When To Go Wireless

Wireless technology – meaning the transfer of information without wires -- has assumed a pivotal role in most of our personal lives and professions.

Wireless can be used to send data, images and control signals, but up to now, wireless technology has not been harnessed to send energy. However nature uses various wireless methods to transmit energy. Wind would be an example. The wind (the difference in atmospheric pressure) itself is the energy; the atmosphere is the conveyor, and man converts it into electricity.

Radiant energy from the sun is another example of Nature transmitting energy without wires. Also light, such as sunlight is readily converted for mans’ purposes. Lightning is one of the more spectacular examples of wireless energy transmission. To the best of my knowledge,  there has not been any substantive technological developments in the application of lightning to solve earth’s appetite for energy.

My own tenure in security has involved some prototypical experiments in wireless. Prototyping is a process where an attempt is made to build a working technology out of a theoretical one. The fruits of prototyping can be a working model, or if the a working model cannot be realized, lessons can still be learned from the mistakes.

For a number of decades, as a senior technical person, I was constantly enlisted to participate in prototyping. Either there would be a electronic circuit or an idea for a product, and I would transform the circuit or concept into a tangible item which could be objectively evaluated and hopefully developed into a new product.

There is always a certain degree of failure and frustration with protyping, but thankfully for me and my dependents, a substantial proportion of my prototyping resulted in successful, innovative and profitable results.

But not always. I remember in my early years in security, I was presented with a security project which was a real challenge. A client had a historic landmark residence, and he wanted me to install an alarm system. This was way back when security alarms were hard-wired, since wireless was still in its infancy.

The construction of the premises was such that pulling and concealing wires was impractical, and defacing the premises with forbidden.

I decided to give a totally new wireless alarm system technology a try, as it appeared to have the capabilities required and it was being offered by my distributor.

It used several technologies to link various system components.  It used RF (radio frequencies) between the modules and motion sensors and the controller; PLC (power line carrier) to eliminate the need for low voltage cabling; and ultrasonic to send data between modules. Ultrasonics were used for glass break detection.

Unfortunately my installation was an abject failure. It may have worked in an ideal environment, but not mine, and the vendor could not offer a remedy or a refund.

After that it took me a couple of years to recover financially, and a bit longer to recover emotionally. I learned firsthand what they mean when they say that the cutting edge can often become the ‘bleeding’ edge.

This particular shared experience may be used by some readers to validate their own agnosticism towards ‘new’ technology, but that is hardly my intent.

Wireless technology has come a long way since then, with new protocols changing the wireless landscape to one where the old constraints cease to be an issue; and when properly handled will not disappoint. The installer must evaluate the application, then proficiently deploy the equipment.

Wireless offers numerous advantages and is here to stay.

My message is to select your vendors wisely, build your skill sets so that you are better prepared to take advantage of the innovative solutions available in security technology, and become familiar with the new technologies so you are able to select the most appropriate ones for your projects.

The Locksmith Ledger asked some industry insiders the following question: “What are the advantages of wireless to security professionals and their customers?”

Securitron

Securitron Magnalock Corp., an ASSA ABLOY Group brand, is a leader in electronic locking products and systems known for strength, durability and quality in its products.

 “Wireless locking solutions offer multiple benefits to end-users and dealers- each deployment varies, and there are good reasons to specify both hard-wired and wireless solutions depending on conditions and requirements,” stated Adam Auer, Senior Product Manager for Securitron.

Wireless offers flexibility – especially in after-market installations where pulling new wire may be cost-prohibitive, Auer said, noting that locksmiths are able to serve existing customers with wireless openings at a lower cost than may have been possible in the past. 

“New construction can also benefit from the cost savings of not installing wire at every opening.  The cost savings of wireless deployments allow end-users to secure more openings on a limited budget,” he added.

In addition, some wireless solutions offer an additional benefit of resilience. “Running on battery power and storing credentials locally can allow a lock to continue functioning normally during a power outage or access panel outage.”

Securitron’s R100-1H surface mounted wireless reader and pre-paired Aperio® hub offer an elegant way to extend access control to glass, stone, granite or marble entryways. Installation is easy, requires no drilling or pulling of wires and can adhere in minutes. A complement to an electronic locking solution, glass entryways can now integrate robust access control while maintaining a clean, wireless appearance.

