Worst Access Products 2015

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Brian Rhodes
•Published Feb 18, 2015 05:00 AM

100 integrators told us which access product lines gave them the biggest problems in the last year.

This is the counterpart to the Favorite Access Control Software 2014 and Favorite Access Control Credentials 2014 reports.

In this note, you will review their direct, in-depth feedback.

Variety ** ********

****** ***** ************, ** ************ ****** stood *** ** ***** *** '*****'. The ******** ** ********* ********* ****** with **** ***** ***** ******* *** huge ******** ********** *****. 

********** ****** **** **** **** *******, bad ******* **********, ***** ******** ******, to ******* **** ***** ******* ****** in ******** ** **** ******* ***** and ****** *****:

  • "********* ***-*****. **** ****** *** ***** are ********* *** ** *** ** HIS **** ******, *** **** ** install/deploy ** ** ***** ****** *** can ***** ** ********** *** ** the *******/****** *******. *** ***** ******* of **** ******* *** "****** **" features **** ** *** ****** **** in *** ******** ************."
  • "********** **** ********* *** ********* *** Panels ******* *****. ********* *** ******* support ****** ******** ** ******. **** is ************** ** *** ********* *** software ** **** ***** ******* * sunset ** *******. *** ***** ******** they ** **** ***** ******* ******."
  • "******** ******** *******. ****** ** ****** and ********* ** ***. **** *** factory ******* **** **** *** **** the ********* ***** **** ** *** display ****, **** ** * *** sign.""I **** *** **** ****** **** Honeywell/Northern *-**** ****** *** ****** ********."
  • "********* ***** **** ** ****."
  • "**. ****** **** *** ** ********** system, ******* **** *** *** **** it."
  • "** *** **** ****** ***. **** have ****** ********/******* *********** **** * competitor. ***** ** ** **** (*******), but ***** ***** ***** *** ******** proprietary. ***'* **** *** **** **** Software *****?"
  • "******* **. *** ****** **** **** product ** * *********** ********** ***** it **** ********* ** ************ ******** as **** ** *******. *******, *** do **** ** ****** ** ******* automatic *******/***** ** * ***** *** that *******'* **** ** ** *****. There **** ***** **** ****** **** locked *** *** * ******* ******* for * ***** ****** ** * single ******. ****'* **** *** *** of *** ******* *** ****** ** this ******. ******* ** *** ****-******** in ******* ***** ***** ******* ****** on ******** ***** **** ****** ******** doors *** *** **** ********."
  • "*****. *** ************* ******* ****** **** system ** ****. ** ** ********** to ********** ***** ****** ** ****** control - ****** ** ****** ** not ***** **** ******."
  • "***** ****** ******* ****** *** **** to * ***** ********, ***** *** no ****** *** **** ********** ***** events / ******, ******* *** ******** wants ***** ******** *****..."
  • "*****, *** *** ****** ********* **** basic ***** *** * **** ******. But **** ** *** ******** ** more ******* ****** ** ****** ****'* capable. **'** *** ** ****** ******* and ************* * **** *** ***** reps **** *** ** **** ** said **** *** ***** ***-**-*** ***** was ******* ** ***** **** ** wanted ** **. **** ** ******* out *** ******* ** **** **** for **** ** ******* **** * solution **** ****'* **********."
  • "*** ***** ***** ** * ******** REX ****** ** **** ** **** everything ********* **** ******* *** **** people."
  • "***** - ***** **** ******* *****!! If *** ***'* ****** **** *************, they ***'* **** ***** ** ***!"
  • "*****, ** ***** *** **** ******* was *******, ** ******* ** * global ******** ** *** *** ******* of *** ***."
  • "** ***, *** ******* ** **** selling *** ********** *** ******* **** no ******* ****."
  • "******* ****** ******* *******: - ********** are *** ** ** **** ********** - ******* *********** ******** - *** credential ********** - *** ** *** industrial ******** - *** ****** ******* Last *** *** *** ***** ***** - **** ** *** ******* ********** - *** ******* - ***** ******* - **** **** ******* ***** *** using ************** *****!!!"
  • "*******. ** ******** ** ** * medium ***** ****** *** ** ****** coded *** *** **** ********* ** entry ***** ***********."
  • "******* ******* ...***** *********** **** ***** Management ******"
  • "** *** *** ***** ********** **** HID **** *********** - **** * mess. **** ********** ******* *** *** code."
  • "***** *** ******, *********** ****** ** BAD.I ***** **** ** *** **** from *** *********** ****** ** *** are ** *** ***** ** ************/**********.** this **** ***** ***** *** ** not **** ********* *****. **** *** "brain ******" **** "*** ******* ** the ****" ******* ***** **** ** see *** ******* ***** ********* *** there."
  • "******** **'** ***** **** *** **** platform ********, ** ******** ** **** issues **** *** **** ***********. ****** sticking (*** ********* ***** **** ********, interface ******* **, ***.)"
