Axis Releases First New Access Controller In 5 Years (A1601)

By Brian Rhodes, Published Jun 15, 2018, 07:35am EDT (Info+)

It has been 5 years since Axis 2013 entry in the physical access control market, with the A1001 (IPVM test).

Now, Axis has released its second access controller, the A1601. With this release, Axis is touting it is faster, more powerful, and better suited for large deployments.

Is that enough? How much does that move impact Axis competitive positioning vs Mercury?

Based on input from Axis, we examine these questions inside.

Faster, ******* **** **********

****' *** ********** ****** ********** *** footprint ********** **** *** ******** *****, although ************* ** *******, *** *** housing ** **** ** ******** ** plastic. **** ***** ** *** ********** space ** ****** *** *** ******** new ******** **** ******* ****** *** processor:

********** **** ****' ***** ********** *** A1001, *** *** ***** ***** ***** improvements:

  • ***+ *******: *** *** ********** **** ******* for ******-******* *** ******* ** ****-**** more ***** ** ***** ******* **** readers, *******, ** ***** *****.
  • ****** *********: **** ***** ** *** *** controller **** *** *** ***** *** ARTPEC ****, ******* * ******-***** *** *** memory ****** **** ******** *********** ********* data, ** **** ******* **** ***** versus far ****** **** *** *****.
  • ******* *** **,*** ***********: ***** **** ****** ***********, *** A1601 *** **** *** **,*** **** credentials **** *** *****'* **,***.
  • ******** ****** ********: *** *** ********* **** ******** an ******* ****** **** ******* **** the ********* ***** ** *******.
  • **** * ******: *** *** ********** ** ******** with *****-**** **** * ********, ******** for ********* ****-******** ***** ******** ** the *******-**** ******** ** *** *****.
  • ***** *********** ***********: *******, *** ***** ** ***** for ****** ************ ******** ** *****, and ** ****** ****** *** ************* plenum, **********, *** ***** ************.

*******, *** ********** ************ *** ********** minor ************ **** *** ******** *****, and ** **** ************ ****** ***** could ** **** **** ****** ********** impact.

No ******** ***** ********** ********

*** ******* ******** ********** ** *** A1601 is **** ** ******** **** *** embedded ***** ******* ****** ********** ********. Instead, *** ***** **** ******** **** 3rd ***** ********** *********. ** *******, the ***** **** **** *********** ******** **** * **** ******** ******** ********** the ********** ** ** ****.

** ***** ** ********* **** *** party *********, ******* **** ********* ** IPVM **** ********* ****** **** ** 3rd ***** ********** ** * *********** process, ****** * ********* ***** ** configuration ** *********** ** **** *** embedded ***** *******. *** ***** **** eliminate **** ***** ************* **** ** working **** **** *** ***** ********.

Sold ******* *********** ********

*** ****** **** ** ********** **** other **** ******* ** *** ***** will ** **** ******* ******** ************ channels.

***** *** ***** **** ** ******** to ********** *** *****-***** ****** *********, this **** ****** **** *** **** common ******* ** ****** *********** ***** re-sold ******* ****** ******* ******** / system *********.

MSRP $*** ******

** ********** ** *** ***** ****** at **** $***, *** ***** *** ** MSRP ** $***. 

Drawbacks ******

***** **** *** ********** ******** ***********, the *** ***** ******* **** ** the **** ******** *** ********* *********** for '******' ****** ****** ***********.

*****, ******* **-******* **** ********, *** A1601 ** ***** * ***-****/****** **********, unlike *** *, *, ** **** larger **** ****** **** ** ********* systems. *** ***** **** *** **** with ********* ******* **** ******* **** counts ****** *** *** **-***** ******** connected ******.

****, *** ***** ******* *** *** of ******* ***** ********* ******, *** full-sized ***** ********* ****** ** ***** incumbent ******. ***** *** ******* **** terminal ** *** ******* ** **** (similar ***** *** **** ** *******, for *******), *** ****** ***** ********* are ****** *** **********, ***** **** systems **** ********* * **** ****** of **** *********** ***** ******** **** types *** *****, ***** ***** ****** gauge ********** **** *** ****** ** installed **** *** ******* ****-** ******. 

