Solar-Powered, Smart-Phone-Based Access Kit (VIZPin) Examined

Published Nov 02, 2018 11:57 AM

Cloud-based access control company VIZPin is releasing a solar-powered and smart phone based access control system for gates and other remote sites. The company claims it can do access at these locations, typically with no power and network infrastructure, for thousands less than the competition.

Inside, we examine the potential strengths and weaknesses of their solution. Based on our interview with VIZPin's CEO Paul Bodell [link no longer available] and our research, we look at:

  • Who is VIZPin
  • Why Cellphones Are System Essential 
  • What Equipment Comes With Solar Kits
  • How Much Solar Power VIZPin Needs
  • Potential Problems/Limitations
  • System Strengths

Who ** ******

****** ** * ********* **** ******* that ******* ** ******** ** *****, in *** ****** ******* ****** ***** ****. *** *******'* ******* *** ********* known ** "******* ***", ****** ** access ******* *** ******** ********** *** property ********** ********* ** **** ** this ******* **** **********:

***** ********* ** ****** ** ***** 2016 **** *** *** "**** ***** is **** ***", ********* **** *** credential *** ******* ********** **** *** user's ****** *****.

How ******'* ****** *****

****** ****** ***** *****/ **********-***** ****** makes ** **** ********** *** ****** than *********** **-******* ****** ********* ****** control ** **** ******* **** ******* both *** ********** *** ***** ******* connection ** ****'* **********.

****** **** ********* ******* ***********, *** access ****** **** *** ** *********** with ****** ****** ** ***** *** within ~** **** ** ********** ***** or *****, *** *** ******** ** the ****** ********** ** **** *** BLE ******* *** ****'* ***** **** or **** ********** ** ******'* ***** management ******.

**** ***** ***** **** *** ******* gives ** ********:

******'* ******** *** ********** ** **** in *** ***** ***, **** *** major ********** ***** *** ****** ** powered *** ***** ****** ****** **** hardwired ********.

Solar ******* ********

*** *******'* ******* **** ************ ** * *****-******* *** *** its **********-**********, *****-***** ****** ******* ******, ****** ** **** ** ****** control *** ********* ********** *** ********* to ** *********, ********** ****** ********* like ******** ************** ***** *** ****** fence *****.

*** ***** *** ******** * ******** VIZPin *** **********, *** ******* ** a ******** ****** ***********, *** *** uses * ******* ******* ***** *****, battery *******, *** ** *** ******* in * **** *********:

** ****, *** *** ******** ** hardwired ******* **********, ***** ******* **** cellphones ** ***** ****** ******* ********** with *** *****.

Low ***** ******

******* *** ****** **** **** ***** when ***** *** ******** ******* *****, power ****** ** ******* **** *** being ****. ******* ** ***** ********** cell ****** ** ***-***** ******** ********, VIZPin ******* **** *** *** **** cellphones ** '***** ******', ********** ***** typical ****** ******* *********** ******* ** well.

*** ******* ****** *** ******* '** rest' ***** *********** *** *** ******** ** ** @ ** ***, ***** ** ********* ** *** solar ***** *** ********** *******.

** ********, ********** '**********' ******** **** gate ***** ******* *** ** *** more ***** ** ******* **** *********, consuming *** - *** ** ** unlock * ****** ** **** ****.  VIZPin ****** **** **** ********* *** be ******* **** '* ***** ** ******** *** ***' *** **** **** ********* **** '~*** ***********'.

** ****, ********* *******/****** ******* ** constant ***** ***** *** ************* ******* battery ****. **********, **** ****** ******** duty ***** **** ******** ****** ** used.

Solar *** *******

******'* ***** *** ****'* *** ~$***, ***** ******** ********** *** **** locks, *** ******** *****. *** **' cables *** ********- *** ******** *** solar *****, *** *** ***** ******** the **** ** *****. *** *** includes ******'* **** '****' ******** **** includes * ****** *** *** ***********.  VIZPin ** ********* **** ** ******* including **** **********, *** ** ********* not **** ******* ************.

