HID Edge EVO Tested

By Brian Rhodes, Published on Jun 07, 2017

HID Edge controllers have been one of most common offerings in IP door controllers for years.

The new generation is called Edge EVO.

We tested the original Edge 4 years ago. Now, we have bought the new, revamped Edge EVO and are sharing our test results here. As a third-party access hardware option, HID Edge controllers are supported by access vendors like Genetec, Brivo, Feenics, JCI, and others.

 

In addition to their 3rd party support (e.g. Genetec, Brivo, Feenics, JCI, and others), HID offers a free single door management software called 'Solo' on Edge EVO controllers that requires no additional software or servers. But is it useful enough to be a legitimate option?

Inside, our test covers the following points:

  • HID Edge EVO Versus Axis and Mercury Controllers
  • EVO Key Differences Compared to non-EVO
  • Edge EVO Physical Overview Video
  • Pricing Comparisons
  • Third-Party Management Software Partners
  • Converting Edge EVO Solo to regular EVO Units

And on the embedded software side:

  • Embedded EVO Solo Overview
  • EVO Solo Limitations
  • Ideal Applications

The report inside includes three videos, various images, and comparison charts with our detailed findings.

Key **** ********

*** ************ ** ********* include:

  • **** ****** *******: ** *** ****, ** configured *** ** ******* two ****** ******* *******, one *** * *** of ******* ********, *** a ****** **** ******* Assa's **-* ********. ***** Hi-O ** ***********, **** iClass ********** *******, ********* iClass ** ***** ******* it. *** **** ******** additional */* ******* *** multiple ******* *******. ******** Edge ******** *** * max ******* ** *** reader *** *** *** support */* *********.
  • **** *** ***********: ******** ** ****** competitors, **** *** ***** less - ***** **** as **** - ** offset *******. ** ***** of *** ***** *******, Edge *** *** *** fewer ********** ****** ******** than ******* ********, *** the ********** ********* ***** ~$250 ****.
  • ***** *********:**** ** * ****** network, ******** ******** *** logs *** **** ******* seconds. ***** '******* **' **** * ******** ******** reader ** *************, ******* lock/unlock ******** *** ******** alarms **** *** *** interface ***** ******* * - ** ******* **** when *** ********** ** on *** *** *******.
  • **** ****** *****:**** *** ***** ** the *** ********* ****** of ***** ***** ** 9.6 *, ******* **** powerful ********, *******, *** readers *** ** *********. Indeed, *** **** *** powered *** *******, * strike, *** * *** REX **** ******* ****-*** output ******* *******.
  • '***** ******' ********: ******* *** ****** include * ******** ***** model **** ****** ** the ******/******* **** **** prevents ******** **** ** network ****** ** *** outside ***** ** *** unit ** ******* **** off *** ****.  ** addition, ** ********** ******* tamper ****** ** ******** and ** ********** ** default.

***** **** ******** ** HID **** *** *********, our **** ******* *** newer ***, *** ******/ ********** variant ********* ************** *** ****** *** ~$275.

HID **** *** ****** ********** ***********

***** *** ******* *****-***** single **** *********** **** are ********** ******** *********** with **** ***.  *** models ******** ****** ******* Edge *** ******* ******* Security's ****** *** *** Axis *****.  *** ***** below ********* ***** ************* head-to-head, *** **** **** the ******** ********** **** for **********:

** *******, *** ******* difference ** *****, **** HID **** *** ********* 50% **** ****** **** typical ********* **-**** [**** no ****** *********]* ********.  *** ******* ********** can ** **** *******, as *** ** ****** available ******* ******** ************, unlike ******* *** ******** resells **** ******* ********. Both **** ****** *** the **-**** *** '****** door' ***********, ***** *** A1001 *** ******* *** doors, *** **** *** not ******* * ******-**** only *****.

***** *** ********** ******: The *** ******** **** onboard ****** *** ****** a ****** ***** ****** size, **** **** ******** the ****-******* **-****. ***** from *** ******** *.* W ****** *** ***** powered *******, *** *** can ** ** *, 24 *, ** *** (802.3af) *******.

*** *** **** ** the *****, ***-*** ******* of ****, ***: ******* *** **** ****.

Edge *** *** *********** 

******** ** *** ******** version, **** *** ** twice *** ****. *** increase ** **** *********** to ******** ****** ******** to *** *** ********** the ********* ****** ***** to ***** ******* ** 9.6 *. *** ***** below ***** **** *** EVO *** *** **** models ****-**-****:

*** ****** **** ********** is ***** ******** ** mount **** * ******-**** electrical ***, ******** *** larger **** ******** **** accessibility/wall *****. ***** ************ changes ******* *** ********* 'super *********' ****** **** a *********** ****-**** ******* with * ******* **** of ~* *****, *** EVO's '*******' **** ****** sensor ******** ** *** old ****-**** ********** ******.

