's a link from the past that may prove useful: http://www.farpointedata.com/downloads/pr/Grounding_Guide.pdf.

Presentation:  13.56-MHz contactless smart card reading can be slower than 125-kHz proximity card reading.  As such try holding the fob five inches away parallel to the center face of the reader.  Slowly count to five.  If it doesn't read, bring the fob in an inch and count again to five.  Repeat until the fob is read. 

Good luck!

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
•Feb 05, 2019
In reply to Scott Lindley

Scott it was purchased as a Kit so the power supply is provided by the Kantech own 16VDC power supply on seperate circuit on the power panel.  I will double check the grounding thanks for that info.  I did put small 1/8 peice of wood behind the reader and range has improved to 1/2 inch read.  At very least we don't have to rub it all over the reader.  I will try the read counting method and see what happens.  Thanks

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