Selecting Access Control Readers Tutorial
Given the variety of types available, specifying access control readers can be a daunting process. However, focusing on a few key elements will help you arrive at the right product no matter which system you are using.
These factors are:
- The Basic Reader Types: Contactless, Barcodes, Keypads, and Biometrics
- Quick Overview Of Contactless Frequencies and Formats
- How Mounting Surfaces Impact Selection
- Why Establishing Contactless Read Range Is Crucial
- Awareness Of Infrastructure Requirements Like Power and Connectivity
- Protocol Support (Wiegand vs. OSDP)
In this note, we address these attributes, explain how they are different, and help users understand which reader is the ideal choice for their application.
[Note: This tutorial was originally published in 2014 and substantially revised in 2021]
Credential ****
*** ***** ********* **** ******* **** readers *** ***** *********** **** *** designed ** ****.
*** ******** ****** ******* ************, *** credential **** *** ******* **** *********** and ** ***. ******* ** ****-**** service *** *** ***-******** ********** ***** and *** ******* ******** ******* **** the ******** ************, ******** *********** ******* as * ******.
*******, ****** ******* *** ******** ** read ******* ********** *****, ** ****** an ******** ********* ** *** ******* formats ** *** ** * ******** step.
*********** ***** ****** ** ******* ***, and ********** **** *** **** ** cards, *** *** **** ******* ***** - *** ********* ********** **** ****** *********** **** *******. *** ********* **** details *** ***** ***** ** *********** used ** ****** ****** ******* *******:
- *** *********, *** *** ******** *********: The **** ****** ********** ***** ** use ******* *** ****** ** **** the ********** **** *** ******, *** not **** ******* **** **. ***** credentials *** ** **** ******* *******, pockets, *** ***** - *** **** are ******** **** ** ** *****, keyfobs, *** ********** ********.
- **** *********, **.** *** *********: *** newest **** ** **** ******** ** onboard ******* **** (***) **** ****** higher **********, **** *******, *** **** rewriting ************. ********** ***** **** ******** credential ***** *** *** **** *** multiple *******, ********* ******* ****** *** payment *****.
- *******/*********: ***** ******* ******** ******** ** the **** ** ********* **** ****-***, older ****** ******* *** ***** *** these ***********. ***** ********** ** ******* and *********** ** *****, *********/*******-***** *********** lack *** ******** ** ***** ******* and *** ** ****** ** ******* easily. ** ********, *** ********** ** these *********** ** *** **** ****** for ********** ***, ** **** **** degaussing ** ******** ********* *** ****** reliability.
- **********: ***** ************* ******** ********* **** to ******** ***** ** **** *******. Fingerprints, **** *****, ****/*******, *** **** recognition ******* *** ******** **** ** systems.
- ******** **********: ***** ***** ** *********** blend *** ** **** ** *** listed ***** ** * ****** **********. While **** *********, ***** ***** *** the **** ******** ***** **** *** be **** **** ******* ********* ******* and *** ** *********** **** *** database.
Credential ********* *********
*** *********** ***********, * **** ** RF ********** ****** '******** ****** ********' is **** ** ******** **** ***********.
** ***** *****, *** ********* ********* of ****** *** *** *** **.** MHz *********** **** ******* ** *** the ****** ** ******* *** **** embedded ** *** ****/ ******** ***** wirelessly ** *** ****, ***** **** momentarily ****** ****** *** **** **** it ** ********* **** ******* **** to *** ******. *** ***** ***** shows * *********** ******* ** * card, ********* *** ***** **********:
* **** **** *** *** *** credentials ** *** **** *** ***** it ** ** **** **** ******* without *** ********* ** *** ******. These ******* *** *** ******* ** encrypted *** *** ** ****** ** copiers **** ****** ******.