Compared ** ******* ********

*** ***** **** ******* ******** ***********'* **-****, **** * ***-****** ********* **********.

****** *** *****, *** **-**** ** not *** ** ***+ ********* *** requires ********** ******** ***** ******** *** requires ** ********** ********* ** ******* the **** ******* ******* *****:

*******, *** ******* ***** ******* ********* */* ******* ** *** **** **********, *** ** extendable ** ******* ** ** ** readers. *** **-**** **** *** ***** as **** ***** *** **** ******* and *******, ***** ******** ** **** with *** *****.

First ********** ***** ****

*** ****, ****** ******* ******** **** been ********** *** **********, ****** *** camera *** ***** **** **** ******** many *** ****** **** ****.

****** ******* *** **** ** ******* a ***** ********, **** *** ******* ********* ***** ****** ******* ************ are ***.

***** *** ***** ********** * *** controller, ** ******** **** ** *** same ************* ********* ** *** *****, and ** **** *********** ****** ***** could ** **** **** ****** **********. The ********* ** ****** ***** ** be ** ***** *** ****, *** will **** ********** ********* ** ****** the *** ********** ** ********* ****. 

Modest ******* ***** **** ****** ******

******, ** ******** ** **** ***** updates ** ***** ****** ***** ***** the **** ******, **** **** * ******* of ******* *** ********* ** ***** offerings. ***** ******* *******:

  • ******* *** **,*** *********** ** ******* mode
  • *********** **** **** ***** ****** ******** locks
  • *********** ****** **** ******** *****
  • ******** ******* (******* *********** **** ***** I/O ***** ******)
  • ****** ***** *** ************* **** *** firmware, **** ******** ****, ****** ******* through ****
  • [******* ***] *** ****** *********** ***** *****
  • ******** ******* ******** * & *

*******, **** ** ***** ******* ************* shifts *** *************** ** **** ******, and ******* *** ******** ******* ** a *** **********, *** *********** ********* will *** ** ************* *******.

Comments (27)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

06/15/18 01:02pm

For us - Does this compete with Paxton? No.

The software end is the biggest drawback with Axis. It only scales to so many doors then you have to go elsewhere and use a 3rd party application to manage the doors. Where that leaves you if you have an issue it is the old- its axis fault from the 3rd party and then they say its the 3rd parties fault and so on. You are left stuck in the middle..

This was even true for their sales, it was a "we just sell the hardware speak to the 3rd parties.." No thanks :)

Glad you picked up on the terminal blocks, pure madness using those connectors, they drive you insane on a job.. 

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Undisclosed Integrator #2

06/15/18 02:47pm

I was told Axis A1001 is limited to 400 credentials, not 40,000.  Is this a typo?

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Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 06/15/18 03:16pm

No, not a typo.  The limitation of 400 credentials is an Axis Entry Manager one, but not of the underlying hardware when used with 3rd party systems.

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Undisclosed Integrator #5

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 06/15/18 06:11pm

The 400 is not a hard limit but rather a processing/capability one.  I had a site with that grew to 500 credentials using Axis Entry Manager.  Running reports or doing anything was borderline unresponsive.

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Undisclosed #3

06/15/18 03:57pm

Good review, Brian. I was somewhat disappointed with this release. After 5 years I was hoping for something a bit more ground breaking from Axis. Removing the Entry Manager? You can't program these via a web page anymore? If so, that was one of the perks. No software, all web based.  

I do like it as an option for an open access control platform and that it supports OSDP. The POE+ was a nice add, but the release seems a little ... Blah. Do something out of the box. Like a POE port to add a camera or intercom. My $.02. 

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Undisclosed #4

06/15/18 04:07pm

For now, IP-ACMv2 for the win!

 

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Undisclosed #3

In reply to Undisclosed #4 | 06/15/18 04:17pm

Although SoftwareHouse is good, it's proprietary. I struggle suggesting locking someone in to a proprietary system.

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Undisclosed Integrator #5

In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 06/15/18 06:12pm

I struggle suggesting locking someone in to a proprietary system.

Same here.  However, it does limit the field of competitors or possible usurpers.

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Undisclosed #4

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #5 | 06/15/18 06:32pm

Windows, SQL is proprietary do you struggle with that as well?

