Has anyone ever installed swipe card locks on their home rather than use
traditional lock and key? What about those cards you use in hotels?

In article , "Eigenvector" wrote:
Has anyone ever installed swipe card locks on their home rather than use
traditional lock and key? What about those cards you use in hotels?

I haven't but I did love the keypad option on my garage door.

However, don't forget to think about what happens in the event
of a power failure. That could be a big problem unless you have
some battery backup and/or an alternate means of entry.

--
|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
| Malcolm Hoar "The more I practice, the luckier I get". |
| Gary Player. |
| http://www.malch.com/ Shpx gur PQN. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On Tue, 27 Feb 2007 19:39:45 -0800, Eigenvector wrote:


Has anyone ever installed swipe card locks on their home rather than use
traditional lock and key? What about those cards you use in hotels?

Running a brothel?

"Malcolm Hoar" wrote in message
...
In article , "Eigenvector"
wrote:
Has anyone ever installed swipe card locks on their home rather than use
traditional lock and key? What about those cards you use in hotels?

I haven't but I did love the keypad option on my garage door.

However, don't forget to think about what happens in the event
of a power failure. That could be a big problem unless you have
some battery backup and/or an alternate means of entry.


Yeah I was thinking about that too. It would suck to be locked out of your
house for lack of a few volts

On Tue, 27 Feb 2007 22:04:09 -0800, "Eigenvector"
wrote:


"Malcolm Hoar" wrote in message
...
In article , "Eigenvector"
wrote:
Has anyone ever installed swipe card locks on their home rather than use
traditional lock and key? What about those cards you use in hotels?

I haven't but I did love the keypad option on my garage door.

However, don't forget to think about what happens in the event
of a power failure. That could be a big problem unless you have
some battery backup and/or an alternate means of entry.


Yeah I was thinking about that too. It would suck to be locked out of your
house for lack of a few volts

But why would that be any more likely than any other power garage door
opener? If the swipe pad had no power, neither would the motor.

"Eigenvector" wrote in message
. ..
Has anyone ever installed swipe card locks on their home rather than use
traditional lock and key? What about those cards you use in hotels?



I am a locksmith and perhaps I can give you a little perspective.

The hotels use card locks so they can program the keys not to work past your
check-out time so that the guy that rented your room last night cant come in
an help himself to your stuff.

You can buy a stand alone card activated lock and use any card in your
pocket like your ATM or even your drivers license to unlock your door, but
be ready to spend at least $700 and that price could be a lot higher if
modification to your door is needed (probable)

For about half that price you can get commercial pushbutton lock, or for 150
to 200 you can probably get a residential grade knob dead bolt set up that
will allow you to go keyless.

When ever I had this discussion before, the price has always been the
determining factor. Key locks are cheap.

Why do you desire something else?

--
Roger Shoaf

If knowledge is power, and power corrupts, what does this say about the
Congress?

"mm" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 27 Feb 2007 22:04:09 -0800, "Eigenvector"
wrote:


"Malcolm Hoar" wrote in message
...
In article , "Eigenvector"
wrote:
Has anyone ever installed swipe card locks on their home rather than use
traditional lock and key? What about those cards you use in hotels?

I haven't but I did love the keypad option on my garage door.

However, don't forget to think about what happens in the event
of a power failure. That could be a big problem unless you have
some battery backup and/or an alternate means of entry.


Yeah I was thinking about that too. It would suck to be locked out of
your
house for lack of a few volts

But why would that be any more likely than any other power garage door
opener? If the swipe pad had no power, neither would the motor.


So? If the garage door won't open, is that your only way into the house? If
you answer "yes", then you need to revise your thinking a bit.

"Eigenvector" wrote in message
. ..
Has anyone ever installed swipe card locks on their home rather than use
traditional lock and key? What about those cards you use in hotels?



For every 5 times I stay in a hotel, there's at least one incident where the
card doesn't work and I have to go to the front desk for a new one. Where
are you gonna go when your card doesn't work and you can't get into your
house?

On Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:05:26 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

"mm" wrote in message
.. .
On Tue, 27 Feb 2007 22:04:09 -0800, "Eigenvector"
wrote:


"Malcolm Hoar" wrote in message
...
In article , "Eigenvector"
wrote:
Has anyone ever installed swipe card locks on their home rather than use
traditional lock and key? What about those cards you use in hotels?

