By James Kelly on January 5th, 2020
Smart cards are a distinct variant of access control cards with an internal chip and antenna that allows them to store encrypted data. They can store much more data than magnetic-stripe cards and are the most popular type of card when it comes to access control options.
Because the antenna and microprocessor are contained internally, they are also significantly more robust. This is why they’re the go-to choice if you’re looking for an excellent access control system. But how do you actually encode them for use with your system?
Programming smart cards is a specialist job which is why the majority of people opt to have them pre-encoded. The reordering process is simple provided you know a few things, which we’ll talk about below.
Larger organisations choose to encode and program cards in-house. This will always require an ID card printer with specific encoding modules, or a smart card encoder. It’s worth checking that your ID card printer and software is capable of smart card encoding in the first place if you’ve never implemented an access control system. If you’re yet to buy one, our ID card printer buying guide will help you figure out which type is best for your needs.
Encoding modules are almost always an optional extra, so if you’ve yet to purchase your ID card printer, it’s imperative you consider which type of encoding you require. Smart card encoding modules are often available as an add-on; worth considering if your ID card printer is otherwise up-to-date.
RFID smart cards are considered the ultimate option when it comes to access control. Newer cards such as HID’s iCLASS operate at a frequency of 13.56MHz, while older RFID technology cards operate at 125kHz. 13.56Mhz cards are much more secure, and their contactless technology is operable over a larger distance too.
In most cases, smart cards should be ordered pre-encoded to the user’s access control system. However, when purchasing proximity cards it’s important to know:
You can find more information on this in our helpful guide to identifying your cards, but you’ll generally find this information contained in your original order form, so it’s important to keep the correspondence with your ID card supplier in a safe place. If you’re still struggling to figure out the exact type of proximity cards you should be ordering, just get in touch with Smartcard Store and we’ll be able to help.
Despite the fact you’ll need to order your proximity cards pre-programmed, they are without a doubt the most secure access control option on offer. Because the majority of people will need to purchase them pre-encoded, it means that they cannot easily be cloned or duplicated.
If you need assistance programming your smart cards or require a batch of pre-programmed proximity cards, we’re here to help. You can speak to a friendly member of staff by calling the number below, or check out our access control support pages in our hub.
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