HID® Card Types, Programming & Ordering Finally Explained

If you’re looking for the right door access card or fob for your business, you’ve come to the right place. In this article we will explain the types of access control cards and how to identify HID® card types and programming information for re-ordering correctly. In addition to that we will briefly cover the basics of door access control systems and how access cards and fobs work.

How to Tell What Kind of Door Access Card I Need

There is a lot of information surrounding these cards, but if you need to order the right card, here is the information you need to know:

• Technology: What card reader technology is in use? The most common are HID iClass ® and HID Proximity. In this article we will show you how to identify the technology so you can order the correct cards or fobs.
• Programming: You need to know the format, facility code, and starting card number you want to order. It is important to understand that the cards are almost always preprogrammed before delivery. The cards get “enrolled” into the card reader system and allowed access. Essentially this is giving permission for that card number to work in your access system and assigning that card to an employee. iClass® cards also offer the ability to store additional information separate from the access programming, but the access programming is still fixed on the iClass® cards before delivery in most cases.
• Construction or form factor: The most commonly ordered credential types are printable cards, clamshell cards, and fobs. However, there are a variety of form factors available.

Option 1- The Label on the Last Box of HID Cards

If you have the box containing the last ordered cards, you can likely determine the technology and programming from the label. The label below clearly identifies the essential information that you will need to order more door access cards and enroll them in your access control system.

Card type and form factor – “PROXCARD II® Clamshell Card” The PART NUMBER is also listed here which is even more specific. If you have that part number, provide is to our sales team for the best pricing. The 1326 portion means it is the clamshell (non-printable) version of card. Each letter in LGSMV is referred to as the card configuration. The card configuration dictates the physical characteristics of the card, not the programming. For example, with or without a slot punch. The “V” indicates a vertical slot punch in the above example. The HID Ordering Guide is available on our product pages with full options listed.

Programming – “Format, “facility code”, and “card range.” You will likely want to keep the format and facility code the same while making sure not to order a duplicate card number. That way each card number can be assigned to a different person within the system. Cards cannot be reprogrammed so no returns are allowed by HID.

Option 2- Use the Information Written on Existing Cards

You may not be fortunate enough to have that label. But looking at the existing cards can still tell you a lot, but not everything. HID cards have a series of letters and numbers on them in the corners. We will start with the writing on the lefthand side. i.e.

• hid 0009p
• hid 0006l
• hid class dl
• hid iClass® dp

Looking up what you can see on your card is a great way to determine if your card is proximity technology or a high frequency card like iClass. If you see anything like 0009P, 0006L, or 0007d, you know that you need a printable proximity card. iClass cards will always have the iClass logo, same for iClass SE or iClass SEOS.

The right-hand side of the card will have two sets of numbers next to each other if its an HID card. The first set of numbers is the card number. That won’t tell us if this was the last card number ordered though (remember you need to avoid ordering duplicates) and it won’t tell us which card numbers are enrolled in your system already. It also does not tell us anything about the facility code or the most important piece of info, the format. BUT, by giving Easy Badges the 2nd set of numbers, the ones next to the card number, we can look up your previous order information and review that with you. You will still be responsible for not ordering a duplicate number, but this is a great start!

Option 3 – Easy Badges Will Mail You a Sample

Reach out to our sales team and we can send you a free test card with the most commonly accepted card format, the 26 bit format with a random facility code and card number. If you think you may need a different format or specific programming, just let us know and we are happy to provide a sample card with your choice of format, facility code, and card number.

Option 4 – You Mail Easy Badges a Working Card

Easy Badges can read your current card’s info and review with you. Contact sales.

Option 5 – Access the card Reader System

You can also log in to the card reader system. There are many different access control systems, so it is difficult to provide clear guidance as to how you can identify the card type and programming needed, but please reach out with any questions!

How do HID® Cards Work?

HID® cards are preprogrammed by the vendor – such as HID or Easy Badges – with unchangeable information: the format, facility code and card number. When it is time to provide a card to a user, the administrator enters the card number into the door access control system. The cards will not work until enrolled. Then particular zones or doors are enabled for the user, either one at a time or by joining the user to a group with particular access.

• Format: H10301 (also called 26-bit Weigand format) is most common but Easy Badges has a wide range of formats available. Different access control systems accept various formats. I once read a good piece of content on explaining what a format truly is and how it works- If I provide you with a random 10 digit number such as 8554360527 and didn’t tell you anything further about the number, it would be meaningless. But if I also told you that the number is a phone number, then you would know the first 3 numbers were the area code, the next 3 numbers were the prefix, and the last 4 numbers were the line number. (855) 436-0527. You can think of a card format in the same way, different formats have the card number, facility code, and other info in different places.
• Facility Code or a Site Code: A number between 0 and 255. Some systems don’t use this, but this is still be programmed onto the card for most formats. Facility codes slightly increase card security and can also be used to group together employees with similar permissions in larger organizations. For example, tech’s have access to the front door and server room while standard employees only have front door access.
• Card Range: It’s important to not order duplicate card numbers of numbers that are already enrolled and assigned in your access control system.

Types of HID® Cards. And what does HID Stand for on These Cards, Anyway?

HID® stands for Hughes Identification Device, a secure access system and identity company headquartered in Austin, Texas. If you find that your cards are HID®, you will have to determine what type of HID® card they are. There are two main HID® Proximity card types: smart cards, also known as iClass®, and proximity cards (Proxy or Prox cards or Prox II).