I haven't but I did love the keypad option on my garage door.

However, don't forget to think about what happens in the event
of a power failure. That could be a big problem unless you have
some battery backup and/or an alternate means of entry.


Yeah I was thinking about that too. It would suck to be locked out of
your
house for lack of a few volts

But why would that be any more likely than any other power garage door
opener? If the swipe pad had no power, neither would the motor.


So? If the garage door won't open, is that your only way into the house? If

I didn't say that and I didn't say it was a problem. But iiuc Malcolm
and Eigenvector thought it was more of a problem with a security card
than with a standard remote transimitter. I'm asking why it would be
worse with one than the other.

you answer "yes", then you need to revise your thinking a bit.

On Wed, 28 Feb 2007 04:23:50 GMT, (Malcolm Hoar)
wrote:

In article , "Eigenvector" wrote:
Has anyone ever installed swipe card locks on their home rather than use
traditional lock and key? What about those cards you use in hotels?

I haven't but I did love the keypad option on my garage door.

Sorry. Even though it doesn't say so, this is what got me thinking me
think the thread was about the garage door and not the front door.

However, don't forget to think about what happens in the event
of a power failure. That could be a big problem unless you have
some battery backup and/or an alternate means of entry.

One would have to carry a key for the same lock, or bury one somewhere
on the property. Not such a big problem to carry because they don't
weigh much and there is already a key or fob for the car (unless one
doesn't always drive).

mm wrote in
news
On Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:05:26 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

"mm" wrote in message
. ..
On Tue, 27 Feb 2007 22:04:09 -0800, "Eigenvector"
wrote:


"Malcolm Hoar" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Eigenvector" wrote:
Has anyone ever installed swipe card locks on their home rather
than use traditional lock and key? What about those cards you use
in hotels?

I haven't but I did love the keypad option on my garage door.

However, don't forget to think about what happens in the event
of a power failure. That could be a big problem unless you have
some battery backup and/or an alternate means of entry.


Yeah I was thinking about that too. It would suck to be locked out
of your
house for lack of a few volts

But why would that be any more likely than any other power garage
door opener? If the swipe pad had no power, neither would the
motor.


So? If the garage door won't open, is that your only way into the
house? If

I didn't say that and I didn't say it was a problem. But iiuc Malcolm
and Eigenvector thought it was more of a problem with a security card
than with a standard remote transimitter. I'm asking why it would be
worse with one than the other.

you answer "yes", then you need to revise your thinking a bit.


when thieves break into cars,they also take the remote control xmtrs,and
your auto registration,with your home address on it.
then they visit your home when you aren't there,and enter thru the garage.
with the garage door closed,they have plenty of time and privacy to batter
down the connecting door to the main house.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

In article , mm wrote:

But why would that be any more likely than any other power garage door
opener? If the swipe pad had no power, neither would the motor.


So? If the garage door won't open, is that your only way into the house? If

I didn't say that and I didn't say it was a problem. But iiuc Malcolm
and Eigenvector thought it was more of a problem with a security card
than with a standard remote transimitter. I'm asking why it would be
worse with one than the other.

The point is... it's pretty normal to have an electrically
operated garage door. If the power is out, you typically
have access to the house via other entrances. And even if
you need to get the car out of the garage, you can normally
crank the garage door manually. It's rarely a serious
problem because there's almost always another mechanically
operated entrance (i.e. front door).

However, if you have an electrically operated front door
lock, a power failure would lock you out of the house
completely UNLESS you have some battery backup or an
alternate (mechaniclly operated) entrance.

--
|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
| Malcolm Hoar "The more I practice, the luckier I get". |
| Gary Player. |
| http://www.malch.com/ Shpx gur PQN. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When ever I had this discussion before, the price has always been the
determining factor. Key locks are cheap.

Why do you desire something else?

For the sake of argument:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr23tpWX8lM

That's one reason.

Personally, I like having at least one entrance
that doesn't require a key, in case I forget the
key, or am somehow separated from it, but in
that instance, a key-card system is the worst
of both worlds. OTOH, once you've
got an electric key-pad lock, adding a card-reader
isn't that big a marginal cost, and it solves the
problem of people who either can't remember a
combination, or can't be trusted not to share it.

