Buyer’s Guide for Key Card and Key Fob Access Control

It’s likely that if you’ve ever been in a hotel, you’ve used a key card to enter your room. Key fobs are a common door entry device used by both office employees and apartment dwellers. Key cards and fobs, which take the place of the conventional lock and key, are crucial parts of electronic access control systems.

In this guide, we go through the most popular kinds of key cards and key fobs as well as how key card and key fob entry systems function. Finally, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of installing a key fob system and offer potential substitutes.

Key card and key fob systems: what are they?

Electronic access control is used to regulate access into and out of facilities using the key card and key fob systems. Electronic gadgets like fobs and key cards enable authorized renters to unlock doors. They are a well-liked keyless entry system for commercial buildings, residences, factories, and other types of structures.

Key card systems demand the following three things:

access authorizations. The little electronic devices that renters use to gain entry are called access credentials, such as key cards, key fobs, or badges. A chip or sensor that is integrated into fobs and cards allows them to communicate with the access reader.
Obtain reader. Tenants can authenticate their identification by holding their key card or fob up to an access reader, which scans it. The access reader tells the door to unlock after verifying the resident.

magnetic or electric door locks Electric or magnetic door locks are necessary for access control systems. The access reader sends a signal to the door lock, which unlocks to let a resident inside.

Key fob entry system cost

Systems for key fob entry range in price from $1,200 to $2,500 per door. The technology that powers your key fob system and the number of entryways you want to safeguard will determine the overall cost. It’s usually advisable to request a quote if you want a more detailed estimate.

However, keep in mind that they are merely installation’s initial costs. Remember that if you install a residential key fob entry system, you will need to buy a constant supply of new fobs if people lose theirs, request replacements, or vacate the property. Key fob replacements range in price from $50 to $400 per fob when hardware and programming time are taken into account.

The operation of key fob systems.

Wireless signals are used by key fob entry systems to connect cards and fobs to access readers. The access reader prompts the door to unlock if the key card contains the proper credentials.

A key fob mechanism can be used as shown here:

Show off your qualifications. First, hand your identification card to the access reader. The majority of readers are placed immediately adjacent to the entrance. Swipe your swipe card through the reader if you have one. You simply hold your touchless RFID key fob up against the reader if you have one.

A reader for access checks credentials. There are many ways for an access reader to validate your credentials depending on the installed system. For instance, Wiegand key cards store their credentials on a network of magnetic wires. Other card kinds, such as proximity and RFID cards, communicate wirelessly by using an electric field that the access reader emits to send their credentials.

The door is unlocked via an access reader. The door is then unlocked after the access reader has confirmed your identification.

advantages of keyless entry systems

logical for tenants It is considerably simpler to simply tap a card or fob against a reader than to fumble with a key.

additional personnel data The management of the building can keep track of which doors are opened and identify the resident who did so.

simple to administer. Instead of changing the lock entirely if a resident misplaces a key card or fob, you can deactivate that card separately.

successful for elevators. A fob system is efficient at stopping illegal guests or renters from reaching floors they aren’t meant to if you need to restrict access to elevators in your building.