Planning Where to Use BAi Readers

BA-440 at the guardhouse for a gated community.

Main components used in a vehicle access control system

Device to identify vehicles.
The device used to identify vehicles can be a BAi DualBeam Barcode Reader or one of a number of other identification devices such as Prox Cards. Due to the widespread use of Wiegand communication between devices in access control, these are sometimes referred to as Wiegand output devices.

Access controller and software
The access controller and software is the decision making component and usually has overall control of the access system. It is a Wiegand input device, often handling multiple Wiegand inputs from different devices. A BAi Reader, for example, could be one input while a fingerprint scanner on a lobby door is another. The access controller gets ID information from each Wiegand device and determines if the vehicle gate or lobby door should be opened.

The access controller also adds and removes credentials, applies time locks, and keeps records of who entered.

Visitor Management Software, if needed, is typically installed as part of the access controller.

Gate with gate operator (this includes barrier arms)
The gate is the barrier that prevents or deters entry when closed. The gate operator is the device that opens and closes the gate, similarly to how a garage door opener is the unit that makes a garage door lift and close.

BAi with Access Controller

A Bai Reader is most often installed with a gate operator and access controller. In small properties this could be a telephone entry system that accepts the Wiegand input from the BAi Reader. At larger properties the access controller is often a specialized access control panel with software integration that functions as a guard station.

The BAi Reader will communicate with any telephone entry system or access panel that accepts a Wiegand input.

BA-440 DualBeam Barcode Reader identifying vehicles at busy gated entrance

Common dedicated visitor lane setup

In this example, there are two entry lanes into a community. Visitors and vendors use the left lane next to the guard house to be manually identified and documented before entering. Traffic at this lane tends to back up quickly due to the amount of time required to process each vehicle. Installing a BAi Reader in the right lane automated the vehicle entrance and creates an efficient way for residents, employees, and authorized service vehicles to get into the property. These vehicles can enter as fast as the gate can open, so traffic maintains a steady flow and does not back up.

BAi in Standalone

The BAi Reader is capable of acting as the access controller and controlling a gate operator directly - this is standalone mode. No separate access controller is needed, only the BAi Reader and gate operator. It is commonly used for back entrances such as a dedicated employee parking lot or resident only entrance. Properties may also choose to do this when creating additional gated entrances without having to integrate them with the access controller at the main entrance.

The benefit of standalone mode is primarily cost. In standalone mode the BAi Reader can grant or deny access for 100,000 individual ID numbers and maintain a log of the most recent 2,000 transactions. You can change any ID number from Granted to Denied as you wish. Advanced features like time lock or visitor management are not available, for these features you will need a separate access controller with software.

BA-440 in stand-alone mode controls a gate without needing a dedicated access controller

Common standalone setup

In this example the homeowner's association was having issues with traffic cutting through their private community to get to a nearby highway. The front of the property is not gated, but at the back entrance they installed gates with garage door style remotes. That helped but was not entirely effective as they found residents allowing others to clone their remote. They then switched to BAi Readers on both sides of the gate in standalone mode that is programmed to only allow residents of the community to enter or leave. This gave them an affordable way to stop non-resident vehicles from cutting through the property.

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