Wireless / WiFi Access Lock Guide

By Brian Rhodes, Published Nov 12, 2019, 12:03pm EST

For some access openings, running wires can add thousands in cost, and wireless alternatives that avoid it becomes appealing.

But using wireless and WiFi locks can have drawbacks over hardwired alternatives.

In this guide, we examine key aspects of both types, including:

  • The differences between Wireless and WiFi access
  • WiFi Drawback: Power Hungry
  • Wireless Drawback: Lockdown Feature Often Difficult
  • Repinning locks is often still needed
  • Battery costs can be hundreds per year
  • Replacement Costs

WiFi/Wireless ***** *******

** ******, ****/******** ***** are ********** * ****** standalone **** **** **** key ******* *** *** or **** ********** ********** readers. ** ********** ****** database ** ***** *** schedules ** *** **** usually ***** ******* ** provide ****** ******* ******* connectivity ******* (****** ******* being **** ** ****** the ******** ** ******* entrance).

* ****/******** **** *** be ********* **** ******* onto ******** ******** **** lock ******* **** * traditional ********* ****** ****** composed ** ******** ****** that **** ************ ** hung *** ***** ** the *******.

*** ***** ***** ***** this ********:

****/******** *** **** ** used ** ******* ********** access ********** ******** ******************** ********* ****, ******** **** implementation ** *** ** common.

Wireless ** ****?

**** ** ***** ** potential ********, ** ****** with ******** ******* *** locks *** ********* ********. Two ***** ************ *** common, **** ***** *****:

  • *********** ********
  • ****

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

*********** ***** ******** ******* to *** ****, ******* in *** ****** - *.* ******** ******* * ****** hub ** ** ******* in *** ***** ** every ****. *** **** range ******* $*** - $500 ****, **** ******** of ***** ***' ** any *********, **** ** sight.

****** ***** ** *********** wireless *******:

  • ****'*******
  • *******'*******
  • ***** ****/**************
  • ***'* ***** (****** *** based)
  • *-**** **** (****, *******, and **** *********** *****)

*** *** ******* ****** Pro ***** ******** **** by********** (***) ******:

802.11 ****

**** ***** ***** **** 802.11 **** ***********, *** lock ** ***** ** IP *******.

**** **** *****, ******** WiFi ******** ********* *** be ****, **** ************* bandwidth ******.

****** ***** ** ***.** WiFi ***** *******:

WiFi **** *********

*******, **** ***** *** more ********* *** ****. However, *** ********** **** of ****** ********* ****** for * ******** ******* can ****** ***** ******** cost **** ***** **** cost.

**** ***** *** ********* not ******* ** * hard ******* ** *** number ** ******* ***** to * *******, **** limited ** *** ****** of ********** *********** *** WiFi ******* *** ********.

***** ********* *** **** impacts ********** ** ******* hubs ** ****** *** can ****** *** *** away *** *** **** units *** **********.

*** ******** *******, *** limit ** ***** ****** or ******* *****, *** multiple **** *** ***** be '******' ******** *** high-density ************.

WiFi/Network ********

** **** *****, ******** about **** ***** ***** detected *** ****** ****** the ***** ** ********* is ****** ** ***** encryption, ********* * ******* of *** *** ***.

********, **** **** ***** use ******** **** *********** and ************** ** ******** network ** ******* ********** with, *** *** ***** themselves *** **** ******* networked ******.

*******, *** **** '**********' of *** ********** **** by ***** ***** *** often *** ***********. ** many *****, *** ******* buying ******** *** ********* buying ******** ***** ** to ***** ****, *** their ********* ******** *****/****** may *** ** **********.

Repinning *****

** **** *****, ******* a ****/******** **** **** means ********* *** ********** locks ** ***.

** ***** ** ****** useful **** ******** **** and ****** *******, *** locks **** ** ** pinned ** ******.

***** *** **** ** repinning * **** *** be **** **** $** and ** ****** **** for ***** ** ***, this ******* ******* ** frequently ********** *** *** be ******** ** ******* for * ****** ** a ****** ****** ** doors.

Battery *****

** ***** ***********, *********** battery ***** ** ***** can **** ******** ** even ********* *** ****. While **** **** ******* pin ******** ******* **** at **** ****-**-********* ** cycles, ******* **** ** calculated ***** ******* ********* conditions *** *****.

******** ** * ****** lock ******** * ($** parts/labor) ******* **** *********** once *** ****, * system ******** ** **** ten ***** **** **** $500/year.

*** **** ** ******* power * **** **** may ***** **** * specialty ******* **** ** the **** *** ** designed ** *** ******** commercially ********* *********** *********, but ** ****** ****, batteries **** **** ***** not ****** ** ******** powered *****.

**** * ******** ********** or **** **** *** experience **** **** ** binding ** *** **** lock. **** ********** ***** to ******** *** ******* drain ******** *********.

*** *********** *** *** rate ** *** **** can ******* ****** ******* life, **** ** ************ used ******* ******* ****** than *** **** *******. If *** ******** ******* power ***** ** ******* minutes ** ******, *** battery **** *** **** to ******* ** **** voltages ******* ******, ***** one **** ********** **** drain ******* ******* ** constant ***, *** **** because *** ******** ******** of ***** ** ************.

