Long-range access control

Access & Identity Management Handbook 2017 Access Control & Identity Management, Products & Solutions

Farpointe Data has announced that access control manufacturers, distributors and integrators can now add a 13,56 MHz contactless smartcard module with MIFARE Classic or today’s benchmark, the DESFire EV1, to their customers’ Ranger long range transmitters, making them compatible and interoperable with Farpointe Data contactless smartcard readers and credentials.

The Ranger product line has always been compatible with Farpointe Pyramid proximity systems, being equipped with potted proximity supporting 26 bit Wiegand as well as custom Wiegand formats plus certain HID and AWID 125 kHz proximity protocols. Transmitter coding is sequential, exactly as ordered, with no over or under runs.

“EV1 sets the security benchmark for presentation technology,” emphasises Scott Lindley, president of Farpointe Data. “Access control system manufacturers, integrators and dealers promoting long range reading will be able to tout greater security over MIFARE Classic smartcard technology because MIFARE DESFire EV1 uses 128 AES encryption, the same as used by the US federal government. MIFARE DESFire EV1 is based on open global standards for both air interface and cryptographic methods. It is compliant to all four levels of ISO/IEC 14443A and uses optional ISO/IEC 7816-4 commands.”

Regarding other security issues, users can take advantage of the read range, which allows the Ranger receiver to be installed on the secure side of an installation, out of harm’s way. Secondly, an element of the Ranger transmitter-to-receiver long-range, over-the-air protocol takes advantage of a secure, digital anti-playback routine. It is based on a custom enhanced rolling code variant of the Tiny Encryption Algorithm (TEA).

The anti-playback feature virtually eliminates the risk of code sniffing and unauthorised cloning. Lastly, Ranger supports MAXSecure, a unique Farpointe option, providing a higher-security handshake, or code, between the transmitter and receiver to help safeguard against credential duplication and ensure that a specific end-user’s receiver will only collect data from these specially coded transmitters.

Used in conjunction with smartcard technology, the Ranger Transmitter supports both long range and smartcard presentation technologies with a wide range of end-user applications. Long range access control solves a number of demanding access applications that call for extended read ranges, such as parking lots, alarm activation, building entrances, marina gates, facility lock-downs, remote door opening and more. It can be used in any application where pressing a button is more convenient than presenting a card. And, once at the facility’s front door, the transmitter can still be used in lieu of a card.

Ranger has been used for applications where it’s critical to move larger vehicles through a secure portal, such as aircraft in and out of a hanger or tractor trailers moving in and out of terminals. For the latter, oftentimes the private property on the unsecure side of a gate allotted for trucking is limited and local authorities frown greatly on a spill over onto public roadways. Competing solutions may have inconsistent range and cannot quickly move multiple, large vehicles through these areas.

The added range reliably provided by the Ranger can eliminate this stack-up. Gated housing communities appreciate the long read range of Ranger, up to 60 m, and marinas value the ruggedised construction of the Ranger, which is both weather- and vandal-resistant.

For more information contact Scott Lindley, Farpointe Data, +1 408 731 8700, scottl@farpointedata.com.





Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

Impro announces Primo update
News & Events Access Control & Identity Management Integrated Solutions
Impro Technologies recently held a launch event in which it introduced a series of new products, from new readers through to its updated Primo access management software.

Read more...
If you cannot prove identity, you cannot claim security
Access Control & Identity Management Information Security
Cybersecurity planning for 2026 is a structural change in how attacks are executed and how trust is exploited, demanding that companies stop layering tools on top of infrastructure and instead prioritise intelligence and identity.

Read more...
Paxton set to launch game-changing new system
Paxton Access Control & Identity Management News & Events
Access control is evolving fast. Installers and end users are looking for systems that are simple to install, easy to manage remotely, and flexible enough to scale. In response, Paxton is exploring how emerging technologies can reshape access control.

Read more...
SWEAR integrates with Milestone
Milestone Systems Surveillance Products & Solutions
Security footage, legal evidence, and other critical surveillance assets face increasing risks of tampering, raising chain-of-custody questions, jeopardising admissibility, and undermining the timely operational decisions that depend on credible video.

Read more...
NEC XON secures mobile provider’s hybrid identities
NEC XON Access Control & Identity Management Information Security Commercial (Industry)
For a leading South African telecommunications operator, identity protection has become a strategic priority as identity-centric attacks proliferate across the industry. The company faced mounting pressure to secure both human and non-human identities across complex hybrid environments.

Read more...
Cloud security in visitor management and access control
SA Technologies Access Control & Identity Management Infrastructure Residential Estate (Industry) Commercial (Industry)
Cloud has become the default platform for modern security operations, from visitor management portals and remote access control to incident logging, reporting, analytics, and integrations. But “in the cloud” does not mean “someone else is securing it for us”.

Read more...
Centurion raises the bar at HomeSec Expo
Centurion Systems News & Events Access Control & Identity Management Residential Estate (Industry) Smart Home Automation Commercial (Industry)
Centurion Systems unveiled its latest product lines at HomeSec Expo 2026, introducing SMART+, a simpler way for installers and end users to manage their Centurion installations - as well as a few new products.

Read more...
Bringing fire safety closer to home
SafeQuip Fire & Safety Products & Solutions Smart Home Automation
SafeQuip’s latest product launch introduces two compact, disposable fire extinguishers for everyday use, one suitable for Class A, B, and C fires, the other rated for Class A, B and F fires.

Read more...
What’s in store for PAM and IAM?
Access Control & Identity Management Information Security
Leostream predicts changes in Identity and Access Management (IAM) and Privileged Access Management (PAM) in the coming year, driven by evolving cybersecurity realities, hybridisation, AI, and more.

Read more...
Protecting citizens’ identities: a shared responsibility
Access Control & Identity Management
A blind spot in identity authentication today is still physical identity documents. Identity cards, passports, and driver’s licences, biometric or not, are broken, forged, or misused, fueling global trafficking networks and undermining public trust in institutions.

Read more...










While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd. | All Rights Reserved.