From time to time, users experience variability in successfully scanning their card (or fob or tag) at an access reader.
The "scan range" for access cards & fobs (the distance between an access reader and the card/fob to successfully activate a signal) varies based on factors including the type of card, type of reader, card frequency, card manufacturer, and interference in the surrounding environment, including from other cards and readers.
Factors Affecting Successful Card & Fob Scanning
Several variables can affect a successful card read:
- Distance from the card to the reader/keypad
- Different types of card formats result in cards that have varying card scanning ranges
- High-frequency cards (e.g. Mifare) have a shorter scan range than low-frequency prox cards
- The cards work by magnetic induction from the reader that results in powering the coil and chip in the card to send a signal (card data) from the card to the reader
- Different types of card formats result in cards that have varying card scanning ranges
- Orientation of the card to the reader
- A card produces the strongest signal when the center of the card is touched to center of the reader. On WiFi locks with keypads, the center is considered to be the "5" key.
- Card Damage
- Bending, printing, slot punching, or misuse can damage a card's coil or chip resulting in it no longer producing a signal
- Wi-Fi network strength & speed
- Card readers can have delayed responses when their firmware is busy trying to connect to the network or busy synching and downloading data at slow speeds
- Wi-Fi Lock Card Reader - Scan Settings
- To save battery life, some Wi-Fi Locks can be set to scan "only on keypress" (versus scan continuously) and thus require a key to be pressed first. (Wired access readers do not have this setting and scan continuously.)
Best Practices for Scanning Your Card & Fob
If experiencing any issues, we suggest reviewing these tips:
- Placement
- Place your card centered in a horizontal orientation against the center of the card reader ("5" on a Keypad of a Wi-Fi Lock)
- Having the card touch the reader ensures the magnetic field reaches the card. Hold for a few seconds.
- See photo below for proper placement example.
- Protection
- Educating users about proper card handling and storage (do not sit on, bend, etc.) and offering ways to protect the card (e.g. badge holders).
- Printing on access cards by Direct to Contact (DTC) ID card printers can damage the card's coil or chip due to the roller pressure while printing. Using a retransfer ID card printer is the safest and recommended way to print on your access cards.
- Slot punching of the card (to allow attaching of a badge clip) should only be done at the slot punch indicator location
- WiFi Network Strength
- If still experiencing issues, verify the WiFi network strength at the lock via the software and the WiFi speed with an internet speed testing tool such as speedtest.net at the specific WiFi device's location.
Proper placement for best signal strength, with the card touching the reader (a keypad in this instance). You should aim to have the center of the card touch the "5" key on a lock with keypad.
Access card construction. The coil and chip are easily damaged through mishandling, bending, sitting on the card (e.g. in your back pocket), in proper storage, or printing on the card with DTC id card printers
Other Potential Issues
WiFi Lock or Reader Firmware
Updated firmware is always a good protocol. Typically, these updates are sent from the back end. All WiFi locks should have firmware version 5.01.200224.9 or higher.
Wrong Card Type (not sourced from SimpleAccess)
There are hundreds of card formats and types out there. Not all Mifare or Prox cards are the same. We often hear from customers who bought some cards elsewhere only to find out they are of a different type, or they received simple white plastic cards with no coil or chip.
Our WiFi locks use MIFARE Classic 1K RFID Smart Cards 13.56MHz ISO14443A. These cards are formatted in a specific way. Due to the common confusion and myriad of card types, we suggest purchasing your cards from SimpleAccess to ensure you receive the correct type designed to work with your SimpleAccess locks. They are a small cost in the overall system.
Related Articles
Using Cards & Fobs on SimpleAccess locks
Card Formats Supported with MercuryTypes of Smart Cards & Prox Cards