Edge *** ******** ******** *****

** *** * ****** video *****, ** ******* and ******** *** ******** build *********** ******* *** both **** ***********:

Third-Party ********** ******** ********

** ** **** ** our **** ** *** ** Mercury ****** *********** ****, **** *** ***** are ********* ** **+ common ********** ****** *********. The **** **** ** partners ******** ******* ******* distribution ** *********** ********* numbering **** ** ****** in ***'***** ******* ********** *********, ******** **** ** those ******* *** *** available *** ****** ****** or ********** ** *** physical ******** *****.

***'* **** ******** ***** **** ** *** and ***** ************ ****, and ********** ** *** relative '********' *** ********** use ** *** ***********, and *** ******** ** shared ** ***'* '*****' controller ******: *** *****.

Solo's ****** **** ****** **********

************* *** *** **** controller ****** **** '***-****' units ** * ****** of ********** ******** **** software. **** * ******** point ** ****, ***** is ** ********** ******* Solo *** ***-**** *****.  The ********** ** ***** type ** ******** ** written ** *** **********:

  • *** **** *** ****:***** *********** *** ******* at *** ******* **** HID's ******-**** ********** ******** called '****' **** ******* adding ***********, *********, *** configuring *** ******* *** access ******* *** ** embedded *** ****** ******.
  • *** **** ***: **** ******* ** controller ** ******* ***** to ** **** **** one ** ***'***** ******* ********** ************ ****** ******** ** standalone *****.

******* ****** *** ********* firmware ********, ***** *** be ******** ** *** field. **** ***** *** be ********* ** *** field ******* ************** ** use ******** ****-***** ******** for *** ** ******* management ********.

Embedded *** **** ******

**** *** **** ** a ***** ****** ********** platform **** ** ******** onto *** ********** *** needs ** ******. *** breadth *** ***** ** management ******** ** ***********, and ** *********** ** a ****** **** ** cardholders, ***********, *** ********* permissions.  

  • ****** **** **** ******* Only: *** **** ********, *** max **** ***** *** management ******** ** *** door. *** ******** *****, an ********** ***-***** *** party ********** ******** **** be ****.
  • ** **** ************: *** **** **** is * '******' ******, and *********** *** ********** to ***** ************ ** intrusion ***** ********* ** not ******** ***** *** or ***. 

**** ******** ******** *** not ********* ** ****, such ** *******, ***** surveillance ***********, ******* **********, and ******** **** **********. ***** ******** **** ********* are ******* ** ***** reports *** ****** ** custom *******. *** ****** onboard ****** *** ***** several ****** ***** ** activity, *** ******** **** data ** *****. 

** *** ***** *****, we **** ** *** Solo's ********* *** *********:

** ********, *** **** supports * ***** ****** of '******' **** *** configurable ** ******* * number ** ******* ******* from '***** **** *****' - ****** *** ****** beep *** ***** - to ******* ***** ************ to * *** ** email *******. ***** *** range ** ****** ** fixed *** ****** ** expanded, *** *** ******** options *** *****, **** single **** ****** ************ will ** ************ ******* by *** ***** *********. 

EVO Solo ***********

*** ** ****'* ******* usability ****** ** ******* between ****** **** ***** locally ** *** ******/**********, and **** **** *** displayed ** ****'* *********. The ***** ***** ******** this **********, *** ******** other *********** **** **** cannot ********* **** ***** systems:

 

Only ***** ****** ********

** ***** ** ****** door ********, *** '**** status ****' **** ***** displayed ** *** ******* window ********** ** ***** tab ** ********.  ****'* three ******* ******* *** at *** *** ** the ***** ****:

***** ***** ******** *********** 'grants ******' ** ******** cycling ** ****** *****, or * ********** ****** to '******/ **** ****' as * ****** ********, and * ***** ****** to ******* ** ***** condition ******* *** ******* beeper ** *****. *** overall ********* ** ******, with ******* ** ***/****** cardholders, ***********, *********, *******, and **** ******** ********** from *** ***** *****:

*** ******* ** ****** adding * **** ** a **** ** ******** from ******* *******. *** EVO **** ****** * maximum ** **** ***** or *****. *** *******, if * ****** **** has **** ******** *****, then **** ** *** one ******** ******* *** used. *******, *********** **** only *** **** ***** in *** ***** ** the **********, **** ** not ****** * *********** limitation. 