Do you try to install a dell motherboard into a cisco UCS chassis?

Axis is going to calm your struggles?

Perhaps in the future Axis will evolve into an access control powerhouse and dominate a fair share of the market...who really knows?

Same ol' security comments get the same ol' troll!

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Undisclosed #6

IPVMU Certified | 06/16/18 12:08am

It has been 5 years since Axis 2013 entry in the physical access control market, with the A1001 (IPVM test).

Its been so long that even Hikua gave up waiting and designed their own A/C hardware ;)

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Undisclosed

06/17/18 07:21am

no OSDP secure channel, just like the A1001?

and isn't the EP-1502 end of life?  Isn't there a newer model one would compare this to?

And what is the point of OnVIF?

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Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed | 06/18/18 04:37am

I'll ask Axis about OSDP Secure Channel.  I'm not 100% sure.  They claim some aspects of OSDP is 'Secure Channel', but I'll ask them to clarify if the overarching conformance is or not.

Re: the EP-1502, it isn't EOL by several partners.  I think you're referring to the EP-4502, but this won't be a mandatory replacement yet.  This chart might help:

 

On the point of ONVIF A & C, I agree with your rhetorical question - the value prop is not as developed as ONVIF S, for example, so the competitive value of conformance is dubious.

 

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Undisclosed #6

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Brian Rhodes | 06/18/18 05:08am

They claim some aspects of OSDP is 'Secure Channel', but I'll ask them to clarify if the overarching conformance is or not.

This masters thesis for Lund U. acts as if OSDP Secure Channel is possible on the A1001 (although they ultimately use Transparent Mode)

 

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Undisclosed

06/18/18 04:13pm

firmware downloaded 2 weeks ago for A1001 didn't do it.  what they let some kid do on the other side of Lund at the college doesn't mean it's in the product.  I never said I didn't think they could build such a beast...

 

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Undisclosed #6

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed | 06/18/18 05:17pm

firmware downloaded 2 weeks ago for A1001 didn't do it. 

You gotta know how to do it ;)

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Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | 06/18/18 08:24pm

Axis responded re: OSDP Secure Channel:

'Yes, [the latest firmware & A1601] it is fully compliant with OSDP secure channel.'

If anyone has further questions I can ask, please let me know. 

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Undisclosed #6

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Brian Rhodes | 06/18/18 09:36pm

Yes,

Wow, is Rodney gonna be happy or what?

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Undisclosed

In reply to Undisclosed #6 | 06/18/18 11:25pm

almost.  they still see clonable cards and nonstandard readers.

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Undisclosed #4

06/18/18 09:13pm

Biometrics?

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Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #4 | 06/18/18 09:18pm

What question about biometrics can I help get an answer to?

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Undisclosed

06/18/18 11:28pm

Well, OSDP has biometrics in the standard but it is ATM rarely used.  However, anything doing biometrics really should be connected back to the panel with OSPD secure channel (NOT wiegand) and so the question is:

  what biometrics readers do you work with (over secure OSDP of course)

 

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Undisclosed #6

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed | 06/18/18 11:33pm

However, anything doing biometrics really should be connected back to the panel with OSPD secure channel...

So you don’t get your retina stolen?

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Undisclosed #3

03/12/19 04:57am

My opinion here, but if Axis put a POE pass through port on this for a camera, door station, or bio-reader, in it they would be a game changer. Period.

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Undisclosed #4

In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 03/12/19 05:29am

Just blurting this out there, don't do it. The ER-X can do this $59 while also giving you w2lan and dhcp. It will never happen, but if you are a fan of the ER-X you know how this just sounds fun.

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Undisclosed #6

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #4 | 03/12/19 08:17am

The ER-X can do this $59 while also giving you w2lan and dhcp. It will never happen...

You’re right it will never happen.  Unless you have 24v passive cameras...

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Undisclosed #4

In reply to Undisclosed #6 | 03/13/19 02:05am

Plug in an Axis camera and see what happens. 

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Undisclosed #6

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #4 | 03/13/19 08:47am

Plug in an Axis camera and see what happens.

Plug in an Axis camera with a 75m cable and see what doesn’t.

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