HID Proximity Cards Programming

HID Proximity Cards Programming

Proximity cards, also known as Prox cards or access control cards, are contactless ID cards or keyfobs containing programming that is “read” by a card reader to control and secure physical access.

Inside each card or keyfob is an integrated circuit containing specific numerical programming and a coiled antenna, which increases the range at which the card can be read.  Prox cards have no internal power source, so there are never any batteries to replace.

Below checklist highlights your most important considerations when ordering and programming HID prox cards.

Programming

______ Will program – have HID Prox programming equipment on site
______ Need programming completed with order (See the three programming considerations below)

1.   Formatting

_____ Standard 26-bit format (Can be ordered directly online)

_____  HID Prox or HID iClass Format (H10301)
_____  Indala Flex Format (40134)
_____  Indala Casi-Rusco Format (C10106)

_____ Custom format (Contact HID or your authorized expert)

Note: The programming format for your HID prox card is determined by your card reader’s system requirements. If you are reordering, you can look at the end label of the last order’s shipping box for the code. The most common is a 26-bit format indicated by code H10301.

2.   Facility/Site Code

_____ Not required – Generic code is fine for our facility
_____ Required – We have a specific protocol for specifying facility codes
_____ Required – Customize new cards must have the same facility code.
Know more ? Click on http://arindamcctvaccesscontrol.blogspot.com/2016/08/facility-code-or-site-code.html

3.   Starting Card Number

_____ No external card numbering needed
_____ Sequential card numbering is needed:

_____  External only
_____  Matching internal/external
_____  Matching internal/non-matching external
_____  Random internal/non-matching sequential external

Note: It is important that you do not overlap card numbering ranges if you have only one facility code. If you have multiple facility codes, it is possible to use the same card number ranges in each facility, as each card reader uses a combined facility code and card number for access control.

Frequency

_____ Low Frequency (125 kHz) HID Prox / Indala Flex / Indala Casi-Rusco
_____ High Frequency (13.56 MHz) HID iClass

Front Packaging/Graphics

_____ HID Standard Artwork
_____ Plain White
_____ Custom Artwork* – Specify Custom Artwork Number

Back Packaging/Graphics

_____ HID Standard Logo
_____ Plain White
_____ Custom Artwork* – Specify Custom Artwork Number

Slot Punch

_____ No Slot Punch (Printed location of vertical and horizontal slot punch will remain)
_____ Vertical Slot Punch (Printed location of horizontal slot punch will remain)
_____ Horizontal Slot Punch (Printed location of vertical slot punch will remain)

*Custom Artwork

You can add custom artwork to your HID Prox Cards by contacting HID or your authorized ID card Expert.

Just remember any configuration is possible, and we are always standing by to walk you through the ordering process. 

Step 1 – Find the Right HID Prox Format and Part Number

HID manufacturers a number of credential formats. The type of HID credential you use will depend on your access control system. So your first step in finding the right credential is to check your HID System, which should specify the correct prox format.

HID assigns a Format code to each Prox Card that indicates how the internal programming of your cards will be read and is determined by your card reader system requirements. This code can be found on the end label of the box in which the cards are shipped to you. Look at your existing box if you are unsure about your format, because it is important to know which format is required by your system.

For example, the standard HID Prox format is 26-bit indicated by code H10301. Some formats are considered proprietary by HID and can only be ordered offline by contacting HID or your authorized ID card Expert.

Reordering Tip & Cheat Sheet

Reordering credentials? Check the box label from your original credentials or the actual credential itself. Then use the base part number to find your prox card or fob.

Step 2 – Specify Your Programming Information

After determining the correct base part number, choose your programming specifications. Each HID prox card not only includes the base part number, but also a series of letters to indicate a Credential’s appearance options (e.g., LGSMV).

When ordering, your HID prox card or keyfob will have a combination of the following information. Each prox card may have slightly different options, but the key categories remain the same.

Base Part Number
(1326, 1386, 2020, 2050, 1536, 1586, etc)

Programming/Frequency
L – Programmed, Low Frequency (125 kHz) HID. Programming information is specified at time of order.
C – Programmed, Low Frequency (125 kHz) Casi Rusco Format. (Not commonly ordered) Programming information is specified at time of order.
N – Non-Programmed, Low Frequency (125 kHz). Programming information NOT required – only for locations with HID Prox programming equipment on site (Not common)*

*Note: Only large organizations that have HID Programming capabilities should order non-programmed cards. Many customers confuse the process of synching your new credentials to your system with ‘programming’ them.

