Access Control Specialists

We are returning from ISC West where we saw some great new products. Alarm.com has come out with a module to control lights and thermostats in you home using the same Internet and smart phone interface as for the alarm. you can schedule your thermostat to turn down when you arm the system and back up when you disarm.  this is just one of the new upgrades. Call us for more information.

We found some new access control solutions as well as new camera ideas. We look forward to sharing those with you soon.

We just installed an Axis Camera Station Server at one of our customers. It went really well and will be a great addition to their security package. We used two M7001 encoders to convert analog cameras to digital and sent the resulting streams across the network to the server for storage. The whole process went smoothly with a little help from tech support and the IT department at the University!

We were recently approached by Direct TV to be installers. We are examining the possibilities of the offer. any thoughts on our installing direct TV for you?

Latest in dumb crook news from DC. Guy breaks in and starts charging his cell phone…

http://web.orange.co.uk/article/quirkies/Burglar_left_phone_charging

You know the rest of this story.  Get yourself an alarm system and this guy will never get far enough in your property to charge his phone!  Call us today, 540-473-2030.

We recently installed the security for the Van Gogh exhibit at Radford University. We have done other museum work in the area. We can look over your high security areas and make suggestions concerning hardening the perimeter and adding interior devices to prevent and inform of intrusions!

Call today for a free estimate and security survey! 540dash309dash7233.

This film came from a security system we installed.  Let us know if you like it.

http://www2.wsls.com/news/2011/jan/06/local-investigators-believe-they-may-never-see-flo-ar-758103/

Sometimes there are problems with an access control system.  I am going to start a section with troubleshooting and other solutions to common access control problems.  Let’s start with one we worked on yesterday.

The customer called and said that the card was reading but the door was not opening.  I asked if there had been any mechanical problems with the door or of there had been anyone working in the area that could have severed a wire or done other damage to the system.  That is actually on of the most common problems with access systems, someone doing unrelated work can damage the wire or equipment not knowing what it is connected to.  In this case I knew that there were separate power supplies for the lock and system components so I asked the customer to check the power supplies.  He noted that the light was off on the plug in transformer by the door.  Since he didn’t have a replacement, I headed that way.

When I arrived, the plug in transformer showed no light, nor did the power supply board it was hooked to.  I checked the power supply with a meter and it showed no voltage so I replaced it and everything was working again.

What happened to the transformer?  Since there were no signs of any trouble I left a spare transformer in case it went again.  It was probably a failure of the transformer due to age.  It could have been a transient event such as a power surge or a connection got wet, but all the wiring looked good.

Merry Christmas to all!  Remember to lock your doors and arm your systems!  The bad guys don’t have any Christmas spirits.

Many people use multiple wire runs to control door access.  We prefer using composite access control wire.  It is also a good idea to use Plenum wire.  Plenum wire is fire rated and can be used in electrical room and Plenum ceilings.  A Plenum ceiling is one where the air return for the heating and air conditioning is the actual ceiling space between the tiles and the roof.  Fire code generally requires the special wire in these cases.

The composite wire has four wires within the outer covering.  they are generally the following configuration:

Reader wire – 6 conductor 22 gage shielded.

Lock wire – 4 conductor 18 gage.

Contact wire – 2 conductor 22 gage.

Request to exit or spare – 4 conductor 22 gage.

It would be good if there was one available with an 8 conductor reader wire since some applications need that many.  We purchase ours from a couple of vendors, mostly from Roanoke Wire on Williamson Road in Roanoke, Viginia.

Are you currently hiring third party installers to install your Blackboard,CBord systems, or other software hardware provider?  Are they recommended by the vendor?  Do you sometimes feel they don’t have your best interests in mind?

The solution to this problem is to hire Access Control Specialists to install your equipment provided by the other vendors.  We will work for you and have your best interests as our driving force!  We will advocate for your position from a knowledge and experience position to be sure you get everything you ordered and the proper followup to be sure it’s all working properly.

We can also install your Cisco or other cameras systems as well as alarm panels and points. 

We can install electrification to door locks, handicap operators and integrate them into the access system.

Call or email today for a free analysis of your project needs, new construction or retrofit!