Features include:

• Fully-encrypted AES 128 wireless communication
• Online transaction audit trail capability
• Low battery signaling and reporting
• Suitable for outdoor use
• Up to 35,000 cycles per battery
• Green status LED indicator
• Two models are available to support low frequency or high frequency cards
• › Low frequency model supports PROX and EM PROX
• › High frequency model supports iCLASS, iCLASS Seos™, iCLASS SE, ISO14443B UID, Mifare, Mifare Plus, Desfire SE, Desfire EV1, NFC
• Protected by SecuriCare 3-Year No Fault Warranty

More Info: www.securitron.com

Axis

AXIS is a global market leader in network video. Vince Ricco, Business Development Manager, cited two obvious advantages of wireless.’

First, Ricco noted the faster deployment, noting that running physical connections can be time consuming and in some cases costly depending on the environment the cable needs to be run.

Second, smply getting connections to some end-points that are problematic for network cabling require a wireless solution, Ricco said.

The AXIS M1004-W Network Camera is an affordable wireless HDTV network camera, ideal for securing locations such as small businesses, boutiques, restaurants, hotels or residences. It offers superior video quality in its class at 30 frames per second in 1 megapixel or HDTV 720p resolution.

AXIS M1004-W Network Camera supports edge storage for recording to network shares such as Network-Attached Storage (NAS). Video intelligence includes video motion detection and active tampering alarm.

Features include:

• HDTV 720p / 1MP quality
• Support for 802.11b/g/n standards
• Multiple H.264 streams
• I/O port
• Easy and flexible installation
• Small and functional camera design

More Info: www.axis.com/us/en

Paxton Access

Paxton is an access control manufacturer who offers wireless solutions. Here are Paxton Access Product Manager Chris Wilson’s reasons to go wireless.

“This allows for a significantly faster installation time and allows a less experienced technician the ability to fully install and control a door.  It eliminates the need for the long and labor intensive cable runs along with the technical expertise needed to install traditional locking hardware and devices.  Many of these wireless option also won't require the extensive building code knowledge for installation, again providing them the option of using a more junior technician for the installations traditionally only reserved for those seasoned installers.”

Customers will gain similar benefit in that their installation charges are lower for the wireless solutions allowing them the option to reduce budget or gain more doors of control and better traceability for the same budget, he added.

Net2 PaxLock is a battery powered Net2 access control unit in a secure door handle and comes ready to install with a C Keyway lock or alternatively to fit with an SFIC lock.

Communication between Net2 PaxLock and the Net2 server is done wirelessly through Net2Air and the Net2Air Ethernet bridges, providing all the advantages of a wireless access control system.

Net2 PaxLock is simple to use and fast to fit because it has a self-contained power source, making it ideal for internal doors.

Features include:

• Full battery management system with low battery alerts and easy-change AA batteries
• Compatible with EM and Paxton proximity tokens
• Key override option
• C Keyway or SFIC lock case variants
• Two handle designs available - Eclipse and Galaxy

More Info: www.paxton-access.com

Cansec Security

 “In a word, cost saving,” said Fred Dawber, Cansec Security. “Whether you use a wired or wireless solution should depend solely on the cost. And keep in mind that a wired solution is simple, proven and 100 percent reliable.  If it works when first installed, it will work forever (figuratively speaking). A wireless solution may work when first installed but its performance may be degraded should RF interference increase intermittently.  My recommendation would be to go with a wired solution even if it is a bit more expensive.”

Cansec’s Air-485 is a wireless RS-485 communications device that is compatible with most 2-wire RS-485 products on the market. It is ideal for those installations where wired connections are cost-prohibitive. Configured using simple DIP switch settings. Air-485 has a built-in signal strength indicator to assist you in a quick and easy installation. Air-485 supports Point-to-Point and Point-to-Multipoint network topologies with incredible ranges and reliability.

Features and Benefits include:

• Works with most 2-wire RS-485 products
• Indoor/Urban: 400 m (1300 ft.)
• Line-of-sight: 10 km (6.2 miles)
• 900 MHz Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS)
• Supports baud rate of 4800 kbps, 9600 kbps, 19200 kbps and 38400 kbps. Configurable via DIP switches
• 128-bit AES encryption
• Ideal for installations where wired connections are cost  prohibitive
• Supports USB and RS-485 connection with auto detect
• Supports point-to-point and point-to-multipoint network topologies, as well as multiple networks per site
• Built in signal strength indicator LEDs simplify device placement

Note: Data format supported is 8 bit, no parity, one start bit, one stop bit, and no hardware flow controls. A site test must be done in all instances to confirm performance. There are no short cuts!

More Info: www.cansec.com