Subscriber Discussion

Are There Ip-Based Access Controllers?

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Demetris Erodotou
Jan 17, 2017
IPVMU Certified

Hi

One of my customer request an access control system with only PoE readers and software as server. The request is no RS-485 and no controlers, about 18 doors.

I dont know if this is a good solution becouse i cant unterstand how fo connect locks and RTE .

Can you please advise any manufacture with this request and also i woyld like to have your opinion regarding this solution. Thanks in advance

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Brian Rhodes
Jan 17, 2017
IPVMU Certified

You would still connect the locks, DPS, and RTE using two-wire or serial type connections.

In general, the controller/reader may be ethernet connected, but all the other door components will not be.

Does that help?

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Demetris Erodotou
Jan 17, 2017
IPVMU Certified

So , there are access control readers that they have built-in controllers and if yes can you please advise if this is a good solution?

also can you name a few manufacturers with this characteristic ?

thanks

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Brian Rhodes
Jan 17, 2017
IPVMU Certified

Yes, and the good news is they are fairly common.  Examples like the HID Edge EVO combo reader are commonly supported as 3rd party devices. 

Other examples that come to mind: Isonas and Hartmann Access, Axis AccessHID VertX, and the EP series from Mercury Security - although readers are not integrated into the controller, but connected using 4 or 6 wire Weigand or OSDP.

can you please advise if this is a good solution?

This is a good question.  A combo unit (reader/controller) is not a good choice for high security/perimeter applications, where tampering with a reader potentially leaves the entire door at risk.  Mounting it on the 'safe' secured side of the opening and using a traditional weigand reader or I/O bus to connect exposed door elements to the controller becomes necessary.

We detail further in our Access Control: Combo Reader / Controllers Tutorial

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Brian Karas
Jan 17, 2017
IPVM

Demetris -

That sounds like a rather specific request. Can you share some information on why the customer wants to use that approach? 

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Demetris Erodotou
Jan 17, 2017
IPVMU Certified

Brian 

I am not sure if customer research and find something on the internet or he is just  confused .

DW
Dennis Widdows
Jan 17, 2017

I have used Isonas with great success they have IPbased POE Reader /Controller combos as well as Controllers that work well...I have a few dozen installed in a Hospital Out building and they work well...The Server software was not really intuitive at 1st but they had great Tech support...Also Infinias is IP based and now owned by 3 X Logic...

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U
Undisclosed #1
Jan 17, 2017

There are no POE locks on the market that I would trust to be robust enough for a real-world application.

In my opinion, there are two options -

  1. POE controllers at the door, with all devices connected back to this controller. There are options from many mainstream access control providers for this -- Lenel (LNL-2210), Software House (iStar EDGE w/ POE module), S2 (Micronode), Infinias (POE at the door by default), et al.

  2. Wireless. There are plenty of options for wireless from Assa Abloy, Schlage, Stanley/BEST, etc. If they really don't want any controllers, the best option is Stanley/BEST WiQ -- to my knowledge, the only system that doesn't require any controllers at all. But, you have to be a certified dealer to install.
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U
Undisclosed #2
Jan 17, 2017

The WiQ name for controller is Portal Gateway. A high beaconing rate eats batteries.

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U
Undisclosed #1
Jan 18, 2017

Not to quibble too much, but a Portal Gateway is not a controller -- it's different in a variety of ways.

First, the portal is nothing but a communication device between the lock and the network. There is no intelligence in or no logic executed by a Portal Gateway. This is different than most other wireless locks where there are controllers and if they drop offline, the lock drops offline and goes into a "degraded" operating mode. WiQ will continue functioning as normal if it's offline, but it obviously won't receive updates that are made to the database. Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to tell any difference between a lock that was offline and a lock that was online.

Second, a single portal can theoretically accept up to 64 locks. While I wouldn't ever recommend that many and the chances of having that much density within the antenna range is minimal, that's in stark contrast to other wireless products that require controllers for smaller groups of locks -- i.e. AD400 requires a PIM that supports 16 locks, etc. 

You are correct that a high beacon rate will eat batteries, but the question becomes -- why do you need a high beacon rate? If you're working with exterior doors where you need lockdown, then you should be hard-wiring every time. If you're in a high-security environment where the difference between a 15-second and a 2-minute heartbeat makes a substantial difference, you should probably be hard-wiring. It's not a solution for everything, but when it comes to wireless, it's pretty darn good. And, if a customer really doesn't want any controllers (for whatever reason), it's one of the few options I'm aware of. Maybe not the only one, but just the only one I'm aware of.

Just a bit of clarification. :)

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Tyler Blake
Jan 18, 2017
BCI Integrated Solutions

I would stay away from the controllers/readers all in one. I think the integrator that mentioned the wireless locks from schlage/assa has it right. Those comapnies also offer POE locks. Either way the guy you are talking to if he is demanding all this stuff is an idiot that doesn't know what he doesn't know.

 

Just get some mercury boards and wireless IP locks or POE IP locks. You can set the mercury boards to do a panel call out. Just host the software at your office on a server and have the mercury panels call out to it and have him hit a thin/web client to manage his sites. Pretty easy to do with RS2/Avigilon. IIRC honeywell has a hosted option now as well?

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