Knowledge Base
Library of explanations for terminology, product-selection concepts, and Transmitter Solutions catalog fields. Terms link to each other so you can trace a concept from spec sheet to answer.
242 entries·13 topic areas·Curated by the Transmitter Solutions team
Fundamentals
System Concepts
Shared ideas across systems: coding methods, keypads, controllers, ratings, and setup basics
Coding and access methods
DIP combinations
The on/off pattern that sets a fixed code or option on a transmitter or receiver.
DIP switches
Small switches used to set a code or option on older remotes and receivers.
Fixed vs rolling
Fixed code stays the same every press. Rolling code changes so a copied signal will not work.
Keypad backlight
Button count and whether the keys light up at night.
Keypad PIN
A door or gate opened with a number code instead of a card or remote.
Proprietary code
A code family that only works with the same brand or licensed receivers.
Controllers and readers
Backup battery
A battery that keeps a panel’s memory or limited function during a power loss.
Controller capacity
How many doors, users, or events a panel can hold.
Panel memory
How much work and storage a panel has for users, events, and features.
Panel power
How much power a panel can send to locks, readers, or auxiliaries.
Reader indicators
Lights and beeps that show a good read, a deny, or a wiring fault.
Reader mounts
Mullion, single-gang, and other ways a reader attaches to the wall or frame.
Specifications and ratings
IP and IK ratings
ingress protection (IP) is dust and water. impact rating (IK) is impact. Both appear on outdoor or public hardware.
LED specs
Brightness, color, and voltage for warning or status lights.
Product dimensions
The physical size of the unit, used to check a box, mullion, or pedestal.
Product weight
How heavy the product is, useful for shipping and for mounts that have a load limit.
Temperature
The air temperature range the product is rated to run in.
Product Types
Catalog categories such as transmitters, receivers, readers, controllers, and door hardware
Wireless products
Credentials and readers
Access Card
A wallet card presented to a reader.
Card holder
A clip or sleeve that carries a card. It does not store the card number.
Card reader
A wall or mullion device that reads a card or fob and sends the number to a controller.
Key fob
A small credential on a key ring, read at a proximity or smart reader.
Keypad
A device that opens a door or gate with a PIN.
Controllers and modules
Video and intercom
Door and site hardware
LED light
A status or warning light driven by an operator or controller.
Lock
Electrified hardware that holds or releases a door.
Loops
A wire loop in the pavement that senses a vehicle.
Mount
A bracket, gooseneck, or box that holds a reader or station.
Photo eye
A beam sensor used on gates and doors for safety.
Power supply
A transformer or DC supply for locks, receivers, or panels.
Push plate
A large button that asks an automatic door to open.
Safety edge
A rubber edge that stops a gate or door when it is squeezed.
Sensor
A device that detects a person, vehicle, or motion for activation or safety.
Catalog selection
Catalog Filters
What filter values mean: voltage, frequency, code type, connectivity, mounting, battery, IP rating, certification, and related fields
Voltage
10–28VDC
Products that run on 10–28VDC. Match the supply or lock power on the Transmitter Solutions page.
12–24VAC/DC
Products that run on 12–24VAC/DC. Match the supply or lock power on the Transmitter Solutions page.
12VDC
Products that run on 12VDC. Match the supply or lock power on the Transmitter Solutions page.
20–28VDC
Products that run on 20–28VDC. Match the supply or lock power on the Transmitter Solutions page.
24VDC
Products that run on 24VDC. Match the supply or lock power on the Transmitter Solutions page.
3VDC
Products that run on 3VDC. Match the supply or lock power on the Transmitter Solutions page.
48VDC
Products that run on 48VDC. Match the supply or lock power on the Transmitter Solutions page.
9–24VDC
Products that run on 9–24VDC. Match the supply or lock power on the Transmitter Solutions page.
9–30VAC/DC
Products that run on 9–30VAC/DC. Match the supply or lock power on the Transmitter Solutions page.
9V supply
Products that run on 9V supply. Match the supply or lock power on the Transmitter Solutions page.
Voltage
The supply or coil voltage the product expects, such as 12VDC or 24VDC.
Mounting
Ceiling Mount
Attaches to a ceiling, common for some sensors and indoor units.
Din Rail
Snaps onto a DIN rail inside a control cabinet.
Flush Mount
Sits in a cutout so the face is nearly even with the wall or frame.
Frame Mount
Attaches to a door or window frame.
Gooseneck Mount
Sits on a curved pedestal at a vehicle or walk-up lane.
Mounting
How the product attaches: wall, mullion, gooseneck, DIN rail, and similar.
Mullion
A slim reader or plate for a narrow door frame.
Pole Mount
Clamps or straps to a pole.
Post Mount
Sits on a post or pedestal.
Single Gang
Fits a standard single-gang electrical box.
Surface Mount
Mounts on the face of the wall or box, not recessed.
Wall Mount
Attaches to a wall surface.
Battery type
23A battery
A 23A cylindrical cell used in some remotes.
9V battery
A 9V rectangular battery used in some transmitters and sensors.
