Favorite Access Control Reader Manufacturer 2018

By: Brian Rhodes, Published on Sep 25, 2018

Favorite reader votes are in, and it is not close. A global access giant ran away with the votes in a one-sided contest.

*** *** ****, *** result *** *** **********. One ** *** *** integrator ********* ** ********* replied:

"* ***'* **** ** see *** **** *********** don't *** [****], *** what **** *******" *******.

** **** ***** **** pick **** * ****** favorite? ** **** *** that ****, **** *** did **** ** *** comments ****** ******* ********, elevated ********* ****** ********, and ******* **** ****** complexity **** ************?

** ******* *** ******* inside.

82% **** *** ********, ** ***** ******

****'* *** **************** ********** ******** *** one-sided ** ********. ***** mentions ******** ** ***** brands, **** ** ***** second ***** ******* **** with ********* *******.

******, **** **** ***-*** brands **** *********, ** often *** * **** for ********* ** ******* labeled *** ******* ***** resold ** ****** ********, e.g.:

"* **** **** * Honeywell *** *** ***** so * *** ****** panels ** * **** it ********** **** ***** readers. * **** **** are ********* ***."

*** *** ***** ******** most *****, **** ***** comments ****** ********* ******** experiences:

"*** ***% - *************, durability *** ***********. ** rarely ******* ***** ** they **** ** **** forever."
"* **** **** **** other ******* **** *** years *** **** *** HID ******* ** ** extremely ********, ****** **** to **** ** (********* for *** *****) *** pretty **** *********...... ** it ***'* ***** ***'* fix **!"
"***** **** *** *** we ******* *** **** is *** *** **** or **** ** * Keypad ** ********. **'* a **** **** ******, easy ** *** *** LED **** ****** * large *****, ******/******* *****, decent **** *****, ******* multiple ************ *** ********* trying ** ********** **** prox ** ******. ******** warranty. ****'* *** ** love?"
"*** **** - ******** reader, **** ** *** and *************."
"*** ****** ***** **** MultiCLASS *******. *** ****** is ****** *** **********, and *** ********** ****** us ** *********** ******* cards ** ** **** to. ** ******'* ****** brands ** **** *****, because *** **** ***'* save **** ****. ** wouldn't ****** ** *** security, ******* *** ***'* add **** ****. ****** support? *** ******* **** a ******** ********. ******* availability? **'* *** *** brand **** ***** *********** sells, ** *****'* * competitive ****** **** ******** sellers ********* ** *****."
"*** ** ********** - we **** *** ** issues ** ** ***** wit **** ******* *******."
"** *********** ** *** iClass ** ******* *** credentials. **** *** ********* secure ****** *** *** general ******* *****. ** someone *** **** ******** requires ** **** ** that. **** ****** ** vertically **** ******* ***** keeps ** **** ****** to *****. ** **** generally *** *** ****** 37 *** ****** ******* there ** **** *** of **** **** ********. No **** ** **** up **** ******** ***** for ********* ** ******* of ********* ***** ***** ordered."
"*** ****** *** ********** readers. ***** *** *** formats ** ********* ****. They ***** *** ******** applications."
"***. ******** ******** *** perception **** ** *** client * ************, ******** products **** *** ** supplied *** ********** ** any **********."
''*** ******. **** ** wrong **** ***."
"** *** ***. **** of *** ********* *** very **** **** *************, so '***' ******** ***** sites ********** ** ******** standards. *** ********* **** also *** ***, *****-****, 125Khz *** **.*****-******* *** future-proofing, ** ** ******* the ***-***."
"*** *** ***** ********** and ***** ********* ************, wide ***** ** ********, long ****-*****, ********* ************."
"*** ******. ** ** versatile ** ** ***** able ** **** * broad ******** ** *****."

HID's ******* *** ** ****** *********

*** ** *** ******* factors ** *** ***** such * ***-***** ******** is *** ******* ** the ***** *** ******** of ******* **.** *** iClass ********** *******. ******, a ******* ******* ******** of ****** *********** *** HID ***********, *** *** according ******* **** ** compatible.

