Troubleshooting Wiegand Reader Inverted Wiring Problems
Wiegand is the most widely-used standard for connecting access readers, but wiring problems can arise for installers.
In fact, one of the most difficult access reader installation issues to troubleshoot is caused by incorrect wiring.
In this report, we explain how to find the wiring issue using an app, making it possible to diagnose over the phone.
Strange Card Numbers Common Problem
Often, access installers will report issues such as 'All but one of the card readers installed report the correct card number. Cards work on all but that one reader.'
A confusing aspect is the cards function as expected elsewhere. The reader works as expected otherwise except for reporting strange credential numbers, seemingly unrelated to the actual number every time they are used.
Here's an example of this type of issue, captured on a social media group:
The problem often results in dispatching a technician to the site, and can lead to the (ultimately unneeded) replacement of readers and/or credentials, costing hundreds of dollars.
Below we explain how to troubleshoot the issue using Windows Calculator over the phone.
Card **** ***** ** *******
*** **** ****** *******, **** ***** credentials *** **** ** ******** ***********. Even *** ******** **.** *** ***********, often *** **** ******* ** **** on *** **** **** ** ********* users ** ****** * '**** ****** number', ** ***.
**** *** ** ***** *** **** number *******, ********, ** ****** ** the ****. ** *******, ***** ****, and ************* ****, **** *** * 'unique' ******.
*** ***** ***** ***** ******* *** markings ** ***********:
Cause: ******** ****** ******
*** ************ ********** ******* *** ****** and *** **** ********** **** ** wired ********* *** ******** ********** **** to ** ****** ******* *******.
*** *** ******** ** ****** *******, this ********** **** *** ********* *****: the '*****' *** '*****' ****** *****, commonly ****** *** '******* *****'. **** variations *** ** ******** ** ***** readers, *** **** *** ***** ******* specifically *** ***** ********** *** ******* connections.
*** ***** ***** ***** ******* ** panels *** ******* ** ****. ** general, ******* ***** *** ********* ** the '**' *** '**' *****, *** the **** *****/******** **** ** ********.
**** **********, **** *********** ****, ********** place *** '**/*****' **** ** *** 'D1' **** *** ** **, ******* a *** ******* **** ** **** to ****** ** * ****** ****:
Diagnosing ******* ***** ******* **********
****** **** ************ *** ****** ********, the ******* *** ******** **** ****** wiring ******* *** ** **** **** a ******* ** ** **** ********/**** the ***** **** **** *** ****** credential ******* *** *** ****** ********** number ** *** **** ******.
*** ****-**** ******* ** *************** *** uses *** '****' ******* **********, ******** any *********** **** ******** ******* ******* to ****** *** ** ****.
*** ***** ***** ***** ******* **********:
- ** * **, *********** ********** ** '**********' ****
- **** ** *** ******/*** ********** ***** (example '*****')
- ***** *** ****** (***) ***** (******* '1010 **** **** ****')
- ***** *** ******* ****** ***** ** that ****** **** **** *** **********. Replace *** '*' **** '*' *** vice *****. (******* '**** **** **** 0001')
- ***** *** ******* (***) ***** ** see ** ** ******* *** ******* credential ***** **** ******* ** *** card. (******* '*****')
** *** ******* ***** ** **** 5 ******* *** ****/ **** ****** be **** ** *** ******, *** D0 *** ** ***** *** ******** or *********** **********.
*** ******* ** ******* ***** ** swapping *** ***** ** ** ** the ******* *****, *** ******** *** controller, ********, ** *********** ****** *** inverted ******* ******.
Video ***********
*** ***** ***** ************ *** *******, as ** *** ******* ********** ** Binary **** ** ***** ******* ****** in *** ****** ******* **** ***** values ****** ******** ****:
Wiegand **** ******
*** ******* ***** ****** ** *******, using ****** ******, ** ******** ********** information ** ****** ***********.
** *******, ******* *********** *** *** wires ** *********** **** ******. **** dormant, **** ** *** *** *****, D1 (*****) *** ** (*****) *** a **** ******* ** * *** on *** ****.
**** **** ** **** ** *** reader **** * ********** ** ****, the **** ******* *********** ***** ** 0 ***. **** **** ** ********** as ****** * '*' ** '*' binary ***** ***** ** ***** **** the **** ** ****:
****** ******* ** *********** ******, ***** strings *** ****** '*' ** '*' and *** *** ******* ** *********.
******* ***** ****** *** ***** ******, mistakenly ******** ** *** ***** ********** registers **** ** *** ***** ****, which ******* * *********** *****, *** access ****** ******* ******.
Does *** **** *** ****
**** *** ****** ***** **** *** work *** *************** **** ********* *******, only *******.
*****~**% ** *********** ****** **** *** Wiegand ** ***** **** *** ****, *** ******* *** ********* ****** of **** ***** **** ******, *********** binary ** ** ****** ****.
*************, *** **** ******* **** ****** is **** *** ** *** **** troubling ******** *****, ********** ** '***-**-***-******' snooping ***$** ****** ** ************** **** **** **** ******* ** credential ******* ***** ******* $** ** less.
** *** **** ** ************* **** who *****'* ********** ******, *** ********** won't ****, **** **** **** ******* with *** ****** ******* ******** *** day *** ****** *** ******** ***** and ******, ********* *** ******, ******* the *******, ***. ** *********** **** with ******** ****** ******* ********* ****** be **** ** **** *** ***** right ****.
*****. **** ** ****** '****** *** Dream'...
** ******** ** *** ******, **** is * ****** ** *** ** publish ***** **** **** - ** help **** ****** '***-**-******' *****. :)
** **** ** "***********" ****** ********* and *** * **** ****** ****** out ***** ** *** ** *** , ******** **** ** *** ***** thing *** ***** ......