  • "****. ***** **** ******* **** ** we *** ** ** * ***** upgrade ** * ********'* ****** ** order ** ** **** ** *** a ******* * ** ** ********** the ******. ***** ******* ** ****** for ******* ****** *** ******** ******* thousand ******* *** * ******** ********** they **** ** ** ***** *** have ** *** ******* ******* ******** dollars ** ******* ******** ** *** of *** ****** ***********."
  • "* **** *** **********/*** ********** *** have *** **** ********** **** *****, 8-12 *****. **** **** **** *** make ********* **** ******."
  • "******* *********, ************, *** ********* *********. The ********* ** ***** ** .*** and **** ** *** ********* ******* break *** ************* ******* *** ******** to *** ** **** ** *** the ******. ******* ******* ********** *** installing *** ********* *******, *** ** departments **** *** ******* *******. ** have **** *** **** ** ****** with ********* *** *********** ** ***********. Many ***** ******* ******* **** *** have ******, ***** ** *********/********* *** software, ***** *****'* **** ** *** the ******."
  • "*** ********* *** ********* *** *** pulled *** ********** *** **** ** it * ****** ******* **** **** more ******** *** **** ****** *******. This **** **** *** **** *******."
  • "*** *****. ******** ********* ******** ******* on ***** ***. *** ************ ****** in *** ******* ***** ****** ****** to ***** *** ***** *** ** restored ** ***** ****** *** **** corrupted. *** ** ****** ******** ** rebuilding ****** **** *******. *** ******* has ****** **** ***** *** ***** IDS ******** *** * **** **** they *** **** ***** **** **** a ****** ***** ****** ******* ******."
  • "**********, ****** ** ******, ***** ******** is ****. *** ***** ****'* *** the ******* *******. ******** **** ** program ***** ** *** **** *** send ** **** *** ******* ****'* made."
  • "****** ******'* ********* ******. ********* ** all ** *** ************* ** ****** be **** ** ******* ** ** our ****** ******* ************, ******* **** is *** *** ****. ** **** spoken **** ****** **** ******* *** we *** ***** ********** ** *** the *** ******* ** ***********"
  • "********** *** **** *** ***** *** me **** ****. ** ** * good *******, *** *** ******** *** had ********, ********** **** ***** ***** 9000 ***********."
  • "**** ***** ******** *******. *** ** story. ******** ****** **** *********, *** firmware **-*********** *** ********, **** ******* taking **** ** *******. *** ** had * ****** ****** ******** **** Thanksgiving **** ****** *** ** ***** as * ****** **** *** ********."
  • "**** *****....****** ** **** **** **** are ***** ** ******..*.*. ******** *******, database ***********, ***** ******* *****. *** we ****** ** *** **** *********** always **."
  • "*******, ** *** ***** ** ** issue, *** ***** ********* ******* ** awful. ** ***** ******* ** *** them ** *** ***** *** **** they *** ** ***** **** ******* their ******, **** **** ***'* ******... We **** ** *** ******* ** out ** *********."
  • "******* - ****** ** ********* **** a **** (********) *** ***** *** reader ***** ** *** **** - means * ********** ********* ******** ****** Kantech's ********. **** ******* ***** ****** to *** *********** ** *********** * SQL ********. **** **** *** ***** a ********* ********."
  • "*****. ** ****** ** ***** * demo ** ******* ****, ********* * few ****** **** *** ******* ****, then * ***** ***** ****. ***** sending **** ***** ********* ****** ** the **** ******* * *** **** communicating ****, * **** **** ** on *** *******.
  • "**** *****. **** ********* ****** *** outputs **** ****'* ************/******, **** ******* out ** *** ****** ** **** one ** *** **** ****** *** act ** * *** ******* ** fire ** ******** ***** ****** ******* providing ** ************ *****. *** *** interface ** ************ ********."
  • "***'* ***** *** ******. **** *** philosophy ** **** ******* **** ** OWN *** **** **** *** ******* information ** ** ****** ** **** the ****** **** ********* **** **** only (****). ** **** **** *** bid **** **** ***** **** ** the ****** *** ******* ** **********. The ********** ** ** ********** *** hard ** ******* * ******* (*** a ******** ****** ***) **** **** with ***** ******* *******."
  • "*** **********. **** **** ********** ***** power, ** ***** *** ******. **** has ****** ** ***** **** ***** power *******. ** ***** ****** ********* would ***** *** *****."
  • "*****\********** - **** ******* **** ***** integrator."
  • "** **** **** ***** * ***-**** OEM *******. ** *** **** ******* to *** ******* ***** ** ***** (Essl). *** *** **** ********* **** and ***** ********* *** *** *********."
  • "****** ***** ***** **** *** ****** where *** ***** ******* ******** *** e-lock *** *** ****** ****. *** to **-**** *** ******. ** *** more ** * ***** **** ************ partly *** ** *** ***** ********* even ****** ******* ***** *** **** the ***** ******** *** **** *** wired ******** **** ***** ********."
  • "*******, ** **** *** ***** ****** with *********** ** ***** ******** *** support **** ****. **** **** ************ let ** **** ** *** ***** where ** ** ****** **** *** product **** *** *********. *** **** large ****** **** **** **** ******* has **** * ******** ** **** to ********* ** * ****** ** this."

