Technology

Types of Card Technology

 * Barium Ferrite --
 * Originals were both magnetic and mechanical with accompanying problems
 * Barium ferrite is not exotic material
 * New are solid state, microprocessor controlled, self-calibrating
 * Touch Card
 * Slotless
 * Not vulnerable to weather, dust, moisture
 * Cannot be jammed with foreign objects
 * industrial grade components for a wide range of weather
 * conformal coated circuit boards resist corrosion
 * neoprene mounting gasket to keep water out of housing
 * encrypted cards
 * encoders not available commercially, cards difficult to copy
 * Magnetic Strip
 * low cost cards and readers
 * easily encoded
 * strip is located on the card surface so read head must be exposed to guarantee direct contact with strip
 * subject ot wear through normal use or grit and grime
 * insert versions are subject to vandalism (jamming with a foreign objects)
 * Advanced magnetic strip
 * more secure and difficult to duplicate
 * readers and cards are proprietary and thus more expensive
 * Weigand
 * weather resistant--waterproof, sealed units
 * code module fully protected by being laminated inside the card
 * readers suspectible to vandalism and ice forming in slot
 * cards difficult to manufacture
 * durable cards
 * relatively expensive
 * all cards made to order--longer delivery times
 * precision of swipe required for proper reading
 * Bar Code
 * photo-optics
 * least expensive and easily encoded
 * easily reproduced using photocopier
 * Readers require frequent cleaning
 * Readers require frequent cleaning