A business owner looking to install a physical security gate controller may find that there is power at the planned location, but not the cables to connect the controller to a centralized network management system. To help address this challenge, manufacturers are now selling wireless door controller endpoints that communicate over wireless mediums such as Wi-Fi and Zigbee. Let's take a look at how these wireless door controller architectures work and whether they can be a reliable part of a building's, or factory's, physical security infrastructure.

How the wireless door controller system works

Instead of having to be hardwired to each controller in a space of thousands of square feet, wireless door controllers can communicate with management controllers strategically placed nearby by the installer, providing wireless coverage for areas of multiple door controller units.

Communication between door controller readers and centralized management controllers can use standard Wi-Fi, Ethernet or other wireless protocols such as Zigbee, which provide greater coverage. This wireless connection is used to communicate the access request to the management controller, which is connected to the central database to determine, based on the credentials received, whether the request to unlock the door should be accepted or denied.

Advantages and disadvantages of wireless access controller communication

As with any wireless technology, building owners must consider its advantages and disadvantages. Installing a wireless system is easier and less costly than a wired system because it does not require any data or communication cables to be installed within the facility. This is very useful when trying to integrate door controller technology in older buildings where horizontal and vertical wiring paths are not defined.

A secondary benefit of wireless door controllers is that their readers can be moved from one location to another without having to worry about rewiring or installing new communication cables. As a result, wireless systems are ideal for businesses or building tenants who are constantly changing door locations and require more secure access.

However, wireless door controller systems also have their limitations. For example, access control readers and locks must send a strong signal to the management controller. In some cases, individual door controllers may be required to manage remote locations where the controller's Wi-Fi or Zigbee signal cannot reach. Additionally, nearby physical obstructions and other wireless communications can interfere with connectivity and cause intermittent issues that are difficult to troubleshoot. This is especially true for manufacturing plants and warehouses where large quantities of material are moved on a regular basis, as well as areas where neighboring businesses wirelessly “infiltrate” the target facility.

Some businesses may also be concerned about wireless technology's cyber threats that could compromise or disable door controller systems. While this can be risky, an enterprise-grade Wi-Fi and Zigbee wireless system, which provides fully encrypted communication from the door controller to the management gateway, can provide wired-like security if properly configured.

However, enterprise-grade wireless door controller systems cost significantly more than wired alternatives. While there are installation savings due to less wiring, the price of the controller itself will quickly cut into those savings.

Summarize

In 2023, it will still be wise to use wired access controllers wherever possible. The lower hardware costs and higher reliability are still hard to ignore. That said, there are many use cases where installing door controller communication cables is either impossible or cost prohibitive, such as multi-tenant flexible space facilities and historic buildings where hardwired cables are prohibited. In these cases, wireless becomes the better choice.