Access Control Card Read Range Rankings 2023 - HID, WaveLynx, STid, 3millID, Alta, Brivo, LenelS2, PDK, Verkada
Usability can be significantly impacted by how far access control readers can read credentials.
In our first-ever test in this category, we included 8 units: two from HID (Signo 40K and Signo 20K) and two WaveLynx models (PDK Red Mullion and Brivo ACS100), STid ARC-A, Avigilon Alta/Openpath Video Reader Pro, Verkada AD32, and 3millID.
This test examines the RF range access control readers, a common yet important variable for selection often clouded in confusion. In this report, we examine:
- Testing Explainer Video
- Farthest/Shortest Read Distances Summaries
- Average Ranges For All Eight Tested Readers
- Four Credential Cards Tested - HID Prox 125 kHz, 26 bit, MIFARE DESFire EV2, 13.56 MHz, MIFARE Classic, 13.56 MHz and HID iClass SE, 13.56 MHz
- Manufacturer Summaries
- Range Differences Due To Size & Frequencies
- Why Mobile Is Better For Longer Ranges
Mobile Test Coming
While not part of this test, IPVM is preparing to release our 2nd mobile access rankings (updating 2019's Mobile Access Control Shootout - Farpointe, HID, Openpath, Nortek, Proxy) later this summer.
********
** ***** *********** *********** ******* *** best *** ***** **** ******, **** two ****-***** ************* ****** **** ******* significantly ***** **** *** **** ******.
Testing ***********
*** ******* ******** ****** ******** *** ranges *** ** ****** ****, ********** each **** ** *** ***** ******* for ***** *****.
** ******* *** ******** **** **** registered ** ** *** ****** **** reader ** ***** ***** **** *** center ***** ** *** **** **** scanned.
*** ******** ************ *** *** *** between *** **** ** *** **** and *** **** ** *** ******.
Executive *******
** *** *******, *** ********** ** read ***** ******* *** ******** *** shortest ******* ******* *** ~* ****** (~10cm) ** ~*.* ****** (~*.***). *** most ************, ******* **** ****** **** ranges *** ******* ** *** ***** the ********** ** **** ****** *** requires **** **** ******** ** ****.
*** *** ***** *** *** *** had *** ******* **** ******, ***** Verkada's **** *** ****'* ***** ****** Pro *** *** ******** ******.
****** ******** *********** ** ****** ******, whose **** *** ********** ********* ******** read ****** *******, *** ******* **** results **** **** ****** **** *** credential ********* **** ********* ****** **** distance ******.
****, *** ****** ****** * ******, mobile *********** ** *** *******/**** **** be ******, ** ****** *** *** and **.** *** ******* **** *** provide ***** **** ****** *****.
Average **** ******
*** ***** ***** ***** *** ******* distance *** **** ****** **** **** of *** **** ********** *****. ***** the ****** ** *******:
******** *********** ******* **** **** ******** by ******* *** ****** ****** & DESFire *** *** ** **** **** additional *************. *** ******* *********** ******* are ******* ** **** ********* *** evaluation.
**** *****, ** ***********:
*** ****** **** '--' ******** *** reader ** ************ **** ******* **** credential ****.
******** *********** ******* **** **** ******** by ******* *** ****** ****** & DESFire *** *** ** **** **** additional *************. *** ******* *********** ******* are ******* ** **** ********* *** evaluation.
Farthest ******** *******
***'* ***** *** ****-***** ****** *** that ******** ***** *** **** *******, including **.** *** ****** ******* *** (2.54"/ *.****) *** ***'* ****** ** formats (*.**" / **.****) *** *** second ******** **** ***** ** *** HID *** *** ****.
*******, ***'* ******* *** ******* ***** 20K (*******) *** *** *** ****** the ****** *** ****** *** *** a ****** ****** ***** *** ****** Classic.
Shortest ******** *******
*******'* **** ****** *** *** ******** range, ********* ****** **** *.** ****** (~4.19cm) *** **** ** *** ***** formats ** ** ********** ****.
************, ******** ****'* ***** ****** *** did ******, **** *** ******* ********* card ********* ****** **** *.** ****** (~4.45cm).
Test ********* *****
*** ***** ***** ***** *** ******* and ******** *****, *** ******* *** credentials ******, *** *********** *******, *** more.
HID's ********* ****** *********
***** ** **** *******, *** ****** have *** ******* **** ****** *******. However, *** ***** *** ****** ******* order **** ***** *** **** *********, which ******* *** ******* ****** *** be **** ** ********.
*** *******, ****** ***** ******* ****** ** *** *** ** May **** *** * *****-*****+ **** time ****** ********:
** ***** ***** ************ ***** (**** **********), *********** ****** **** **** ********** and *******, ******* *** *******'* ********** strong ************. **** *********** *** ************** since *** ******* *** ********** ** hard ** ***.
Credentials ******
** *** *******, ** **** **** access ********** *****, ***** *****.
Manufacturer *********
** *** ******** *****, ** ******* a ***** ******* ** *** ******* performance ** **** ************. ************, ** there *** ******** ****** *** **** to *** ***** ** **** ** have ******, **********@****.***** ******* *****.
HID *******
*** ** *** ******'* ******* ********** is ****** *******, *** *** *****'* Full-sized ***** *** ** *** ** the **** ******* ****** ****** ** its *********.
*** ****** ****** **** ******* ** near-longest *** *** *** ******* ** tested, **** *** ******** *** ********** card ****** *****.