*** ****** **** ** **** *** cards ***** **** *** **** *** as ****** **** *******. *** **** video ***** **** ***** *** ******* of ***** *********, ********** ****** ******* readers *** ** * ******** *******.**** **** ****** ******* **** **** $30 *** ****** **** *********** *** ***$** ********* ** **** ** ******* ** spoof *** ****** ********* ****** *****:
13.56 *** ****** ***********
*** *** **** **.** *** ****** options ***** **** **** *** ********* vendors:
** *******, *** ****** ****** ** more ********* ** * ***-****** *** per-credential ***** ******** ** ******/*******. *** source ** *** **** ********** ** largely *** ** *********, ** *** HID ******* ** ********, ** *** manufactured ********, ** *** ** ***** parent **** *****. ** ********, *** non-HID ******* *** '**** ***' *** essentially **** *** *** ************ ** build ******* ******* **** **** ** licensing ****.
*** ****** ******* ********** ******* ****** vendor ******* ****** ***** ** ********** part *******, *** *** **** ********** typically ****** **% - **% **** for ***-*** ********. *******, ********** ** North *******, *******, *******/******* *******, *** product ************ *** ** ****** *** HID *** ******* * *********** ****** share ** **** ******. ********* ** the *****, ***-***** ******* *** ** more *******, *** *******/******* *** ** more *********.
Multifactor ********** *******
** ******* ****** **** **** *** credential **** ** ******** *****, **** are ***** ** '*********** *******'.
***** ***** *** ***** ******** *** high-security ************ ** ** ***** ***** credential ***********. *** *******, * ****** multifactor **** ******** * ********* **** reader **** * ******, ** ** a **** ******* ** ********* * card **** *** ***** **** ** key * **** *** *****. *********** 'multifactor' ***** ***** ******* **** *********** with ********** **** ************, *******, ** palm ******.
** * ***** **** ***** ****** supports ********* *****, *********** *****, ** a ****** **** ** ***** ** be '***********', *** ** **** *********** would ** ******** *** *****, *** just ********* ********** ****** *** ********** for *** **** ** ******* ** the ****. *** ***** ***** ***** an ******* ** * ******* '*****-******' reader ******:
**** ********** '*******' **** ********** ********** overhead, ********* ********* ********* **** ***** are ************* ********** **** *** ****** control ******. *** ***** **** *********** readers ******* ********** ********** ******* ***** largely ** ******** ** *** ***** number ** ******* **** **** ** searched, *** *** ****** ** ********** a ********** **** **** ** ** validated.
***** **** *** ******* ********* ******* with ***** ****** **** *******, ************* with ********* ******* ** ****-******** ********** is ******* ** ********** ****** ******* systems.
Mounting *******
*********** *** ******** ******** ******** *** the ****** ** *** **** **** - ***** **** ******* *** '************', more ******** ***** (********** ********* ***** units) *** *** ****** *** ***** location. ** *** ********* *******, ** address *** **** ****** ******** *********, and ******** *** ********* ** ******* the ******* *******:
********/*******
**** **** ********** *******, *** ***** intended *** ******** ******** **** ** sealed ******* ******** *** ********* ******* freezing. ******* *** ******** ********* ** 'potted' *********, ***** *** ******** ********** components *** ****** ** ***** ** prevent ******* **** ********. ********** * reader ** ******** *** ******* *** is ********** ***** ** '******' ** datasheets, ***** ******* **** ********-******** ** ratings. ***********, *** ****** ********** ** the ****** *** *** ****** ******* potted/non ****** *********.
Wall *****
*** **** ***** *********** *** ******** readers ** ** *** **** ****** the ********** *******. ***** ******* ******* may ** ******** ** ***** ******** to ******* ** ******* **** ****** screws, ******* ******* *** ******* ********** brackets. ****** ********* *** ** ******** pulled ******* ***** ***** ** *****, or ********* *** ** ********** ** single-gang ******** ***** - ** **** case, *** ****** ** ********** ******* directly **** * ******** *** ***** plate.
