Access Control Goes Wireless

What are the advantages of SARGENT’s wireless products?
Using a building’s existing WiFi infrastructure, the Profile Series v.S2 provides complete access control functions in online and offline operation. The v.S2 consolidates all components in one device - mortise or cylindrical lock, or exit device, plus card reader, door position switch, request-to-exit sensor and access controller. Unlike some wireless access solutions, access control decisions are made instantly at the door via the integrated access controller capable of supporting up to 2000 users and storing up to 10,000 transactions. This approach provides faster transactions, eliminates reliance on the wireless infrastructure for access decision making, and improves reliability with fewer components and wiring terminations involved in the transaction. Should a v.S2 lock go offline, the only door affected is the one on which it is installed. If a competitor’s wireless panel interface goes offline, it could affect as many as 16 doors.

Benefits and features include:
• Better security - real-time alarms indicate forced door, unknown card and door held open
• Increased uptime and faster transactions – integral controller with 2000-user database and 10,000-event audit trail provide instant transactions and eliminate the latency and potential failure points commonly found in competing wireless locksets
• Dual-phased Data Security – open-standard encryption techniques such as WEP, WPA and LEAP provide advanced wireless network security. In addition, the 128-bit AES encryption key changes after each exchange to further protect credential data and to secure commands such as “access granted”
• Reduced costs – Elimination of wire runs and integration of components into the lockset drastically reduce hardware and labor costs

Are they scalable?
Utilizing open-standard 802.11 b/g technology, network coverage is as simple as adding an off-the-shelf WiFi access point and tying it to the building’s Ethernet network. In fact, since each device contains its own database and controller, some customers install the products in remote buildings and control them from a common location utilizing their enterprise’s wide area network

What is the nature of the software interface?
SARGENT v.S2 products are designed as open architecture solutions to work with any access control system software package. A software developer’s kit has been distributed to over a dozen access control system manufacturers. Digital Horizons Systems demonstrated their system working with SARGENT v.S2 locks at ASIS in Atlanta, and several more will be announcing their offerings in the very near term.

What hardware/software is required to deploy your wireless product?
Simply install a SARGENT v.S2 lock on the door you want to control access to, install an off-the-shelf wireless access point from a store like Office Depot for $60, connect it to the building’s Ethernet network, and configure the access control software in the host computer to control it. There are no wireless panel interfaces, no reader interface modules, and no dedicated access controllers required.

Upon what technology are they based?
802.11 b/g open standard WiFi infrastructure. SARGENT v.S2 products utilize the same 802.11 b/g standard WiFi network infrastructure used for wireless network access for computers. This results in lower infrastructure costs versus other competitors as wireless access points are readily available through most office supply and retail stores for about $60. What’s more, many customers already have this infrastructure in place for computer networking, so they can simply use it for SARGENT v.S2 locks without the need for additional investment.

For what markets are they intended?
SARGENT v.S2 products are designed for any retrofit or new construction application where wiring is difficult or impractical, or where the cost of traditional wired online access control is prohibitive. By integrating credential reader, lock hardware, and access controller into a single device, both installation labor and hardware costs are radically reduced and enable end-users to achieve real-time alarm monitoring and centralized system management for near the price of offline systems.

What differentiates your wireless from your competitors?
SARGENT v.S2 series locks and exit devices operate on open-standard 802.11 b/g WiFi infrastructure. Other systems utilize proprietary infrastructure which magnifies the cost of deployment. In addition, decision making is done in the lock for immediate transaction response versus the controller-based or, even worse, host-based decision making of other systems.

Competing wireless offerings are much more complex in terms of hardware infrastructure, which include reader interface modules, access control panels with dedicated power supplies, and proprietary wireless access points that control multiple doors. If any of these devices fail, or even if a wire termination inadvertently loses contact, multiple openings can be rendered inoperable.

By contrast, each SARGENT v.S2 lock contains a 2000-user database and 10,000 event transaction log that can function independently from the access control host system, even in the event of a network, extended power outage, or host system failure.

SARGENT v.S2 locks utilize dual-phase data security that utilizes open-standard encryption techniques such as WEP, WPA and LEAP to provide advanced wireless network security. In addition, credential data are protected and commands such as “access granted” are secured from the door to the access control host computer with 128-bit open-standard AES encryption keys that change after each exchange.
SARGENT v.S2 locks are battery-powered devices that utilize six, off-the-shelf AA batteries as opposed to proprietary battery packs that cost over $35 per pack.