Anybody know anything about Card Swipe Door Entry

[todpod]

I work with a program that works with young adults. We are currently building a 6 unit building to transition these kids from foster care. We are hoping to break ground in November. With the apartments we have now keys have been an issue with losing them and not returning them after they leave. We were talking about a system like hotels use to program cards to wipe in the door. I have found they hardware but am not sure of the other requirements of this type of system.

Any help would be appreciated

 

[Ichinisan]

Annoying kids can hack them in movies.

 

[Ichinisan]

Isn't RFID more common these days?

 

[deadlyapp]

Isn't RFID more common these days?

My college still uses swipe on most of the rooms. Student ID cards have programmed access to specific rooms.

My work went to all RFID. ID badges are used to gain entry.

I'd assume that the system is pretty easy to setup and there is probably rather intuitive software to provide access to the rooms, but you'd probably need a database server that is always online. I don't know the specifics for what it requires.

Edit: The hotel ones are simpler than that I think. They have one device that programs the cards for a specific room so I assume the hardware isn't interconnected.

 

[Mark R]

There are 2 options: interconnected and non-interconnected.

Non-interconnected systems are much easier to install, but lack the total security management that interconnected systems have. There are also additional maintenance issues. Hotels commonly use non-interconnected systems. Each lock contains a reader, battery, electronic module, real-time clock and/or other authorisation device.

Cards can be programmed for 1 or more locks, with explicit start and expiry times. So, if you book into a hotel for a week, they will program your card for your room, for one week. If the card is lost, it can't be disabled.

If the lock battery runs out, or its clock drifts, then the lock may not accept an authorized card.

Locks may or may not record activity. If they do, then it is a manual task to read the data out of the lock.

Interconnected systems connect a card reader (either magnetic stripe or RFID) to a central computer, which then controls the locks on individual doors. There is a significant infrastructure cost in installing all the cabling.

The system has the advantage that all accesses can be logged and monitored remotely, and that any card can be deactivated immediately. The system should also be lower maintenance, as there are no batteries to replace regularly.

All said, I think in your circumstances, a hotel-type system would be the best bet. You will probably only need a few locks (so the high cost of the individual locks shouldn't be too bad), and the need to replace 6 batteries annually shouldn't be a problem - it's not like this is a big hospital with 5000 doors. You should contact a locksmith that specialises in this type of system - they will be able to explain exactly what is needed for the whole system. Usually, you just buy the locks, and a programmer which connects to a PC with some management software.

 

[leglez]

Last year we built a new facility out my work that houses 15 children. They implemented a similar system. On all doors that lead outside there is a reader, looks like just a light switch cover minus the switch. They then gave us key fobs that are hard pieces of plastic with the information coded onto them. If one becomes lost or stolen we can deactivate it and purchase a new one for around $3.

The company I work for has it's own maintenance department that selected everything, but I would assume you could contact a local lock smith.

 

[todpod]

Thanks for the replies gonna have to do a little studying here. Hopefully its not to cost prohibitive to install.

 

[AlienCraft]

http://www.accesshardware.com/

This company ships to several local contractors I deliver to that do exactly what you're thinking of.
Try them.

 

[sdifox]

http://www.hidglobal.com/main/card-issuance/id-systems/

 

[bobdole369]

http://www.paxton-access.com/home.asp

The Paxton folks do the card readers and the controllers. They supply NO/NC/momentary outputs to door lock devices, such as magnetic pulls, latches, etc. Consider 1 controller, 2 readers and a push-to-exit as your typical door. We standardized on those folks - as everybody else in the access control world was fairly rigid in requirements and didn't offer what we were looking for.

Lots of folks in the business, expect that if you choose one vendor to stay with them, they don't talk to others for the most part.

 

[Gibson486]

You have lots of options. My recommendation is to find an integrator to do it.

I used to work for a firm that did this type of stuff. Problem is that lots of these systems are not open source. So, if you buy one system by HID, they do not offer support unless you are a registered integrator. We tried to decode the messages for their system to work with a PLC. For the most part, it worked, but it is a lot of work to do on your own and we decided to not take any of those jobs again. Each company has their own communication method, and no, they are not compatible even though they may both be ethernet or whatever protocol they happen to talk. The more sophisticated ones work directly with a PC and I recommend you go that route because it's much easier to program on the PC rather than a PLC/Controller. The HID stuff may be a different technology, but the same issues occur with magnetic strip cards in terms of communication for entrance security.

 

[paperfist]

But now you'll have expensive swipe cards to replace and reprogram...

Don't they have biometric entry-ways yet?

The way we combat lost keys is that if you lose one it's $250.00 to replace. It's amazing that none are lost now

 

[todpod]

Charging for keys would not happen these are former foster kids, they have no money. Not sure if the $$ are going to make sense to do it electronically. My biggest fear is copies of the keys floating around.

 

[Gibson486]

Charging for keys would not happen these are former foster kids, they have no money. Not sure if the $$ are going to make sense to do it electronically. My biggest fear is copies of the keys floating around.

Well, the whole idea is that if they do not return the key, you just reprogram what the code is on the new keys. All old codes will not allow access. i do not mean to sound like a cheapie, but there are lots of unemployed people out there looking for work. Tell them you will give them a great reference in exchange for their work. This is typical of non-profits because they do not have the money to pay out. That said, remember, you getting free work....

 

[todpod]

what about something like this

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...cStoreNum=4178

 

[DayLaPaul]

Have you thought about just using a combination key code system? Those can be had at Home Depot/Lowes at a fraction of the cost. Of course, you can't just deactivate one person's access when they leave, like with a keycard system, but depending on how often you rotate kids, it shouldn't be too much of an inconvenience changing codes every so often.

 

[torpid]

I'm not seeing the value in swipe cards here.

 

[todpod]

Have you thought about just using a combination key code system? Those can be had at Home Depot/Lowes at a fraction of the cost. Of course, you can't just deactivate one person's access when they leave, like with a keycard system, but depending on how often you rotate kids, it shouldn't be too much of an inconvenience changing codes every so often.

That might be the way to go, we have a couple to test out on the apartments we have now, haven't got them installed yet. If I could get the main locks keyed alike and staff could have keys and then just the codes for the main doors and there individual apartments. The front doors would require 5 maybe six different codes at any given time. I am just trying to figure out the best system beforehand.

Kid rotation could be often depending on the kids some will really balk at the rules and get out quick once the figure out its not a free for all.

BTW thanks for the help so far.

 

[lokiju]

I'd say look for a finger print reader.

Can't lose that.

 

[OogyWaWa]

http://www.paxton-access.com/home.asp

The Paxton folks do the card readers and the controllers. They supply NO/NC/momentary outputs to door lock devices, such as magnetic pulls, latches, etc. Consider 1 controller, 2 readers and a push-to-exit as your typical door. We standardized on those folks - as everybody else in the access control world was fairly rigid in requirements and didn't offer what we were looking for.

Lots of folks in the business, expect that if you choose one vendor to stay with them, they don't talk to others for the most part.

i still cant stand it that most doors have these stupid push to exit buttons. why the hell hasn't anyone made a doorknob smart enough to know if it is being opened from the inside/outside...