******, ** ***** ** our ******** ****** ******* *********** 2018 **********, ******* **.** *** formats ********* ******-*********** *** iClass ********* ** **** in **********, *** *********** over **% ** ********* formats:

*** *******, *** **** a ****** **** **** format **** **** ** licensed ** *********** *** use, *********** ******* *********** at * **** ************ immediately.

***** ******* *** *******-****, or ******* ******** ******* like*** *************'* ****** *** ******* ***/ EV2, *** ******** ** sparse ** **** ***** of *** *****, *** in **** ***** *** readers ******* ******* *** those ******* ** **** at ** ********** ****.

Favorites *********

******* ********* ******* ********** why ***'* ****** ***** is ** ******. ******* ranging **** ******** ** questions ***** **********, *********** credential ****** **********, **** service ***********, *** ********** brand *********** ** *** users *** *********** *** combine *** * *********** lead ** ******** ******:

"*** *** *** ****** so ********* **'* ********* to **** * ********* reader ******* ********* *** existing ***********."
"** ******* *** ******* for *** ******** ** our ***********, ****** ** have ******* ********* **** of *** ******* ******* as ****. *** ******** warranty ** *** *** readers *** * **** reason *** ** ******** them, *** ***** ****** dominance ***** ** **** to ****** ***** ******* and **** **********/********** ******* it ******* * ****** look."
"***. *** **** *** saying **, "** *** gets ***** *** ****** Cisco." ***** *** ****, has *** ****** ** yet, ** ****** ** change. ***** **** **** others **** **** ** about ***** *****, *** price *** ***** **** a *** ********* *** me, ********** ** * commodity *********."
"***. ** ** *** industry ********. **** **** other **** *********, *** HID ** *** ** to."
"***. ******** *** ***********."
"***. ******** *** **** with ****** *** ****** control *******. **** **** are ****** *********** ******** by *********** *** ******."

HID **********

*******, **** ********* **** have ****** **** ***. Several ******* ** **** failure ***** ** ***'* Bluetooth (***) ******* ** *******, keypad ******* ******* ***, and ******* ********** ** part ******** *******:

"*** - **** ** options **** **** ** smart ********** * ***'* care *** ***** **** number ****** ******..."
"** *** ********* ***** the ********* *******. * do **** *** *** pad ** *** ********* over *** *** ***/**** as *** *** ******* tend ** **** ***."
"***. ******** ** **** been ****** * *** of ****** **** *** new ********* ******* ******* in *** *****. ********* they **** * ******** but **** ** ******* a *** ** ****** for *** *********."
"**** ** ***. *** has ****** ** ********* and ****** ******* ******, I **** **** **** not ** ********** ** our ********."
"**** ****** ** ********** slot ******* ***** ***** us **** ****** ** those."
"******* *** ** *********** to ***, *** ** have **** ******* ***** jump ************* **** *** past *** *****."
"** *** *** ********** SE ** *** ******** unless ** ** * brand *** ****** **** we ** **** ******** iClass **. ***** ******* our ********* **** ******** and **** * **** warranty. *****’* ******* ******* the ********* *** ** we **** *** ********* on *** **** ***** and ********* ** ***** and ********* ** *****’*. I ***’* **** ******* the ******* ***** **** a ********."

Some ******* *** *******

*************, ******* ***** **** while **** **** **** or *** ************* ***, they *** ******** ******* at ************ ** **** their ********* *** ******** for ****** *** ********** offsets:

"*** ****** ********* ** the **** ******* ** the ******* *** ******* the **.***** ****** ** also **** *** **** requested ** *** *** users."
"****** *** **** ** changing ** ******. ****** was ** *********** **** Prox ******* *** *********** but *** ****** ****** the ***** ** ********** by ***** **********."
"** *** **% *** due ** *** ******** base, *** ******** ** gaining ** ****."