FWIW, it's axiomatic that anyone who really
wants to get into your house can.

The ultimate goal of any security system can
only be to make them work at it, slow them
down, and detect them.

--Goedjn

In article , "JoeSpareBedroom" wrote:
"Eigenvector" wrote in message
...
Has anyone ever installed swipe card locks on their home rather than use
traditional lock and key? What about those cards you use in hotels?

For every 5 times I stay in a hotel, there's at least one incident where the
card doesn't work and I have to go to the front desk for a new one. Where
are you gonna go when your card doesn't work and you can't get into your
house?

Yup, the hotel type of system is quite inappropriate for
a residence I think. The swipe card systems used in many
office buildings are quite a bit more reliable but
certainly not immune to problems.

In my experience, the keypad systems give the least trouble,
in part because there's no keycard to loose or damage.

I once owned a condo in a complex of 100. The outer
security system (card key swipe system) cost $40K and
gave a lot of trouble. I think it was a bad system --
I've worked in offices where the cardkey access control
worked just fine. Nevertheless, at the condo, the keypad
on the garage entrance never failed to work, to the best
of my recollection.

--
|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
| Malcolm Hoar "The more I practice, the luckier I get". |
| Gary Player. |
| http://www.malch.com/ Shpx gur PQN. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It turns out I thought the whole thread was about the garage door.
Sorrry.

On Wed, 28 Feb 2007 17:22:22 GMT, (Malcolm Hoar)
wrote:

In article , mm wrote:

But why would that be any more likely than any other power garage door
opener? If the swipe pad had no power, neither would the motor.


So? If the garage door won't open, is that your only way into the house? If

I didn't say that and I didn't say it was a problem. But iiuc Malcolm
and Eigenvector thought it was more of a problem with a security card
than with a standard remote transimitter. I'm asking why it would be
worse with one than the other.

The point is... it's pretty normal to have an electrically
operated garage door. If the power is out, you typically
have access to the house via other entrances. And even if
you need to get the car out of the garage, you can normally
crank the garage door manually. It's rarely a serious
problem because there's almost always another mechanically
operated entrance (i.e. front door).

However, if you have an electrically operated front door
lock, a power failure would lock you out of the house
completely UNLESS you have some battery backup or an
alternate (mechaniclly operated) entrance.

On Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:06:54 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:


For every 5 times I stay in a hotel, there's at least one incident where the
card doesn't work and I have to go to the front desk for a new one. Where
are you gonna go when your card doesn't work and you can't get into your
house?

Good point. My wife is a frequent business traveller, and this has
happened to her many times. She usually uses a house phone to call
the front desk and raises hell until they agree to send someone up
with a new keycard.

"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...
"Eigenvector" wrote in message
. ..
Has anyone ever installed swipe card locks on their home rather than use
traditional lock and key? What about those cards you use in hotels?



For every 5 times I stay in a hotel, there's at least one incident where
the
card doesn't work and I have to go to the front desk for a new one. Where
are you gonna go when your card doesn't work and you can't get into your
house?


swipe card systems are inferior to RFID based proximity
systems. many high tech buildings use them in place of
the swipe cards. they're recognizable by a rectangular
or square surface, usually with a red LED that will flash
green (accompanied by a beep perhaps) to acknowledge your
card was picked up the antenna.

the systems do require a host computer and the associated
installation expertise (UPS backup, etc recommended). if
you really want to go all out, get a biometric scanner to
grant/deny access.

of course, there's a point of diminishing returns. if i can
just smash in your living room window, it's pointless to
even consider anything beyond a simple deadbolt

There are kits to release your garage door from the opener from the outside
with a key. No problem.

--
Steve Barker




"Malcolm Hoar" wrote in message
...
In article , "Eigenvector"
wrote:
Has anyone ever installed swipe card locks on their home rather than use
traditional lock and key? What about those cards you use in hotels?

I haven't but I did love the keypad option on my garage door.

However, don't forget to think about what happens in the event
of a power failure. That could be a big problem unless you have
some battery backup and/or an alternate means of entry.

--
|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
| Malcolm Hoar "The more I practice, the luckier I get". |
| Gary Player. |
| http://www.malch.com/ Shpx gur PQN. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AND...... There's always the back door you could have a key to.