Front Packaging/Graphics
S – HID Standard Artwork – Vinyl with Matte Finish
M – Plain White Vinyl with Matte Finish
G – Plain White PVC with Gloss Finish
A – ProxCard II with Adhesive Front (Only HID 1326 Cards)
B – Black with HID Standard Artwork (Only HID 1391 Prox Patch)
K – Plain Black Finish, (No Artwork) (Only HID 1391 Prox Patch)
G – Plain Gray Finish, (No Artwork) (Only HID 1391 Prox Patch)
C – Custom Artwork – Specify Custom Artwork Number

Back Packaging/Graphics
S – HID Standard Logo
G – Plain White PVC with Gloss Finish
C – Custom Artwork – Specify Custom Artwork Number2

Card Numbering
M – Sequential Matching Internal/External (Printed)
N – No External Card Numbering
S – Sequential Internal/Sequential Non-Matching External (Printed)
R – Random Internal/Non-Matching Sequential External (Printed)
O – Sequential External Only (Printed)
A – Sequential Matching Internal/External (Engraved)
B – Sequential Internal/Sequential Non-Matching External (Engraved)
C – Random Internal/Non-Matching Sequential External (Engraved)

Slot Punch
N – No Slot Punch (Printed location of vertical and horizontal slot punch will remain)
V – Vertical Slot Punch (Printed location of horizontal slot punch will remain)
H – Horizontal Slot Punch (Printed location of vertical slot punch will remain)

Custom Artwork
You can add custom artwork to your HID Prox Cards by contacting one of HID member

Step 3: Choose Your Card Range and Facility Code

Facility Code – also sometimes called “Site Code”, this is part of the internal programming that is common to all cards on an order. Your organization may or may not have a specific protocol for specifying facility code, either by location (as I know e.g. Code 50 for a New York office and code 80 for Los Angeles) or other variable. Because most systems generally accommodate multiple facility codes – and read both the facility code and card number to validate a card – it is typically not a requirement that the facility code be the same as your existing cards for them to be read correctly.

Starting Card Range Number – this is the specific internal card number that is uniquely programmed into each card issued by HID.  The cards are programmed with sequential numbering based on the starting number you specify.  It is important that you do not overlap card ranges.  If two cards are identically programmed, your system will not be able to distinguish between them.  It is possible to use the same card range if you are using multiple facility codes (see above), because each card reader uses the combined facility code and card number for access control.

Step 4: Choose Between Pre-Selected or Custom Programming

·         Pre-Selected Programming – These credentials contain default programming numbers that are pre-determined by HID. They can be ordered in small quantities, usually ship within 1-2 business days, and offer the same security as custom-programmed credentials.

·         Custom Programming – Custom credentials contain personalized facility codes and/or sequential card numbers. Custom Facility Codes must be between 1-255, and Card Numbers between 1-65,500. Custom programmed credentials must be ordered in quantities of 100 or more and take up to 10 days to ship.

Example Final Part Number for HID Prox Card 1326LGSMV

For this sample order of an HID Prox Card 1326, the card appearance options (LGSMV) break down as follows:

L = Programmed, Low Frequency (125 kHz) HID. Programming information is specified at time of order.
G = Plain White PVC with Gloss Finish on front
S = Base with Molded HID Logo
M = Sequential Matching Internal/External (Printed)
V = Vertical Slot Punch.

Other HID 1326 Prox Card Configurations

Examples of other HID 1326 card appearance configurations are:

Final Part Number: 1326LGSNV
L = Programmed, Low Frequency (125 kHz) HID. Programming information is specified at time of order.
G = Plain White PVC with Gloss Finish on front
S = Base with Molded HID Logo
N = No External Card Numbering
V = Vertical Slot Punch

Final Part Number: 1326LSSMV
L = Programmed, Low Frequency (125 kHz) HID. Programming information is specified at time of order.
S = ProxCard II Artwork – Vinyl with Matte Finish
S = Base with Molded HID Logo
M = Sequential Matching Internal/External (Printed)
V = Vertical Slot Punch

Final Part Number: 1326LSSNV
L = Programmed, Low Frequency (125 kHz) HID. Programming information is specified at time of order.
S = ProxCard II Artwork – Vinyl with Matte Finish
S = Base with Molded HID Logo
N = No External Card Numbering
V = Vertical Slot Punch

Know more ? click on http://arindamcctvaccesscontrol.blogspot.com/2019/10/coercivity-magnetic-stripe.html

Facility Code or Site Code

What is a Facility Code ?