Other ****** ************* *****

******** *** ***** ****** were ******** *** ** 'other' *** ********* **** enough ********* ** ******** from *** ****. ***** comments ********:

"****** ******* *** ***** technology ******."
"******** (*******) *****. ** is * **** **** architecture **** ****** *** their ******* *** **** fantastic."
"*** ******* ******* **** look ****."
"****** *** ******* ** standardized ** ** *** it ** ******* *********."
"** ***** ** *** 100% ****** **** ***** Kantech ******* ** **** use ****** *********** *** / ******* ******."
"******* *** ******* *** credentials. **'* *********** *** does **** ** ** well. **** **** ** last ****** **** *** readers. *** **** ********** too."
"*** **-*** ******/****** *******. Good ******* *** **** nice ** **** **."
"*** *** ***** *********** Safetrust ******** *** **********."
"* **** *** *** Allegion *******. *** ********* XceedID/Aptiq - **** **** good ****."
"***** ******* *** ******* to ** *******- *** indication ** ************- ******* seem ** **** **** (true ***** ** * custom *** ****** **** unlocking * **** ** debatable). ****** *** *** Gallagher ****** *******- ***** best **** ******** *************."

Comments (19)

Tre Brickley

INNOVA | 09/25/18 09:48pm

I've got my Avigilon ACM Rep pushing Allegion/Schlage Aptiq on me, saying not to use HID. What do you guys think?

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Tre Brickley | 09/26/18 02:34pm

We have had MANY failures in the field of AptiQ readers. So much so, they don't even ask us to return the reader failures. They don't even question it and send out the replacements. To me that says that failures are very common for them. It doesn't matter to us that they replace them for free. Technician expense and downtime for the customer is not free. We had no issues with them when they were XceedId. But when they shifted to the (much better looking) AptiQ design, we started having many failures. No more. All new customers for us are getting iClass SE and SEOS cards.

Undisclosed Integrator #4

In reply to Tre Brickley | 09/30/18 04:11am

We tried aptiq for a while but stopped using them because the read range was horrible. Went thru tech support several times trying to get the advertised read range results but it never panned out. Our customers did not care for them. They were having to present their card in a particular position and just about having to rub the card on the face of the reader to get a response.

HID readers always had a better read range and seemed more responsive when presented with a credential.

Campbell Chang

09/25/18 11:25pm

"Sifer readers are proving to be popular- led indication is customisable- clients seem to like this (true value of a custom LED colour when unlocking a door is debatable).

I've had quite a few avid sports nuts as clients and they love being able to change the SIFER (Inner Range) colours of all the card readers to their favourite football team.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

09/27/18 07:47pm

3millID is a relatively new manufacturer formed by the ex-engineers from the XceedID days. So far so good on deployments.

Aptiq has a >10% failure rate on every project to date. Gotten to the point where we convince the door hardware folks to carry them when hard spec so we can avoid all the problems.

Other ACS vendors are getting onboard with some of their offerings. AMAG, for example, has a very aggressive mobile credential format specific to their readers.

Scott Napier

09/28/18 01:58pm

We will not use HID readers when we can avoid them, our preferred readers are Identiv. They have been rock solid even when placed in challenging outdoor environments. The HID readers we tried all failed within 90 days, and this is several dozen reader failures, not just one or two.

Sean Patton

IPVM | In reply to Scott Napier | 09/28/18 02:13pm

I am curious what the challenging outdoor environments might mean in your case. Installing in the Northeast US, with sub-zero temps, snow, etc we think we have it rough, but I haven't experienced more than 10 total (out of thousands of HID readers installed) fail because of outdoor environmental conditions, usually due to installation issues not related to the reader (water in the conduit and connections weren't heat shrunk or taped properly). I'm wondering if you're installing by oceans (salty air) or maybe arid climates (sand, extreme heat, etc)? I wouldn't have to consider those variables in my region.

Clint Hays

Rasilient | In reply to Sean Patton | 09/28/18 07:17pm

I'm curious as to the environment as well. I've worked on more HID readers then I can imagine, and I've replaced a lot of failed readers but I rarely can recall ones that I would have really raised suspicion as to product failure. Lots of damaged units, poor wiring, lack of a sealed box, or panel surges blowing up readers though.