AA battery
AA cells used in some larger remotes or devices.
AAA battery
AAA cells used in some remotes.
Battery type
The cell or power style a transmitter or device uses.
CR123A battery
A CR123A lithium cell used in some devices.
CR2 battery
A CR2 lithium cell used in some remotes.
CR2016 battery
A CR2016 coin cell used in slim remotes.
CR2032 battery
A CR2032 coin cell used in many Transmitter Solutions remotes.
CR2450 battery
A CR2450 coin cell, larger than a CR2032.
Hardwired power
Powered by a wire, not a replaceable cell.
Rechargeable battery
A rechargeable pack. Charge it as the product page describes.
Ingress protection (IP) / NEMA
IP / NEMA
Dust, water, and enclosure ratings used on outdoor or harsh-location products.
IP20
Indoor use. Fingers stay out of openings. Not a weather rating.
IP40
Protected against small objects. Still an indoor-style rating.
IP42
Protected against small objects and dripping water when tilted.
IP50
Dust-protected. Not a wash-down rating.
IP55
Dust-protected and able to take low-pressure water jets.
IP64
Dust-tight and protected against splashing water.
IP65
Dust-tight and protected against water jets. Common outdoors.
IP66
Dust-tight and protected against powerful water jets.
IP67
Dust-tight and can handle short immersion. Check the cutsheet for depth and time.
IP68
Dust-tight and rated for longer immersion. Use the depth on the product page.
IPX7
Water rating for short immersion. Dust is not the X in this mark.
NEMA 12
Indoor enclosure for dust and dripping non-corrosive liquids.
NEMA 4
Outdoor-style enclosure for windblown dust and rain.
NEMA 4X
Like NEMA 4 with better corrosion resistance, often stainless or non-metal.
Certifications
ADA
Hardware intended for accessible activation force, height, and reach.
CE
A mark used on products sold for the European market.
Certification
Marks such as FCC, UL, or CE that appear on a product page when the hardware was tested for that rule.
cUL
A UL mark for Canada.
ETL
A safety listing from Intertek, used like UL on some hardware.
FCC
A U.S. mark on wireless and electronic products that meet FCC equipment rules.
ISO
A standards mark that may appear for quality systems or card size, depending on the product.
NEMA
An enclosure rating for dust, water, and corrosion, used alongside or instead of ingress protection (IP).
UL Listed
Underwriters Laboratories tested the hardware. Common on locks, strikes, and holders.
WEEE
A recycling mark for electronic waste in markets that require it.
Code type
Code type
How a remote or card identifies itself, such as fixed, rolling, proximity, or Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP).
Fixed code
A remote that sends the same code every time, often set with DIP switches.
KeeLoq Code Hopping
KeeLoq is a hopping-code (rolling-code) algorithm used in many radio frequency (RF) remotes. Each press sends a different encrypted code so a captured transmission cannot be reused.
Proprietary code
A code family that only works with the same brand or licensed receivers.
Rolling code
A remote that changes the code each press so a copied signal will not work.
Connectivity
Cloud
Products that connect to a hosted service for admin or monitoring.
Connectivity
How the product talks to the rest of the system: Wiegand, Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP), Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and similar.
PoE
Power and data on one Ethernet cable.
PoE+
A higher-power Ethernet supply than basic Power over Ethernet (PoE).
TCP/IP
Products that talk on a normal ingress protection (IP) network, usually Ethernet.
USB
A USB port used for setup, credentials, or a local connection.
Wiegand bit length
26-bit Wiegand
A 26-bit Wiegand card format. Cards, reader, and panel must share this length.
34-bit Wiegand
A 34-bit Wiegand card format. Cards, reader, and panel must share this length.
37-bit Wiegand
A 37-bit Wiegand card format. Cards, reader, and panel must share this length.
40-bit Wiegand
A 40-bit Wiegand card format. Cards, reader, and panel must share this length.
Wiegand bits
The bit length of a Wiegand card number, such as 26-bit or 34-bit.
Other filters
4G LTE
A cellular modem path for access hardware that cannot use site Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
902–928 MHz
The ultra high frequency (UHF) band used on many long-range Transmitter Solutions parking and gate products.
BACnet
A building-automation protocol used to share door or alarm status with HVAC or lighting.
Dry contact
A relay output with no voltage of its own, used to start an operator or panel input.
Ethernet
A wired network port for controllers, intercoms, or cameras.
MIFARE
A 13.56 MHz smart-card family used on many access readers.
OSDP
A supervised reader-to-panel protocol. Use it when the job wants a newer path than Wiegand.
Proximity
Cards and fobs read when held near a prox reader, usually 125 kHz.
RS-485
A serial bus used by Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP) and some building devices.
Wi-Fi
Access hardware that joins a wireless network.
Wiegand
The common card-data connection between a reader and a controller.
Wireless access
RF & Wireless
Frequencies, band matching, range, interference, and wireless remote concepts
Frequency bands
2.4 GHz
Used on some access and wireless products. It is not a typical 300–433 MHz gate remote.
