Let's step back in time and recall a simpler life. The good ol' days. Days when you'd come home after a long day, driving home in a torrential downpour, and getting soaked to the skin running from your car to your garage door and back because automatic garage door openers weren't available yet. Or how about relaxing on the couch with your family and your favorite television program is about to come on. But it's on another channel and you'd have to trudge across the room to turn the dial. While these scenarios are a bit dated, they still illustrate life without wireless technology. Since then, we've become dependent on mobile phones, WI-FI, and many other wireless devices in our daily lives.

Why are these applications successful? They solve problems. They're more efficient. They are less disruptive. These are the same attributes of wireless access systems. To design a successful wireless access system, follow three simple steps: 1) Determine product placement; 2) Select wireless products; 3) Conduct an RF coverage test. In the article below, we approach steps 1 and 3, with the goal of allowing you to make wireless access products an integral part of your upcoming access control projects to provide a greater value to your customers.

Determining Product Placement

Radio frequency transmissions from wireless systems don't require line of site for effective communications with indoor applications. By operating at 900 MHz, signals are able to transmit through common building materials such as cinder block, plaster board, wood and concrete. This enables tremendous flexibility with product placement.

Panel Interface Modules are at the center of wireless solutions, which are the bridge between wired systems and wireless locksets or access points. PIMs are available in two versions. The most common type supports up to two wireless access devices and connects to most access control panels or reader interface modules via standard Wiegand or mag stripe protocols. Another type supports up to 16 wireless access points and connects directly to select access control panels via an RS485 interface without reader interface modules.

Companies that have developed this interface are the exclusive distribution channels for PIM-485 modules, including Apollo, Diebold Card Systems, Geoffrey Systems, GE, Lenel, MAXxess, Pacom Systems, RS2, Software Data Systems, and Software House. While PIMs can be placed up to 500 feet away from access control panels, PIMs are often co-located in the same equipment closet simplifying the installation process.