Mullion *****
***** ***** ** ******** ** ********, or ***** ******* ******* ****** ** fished ******* **** ************, * ****** solution ** ******** ******* **** ****** door ******. ******* *** ******** ******* is ********* ********, ********** ******* *** shielded ******* *** ** ********. ***** readers *** ************ ** ***** **** profile, ***** **** * *** ****** wide. **** ****** ***** ******* *** narrower **** ******* ****-***** *****, **** are ********* ** *** **** **** ranges *** ***** *** **** *****-****** (eg: **********, ******) *******.
Bollard *****
******* **** *** ****/******* *** ************ are ********** ******* ** ***** ** concrete ***** ********. ***** ******* ********* need ****** **** ****** **** **** mounted ***** ***** *** ********** *** be **** **** ****** ** ********** or ********** *******. ***** ***** ******* are ********* ********* ** ****** *********** the **** ** ***** *******, **** may ******* ***** ***** ******** *** cable *********/*********. ***** ***** ** ******* may **** ******* *** *** ** media ********** ** ***** ******** ******* to ******** ***** ************* ******** ** controllers.
Turnstile *****
*** ** *** **** *********** ******** locations *** * ****** ** ** a ********* - *** **** *** these ***** ********* ********, **** *** frequently ******* ** ******* *****, ** exposure, *** ****** *****. ******** ******* readers *** ******* ******** ***********. ** a ******, ********** / ******-********* ******* are *********** *** ********* ************.
Read *****
*********** *** ******** * **** ****** is ****** ** ****** * ********** is *** **** ****. ************* *** space ******* *** ****** *** *** controlled ******* ** ******** - *** only **** ** **** **** ** physically ****** **** * ****** ** open * **** (********** **** ********** accessible ********), *** ******** ******** ******* a **** ****** *** ** ********** may ******* ******* *************.
********** ******* *** ********* ********* ** three ******* ******* *********. **** ************ defines *** ***** ******** ***********, *** the ***** ** ********* ********** ** the ******** ***********, ************ *******, *** line ** *****. *** ******** ********** are:
*****:***** ***** **** ******** ******* ***** contact *** *" - *", *** are ***** ******* *********** ******** ** doors ** ******** ** *****. ***** for ***** ******* *** ** ********* drawn ******** **** *** ********** ******* extra ***** ********.
******: ******* ** *** ***** ********* reach ******* ***** ******* *** **" - **", *** *** ****** *** use ** ******* **** *** ** bollards ** ***** ******** ** *****. These ***** ******* ********* ******* **** configurations, ******* **** ***** **** *****-***** readers, *** ********* **** ****.
****: ***** ******* ** **** ***** typically **** ******* * **** *** up ** ** ****. ******* ** the ******* ********, ******* ** **** category **** ** ******* **** *** same ************** ** ******** ********** *********: physical **** ** ***** **** ** maintained, ******** ******** ******* *** ** sources ** ************, *** ****** *********** is ******** *** ********** *********.
*** ******* **** ***** ****** **** is ************* *********, **** *** ***** frequency ****** ****** ******** ****** *********. While *** ******* ***** ** *** a ******* ****** *** **** ***** or ******* ***** ************ ***** ***** pass **** **** * ****** **** from *** ******, ***** **** ********* 13.56MHz ******* ****** **** ** ****** needed *** * ******* ****** ** vehicle **** ************.
UHF *** ******* ******
* ***** ********* ****** ** ***** used *** **************/******* ****** ** ***** and *******: *** ***** ***** *** a ***** ** ** **'.
**** *** *** ****-***** ******* ***** up ** **" (****) **** ******** non-boosted ***********, *** ***** **.** *** counterparts **** ***** *" (****) *** have ********* *** ** **** **** **************** *** ****** ****** ******* *** those ************.
** ** ********* ** **** **** not *** ********** ***** **** *** range ********** *********. **** ****** ********** types *** *** **** *** ********* of '**** *****' ******* *********, *** credential ******* ******** **** ** ****** may *** ** ******** *** **** use ** *** **, *** **** versa.