WiFi ***** *** **** *****

** *******, *** **** of ***** **** **** impacts ******* ******* ****.

* ******** *** **** units ** ******* **** remain ** ******** ******* with ****** ******, **** often ***** ******* **** rapidly ******** ** ***-***** wireless *-****/****** **** *** intermittent *******.

************, *** ****'* ******** from *** ***** ** hub *** ************* ****** battery ****, **** ***** farther **** *** **** a ****** ****** ****** to **-********* * ********** or **** *** ******* more *****.

Wireless ******** *** ****** *********

*******, * ******** *** wireless (*.*.: *** ****) access: ****-********* ******** **** emergency ******** *** *** be *********.

*** ****** ** **** function ******* * ******* alarm ** **** ** simultaneously **** *** ***** in * ******, *********** restricting ****** ** ********* threats **** ****** ****** or ***** ************ *****.

**** *** ******** ******, network *********** *** ***** are * *******. **** 'Lockdown', **** ******* ** amplified ******* ** ************ or **** **** *** leave ********* ** ****.

********** * ******** **** system ******** '********' ******** are *** ***** ****, but **** ********* *** wireless ******* *** *********** radios ** *** ****** the ******* ** ***** on ******* ** *** next.

** ****** ********* ** allowed *** * ********* failure ** * ******** command ** * ******** door, ********/**** ******** ****** not ** **** ** all.

Replacement *****

*******, ** **** ***** break, **** *********** ** the ***** **** ** required? ****** * ********* door **** **** ******** components, ** ** ********* device ****** ** ************, it *** ** ******* out.

**** * ********/**** ****, if * ******* ******* part **** * ****** or ******** ***** (******* less **** $*** *** normally), *** ****** **** often ***** ** ** exchanged ** * **** of $*,*** *** ** more.

Comments (10)

Avatar

Andy Allen

11/14/19 04:54am

*****,

* ** ******* *** a ***** *** **** appears ** ** ******* displayed ** **** ******** "lead *******", *** *** did *** ******* ***** in *** *******? *** to *** **** **** Salto *** * ********** different ******** ** "********" locks **** ******* ********** over *** ******** *** did *****, * **** it *** *** ************* that *** *** *** include *****. **......*** **** they *** ********?

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Andy Allen | 11/14/19 05:12am

****** *** *** *******.

***** ** *** *** only ****** ** *** credential-based **** ************ ** that ** **** *** mean ** '********** ********* ********'. **** hospitality ****** ******* *** the **** *******.

** ** *****: ****** interest ******* *** ** Salto. *** ******** **** not *** ********* ** a******** ****** ******* **************** ******** ** ***** WiFi/Wireless *****.

** **** ***** ** renew *** ***-****-******** ****** ******* *********** ****.

Avatar

Ng Choy Mei

IPVMU Certified | 10/18/20 02:46pm

* ********** ******* ** Wifi ****** **** *****.

Undisclosed End User #1

10/18/20 04:32pm

******* ****** ***** *** credentials *** ********.

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed End User #1 | 10/18/20 05:19pm

****, *** *** ********* range ** ********* ****** and *** ********** ** ultra *** (*.*.: ** bits), ** **'* * little *********** ** ******** them '********' ** *** same ****** ** *** other ****** **********.

Andrew Fulton

10/19/20 12:42pm

*** ****** ****** ** wireless ***** *** ****** control?. **** ** **** brands *** ***** *** it ***** ** ***** to *** * ****** head ** **** **********. In ****** ** **** so **** **** ***** that **** ** *** US ****** *** *** compatible **** ** ***** some ************* ********* ***** be **** ** **** comparison. * ***** ***** that *** **** ***** are *** ****** ********* that ****** ****** ** looking ** * ******** system ****** **** ******* a ****** ******.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Andrew Fulton | 10/19/20 12:52pm

*** ****** ****** ** wireless ***** *** ****** control?

** * ***** ** fact, **** *** ********* less **** * **** ago. *'** ***** ***** to ******* ** *******.

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Andrew Fulton | 10/19/20 03:49pm

***** ******: ** *** mention, ***** *** **** 'wireless' ****** ** **** brands ** *** **** like ******, **********, *** Salto.

***** ****** ************ *** you ****** ** *** commercial ****** *****?

*'* **** ******* **** many '**' ********* ******* European ***** **** ******* (and **** *****) ** those ********* *** ** fitted ** **** **** only '**-*****' (******* ****) doors.

Andrew Fulton

10/19/20 04:05pm

** ***** ****** *** Assa ******, *****, ****** Voss, * ** ***** that **** ** ******** do ******* **** ********* for *** ** ***** , *** *** ***** be ********* *** *** that **. ** **** seem ***** ********** *** many ********* ***'* ****** have ** ***** ***** to **** **** *** the ********* ******** **** thicknesses *** ******.

**** *** ***** **** they **** ** ***** quite ****** *** *** helped ******* ** *** thickness ** **** ***** European ***** ** ***** buildings. **** **** *** lead ** ******* **** issues.

* ***** * *** just ******* *** **** more *********** ** **** life *********** ** ***** are *** *** *****.

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Andrew Fulton | 10/19/20 04:10pm

**** ******, *****, ****** Voss

****** *** *** ********. Specifically, ** ** ** interesting ******* **** ** will ***** ** *** a ******* ****.

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