--
Steve Barker




"Malcolm Hoar" wrote in message
...
The point is... it's pretty normal to have an electrically
operated garage door. If the power is out, you typically
have access to the house via other entrances. And even if
you need to get the car out of the garage, you can normally
crank the garage door manually. It's rarely a serious
problem because there's almost always another mechanically
operated entrance (i.e. front door).

However, if you have an electrically operated front door
lock, a power failure would lock you out of the house
completely UNLESS you have some battery backup or an
alternate (mechaniclly operated) entrance.

--
|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
| Malcolm Hoar "The more I practice, the luckier I get". |
| Gary Player. |
| http://www.malch.com/ Shpx gur PQN. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Roger Shoaf" wrote in message
...

"Eigenvector" wrote in message
. ..
Has anyone ever installed swipe card locks on their home rather than use
traditional lock and key? What about those cards you use in hotels?



I am a locksmith and perhaps I can give you a little perspective.

The hotels use card locks so they can program the keys not to work past
your
check-out time so that the guy that rented your room last night cant come
in
an help himself to your stuff.

You can buy a stand alone card activated lock and use any card in your
pocket like your ATM or even your drivers license to unlock your door, but
be ready to spend at least $700 and that price could be a lot higher if
modification to your door is needed (probable)

For about half that price you can get commercial pushbutton lock, or for
150
to 200 you can probably get a residential grade knob dead bolt set up that
will allow you to go keyless.

When ever I had this discussion before, the price has always been the
determining factor. Key locks are cheap.

Why do you desire something else?

--
Roger Shoaf


Well to answer the question, and I'm sure a lot of people are wondering why
I care that much.

Really I was just curious, that's all (pretty anti-climactic ain't it?).

But as to the larger issue, I understand that it's simpler to smash a
window - although putting bars on the windows will prevent that. Kicking
the door in or something similar works too I guess. The point of my
question wasn't to burglar-proof my house so much as to provide other
options that are available. I use a proximity badge at work, but I wouldn't
put something so computer and electricity dependent in my house - unless I
decide to install a house brain.

As for hotel card keys, I was more referring to the older style cards with
holes in them. I really on saw those for a couple years before they went to
credit card style. I wouldn't want a credit card style in my house either.

On the keypad locks, don't know about that. How many digits do they allow
you on your lock combo. Seems like a three digit would be a trifle too
easy. A 4 digit would thwart pretty much anyone. A 5 digit and no one is
gonna crack it - not unless they stand there on the front porch for 30
hours.

But again, this wasn't meant as an exercise in paranoia so much as just a
question about options.

In article , "Steve Barker" wrote:
AND...... There's always the back door you could have a key to.

No, there isn't ALWAYS a back door. That's why I said...

UNLESS you have some battery backup or an
alternate (mechaniclly operated) entrance.

--
|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
| Malcolm Hoar "The more I practice, the luckier I get". |
| Gary Player. |
| http://www.malch.com/ Shpx gur PQN. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On Wed, 28 Feb 2007 20:09:39 -0500, "AntiSkidKidd"
wrote:


"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...
"Eigenvector" wrote in message
. ..
Has anyone ever installed swipe card locks on their home rather than use
traditional lock and key? What about those cards you use in hotels?



For every 5 times I stay in a hotel, there's at least one incident where
the
card doesn't work and I have to go to the front desk for a new one. Where
are you gonna go when your card doesn't work and you can't get into your
house?


swipe card systems are inferior to RFID based proximity
systems. many high tech buildings use them in place of
the swipe cards. they're recognizable by a rectangular
or square surface, usually with a red LED that will flash
green (accompanied by a beep perhaps) to acknowledge your
card was picked up the antenna.

the systems do require a host computer and the associated
installation expertise (UPS backup, etc recommended). if
you really want to go all out, get a biometric scanner to
grant/deny access.

of course, there's a point of diminishing returns. if i can
just smash in your living room window, it's pointless to
even consider anything beyond a simple deadbolt



Yes, and biometric sensors are not necessarily the top level of
security. The lower cost models (measuring thumbprints, etc.) have
been shown to be prone to fraudulent bypass with plastic/rubber
models.

