Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is an On-Line system?
Simply stated, an on-line system is one which transmits and receives (communicates) information from the front desk to individual guest room cardreaders/common door.
2. What if the guest does not have, or does not want to use his/her credit card for a card key?
If a guest is a cash-paying customer, or if they should choose not to use their credit card as their room key, the hotel would issue a pre-encoded magstripe "house" card to the guest. This house card could include custom artwork such as the hotel logo, picture of the hotel, etc. (A great, inexpensive marketing tool.)
3. Do the pre-encoded "house" guest cards need to be purchased from Access-Plus?
No. Pre-encoded house cards are standard ABA (American Banking Association) magstripe cards in size and type. Throughout the U.S., there are many vendors who can supply the hotel with these cards. However, a sample of the cards must be submitted to Access-Plus for approval prior to final order.
4. How many cards can be programmed per cardreader door?
A total of 150 unique cards can be activated per cardreader as a standard with an optional add-on memory up to 10,000 unique cards.
5. Is the decision to unlock the door made by the central computer?
No. The decision to unlock a door is made at the door location. All guest and employee information is stored at each guest room / common door location. When a door is unlocked, the information of who unlocked the door, together with the time and date, is transmitted back to the central computer for permanent storage.
6. What happens in the event communication is lost to the cardreader?
In the event a cardreader controller should lose communications with the central computer, the cardreader controller will continue to allow access to guests and employees based upon the previous access privileges. A message will be sent to the CPU to alert front desk personnel that communication has been lost for that specific reader. This condition normally occurs prior to the guest's or employee's knowledge of the problem. The Access-Plus system is a proactive system compared to an off-line reactive system.
7. Why is the key cylinder on the door?
In the event of an emergency (medical or otherwise), hotel management has the option of using the metal key as a means of entry into a guest room when the deadbolt is locked. If the key is used to open a guest room door, an alarm condition message will be generated and sent to the Access-Plus central computer.
8. Can there be more than one video display terminal or printer at the front desk?
Yes, it can be configured per management requirements. The Access-Plus system gives total flexibility to hotel management.
9. Can the Access-Plus system interface with Property Management Systems (PMS)?
Access-Plus has full interface capabilities with most property management systems available today. This interface capability provides a streamlined guest check-in/out operation with no additional equipment required at the front desk. This feature greatly enhances guest services.
10. Why is the cardreader controller and electronic interface connected to building power?
Connecting to building power eliminates the need to require the cardreader controller to be solely powered by batteries. This provides tremendous cost savings in labor and materials (batteries). The building power also keeps the batteries' trickle charged, adding to their long life span.
11. What happens in the event of a building power failure?
Should there be a power failure, a battery located in the cardreader controller electronic interface will continue to provide full cardreader controller capabilities for up to eight (8) hours.
12. What is the overall life of the battery installed in the cardreader controller?
The life expectancy of the battery located in the cardreader controller, which is used only in the event of a building power loss, is approximately three (3) to four (4) years.
13. Do the cardreader controller batteries need to be purchased from Access-Plus?
No. The batteries are available from a number of different sources. Access-Plus will provide all specifications if a customer wishes to purchase these batteries from other sources.
14. How many transactions can be stored at the Central Processing Unit (CPU)?
The standard Access-Plus CPU has a hard disk drive which can store more than 120,000 guest and employee transactions. If more storage is required, a larger hard disk can be installed.
15. What happens in the event of a Central Processing Unit (CPU) failure?
Remember, all decisions to unlock doors are made at the individual cardreader controllers. If the CPU fails, all guests currently staying at the hotel (and all employees) will still be able to enter and exit their assigned rooms and common doors. However, a new guest checking into the hotel would not be able to have his/her credit card assigned as their room key. Instead, the front desk clerk would issue the guest a pre-encoded house card that would unlock their assigned room and common doors only.
16. What equipment is required at the front desk?
If the Access-Plus system is fully integrated into the hotel Property Management System (PMS) and the PMS terminals have an ABA Track 2 cardreader, no additional equipment is required at the front desk. The Access-Plus CPU is then located in the back office area. If the hotel does not have a PMS or chooses not to integrate the two systems, a VDT and cardreader will be required at the front desk.
17. Can Access-Plus monitor any additional conditions within the guest room?
Each cardreader controller installed in the guest room has, as a standard, the ability to monitor two additional devices, i.e., in-room stand-alone smoke detector, window contacts, panic push button, etc.
18. What additional options are currently offered/supported by the Access-Plus system?
Options currently offered include energy management with on/off control or set-backs determined by in-room HVAC. If the hotel should choose to incorporate in-room energy management , substantial cost savings can be achieved.
19. Can liability rates (insurance) be reduced through the use of the Access-Plus system?
Because of our advanced security and safety capabilities, it is our opinion that these features should be discussed and taken into consideration by insurance underwriters. Access-Plus is available to work with individual properties in order to accomplish any possible rate reductions.
20. Where can I get more information?
We invite you to call us at (310) 303-3600 to speak with one of our representatives or e-mail us at sales@gotosii.com. We look forward to answering your questions and can send you information by mail.
FIND OUT MORE:
"On-Line" vs. "Off-Line" : The Difference in Hotel Access Control Systems
Side-by-side Comparison: On-Line and Off-Line Features
How Can Access-Plus® Save Money?
(COMING SOON) Technical Support / Download Access-Plus® Support Files
UPDATED Access-Plus Brochure and Print Ads (download .pdfs)
©
Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. Security Innovations, Incorporated.
No part of this website may be reproduced in part or in whole without
written permission from Security Innovations, Inc. Revised 10/04