Solar-Powered, Smart-Phone-Based Access Kit (VIZPin) Examined
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 ********** ***** ** ****.
**** ****** ****, ****** **** **** never. **** ****** *** ***** ** either ********** ** * ****** ** it ***'*. **** ** ********** ** the **********, *** * "***** ****" on *** **** **********. *** *** revoke ****** *** *** **** **** dissappear ** *** ***** ***.
** **** ******* **** *** **** to ******** *******’* ******, ***********, *** because ** ***********?
* ****** *** *** **** *** based ********** **** ** **** *** change ** *** *****.
*** **** ** *** ********** ****** is *** ***** ****** ** **** door ** ******* ****** ***** *** restriction, *** ******** ***** ***** **** making **** *********** ***** ******** ****, won’t *** **** ****?
***** ****, ** ** ******** ****** works.