Keypads alone are OK, but you have to realize that if you have a large
complex/multiple owners/tenants etc., it becomes too much of pain to
periodically change the code. People will forget, go on vacation,
complain that can't remember the new number etc. Also, after a
while, anyone who knows the code can get in and you just don't know
who knows the code. (The pizza delivery guy, the maid, her violent
ex-con burglar/grand theft boyfirend?) ( A lot of European apartment
access systems have this weakness).

Also, with all systems, who is going to buzz in the workmen, the
elevator inspector, the meter reader, delivery people, the people that
must be on the site to repair the common areas? An expensive human
presence is usually required onsite to let people in or issue the
security passes.

Beachcomber

"Beachcomber" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 28 Feb 2007 20:09:39 -0500, "AntiSkidKidd"
wrote:


"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...
"Eigenvector" wrote in message
. ..
Has anyone ever installed swipe card locks on their home rather than
use
traditional lock and key? What about those cards you use in hotels?



For every 5 times I stay in a hotel, there's at least one incident where
the
card doesn't work and I have to go to the front desk for a new one.
Where
are you gonna go when your card doesn't work and you can't get into your
house?


swipe card systems are inferior to RFID based proximity
systems. many high tech buildings use them in place of
the swipe cards. they're recognizable by a rectangular
or square surface, usually with a red LED that will flash
green (accompanied by a beep perhaps) to acknowledge your
card was picked up the antenna.

the systems do require a host computer and the associated
installation expertise (UPS backup, etc recommended). if
you really want to go all out, get a biometric scanner to
grant/deny access.

of course, there's a point of diminishing returns. if i can
just smash in your living room window, it's pointless to
even consider anything beyond a simple deadbolt



Yes, and biometric sensors are not necessarily the top level of
security. The lower cost models (measuring thumbprints, etc.) have
been shown to be prone to fraudulent bypass with plastic/rubber
models.

Keypads alone are OK, but you have to realize that if you have a large
complex/multiple owners/tenants etc., it becomes too much of pain to
periodically change the code. People will forget, go on vacation,
complain that can't remember the new number etc. Also, after a
while, anyone who knows the code can get in and you just don't know
who knows the code. (The pizza delivery guy, the maid, her violent
ex-con burglar/grand theft boyfirend?) ( A lot of European apartment
access systems have this weakness).

Also, with all systems, who is going to buzz in the workmen, the
elevator inspector, the meter reader, delivery people, the people that
must be on the site to repair the common areas? An expensive human
presence is usually required onsite to let people in or issue the
security passes.

Beachcomber



I wish someone would invent something like this: A slim piece of metal with
a wide part for fingers to grip. The slim part would have little peaks &
valleys on one or both sides. You'd push it into a lock and turn it. Small
enough to fit in a pocket.

"Bill" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:42:00 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:


I wish someone would invent something like this: A slim piece of metal
with
a wide part for fingers to grip. The slim part would have little peaks &
valleys on one or both sides. You'd push it into a lock and turn it. Small
enough to fit in a pocket.

I think you're on to something. Now just make a small hole in the
widest part so if you had more than one, you could collect them
together with a metal loop. It would be great if duplicates could be
made locally as well.


Hmm. How about creating overpriced objects, like hollow fake rocks, for
hiding these metal things out in the garden, and selling them through snobby
catalogs like Smith & Hawken?

On Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:42:00 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:


I wish someone would invent something like this: A slim piece of metal with
a wide part for fingers to grip. The slim part would have little peaks &
valleys on one or both sides. You'd push it into a lock and turn it. Small
enough to fit in a pocket.

I think you're on to something. Now just make a small hole in the
widest part so if you had more than one, you could collect them
together with a metal loop. It would be great if duplicates could be
made locally as well.

Eigenvector wrote:

"Roger Shoaf" wrote in message
...

"Eigenvector" wrote in message
. ..
Has anyone ever installed swipe card locks on their home rather than use
traditional lock and key? What about those cards you use in hotels?



I am a locksmith and perhaps I can give you a little perspective.

The hotels use card locks so they can program the keys not to work past
your
check-out time so that the guy that rented your room last night cant come
in
an help himself to your stuff.

You can buy a stand alone card activated lock and use any card in your
pocket like your ATM or even your drivers license to unlock your door, but
be ready to spend at least $700 and that price could be a lot higher if
modification to your door is needed (probable)

For about half that price you can get commercial pushbutton lock, or for
150
to 200 you can probably get a residential grade knob dead bolt set up that
will allow you to go keyless.

