Choosing The Right Security System E l e c t r o n i c a c c e s s s y s t e m An access system allows only authorized people to enter certain areas of a facility. This technology goes one step further than the standard intrusion detection system: Rather than detecting an intruder who enters the facility, the access system keeps the intruder out altogether. I d e n t i f i c a t i o n m e a n s To operate an access system, each person who is authorized to enter the facility needs some type of identification. The system only grants access after identifying the individual, and many different methods of identification are available. K e y p a d s Keypads use push buttons, which look similar to a touch-tone phone. Personal access codes (PACs) or personal identification num-bers (PINs) are the keypad code sequences assigned to a user. Each user obtains a PAC or PIN, which usually consists of four to six digits. M a g n e t i c c a r d s With this type of system, you pass a magnetic card — similar to a credit card — through a card reader slot, where the system reads the card and sends the code to the central controller. The controller compares the number with the programmed information, then either grants or denies access. P r o x i m i t y c a r d s The proximity card uses several passively-tuned circuits embedded in a card. Rather than passing the card through a reader, you place it with-in a few inches of a sensing device, which checks the card’s code and access is either granted or denied. C l o s e -c i r c u i t T e l e v i s i o n This is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specif-ic place on a limited set of monitors. It differs from broadcast television in that the signal is not open-ly transmitted, though it may employ point to point (P2P), point to multipoint or mesh wireless links. CCTV is often used for surveillance in areas that may need mon-itoring such as banks, casinos, airports, military installations and convenience stores. CM Circle Product Information no. 222 on page 32 www.cmmonline.com 47
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