David Fogle, CSEIP

In reply to Scott Napier | 10/03/18 08:18pm

I would have to say your experience is unique with regards to HID readers. I have stopped counting how many I have installed over the years everywhere from 118 degrees outside in Tucson, AZ to -18 degrees in northern Montana and I have had no measurable failures that would make me chose another. AS far as Identiv goes if you have a Hirsch system that would make sense pairing the system and the readers together.

Is this your personal experience installing and replacing the readers OR is this reports coming back from others? I wish I could brag about the honesty and integrity that all security companies adhere to, but that would be misplaced loyalty. Countless times techs will just swap a part without looking into the root cause and therefore it just keeps repeating again and again at the expense of the Client.

I have worked under service contracts whereby selecting the wrong product costs the service contract NOT the Client and therefore the servicing Integrator and with that being the case would get to the root of the problem and sometimes that is an unqualified technician who should not be trusted to work on any system.

Access control is not a single system, but the sum of all of its individual parts that come together in a cohesive environment factoring in all the unique elements of the building in question and cookie cutter approaches only work to a point.

Undisclosed Integrator #5

In reply to David Fogle, CSEIP | 10/03/18 08:47pm

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

09/28/18 02:50pm

Curious where Wavelynx is in all of this. Does anyone have first-hand experience installing these in the field?

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 09/28/18 03:34pm

By name, Wavelynx had one mention, which is not surprising due to the relative new presence and minor marketing the company does.

The company's OEM business with brands like Isonas will be more familiar to many.

Kevin Mundy

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 10/01/18 02:47pm

New comer only by name, look where Hugo came from. WaveLynx is one of only a handful that can truly do OSDPv2 using SecureChannel comms. If you are still selling Wiegand I would run far away if you came calling on me.

Scott Napier

09/30/18 10:13am

The most challenging environment we have used HID readers in (with near zero success) is Panama. Extremely humid areas with many hours of direct sunlight on the readers. They will just flat out refuse to work, or the seals fail and we find them with water inside. Identiv has not had these issues.

I have also had a very high failure rate on HID PIV-Class readers, and all of those were in the DC area.

Rick Caruthers

Galaxy Control Systems
10/01/18 08:44pm

We offer three of the above mentioned ( HID, Farpointe and Aptiq) to our 400+ dealers globally. At this point if i were to put percentages toward sales I would say the breakdown would be:

Farpointe = 55%

HID = 40%

Aptiq = 5%

We are seeing a large amount of readers being shifted to MiFare/DesFire and IClass/SEOS and less being sold as standard 125Mhz. I will say that Farpointe has exceptional warranties, customer service and product availability. Their part numbers are simple and the readers are very versatile. The biggest complaint of our dealers with HID is the complexity of the order number (we have imbedded in our price list the suggested part numbers to simplify) and the product availability when it comes to IClass readers. The Aptiq readers seem to be used in situations where there are multiple legacy credentials requiring a more open format reader. We do not see unusual failure issues with any of the three when ordered correctly.

Undisclosed Integrator #6

11/27/19 03:31pm

I don't understand this statement "SEOS cannot be vertically slot punched which keeps us from moving to those." what does "vertically slot punched" mean?

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #6 | 11/27/19 03:35pm

I believe that 'slot punched' refers to the hole made in the card for a lanyard tether, i.e.:

Undisclosed Integrator #6

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 11/27/19 03:47pm

Ok that makes sense. If that is the case then its irrelevant if a card is SEOS or Mifare or whatever else that requires a long antenna. I can't think of why a customer would choose a type of reader simply based on whether they can punch a hole through the card or not. Sounds like some argument to sell a specific product.

Undisclosed

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #6 | 11/29/19 06:01pm

card antenna designs may vary and so where it's ok to punch the hole for the lanyard can be an issue. some places are very into knowing how your badge sits on your lanyard, do you use a lanyard, do the cool kids wear their badges at the waist, etc. I would think buy the cards with the hole pre-punched would be safer. This ain't a chunk of plastic you can poke holes in to mount your bling when you work retail.

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