When ever I had this discussion before, the price has always been the
determining factor. Key locks are cheap.

Why do you desire something else?

--
Roger Shoaf

Well to answer the question, and I'm sure a lot of people are wondering why
I care that much.

Really I was just curious, that's all (pretty anti-climactic ain't it?).

But as to the larger issue, I understand that it's simpler to smash a
window - although putting bars on the windows will prevent that. Kicking
the door in or something similar works too I guess. The point of my
question wasn't to burglar-proof my house so much as to provide other
options that are available. I use a proximity badge at work, but I wouldn't
put something so computer and electricity dependent in my house - unless I
decide to install a house brain.

As for hotel card keys, I was more referring to the older style cards with
holes in them. I really on saw those for a couple years before they went to
credit card style. I wouldn't want a credit card style in my house either.

On the keypad locks, don't know about that. How many digits do they allow
you on your lock combo. Seems like a three digit would be a trifle too
easy. A 4 digit would thwart pretty much anyone. A 5 digit and no one is
gonna crack it - not unless they stand there on the front porch for 30
hours.

But again, this wasn't meant as an exercise in paranoia so much as just a
question about options.

There are some standalone prox card systems available pretty cheap. I
think you can find one or two on the smarthome.com site and probably
others. I wouldn't even consider a keypad or swipe card personally, if
I'm going to do anything beyond a regular key it would have to be a prox
card so I can just "hip check" the reader when my hand are full carrying
stuff. If I have to dig out a swipe card or fuss with typing in a combo
I may as well just use an old fashioned key.

Pete C.

"Pete C." wrote in message
...
Eigenvector wrote:

"Roger Shoaf" wrote in message
...

"Eigenvector" wrote in message
. ..
Has anyone ever installed swipe card locks on their home rather than
use
traditional lock and key? What about those cards you use in hotels?



I am a locksmith and perhaps I can give you a little perspective.

The hotels use card locks so they can program the keys not to work past
your
check-out time so that the guy that rented your room last night cant
come
in
an help himself to your stuff.

You can buy a stand alone card activated lock and use any card in your
pocket like your ATM or even your drivers license to unlock your door,
but
be ready to spend at least $700 and that price could be a lot higher if
modification to your door is needed (probable)

For about half that price you can get commercial pushbutton lock, or
for
150
to 200 you can probably get a residential grade knob dead bolt set up
that
will allow you to go keyless.

When ever I had this discussion before, the price has always been the
determining factor. Key locks are cheap.

Why do you desire something else?

--
Roger Shoaf

Well to answer the question, and I'm sure a lot of people are wondering
why
I care that much.

Really I was just curious, that's all (pretty anti-climactic ain't it?).

But as to the larger issue, I understand that it's simpler to smash a
window - although putting bars on the windows will prevent that. Kicking
the door in or something similar works too I guess. The point of my
question wasn't to burglar-proof my house so much as to provide other
options that are available. I use a proximity badge at work, but I
wouldn't
put something so computer and electricity dependent in my house - unless
I
decide to install a house brain.

As for hotel card keys, I was more referring to the older style cards
with
holes in them. I really on saw those for a couple years before they went
to
credit card style. I wouldn't want a credit card style in my house
either.

On the keypad locks, don't know about that. How many digits do they
allow
you on your lock combo. Seems like a three digit would be a trifle too
easy. A 4 digit would thwart pretty much anyone. A 5 digit and no one
is
gonna crack it - not unless they stand there on the front porch for 30
hours.

But again, this wasn't meant as an exercise in paranoia so much as just a
question about options.

There are some standalone prox card systems available pretty cheap. I
think you can find one or two on the smarthome.com site and probably
others. I wouldn't even consider a keypad or swipe card personally, if
I'm going to do anything beyond a regular key it would have to be a prox
card so I can just "hip check" the reader when my hand are full carrying
stuff. If I have to dig out a swipe card or fuss with typing in a combo
I may as well just use an old fashioned key.

Pete C.

Well that's certainly another angle worth considering. I guess if you are
gonna have to touch something you might as well stick with what works. Hmm,
food for thought.