**********

****** *****'* ******** *** ******* ************* compared ** *********** ********* *** ********* access *******:

******* *****

************, *** ****** ** ******* ******* and ** *** ******* ****, ****** control ** ****.

*******, ****** ***** *********** ** *** enough **** *** ********* **** *** be * ********* ***** **** ******** is *********, *** ********* **** *** especially ****, **** *** ****** ** sunlight, ** **** ********* *** ******* or *** *** ********** ***** ********. In-app ******* ***** ******** *** *** yet ******** ** ********** ****, *** VIZPin ***** ** *** ******* ** in ***** ****** ** ******* *** will ** ******** ** ****** *** updates.

** ***-**** '********* **** *****'

******* ***** *** ********* ******** *** user **********, ** **** ********** *** not *******, ** ********* ******* ** the ******* ** **** ** ********.

**** ***** **** ******** ******* * gate, ** '******* ** ****' ** not ********.  ****** ***** ** **** this ** *** * ********* ***** for **** **** ***********, *** *** limitation *** ******* *** ****** **** sites ***** ****-******** ********** ****** ******* is ******.

** **** ******** **********

*** ****** **** ******** ****-******** ******** **********, * **** ******* ** **** access *******. ******'* ****** ********* *** omission ** *** ******* ** *** system's ****** ******* ***********:

*** ******** ***** ** *** ******** at **********-*****, ********** **** ***** **** of *****. **’** * ****-**** ****** control ******. ** **** ****** ***, 'Do *** ******* *** **** ******?' No, ******* ****’* ** ***** ******** not ****** *******. ****'* ** ***** system.

*** ** *** ******* ******** ****** of ****** ******* ******* **** ** mitigating ********* **** ** ******** ********. This ** **** ** ****** **** only ************ *********** **** ********. ******* of **** ******* *****************, ********, *********** ***** **** ***'* ***** *** the ***. ** ***** *********, ******* door ******** ** * ***** **** of *** ******** ** *** ****** control ******.  ** ******** ***, ****** would ******* ** **** ********** *********** as '****** ***** ******* *****'.

Key *********

*******, *** ***** *** *** ******* potential ********:

** ***** ** ******* ******* ******

* *** **** **** *** ****** sites **** ***** ** *** ******* to *** ** ***** *** ******* connectivity. ****** ***** ****** ****, *********** saving ********* ** ******* ***** *** site.

*** & ****** *********

******* *** **** ** **** *** system ******** ********-********* ****** ********** ******* ******* ** ***** lack ****** ** ****. *** ****** activity ** ********** ******* *** *** possible, *** ** **** ** *** fob ** *** *** **** ********** enrolled, ****** *** ***** ** *********.

***** **********

****, *** ****** **** ** **-******* server ** ***** *** ****** **********, instead ***** * ***** *** ** app ******** ******, ****** ********** ** users ********* **** ***-******* ****** *** tablets, ** ******** ********* ***********.

Similar *********

******* ********* ***** ************* **** *****, ***** ********** *******, ***-********* ***** permit ****** *******, ***** ********* *** be ********* *** **** **** *********** access ** ~$*** - $**** *** system ****.

**** ******, ***** ***** ******* *** ****** ********, ***** cards **** ***** ************* ** ****** changes ** ***** ******* ** *** way ***** ****** ***************.

*******, ****** ******, ***** **** **** power ** ******* ******* ******** ***** and ******* ** ****** ***** *** the ******* **** *** ***** ** outdoor-ready ***** ******* ********. ***** **** VIZPin *****'* ******* **** ~$*** *** opening ** ****, ******'* ******** ***** run ********** ***** ** ****.

Comments (2)
U
Undisclosed #1
Nov 03, 2018
IPVMU Certified

So what happens when you want to restrict someone’s access, immediately, say because of termination?

I assume you use some web based management tool to make the change in the cloud.

But then if the restricted person is the first person at that door to attempt access since the restriction, and prevents their phone from making cell connections while allowing BLE*, won’t the door open?

*foil tape, if no software method works.

PB
Paul Bodell
Mar 16, 2022

Just joined IPVM, better late than never. With VIZpin the phone is either authorized on a device or it isn't. This is determined by the Smartphone, not a "white list" on the gate controller. You can revoke access and the keys will dissappear on the users app.