HID ******* *****

** ******* *****, *** help ** ******** ******* in *** **** ****-**** or ********* ***** '*** found' ** ***'* *******. Regardless ** *** ***** materials *** ***** ******* on *** **** ** not, *** ********** *** ragged ********** **** ****'* interface *** **** ***** advanced ******** ** ************ awkward *** **** *********.

** *** ******* *****, a ****** ****** **** cited ** ********* ****** on *** ** ***** use *** ********** ***** to *** ********** ****** a '**** *** *****' result. *** ************* **********, the *************** ** ***** details *** ****** ** them ***** *******.

Ideal ************

*** ******* ********** ** Solo ** **** ** only ******** *** ****. This ****** *** ** the ******** ** **** small ************ ***** ************ managing * - * separate ***** ** * non-centralized ******* ** *** an ********** *****.

*******, ** ****** **** a ***-***** ********** ******** at ********** ****, *** overall ********* ** *** hardware ** ****** ********* and *** ** ********** with ***** *******.

Comments (7)

Shannon Davis

06/07/17 03:55pm

Thanks for the review of this. I have used older versions of this in the past and have always had good luck with it and have never had to replace the HID parts either. Some have been installed for almost 10 years now. Great for a single door but not so much when you have multiple doors.

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Shannon Davis | 06/07/17 04:14pm

Great for a single door but not so much when you have multiple doors.

Good feedback. HID positions their VertX series as the ones to use for multi-door, and competitors like Mercury have a whole range (EP-1502, EP-2500, EP-4502) for controllers connected to more than 1 door.

Avatar

Jonathan Lawry

Trecerdo, LLC
In reply to Brian Rhodes | 07/17/17 12:40pm

What isn't mentioned here is that the EP-1501 can run multiple doors (with downstream MR50/52 boards).  While it is true that it can only run one door without additional hardware, it is as much of a multi-door controller that the EP-2500 and the EP-4502 is.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

06/07/17 04:08pm

The ISONAS IPBridge wasn't included in your report.  There is a 2 door and a 3 door version model, but I believe the 3-door version is being discontinued.  This is a POE-based 2 door controller that uses most 3rd party card readers, prox and smart.

Unlike HID and Axis which relay mainly on 3rd party software support for installations of more than just a few doors, ISONAS has their own management software. Open Options also supports the ISONAS IP products in their software; I don;t know of any other security software packages that support ISONAS products directly .... if anyone knows of any, please post.

One of the interesting features of the IPBridges is that they can be daisy-chained together from a networking standpoint. Each IPBridge still has its own IP address (either static or DHCP) but there is both an upstream and a downstream Ethernet port on each that allows an in and out network cabling scheme.  So, if you have multiple IPBridges together in a can, you only need one network drop going back to the switch.

Downside to the IPBridge is that they do not have removable terminal blocks for the device wiring .. make installation and troubleshooting a bit harder since you can't simply pull off a terminal block to change out a reader or troubleshoot a lock or motion sensor by unplugging just that device.

 

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 06/07/17 04:09pm

Thanks for the comparison!

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 06/07/17 04:21pm

I may have missed the intent of the original post, i.e., single door POE controllers WITH an embedded GUI .... sorry

The ISONAS RC-03 IP readers used to have embedded web pages for simple monitoring and control of a single door. Found that most didn't use them or want them and IT-side clients saw it as a potential security threat to have an embedded web interface enabled if it wasn't going to be used.  ISONAS ended up making the embedded web pages an option that could be enabled/loaded with a simple firmware update if the end user wanted them.

I did some development work for a biometric IP reader with an embedded web management interface that was pretty nice, but found the market for it in a commercial sense was not as robust as initially thought.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 06/29/17 09:35pm

I'll second/chime in for the ISONAS IP Bridge. WHile it does cost more (quite) than the HID EVO it is a much more robust and complete solution. ISONAS doesn't seem to get the recognition they deserve but after 4 years of using their products we are sold. There isn't much one wouldn't be able to do with their products. The original software (Matrix' something)was free and with an interface only a techie would love i-e ugly but functional. They have moved away from it and now their software is either cloud or an on-premise (somewhat expensive) version. Powerful both. 

They lack OSDP support(a nice to have option IMHO)  and do not seem to play well with many other ACS  systems the way Mercury does. I know they integrate with some VMS namely Milestone and OnSSI there could be others.

IMO a better and more complete solution than the HID EVO.

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