| If you are unsure of your format or facility code we can usually duplicate your style cards if you send us two of your existing cards. If you would like us to do this for you please send us two of your existing cards along with a quick note telling us what you would like us to do with them and how many cards you are considering purchasing. Be sure to include your contact information! Send to:
Accent Alarms, Inc,
Attn: Read My Cards,
225 Union Blvd. Suite 150,
Lakewood, CO 80228,
Format and Facility (Site) Code explained
Format
A passive proximity card uses binary bits (0's and 1's) to store information. When read, the binary bits are extracted and sent to the main access controller. However, to understand the information stored on that card, the controller and cards need to speak the same binary "code" or "language". This is known as the format.
For example, "0011010" may be number "5" for one format, and number "7" for another format. (it's like the word "cara" : in Spanish means "face", in Italian means "dear"; hence the need to know the language it is written in).
The 26 bit Wiegand open format is the industry standard. Card manufacturers such as HID, Indala and AWID sell cards with this format to any dealer. Also, this 26 bit format is recognized for almost all access hardware.
However, some access control manufacturers, developed "proprietary" formats, in 33, 37, 48, or 50 bits. Those cards are sold by the card manufacturer only to the format owner, who in turn resells the cards to the dealers. Because of this, they are higher priced, even if it is the same card. For example, the HID Proxcard II card programmed with a 26 bit open format (that we buy from HID directly) is about $2 each. The same HID Proxcard II, with a Kantech 26 bit proprietary format (sole sourced by Kantech), is priced at about $6 each.
One exception is the HID 37 bit proprietary format, sold directly by HID at the same price as 26 bit.
Facility code and serial number
Every card has a consecutive serial number programmed, assigned in your access control software to a card holder. For 26 bit cards, it can be from 0 to 65,535. But, what happens if a company across the street also has an access system, and their card numbers are duplicated with yours? They could access your building and vice versa. To reduce this risk, a second number, known as the facility or site code is encoded into each card. This number can go from 0 to 255 on a 26 bit format card.
Then, if your company 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
The other company 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, your system validates the facility code AND the serial number. It will reject the other company's cards, even if they have the same serial number, because the facility code does not match.
Lately, some formats have a greater number of bits, and make obsolete the notion of facility codes, because the card serial number (like the serial number on currency bills) is never duplicated at the factory. This also means faster delivery of cards, even for add-ons to existing sites, right out of stock.
How can I find my format and facility code?
The best way to get your facility code (and card format) is to send us a copy of the box end from your last order of cards.
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FAQ ID # 88
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