Prox Advantage Continues to Drive Dealer/Client Use
Prox readers are well suited for applications where the only thing the client needs is to identify a card user at the door. Prox usually performs this task by reading a serial number off of the prox card in an unencrypted manner. Thus, classic prox may not be as secure as other card technologies, such as smart cards, that use encrypted data. Prox reader technology commonly centers on a frequency of 125KHz.

“There’s not a real technical definition of prox [from the standpoint of frequency], but the most accepted definition includes 125KHz. That is the frequency that we [AWID] use, as well as HID, Indala and others. Pretty much any one who manufacturers proximity readers uses this frequency, other than Checkpoint and Securakey, which use 13.56MHz,” says Doug Cram, vice president of sales and marketing with AWID of Monsey, N.Y.

There are a number of advantages associated with 125MHz prox. It enjoys widespread use, which means it’s a well-established technology incorporating a widely used standard. It’s also relatively inexpensive to buy. They are also less susceptible to interference and the technology is relatively inexpensive.

Read range is also fairly good, spanning several inches to 21/2 feet using a passive credential (see sidebar on page 150 of the print version). “Read range depends largely on the diameter of the reader card in relation to the coil on the card,” says Ken Butte, president of ISONAS Security Systems of Niwot, Colo.

Number of Smart Card Reader Applications Continue to Grow
Smart card technology is most helpful where the client not only wants to know whose credential it is at a reader, but it also wants to do so in a more secure manner using encrypted data instead of mere serial numbers.

Smart card readers are also helpful where the client either wants to add another technology to the card, or they would like to make use of another service’s smart card for security, as in transi
t cards, commonly referred to as Mifare smart cards.

The convergence of physical and logical security is another example. In this case, biometrics and smart card technology go hand-in-hand, not only because of the onboard microprocessor that makes access decisions, but also in the storage of biometric templates.

For example, smart cards with each user’s biometric template are commonly used in corporations that require office employees to use fingerprint identification devices in conjunction with smart card readers at their computer terminals.

Point-of-service (POS) use is another application for smart cards and readers. This dual-use potential is why smart cards are sure to become the predominant access card technology in due time.

Smart Card Technology Moves On With Definite Advantages
RFID-based smart card readers also have other advantages over prox. Probably the most significant gain is two-way communication between a smart card credential and reader using 13.56MHz. Bi-directional data capability in this regard means the ability to read and write data from and to the credential.

“This frequency is much higher because it needs a faster data rate to transfer more bits than the 125MHz technology that just sends a serial number. The higher frequency also allows for read/write technology, which isn’t available at the lower frequency,” says ISONAS’ Butte.

A faster data rate is also helpful when dealing with fingerprint and other biometric information.

Another plus on the smart card side involves more data storage than a simple, conventional prox card can provide. According to Nuffer, one of the disadvantages of 125KHz prox is that only 84 bits of information can be stored on it. Smart cards and readers are designed with data storage in mind.

Where the read range of a prox card is several inches up to a foot or two, “Most [13.56MHz] units have a read range of 2 inches to 3 inches but can be extended to many feet using active tags and different frequencies,” says Radicella. “Longer read ranges are needed for places like parking garages and gates.”

Making the Transition From Prox to Smart Card Less Painful
The final reason why prox continues to dominate the access control reader market is related to legacy issues. The fact is, we have more than 10 years’ worth of prox readers already installed and, thus, the technology is not going to disappear anytime soon.

No one can say for sure how long it will take until smart card readers take over the access control world, but this is certainly what must happen before anyone can claim the convergence of logical and physical access control is complete.

One way that RFID manufacturers are helping end users migrate from prox to smart card technology is through the use of dual-technology readers. Placing prox and smart card technology in the same unit allows use of both cards until the time that migration is complete. It allows the simultaneous use of either credential interchangeably.

Multiple-technology credentials also allow use of a single card at multiple facilities until standardization within the complete organization occurs. Prox cards with a stick-on smart tag are one quick and easy way to allow a client to use their existing prox cards while changing the system from prox to smart card, one reader at a time.

For the complete version of this story, see the March issue of Security Sales & Integration Magazine.

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