No ********

*******, *** ******** *** ********* ** complain *****.  * ******** ****** ** our ********** **** ****** **** *** been *** ** ***, *** *** trouble-free ****** ** ***** ********* ******** good ******* ********* ** ***** ****:

  • "** *** **** ********** **** ******* selection ** *** ***** ********** ***'* all **** ***. "
  • "* ***'* *** * *** * worst ********** **** *** ****** ******* product **** ****'* *** ***** (******** wrong *****), *** *'** *** **** issues **** ** ********** ******* **********/*********/****** control *******."
  • "*** ** ******** **** **** *** worst *******? ** **** **** ** the **** ******** *** ** *** day ***, ** *** ***** *** also ***** ** ** *** ****. We ********* ** ******* **** **** and ****'*, ** *****'* **** ****'*, or ***** **** ***********."
  • "** **** *** ** ****** ******** as *** *** **** ******."
  • "** ********* ******* ********, ******* *** Isonas ** *** ********* *** **** had ***** ******* **** **** ***."
  • "** **** ********. ** ***** ** our *********** ********. **** ****** **** we ******* * ******** ******* ** are *** ******** ****- ** **** generally **** ** ** *** *** if ***** ** ** ***** ******."
  • "******* *** ********"
  • "**** -- ** ***** **** ***** for **********."
  • "* ****'* **** * *** ********** with ** **** **** ****."
  • "** *** **** **** **** *** very **** ******** ** *** **** year **** ******* ********."
  • "** *****'* *** ***** *** *********** last ****."
  • "** *****'* *** *** *** *********** with ****** ******* ** *** **** year. *** *** **** ****, ** only **** ******** *****, *** **'* a ***** *******."
  • "** **** **** ***** ********** ***-**** 123 *** **** *** *** *** issues **** ***********, ************ ** ********."
  • "** *** ***********. ** * *******, we **** ************* ******* *** ******* of ********* ** ****** *******, *** to *** ************ ** ****** ** support *** **** *******. ** **** used *** ** ******* **** *** with ** ******. ** **** **** used *** **** ********** **** *** free **** ***** *******. ****** ******* in ********, **** ******* **** ****** a ***** *** ***** ***********."
  • "******* ******* *** ********* ** ******** level ** *** ****** ******* **** that ***'* **** ** ****** ******."

