The hardware is well made but getting the software set up and running is a nightmare. Tech support is only available to licensed dealers. A software key is necessary to be able to fully access the software and it too is only available through a licensed dealer. The software is only compatible with certain PC operating systems. The older software versions only work well with either Windows 2000 or XP. I got it running under 32 bit Vista, but it stopped working after about a year when one of the Windows updates was loaded. Honeywell claims to have upgraded the software to run under some versions of Vista and Windows 7, but I have no experience with it. Ultimately I revived an old Windows 98 computer and upgraded it to Windows 2000 and use it as a dedicated PC for access control.Each panel will operate two doors. Panels can be daisy-chained together to add more doors.
Once the software is running it is easy to use. The PC does not need to be running for the system to work for up to about 900 cards. The PC is only needed to add or deactivate cards or to monitor use activity. If you need more than 900 cards the PC must be left running so the control panel can query the database when it can't find a card in it's memory.
Time limits can be placed on each users card so it will stop working on a certain date. Time zones can be set up so a users card will only operate on specific days or times. This would be useful if you only wanted employees cards to operate during the day and be restricted at night or weekends. Time zones can also be set up to unlock a door during business hours and lock it at night.
This is a great entry-level access control system once you get through the headache of setting it up.
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