RS2 Access Control Company Profile

By: Brian Rhodes, Published on Jan 13, 2016

Inside we examine RS2 Technologies Access It! line for best customer fit, key features, pricing, and main weaknesses.

Profile

RS2 is a US access company offering a range of platforms from small systems to enterprise platforms. Regardless of version, all systems use the same core Mercury Security hardware, differentiating by software features, with the primary focus being simplicity for occasional users, not full-time guard staff of operators.

With the emphasis on software, the company's most popular market segment is simpler systems. However, advanced integration features for biometric readers, visitor management integration, video surveillance system and other alarm system integrations are available as extra modules or enterprise versions.

Comparison Graph

The table below contrasts RS2 AccessIt! versus relative competition based on common differentiation factors like system size, platform 'openness', ease of video integration, and how the product is sold or available:

 

Overview *****

*** *******'* ***** ***** demos *** ********* ***** Next **** ********, *** most ****** ******** **** to *** ****** *** market: 

Management ********

*** ****** *** **** basic ********** ******** ** **** appliance ** ****** ********. All ******** *** ********** with *** **** ******** controllers *** ******** ********. **** the ***** ** ******** options, * *** **** for ******* ** ********* and ************ *** ******* version ***** ** *** party *********** ** ********** licenses ******. ** * general *****, *** ******* differences ***** **** ****: 

  • ***** ****: *** ***** ******** **** free ******** *** ******* ******/** *********** ** MR-51E ****** ** **** software, ********** ** * max ** ** ******* per ******.  *******, **** version ****** ******* ***** or ***** *** ***** system ************ *** ** limited ** *** ******.
  • **** ****: ** ********* ******* instead **** ** ********** to * *** ** 64 ******* ******* ******/** and **-**/** ******, *** also ******** ***********, ****** SQL ***********, ******** ******** uploads *** ******** ** to * ********** *******.
  • ****.***: *** ****-**** ** server ***** ****** ** available ** *, **, 32, ** ** ****** versions **** ******** ********** in **** ****, *** also ******** ** ******* modules, ******** ***** ************, alarm ****** ***********, *** web ****** *******, *** unlimited ********** ****** *******.

*** ****** ******* **** hundreds ** *****, 

  • ****** **! *********: *** ******* ******* of ******** ******** ** to **** *****, ********* client ********, ******/******** ******** license *******, ********* ****** support, ******** *********** ********* ******, Microsoft *****, **** ****, SQL ******, ****, *** Microsoft ****** *********.  ***** Universal ******* ******** ******* include **********, **** *****, time & **********, *** web *******.

** *******, *** *** be ******** ** ******** existing ****** ******* ********** existing ******** ** ******* Security *********** **** **** previously ****.

Clients *****

**** ******** ***** **** one ****** *******, *** adding **** ********** ***** requires ********** ****** *****. The **** *** ****** varies ***** ** *** version *** ******** *********, but ********* ***** ******* ~$*** for * ****** ****.*** client, ** ** ~$**** per ********* ******.

Platform ****

*** ** ********* **** expensive **** ******* *** access *****. *** ***** ***** **** two **** *** ** priced ** ~$*,*** **** includes ********, ** **-**** controller, *** *******, *** 25 *****. **** ** moderately ****** **** * similar **** ***** ******* ** ******** ******** ****** ********** ***** ****** **** ***** cost ~$*** - $**** for ******* *** **** systems.

*** ****** ***** ****.*** platform, ** ****** ******* software ****** ******* ~$*** - $***, *** *** door ********** **** ** between $*** - $**** depending ** *** ****** of ******* *********. ** general, *** '*** ****' pricing ***** **** ****** systems *********** **** *****.

*** ** * ****** product, **** ** ****** public *********. ******* *** resells *** *** ******** available, *** ****-******* ** the *******. ****** *** vary **** ****** ** dealer, ****** *********** ********* that ********* **** ****** pricing *** *** ****** available.

Dongle ********

*** ******** **** **********, RS2 ******* *** * dongle ** ******* ******** to ******** ********* ** servers ********* ** *** address. ****** ******* ******* hardware *** ** ******** port ***** ** ******** (an ********** ******** ******) based *****, *** ****** changes ** ******* ****** be **** ******* *** dongle ******* **.

Wireless *******

* ********** ******** ** RS2 ********** ***********. *** ********* *** compatible **** ******* ******** like ********'* **-*** *** Assa's ****** ******, *** also ******** **** ***** Sallis ****.  ** ******** to *****, ******** ******* includes **** ********** ******** sensors, ****** *** ******** conventional ********* ****** ****** the *** *********.  ******** support ******** ***-****** ****** types **** ***** *********, glassbreak, *** **** *******/****** billtrap *****, ******** *** basic ****** ****** ** be **** ** ***** security *****.

********

*** **** ********* ******* ******************* *** ********* *****. Supported ******** ******** ** networked, *** ********* **** controllers **** *** **-****, the ***-**** **-****,  **-****, **-**, MR-51E, **-**, **-**** *** MR-16OUT.  *** **** ******** Mercury ** ****** ******** kits *** ******** ****-***** users.