What is a Proximity Card?

More than likely your system uses proximity technology, generally known as Prox or Prox II, cards. Proximity card readers, also based on an HID® technology, have been reliably managing door access in businesses around the world for many years.

Unlike iClass® cards, proximity technology is not patented. Because this technology is based on an open standard, Easy Badges can offer equivalent cards that save money and cut down on shipping times. It’s easy to think of proxy cards as passwords written down on digital paper and the scanner as door attendants being the only ones capable of reading the password. Proximity access cards don’t have the additional memory and encryption of iClass® cards (or fobs or clamshells). Easy Badges has Proximity cards and fobs in stock: we keep companies supplied with Proximity technology in any form factor.

How to Identify the Type of Prox

If you see any of the following printed on the card, then it is an HID® Proximity card:

hid 0009p

hid 0006L

hid 0008L

hid 0007L

hid 0007d

Note that these are just a few examples of printed text that would designate a card as an HID® Proximity card. For more help, don’t hesitate to contact Easy Badges.

HID® Proximity vs EZproximity: Cost and Availability

What is HID® iClass®?

iClass® cards, a type of HID smart cards, use a unique iClass® technology that reads and writes information using radio frequencies. The technology is patented by HID® and can only be manufactured and programmed by them.

Distinctive from proximity cards, iClass® cards can store additional information. They can be used for many things (even payments!) depending on the iClass® product being used. These cards may have “HID® iClass® dl” or “HID® iClass® dp” printed on the card. There are 3 main types of IClass® technology used today. The first generation is simply called iClass®. It was followed by iClass® SE and iClass® SEOS®.

Identifying Different iClass® Cards

If it’s an…

• ICLASS® card, there will be an HID® logo with “ICLASS®” printed or engraved in the bottom corner of the card
  
  
  
• ICLASS SE® Card, it will have one of the following written or engraved on the bottom corner of the card: HID ICLASS dl or HID ICLASS dp
  
  
  
• ICLASS SEOS® card, it will have HID SEOS written, printed or engraved on the card
  
  
  

Types of HID® Cards – Cards vs. Fobs

The first step is understanding what style of cards you currently have and the options for new ones. While there are thousands of access control systems out there, most of them use one of two card technologies, proximity and iClass®.

Printable Door Access Cards

Printable cards are placed in a machine that can print information or identification photos onto them. They sometimes have a magnetic strip on the back or a proximity chip that a scanner can read. Printable cards are standard CR80 30 mil cards. They can be printed with any ID card Printer system.

1386LGGMNis the most commonly ordered HID® printable proximity card. The Easy Badges house brand is affordable, reliable, and ready to ship.

EZProximity Printable Proximity Cards.

2000PGGMNis the most commonly ordered iClass® printable card.

What is a Clamshell Card? Am I Using one?

Non-printable clamshell cards are noticeably thicker cards made of two pieces of plastic that protect the inner components. They lack a magnetic strip and are only read through a proximity sensor.

1326 Proxcard ll is the most commonly ordered HID® Prox clamshell card. The Easy Badges clamshell prox card is ready to program and ship!

EZProximity Clamshell Cards.

2080PGSMVis the most commonly ordered iClass® clamshell card.

What is a HID Key Fob? How do I get Replacements?

Keychain fobs have the same capabilities as door access cards in a different form factor. They also contain proximity sensors. Often, they are round or tear-drop shaped and have a hole on them that allows them to be placed on a key ring (hence the name!) or attached to a lanyard.

1346 Proxkey llI® is the most common HID® prox key fob. Check out the Easy Badges proximity key chain fob for better pricing and a faster lead time.

EZProximity Key Fob

The most commonly used HID® iClass® fob is the 2050PNNMN IClass® ll Keyfob.

EZProximity Credential Format Guide

We have put together a quick guide of formats available to purchase. There are more formats available, contact sales.

How do Keycards Work?

Multiple components make up door access control systems. These include the system and software used to control the system, door readers, and credentials.

• System and software of the door access control server are the brains of the operation. These host the database of information used by the system to determine what cards belong to who and what doors they are allowed to access.
• Key cards and fobs come pre-programmed with a format, facility code, and card number. These are assigned to people within the organization who will use them when accessing the system.
• Door readers are easy to spot. They are next to (or sometimes on) doors. Once it reads the card, the door unlocks if the facility code and card number are on the “allowed” list in the door access control server.

While door access cards transmit credentials, the system and software handle the heavy lifting. When credentials are placed near a door reader, the information it transmits is sent to the system and checked against a database. If the information matches the database and its setting, the door unlocks, and the person can walk through. If the credentials do not match, or if they do not have the proper permissions listed in the system, it remains locked.

HID® iClass® readers, HID® proximity card readers, and door access control systems are typically wired into backup power or have fail safes built in so that doors will still open in case of power outages or other emergencies.

What is Mobile Access?

You may have heard about near-field communication (NFC) as well for access reader systems. NFC is integrated into mobile phones and “tap to pay” credit cards. There are so-called “mobile access” systems that use NFC, though they are not very common.

Mobile access is a newer method that allows door access systems to use things like cellphones, tablets, or even smart watches as means of entry. Most portable devices like these have NFC proximity technology built in. However, this requires special apps and systems to be set up to work.