Required **************
*** ***** ****** ** ******** ** what ******* ** ********* ********* *** required ** *** *******. ****** ************** aspects ** ******** *******:
*****: **** ******* *** ******** ** operate ** *****/***** *** **** ***, but ********** *** ****-***** ***** *** require ********* *********. ** *******, ******* are *** ******* **** *******, ********* pulling **** *********. **** ***** ** 'stand-alone' ******* ******* **** ******* ***** and ******* ** ******* ***** **********.
****: **** ******* *** ********* ** controllers **** *** ** **/* *****, but ********** ****** ***** *** ******* non-typical **** ****** ** ******* ******** like ***** ****** ** *********. ******** variants, ********* ***** * *****-**-****-***** *********** system, *** ********** ******* ** ***-**** and ***-**** ******** ************. **********, **** cabling ** ******** ** ******** ** prevent ************ **** ********** **** ******** between ****** *** ********** *****.
********* ***** ** ********: ***** *** * *********** ************** component, ** ***** ********** ******* ** a ****** ****** ** ******** *** opening. ******* **** ****** ***** ******* have * ****** ******* ****, *** some ******** **** ********** ****** **** backup ***** (**: ********), * ********** lock *** *** **** ** *********. Managing *** *********** **** ******** ** not *********, *** *** **** ********** use ** ***** ***** ******** * well-organized *** ********** ******* ******.
*********/*******:*******, ***** *** *********, ********* ******* like ********* *** ***** ************ ******* can **** ******** ***** ********** ********** or ***** ******* ****** ***********. **********, a ********** ****** ******* ** ***** a ********** *** **** *** ******* this **** ***** ******** ** *** controlled *******. ****** ** ******** ********* allows ******** ***** ** *********** **** someone ******* ***********, ******* ************ **** security ** ********** ****** ** ****** areas.
Protocol ******* (******* **. ****)
* ******'* ****** ****** **** ** compatible **** *** **********. **** ******* must ******* ******* ** ****, ** direct ****** ********** ************* *** ****** operations. ******* *** **** ****** **** compatible **** *** ****** ****** ******, specifically *** **** **********.
*** **** ***** *** ******** ************* communication ******** ******* ******* *** ********** has **** *******, ** ********* **** predates ****** ****** ** ***/** *************. Since *** ***** ****'* ******* *** used ** *********** ****** ******* ** a *** **** *********** ***** *********, regardless ** ************.
*******, ******* *** **** ********** **** are **** ********* ** *** ****** era. **** ** **********, ************** ************, and *** ******** *********** ** *********** data **** *** **** *** ******** by ****** ********** *** ****** ****** design. ** * ******, * *** standard ******** ****** **** ** ***** promoted ** ******* ****** *********.
********** ** ******** *** ****** ********* *******, *** the ******* ********* ** **** ** better ****** *************, ****** **********, *** data ******** **** *** *** ******* protocol. ** *** ******* ****, *** adoption ** ******* ** ********** *** common, **** **** **** **. *******, this ** ********, **** **** ************* offering *** ******** ********** *** ******** and ***** ** ****** ** ** years *****.
[****: **** ******** *** ********** ********* in **** *** ************* ******* ** 2021.]
** ***** **** *** *** ** advanced **** ****** ********** ** ****** control ******* ** ******** ************ **** important *** ******** *** ***********. ** the ********** ********* ** *******, ** can ****** ** *** **** **** advanced ******** ***** ********** **** ***, such ** ********* **************, ***-****** **************, and *********** **** ***** ******** *******. This ***** ****** ** * **** secure *** *********** ******** ****** *** businesses *** *************.
** *** ***** *********** ** **** out **** ******* ******* ******** **** an ** ****** ** ******/*** ******. I've ***** ****** ***** * **** dive ** **** ** **** ****. Next **** * **** * ****** box, *'** ********** **** *** *** term ** *** *****.