Small ********* *** ********

******** ** ***** ************ ***** ******* brands *** ***** * ****-**** ******** reputation, ****** ******* ******** *** ** tragic ***** ****/****** ** * ******. Design *** *********** ** **** ************, but **** ******* ******** *** ***** people ****.

Comments (8)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
•Feb 18, 2015

Nit-picks:

  • I'm no DSX fan, and I do think they should upgrade their controllers, but their RSMs, trainers and tech support people always drill it into you - just make sure you have battery backup. A short power outage should not be a big deal at all.
  • Bosch DS160 - of course it picks up temperature changes. It's a passive infrared detector. That is literally its only job. Work on aim and positioning.
  • Lenel - they told you they don't talk to uncertified people when you started working with them. This is because they don't want people cheaping out on training and then hogging all the tech support time.
  • S2 - just because they also offer their own panel does not change the fact that they also work with Mercury hardware.
  • IDenticard - 9000 controllers were discontinued like 9 years ago. Maybe your yabba-dabba-doo boards need to be upgraded.
(3)
(5)
DD
Dan Droker
•Feb 18, 2015
LONG Building Technologies • IPVMU Certified
In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1

Also, DSX does offer a non-volatile option, for either new boards or retrofitting of old ones.

(1)
CP
Craig Paisley
•Feb 18, 2015

Having worked with the majority of access control suppliers in the past 30 years , we will now only use one product , they have the best tech support in the industry , best hardware realiablity , best user freindly software for end users

Easy simple free software updates and firmware uprades, all IP based or you can run your own RS485 network , fantastic fit and forget 100% reliable

Why has nobody mentioned this supplier , they are massive in UK

Best access control company in the world in my opnion - Paxton Net 2

(1)
Avatar
Brian Rhodes
•Feb 18, 2015
IPVMU Certified
In reply to Craig Paisley

Well, we asked for the 'worst product' here.

And Paxton was one of the most mentioned products in our Favorite Access Control 2014 survey.

KL
Keefe Lovgren
•Feb 18, 2015
IPVMU Certified

"We have been using Honeywells Net-Axis 123 and have not had any issues with programming, installation or failures."

To the dealer who said that please contact me and I will send you a panel (and add on board) that I have been trying to get rid of.

(1)
KL
Keefe Lovgren
•Mar 02, 2015
IPVMU Certified
In reply to Keefe Lovgren

for real... if you use honeywell net-axis contact me offline and I will send you a panel and expansion board... ask brian :)

Avatar
Gert Molkens
•Feb 25, 2015
IPVMU Certified

Well then, i'll put Paxton on my worst products list due to lack of decent support. I've had two major issues with them. They're great for simple systems that just open and close doors. the minute you want to use the more advanced features or want to try an integretion, you're on a slippery slope. Examples:

1/ Their 'Time Sheet' functionality, which is only avalilable in the paid version of the software by the way, at first had a major bug in it. They're in the UK, I'm in Belgium. They use semi collons where we use point and vice versa. This made their software crash because numbers were adding up and became to bi for the software to handle it. We told them this was the root cause of the issue we had. It took them three months to admit it was their problem and another three to resolve it. And of course, they never had seen this problem before...

2/ Integration with Ievo fingerprint readers. Expanded an existing system and added Ievo finger print readers to it. Again software issues between Net2 and Ievo. Off course, their are two partys involved here but if you sell it as an integrated solution, that shouldn't matter. Anyway, installed the system in september 2014. Three weeks ago they admitted there was an issue, the one we pointed them to a couple of months ago. Will probably be fixed in the next version. When that will be? No idea, they can't say. The customers installation still isn't working as it should more than 6 months after initial install!!

3/ Upgraded Net2 on a windows 2008R2 Sp1 server. The installation fails: sent the install log to tech support and got the reply 'the problem is in the MS SQL 2012 installation, install that first and then try again'. The SQL installer however isn't available in their download package. I need to find it 'somewhere' and fix it myself. It's not their product. That's right but they use it and sell it with their Pro version of the software. In that case, i expect them to support it.

Paxton is out for me for new project that require more than opening a door with a badge (and for others as well)

(1)
Avatar
Brian Rhodes
•Feb 25, 2015
IPVMU Certified
In reply to Gert Molkens

Thanks Gert. Good feedback!