There are many different proximity card formats, but the proximity cards that we sell are encoded with a "Standard" 26-Bit Wiegand format.  Like other proximity and RFID cards, an HID card is simply an ID card which enables proximity technology in its everyday functions. HID cards, as well as other types of RFID cards and smart cards, are popular for access control, as well as other functions like public transportation and employee ID.This format actually contains two sets of numbers:

•         A 3-digit "facility code", which can range from 1-255
•         A 5-digit "card number", which can range from 1-65,535.

Most HID proximity cards and key fobs have the 5-digit card number printed on the card.  The 3-digit facility code, however, is printed only on the box in which your cards are shipped.

Gate Keeper can be configured to interpret the Wigand data as either a 16-bit number or a 24-bit number.  The 16-bit number will contain only the 5-digit card number.  The 24-bit number will contain the facility code and card number for a total of 8 digits.  For example, if the facility code for a card is "123" and the card number is "56789" then the 24-bit (8-digit) number read from the card will be "12356789".

A Facility Code is a number encoded on access cards that is intended to represent a specific protected facility or building. Not all card formats support a Facility Code, but the most common card data format in use today does support it — the industry’s original open (i.e. non-proprietary) 26-bit format. The 26-bit format has two data fields: a Facility Code (8 bits) and a Card Number (16 bits), plus two parity bits; thus, the Facility Code number can be a number be between 0 and 255, and the Card Number can be between 0 and 65,535.

With only 65,535 card numbers available across the cards of all customers using the 26-bit card data format, duplicate card numbers are inevitable; therefore, the first purpose of the Facility Code was to enable customers in close proximity to each other to differentiate their set of cards from another customer’s cards. Ideally, each manufacturer would try to manage the facility numbers it issued to various customers in a specific area to minimize the occurrence of duplicates. A card with a Facility Code not matching those used by that specific customer would be denied access, typically generating “Access Denied – Wrong Facility Code” messages.

The 26 bit Wiegand standard format is the industry standard. Card manufacturers such as HID, Indala and AWID sell cards with this format to any dealer. This 26 bit format is recognized by all access hardware.

Over the years, formats with a higher number of bits (33, 37, 48, 50)  have been added to increase card security.

However, some of the higher bit formats are  "proprietary", and usually carry a higher price tag. One exception is the HID 37 bit proprietary format, priced similarly to a 26 bit card.

As an example, if Company A has cards numbered from 1 to 1000, with facility code 230, they would be programmed as follows:

230 - 00001

230 - 00002

230 - 00003 .......up to 230 - 01000

Company B could have the same serial numbers, but with facility code 180, and their cards would be:

180 - 00001

180 - 00002

180 - 00003........up to 180 - 01000

To grant access, an access control system validates the facility code AND the serial number.  Company A will reject Company B cards, and viceversa, even if they have the same serial number, because the facility code does not match.

The HID 37 bit Wiegand format with Facility Code is H10304.  The format consists of 2 parity bits, 16 bit Facility Code and 19 bit Cardholder ID fields.

PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCP
EXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX..................
..................XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXO

P = Parity
O = Odd Parity
E = Even Parity
X = Parity mask
F = Facility Code, range = 0 to  65,535
C = Cardholder ID, range = 0 to 524,287

HID recently announced that the standard format for their Corporate 1000 proximity cards has changed from a 35 bit card format to a new 48 bit card format.

Originally, all Corporate 1000 format cards offered the 35 bit structure (“Corporate 1000 – 35”). The Program’s success created the need for a new format (“Corporate 1000 – 48”).  The larger 48 bit structure change allows for an increased number of individual cards numbers available, from just over 1,000,000 individual card numbers per format for Corporate 1000 – 35 to over 8,000,000 individual card numbers for the new Corporate 1000 – 48 format.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Prox cards are custom programmed with the facility code and start numbers requested by you. For this reason it is important to have the correct numbers at the time an order is placed.