***'* *******/******* ******* ******, *** *** (shown *****), ****** ********* ** **** as *** ****-***** ***.
******* ***** ******* *****, **** ********* were **** ******** *% - *% less *** **.** *** ******* *** were ~*% ****** *** ****** *******:
WaveLynx/Brivo *******
******** ***** ***** *** ******* ********* to ****** *********. *** *** ****-**** Brivo ******, *** ****** ** ******** with * **** ********** *** *** pad ** * ****** ****.
*** ****** ************* ** **** ** 13.56 ***-****, *** ***** (********) *** kHz ******* *** *** *********. *** tested **** ***** *** ****** *** average ******* *** ******* ******.
WaveLynx/Mullion *** *** *******
******* ***** ****** ******* *** ******** WaveLynx ******* ** *** *** **** (shown *****).
*** (********)'* ******* **** ****** ********** similar ** ******** ****** ********* **** the ****-**** (***** ******) *****, ****** for ****** ** ***** ***** **% shorter ** *******.
Alta/Openpath *******
***** ******** ****'* ***** ****** *** was *** ** *** ******** ******* RF *********, **** ***** *** ****** this ****** **** ** **** ********** in *** *******'* ****** ***********, ***** placed **** *** ***/**** ** *** list.
*******, ********* ** ***********, *** **** reader *** **** *** ******** ********* overall *** **** ** *** **** credential *******.
STid *******
******-***** **** ****** *** ****-***** ***-* as *** **** ****** ********. *** unit ******** *** ******** *** *** module ***** ** *** ****** ** the ******.
*******, *** *** *** ****** ****** longer **** ********* **** *** ******** 13.56 *** ******** ** *** ***** configuration, **** *** **** ******* ********* listed *****.
Verkada *******
*******'* **** ** *** ****** ***** the ******* ********** *** *******-******* ******* access *******.
*** ****'* **** ***** ******* *** the ******** *** **** ****** *** DESFire *******, *** ** ******** *** unit ** *** ********** **** ***'* proprietary ******.
** ***** ******* *** ******** ** these *******, *** **** *********, "** comments **** *** **** ** **** time."
3millID/LenelS2 *******
*******'* *********** ******* (** *******) *** most ********** ******* **** *** *******'* mobile *********** *** **** **** ************* with ******* *********** *******.
*** ******** ***** ** **********/***** ***'* 125 *** *** *********** ****** **.** MHz ******* *** *** ****** ** DESFire.
************, *** ******* ****** *** *********** of *** ****** ********* ****** ****** to ** ******* **** *** *** Prox:
Minimal ***** *********** *** ** ****
** ****** ** *** ** *** size ** *** ****** ******** *** read *****, ************ ** *** ****** full-size ****** *** * *********** ********* over ******* *******-**** *****.
*** ******* ***** *** ******** ********** is **********, **** **** ***** ******* less **** *.* ****** ** **** other:
**** ******** *** ***** **** *********** in *** ****, **** ******** ****** separating *** ****** ******* *** *** sizes. *** ********** ** **** **** a *******-**** ***** *** ****** ****** readers ** ***** ** ****** **********.
Minimal ***** *********** ** *********
*** **** ***** *** *** *** cards *** ****** *** **** (***** a ****-**** ** ****) ** **.** MHz.
**** ******* *******, *** **** ********* for **** ********** **** **** **** varied (***** *****):
- *** ***: ********* ** ****** ** less
- **.** ***: ********* * ****** ** less
- ***: ********* ** **** ** ****
- ******/***: ********* ** **** ** ****, but ********** *** ***** ~*** ****.
** ***** *** ** *** ***** ranges ** **** **** ******* *** they ******** ** ** * ************ that ******** ***** ******* *** **********-***** variables:
** * **** *****, **** **** results *** *** *******, *** ** is ********* ** ******* ******* **** information ** *** ***** ***** *** reader ****** ***** ******.
... **** ******** ********** (*** ****, iCLASS, ****, *******, ***.) ****** *** many **** *************, ********, ********** **** hardware *********, ******* *******, ********** **********, natural ************* ********, *** *****-**** ********** manifestations, *** ** ***** **** ****** read *****.
************, ************* ******* ****** *** ****** (e.g. ***** ******** *******) *** ************* impact **** *********** ** **** *********** while ****** **** ****** ** ******.
Extreme *********/******* *** ******
** *** ****, ** *** *** have *** ****** ******* **** * metal *-***, ***** *********, ** **** other ******* **** ***** ********* **** reads.
*** ******* *** ********* ** ***********-******, indoor ************ **** ** ****** ***/***/****/****. These ************* *** ******** ******* ******** impact *** **** ***** ********* ** access **** *******.
Mobile *** ****** ******
***** *** **** ** **** **** of ******** **** ***********, ******* ****** access ******* ***** *** ***/** *** can ** ********** ** ** **', with **' ***** ****** ** *******, with ** ******* ********* ** *************, and ****** *********** ******** ************ ****** an ***.
***** **** ********* *** ***** ****** for ************ **** ******* *****, ******* garages, ** ****** ******-******* *******.
**** ** ********* ** ******* *** 2nd ****** ****** ******** (************'* ****** ****** ******* ******** - Farpointe, ***, ********, ******, *****) ** *** ****** *****.
******* ******* **** *******:
** ** *****, ** *** ******* configuration *** *********** ****** *** *** register *********** **** *** ****** ****** formats. ** *** ********* **** ****** and **** ****** ** ********** *********** tools *** ********* ********* ** **, and ** **** ****** *** ******* above ***********.