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Guarding technology

Biometric fingerprint readers are often the choice of access control at the entrance to business premises or residential developments. These readers are often situated in public areas where people pass by all the time. As it is a public area, there is very little that can be done to keep people away from a reader.

Fortunately, most people will just walk past without even noticing the fingerprint reader. However, somebody with malicious intent may pass the reader. This person may decide to vandalise the reader for any number of reasons – gaining forced entry, avoiding late clocking penalties, spite or just plain thrill-seeking. Not only will this place you and your property at risk, but it could also result in fraud (inaccurate timesheets) or overcrowding in residential complexes.

When specifying a reader for use in a public or unguarded area, the possibility of vandalism should always be taken into account!

Regal Security and ZKSoftware have addressed this issue with the introduction of the LK173 fingerprint reader. Regal has been successfully selling the LK170 into the local market for a number of years and the LK173 is its successor. The LK173 is built into a rugged metal housing, instead of the plastic used by so many other fingerprint readers.

The electronics of the LK173 are the same as the tried and trusted LK170. The scanner is the same reliable scanner and the interface is the same easy to use keypad and LCD. Configuration and use will be familiar to anyone who has worked with the LK170. Even if you are not familiar with the LK170, you will find that the LK173 is simple to operate and very user friendly.

The LK173 can be used either as a standalone unit, or can be connected to a PC by RS232, RS485 or Ethernet (recommended). Once connected to the PC, the LK173 uses the same software as the other ZKSoftware products. This means that you can easily add the LK173 to your existing system (or replace a vulnerable LK170) without installing new programs and databases. Data can also be imported from existing LK170’s and then transferred seamlessly to the LK173.

And, the software comes packaged with the reader – free, no licences, no codes, no registration, no dongles.

So, next time you need to install a fingerprint reader in a vulnerable location, consider the metal-cased, vandal-resistant LK173. If you have a fingerprint reader that is regularly being damaged, then maybe it is time to consider changing to the more robust LK173.

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