I am not directly involved, but my understanding is the wireless locks are less than ideal. Two primary issues are that the units we use have a limited character string, so we had to create a process to truncate the IDs before uploading to the lock. Also, these have a limited amount of IDs they can hold and don't purge records when the database is updated. Inactive IDs are only disabled so a manual purge of each individual lock at least once a year.
Jake Jacob Barros Associate Director of IT, Network and Operations Email: [email protected] Phone: 574.372.5100 ext. 6178 On Wed, Nov 8, 2017 at 3:16 PM, Greg Briggs <[email protected]> wrote: > I said co-channel, but I meant adjacent. > > Greg > > On Wed, Nov 8, 2017 at 12:05 PM, Greg Briggs <[email protected]> wrote: > >> We have a couple locks on campus that use 802.15.4. I think it is a >> Stanley product. I was told by the engineer who was trying to sell us on >> the product campus wide, that it would cause no interference. (haha!) I >> can confirm co-channel interference, but no user reported problems wifi >> problems that i could specifically say were caused by that equipment. So >> that statement was inaccurate, as I knew it would be, but only in a >> boastful way. It also took a couple of visits an i want to say a couple of >> months to get it to work. (I don't remember exactly) I have expressed to >> our access staff that I do not like the deployment, and if I was the >> deciding vote, I would say no to a proposal to deploy more like it. >> >> I was initially skeptical of the ASSA ABBLOY locks we have on campus, but >> they have been great. For a purely network standpoint they are my choice. >> Our access staff likes them as well. The only problem I have had is that >> my older wireless plans didn't really plan for coverage of outside doors. >> In one or two places that has been an issue we have had to overcome, but >> that wasn't the lockset's fault. >> >> *TLDR:* I would be uneasy about 802.15.4 locks. Your access folks >> should get competing quotes for locks that use 802.11g/n over your existing >> infrastructure. If you do decide on an 802.11g/n based product, check for >> adequate coverage. >> >> Greg Briggs >> Network Manger >> Pacific Lutheran University >> >> On Mon, Nov 6, 2017 at 12:24 PM, Matthew Ballard <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> Note that there two different types of locks that don’t require >>> individual cabling, usually referred to wireless or wi-fi. >>> >>> >>> >>> These comments are related to Wi-Fi vs Wireless: >>> >>> Advantages: >>> >>> 1. Cheaper installation (due to being able to use the existing >>> Wi-Fi network instead of installing access control specific infrastructure). >>> >>> 2. Lower probability of interference – but note that the locks >>> transmit very little data (and the Wi-Fi ones generally only come on >>> periodically, often only once a day). >>> >>> Disadvantages: >>> >>> 1. The locks are offline most of the time (they come online on a >>> periodic basis). That means that updates are slower (as the locks only >>> update periodically), so you can’t do lock-downs with them, lost card >>> updates don’t take effect right away, etc. >>> >>> 2. It’s harder to diagnose certain types of lock problems (since >>> it’s offline most of the time, you don’t see updates right away, and >>> checking whether the lock is online or offline doesn’t matter since it’s >>> offline most of the time). >>> >>> 3. Battery life is often worse (especially if you turn up the >>> update frequency to deal with the other problems). >>> >>> >>> >>> Wi-Fi locks can be great for locks that don’t need updates very often >>> and where you don’t need lockdown functionality. >>> >>> >>> >>> I would personally recommend going with wireless over wi-fi whenever >>> possible, but there are times Wi-Fi is absolutely more practical. >>> >>> >>> >>> If you have specific questions on the above feel free to ask (I manage >>> the electronic access control locks at Otis College as well as the Wi-Fi >>> network). >>> >>> >>> >>> Matthew Ballard >>> >>> Director of Technology Infrasture >>> >>> Otis College of Art and Design >>> >>> [email protected] >>> >>> >>> >>> *CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE*: This electronic message transmission contains >>> information from Otis College of Art and Design, which may be confidential. >>> If you are not the intedned recipient, be aware that any disclosure, >>> copying, distribution or use of the content of this information is >>> prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify >>> us immediately by e-mail an delete the original message any any attachment >>> without reading or saving in any manner. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> *From:* The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto: >>> [email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Chuck Enfield >>> *Sent:* Monday, November 6, 2017 6:47 AM >>> >>> *To:* [email protected] >>> *Subject:* Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Wireless Door Locks? >>> >>> >>> >>> Hi Greg, >>> >>> >>> >>> Locks tend to have a very low network duty-cycle, so interference >>> between the 802.15.4 network and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi will be minimal. That said, >>> it may be worth considering Wi-Fi locks instead. That will ensure that >>> they play well with other Wi-Fi devices and will spare the institution the >>> cost of installing and managing a separate network for locks. >>> >>> >>> >>> On the down side of using Wi-Fi locks, the refresh cycle for Wi-Fi is >>> shorter than for locks. If you have a bunch of locks reliant on outdated >>> features it could hamper Wi-Fi performance down the road. The refresh >>> cycle would have to be discussed with your facilities management, and/or >>> security people. >>> >>> >>> >>> To the group, can you think of any other advantages/disadvantages of >>> putting the locks on Wi-Fi? >>> >>> >>> >>> Chuck >>> >>> >>> >>> *From:* The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [ >>> mailto:[email protected] >>> <[email protected]>] *On Behalf Of *Lee H Badman >>> *Sent:* Monday, November 6, 2017 9:09 AM >>> *To:* [email protected] >>> *Subject:* Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Wireless Door Locks? >>> >>> >>> >>> It’s not what you’re asking, but we are using ASSA-ABLOY .11n locks. >>> Fairly easy to support. >>> >>> Lee Badman (mobile) >>> >>> >>> On Nov 6, 2017, at 8:32 AM, Gregory Fuller <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>> Haven't seen any recent discussion here about wireless door locks. Our >>> physical access team is looking to install some wireless door locks in an >>> administrative building. I can see it growing past this building pretty >>> rapidly and want to make sure they aren't putting in something that is >>> going to cause us headaches. >>> >>> >>> >>> They are looking to install Aperio "HUB's" as they call them: >>> >>> >>> >>> https://vo-general.s3.amazonaws.com/53aee5c6-9690-4c74-a82a- >>> 09f1d0f1ec68/d0vBYdO5QWWKURZqvp0w_AA%20Aperio%20Family%20Bro >>> chure.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJ3YBR5GY2XF7YLGQ&Expires=158266 >>> 2909&response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3DAA% >>> 20Aperio%20Family%20Brochure.pdf&response-content-type= >>> application%2Fpdf&Signature=920fJFxmRxXi9vkJ7zrIVHZao9o%3D >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> This appears to be using some variant of 802.15.4, which has the ability >>> to run between our 802.11g/n 2.4Ghz channels, but will cause co-channel >>> interference. I'm a bit concerned that there will be some impact to our >>> 2.4Ghz clients (we have a ton of them out there still). >>> >>> >>> >>> Anyone else out there have these or something similar and can speak for >>> how they work and if there are any issues in your environment? >>> >>> >>> >>> --greg >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Gregory A. Fuller - CCNP R&S, CCNP Security, CCNA Wireless >>> >>> Network Manager >>> >>> State University of New York at Oswego >>> >>> Phone: (315) 312-5750 >>> >>> http://www.oswego.edu/~gfuller >>> >>> _____________________________________________________ >>> >>> Campus Technology Services will never ask you to email us sensitive >>> personal information such as a password. Please contact us if you are >>> unsure if an email is genuine. ([email protected]) >>> >>> ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE >>> Constituent Group discussion list can be found at >>> http://www.educause.edu/discuss. >>> >>> ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE >>> Constituent Group discussion list can be found at >>> http://www.educause.edu/discuss. >>> >>> ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE >>> Constituent Group discussion list can be found at >>> http://www.educause.edu/discuss. >>> ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE >>> Constituent Group discussion list can be found at >>> http://www.educause.edu/discuss. >>> >>> >> > ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE > Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/ > discuss. > > ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/discuss.