** ****,**** *****, *** **** ** VertX *********** *** *** ********* by ***.

Reader *******

******* ******** ** *** is ***** ** ***** reader *** ********** ******* than ***** ******* ****** offerings. ******* ******* ****** basic ******* *********** ****.  *** ****** ****** credential ******* *** *********** all ***, ******, *** HID ******* ** *** kHZ, **.** *** **********. Less ****** ******* **** Aptiq, ********* ****, **** UHF, *** ******/********* *********** readers.

Ongoing *******

*** ******* ** ********* praised ** *******, *** the ******* ****** '**** ongoing **** *******' **** some ********* **********.  *** users ******* ******* **** RS2's ******** ******** *** dealers, ******** **** ******* is ** ****. **** indeed ** * ******* compared ** ***** ********* **** Software ***** ** ***** that ****** ********** **** for ******* *******.

*******, **** ******* **** not ***** ******** ********, which ** ** ***** opt-in *** *** *********. Nor **** '**** *******' address ****** *** **** support **** *** ****** dealers ** ************ ** unwilling. *** ****, *** sells '****** ******* *********' that **** ** ******* annually.

Video ***********

*** ****** ** *********** with ******* *****'* ******** and *** ** ****** to ****** ***** ** its ***. ********! ***** *** displays **** **** *** basic ******** ********** **** that ******** ******. ***** the ****** ** ***** partners ** ***** [**** no ****** *********] (****** 11-12, ** ***** **** as **** ** ***** *******), ********** ********* **** Exacq, *********, *******, *******, and ******** *** *********.

** ****, *********** **** are *** ***** ** 'per ******' ** '*** VMS ******/***', *** ****** on *** ********** *** client *******. ****** ********* systems **** ***** ** Software *****, ***** *** integrate ***** ******* **** hundreds ** ******* ** many ********* *** *** one **** *** *** them ***.

**********

***'* *********** **** *** closed ******* *** ******* dealer ******* *** ************* compared ** ***** *********, especially ******* ******* ** the *** ******. *** example, ********* ******* **** *******, *******, **********, *** **** **** ****** *** ****** ********* ******* distribution *** ** *** limit **** ******* ** dealers ****** ** ****** 'direct support *********' ** *********. ************, if *****-***** ******* *** integrated **** ***, ** ongoing ******** ******* ********* is ******** ** ******** the *********** ** ******* to ***'* ********.

******* ******** ******** ** that *** **** *** party ********** ******* ** operates **** ** ******* Security. ***** **** ******** for * *********** ******* of *** ********* ******, other ******* *********** **** HID *** **** **** not ** *********.

******** ******* *****, *** does *** ***** *** sheer ****** ** *********** options ** ***** *******. For *******, ***** ****************** **** **** ** partners, ********* ******* **** LPR, *** **********, **** Alarms, ********, *** ******** systems. *** ******* ********** alone, *** ********** **** HID's **** *****, ***** Lenel ******** * ***** platforms ** ****.  *** limited ************ ****** *** appeal ** *** ** a ******* '****** *******' enterprise ***********.

Other ********

**** ** **** ** ** ******* series ** ******* ***** on ****** *********. **** are **** ******:

*** ***** ***** ********* you *** ********** ** seeing? ****** ***** ***** and **** * ***** reason ***.

Comments (6)

Pat Alvaro

01/15/16 02:13am

I'd like to see a review on ICT's ProtegeGX system. I believe it offers a unique approach in that it was designed from the ground up to include full intrusion functionality that isn't available in all the systems you've reported on so far. When was the last time you saw an Enterprise class system that has a bell output and POTS dialler built right in on the controller and can communicate to a central station in either CID or SIA?

Disclosure: I work for Inaxsys in Canada and represent the ICT range.

Avatar

Richard Lavin

Idibri Consulting
IPVMU Certified | 01/15/16 05:52pm

Pat brings up an interesting point. How many access control manufacturers offer a unified access control / intrusion detection product?

I know there are some on the burg side, like DMP and Bosch that have unified systems, but I don't know if the access control portion of those is any good.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

01/20/16 11:19pm

Picked up RS2 in 2014 and they have been a great partner to work with. Pretty up to date on their software aka no Windows 3.1 GUIs floating around. Tech support have been very helpful.

Brian- Could do a profile on these Access Companies as ell

-DMP ( We are seeing a lot of their hosted Access Control Offerings combined with burg panels) I know they are intrusion first but are making a big push with their dealers to sell their access.

-AMAG (Always on bids)

-S2 (Pretty common as well)

Avatar

Scott Gerrels

IPVMU Certified | 02/12/16 08:07pm

You mentioned that Vanderbilt is available through distribution?

I don't think they are.

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Scott Gerrels | 02/12/16 09:06pm

They include a distributor list on their website, and you can get it via internet distros as well.

Tom McVey

IPVMU Certified | 05/27/16 08:55pm

Galaxy Access Control. would like to see them.

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