Neill Williams, Director of Smart R Distribution, offers some relief for installers and system integrators who are ‘tearing their hair out’ because through no fault of their own, they are having to disappoint their end-user clients with the news that they cannot immediately fulfil orders for Access Control cards or readers.

If you are designing a new Access Control system which is not scheduled to be installed for several months or you are advising an end-user who just has one eye on the future in terms of upgrading their existing system, then the current long delays in the supply of readers and cards from one of the market leading manufacturers, is unlikely to concern you.

If, however, your end-user client urgently needs new or additional cards and readers, perhaps because they are expanding their workforce or are opening new facilities, delays of up to 10,weeks is likely to have a major impact on their security operations.

As a specialist distributor of Access Control solutions, Smart R are regularly receiving calls from installers and system integrators who have unexpectedly learnt that they will not be able to immediately satisfy their customer’s requirements for cards and readers.

Fortunately, with supply chain issues not likely to abate in the near future, there are some easy to implement and relatively inexpensive solutions readily available which do not involve having to swap out all of the end-user client’s existing readers and/or replace all their existing cards.

So, when you have to advise a client who has sourced their original Access Control system from a market leading manufacturer that they may have to wait 10 weeks for delivery, you can at the same time, provide a number of alternative options.

Scenario 1

If the client is using traditional 125kHz proximity technology, they can order Authenticard credentials programmed to the same encoding format and site code, and with the next available card number range to be added to the existing system, without changes to any settings within the access control system.

Scenario 2

If the client is using original iClass cards and readers, the readers could cost-effectively be replaced with a Farpointe Data Conekt solution which can read original iCLASS cards (not iCLASS SE) and Conekt Bluetooth long range technologies, as well as DESfire credentials programmed by Smart R to the same programming format and site code, and the next available card number range. This is achieved by using a secure key which the end user or dealer can control/manage. These will therefore read the clients existing iCLASS cards, and the new DESfire cards without changes to any settings within the access control system.

Scenario 3

If the client is using iClass SE readers, a simple 30 second plug-in module upgrade with no re-wiring of each reader will negate the need to ‘rip-and-replace’. The module allows users to continue using their iCLASS cards and fobs, as well as DESfire credentials programmed by Smart R to the same programming format and site code and the next available card number range, using a secure key which the end user or dealer can control/manage.

The module also adds enterprise-grade security with leading touchless mobile access technology.

The module also supports Wi-Fi, allowing customers to remotely manage and configure their readers, eliminating the need for onsite visits.

Long delivery times for cards and readers is an ongoing issue. We would therefore urge you to speak to your preferred distributor to ascertain the best way forward for your application.

Want to know more? Email neill@smartrdistribution.com

Story By: David Solomons

Date : 30-09-2022