295 MHz
295 MHz remotes and receivers must match on both ends.
300 MHz
300 MHz remotes and receivers must match on both ends.
310 MHz
310 MHz remotes and receivers must match on both ends.
315 MHz
315 MHz remotes and receivers must match on both ends.
318 MHz
318 MHz remotes and receivers must match on both ends.
360 MHz
360 MHz remotes and receivers must match on both ends.
390 MHz
390 MHz remotes and receivers must match on both ends.
418 MHz
418 MHz remotes and receivers must match on both ends.
433 MHz
433 MHz remotes and receivers must match on both ends.
868 MHz
Used on some systems, often outside North American garage openers.
902–928 MHz
The ultra high frequency (UHF) band used on many long-range Transmitter Solutions parking and gate products.
Range and matching
Transmitters
Remotes and wireless senders: form factors, buttons, batteries, and programming
Power and battery
Buttons and form factors
Receivers
Radio frequency (RF) receivers: pairing, channels, outputs, memory limits, and band matching
Frequency bands and matching
Memory, channels, and zones
Pairing and programming
Outputs and mounting
Credentials
Cards, fobs, tags, formats, facility codes, and enrollment concepts
Wiegand bit formats
26-bit Wiegand
A 26-bit Wiegand card format. Cards, reader, and panel must share this length.
34-bit Wiegand
A 34-bit Wiegand card format. Cards, reader, and panel must share this length.
37-bit Wiegand
A 37-bit Wiegand card format. Cards, reader, and panel must share this length.
40-bit Wiegand
A 40-bit Wiegand card format. Cards, reader, and panel must share this length.
Facility bits
How bits are split between facility code and card number in a Wiegand format.
Credential technologies
125 kHz
Low-frequency prox cards and fobs read at a short distance.
13.56 MHz
Smart cards and fobs that use 13.56 MHz, including MIFARE-style media.
HID proximity
Prox media meant to work on common HID-style 125 kHz readers.
MIFARE
A 13.56 MHz smart-card family used on many access readers.
Proximity
Cards and fobs read when held near a prox reader, usually 125 kHz.
Cards, fobs, and form factors
Adhesive prox tags
A thin prox disc you stick to a phone, card, or surface.
Clamshell cards
A thick plastic prox card, larger than a thin ISO card.
Hang tag
A ultra high frequency (UHF) tag that hangs from a mirror for lane or parking reads.
Supported card types
Which card technologies a reader will accept.
Wristband
A credential worn on the wrist, usually prox or ultra high frequency (UHF).
Facility codes and enrollment
General credentials
Card printing
Card body, overlay, and whether the card can be printed.
Dual-format
A card or fob that holds more than one technology, such as prox plus smart.
Read range
How far from the reader a card or tag will read.
Wireless vs wired
Wireless credentials are remotes or mobile. Wired credentials are cards and fobs at a reader.
Installation & integration
Door Hardware
Locks, strikes, maglocks, request to exit (REX) devices, contacts, and door-side accessories
Locks and strikes
Request to exit
Door status and hardware
General door hardware
Detection
How a sensor sees a person or vehicle, and how fast it reports.
Edge rating
The electrical ratings of a safety edge and its contacts.
Fail safe vs secure
Fail safe unlocks on power loss. Fail secure stays locked on power loss.
Lock status
A switch or output that reports whether the lock is secure.
Magnetic locks
An electromagnet that holds a door until power is removed or dropped.
Relay outputs
Dry contacts on a receiver or panel used to start a lock or operator.
Unlock time
How long a lock stays released after a valid card or button.
Networking & Protocols
How devices connect: Ethernet, Wi-Fi, cellular, Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP), Wiegand, and related links
Reader protocols
IP and network links
4G LTE
A cellular modem path for access hardware that cannot use site Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
Cloud
Products that connect to a hosted service for admin or monitoring.
Ethernet
A wired network port for controllers, intercoms, or cameras.
TCP/IP
Products that talk on a normal ingress protection (IP) network, usually Ethernet.
Wi-Fi
Access hardware that joins a wireless network.
Building integration
Applications
Where products are used: gates, garage doors, parking, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access, safety, and video openings
Gates, garage, and vehicle access
Garage
radio frequency (RF) remotes and receivers that open a garage door.
Garage door safety
Sensors and edges that stop a powered garage door if something is in the way.
Gate
Long-range remotes, receivers, and related hardware for slide, swing, and barrier gates.
Gate safety
Photo eyes and edges that help a gate stop before it hits a person or vehicle.
Long-range control
ultra high frequency (UHF) and other long-range remotes used across a lot or long driveway.
Overhead door
Remotes, receivers, and safety parts for commercial overhead doors.
Parking UHF
ultra high frequency (UHF) hang tags and readers used at parking lanes and long-range vehicle entry.
Vehicle access
Remotes, ultra high frequency (UHF) tags, and loops used at vehicle gates and lanes.
Door and opening types
Safety
ADA and request to exit
Video and entry communication
Building and site type
Compliance & support
Compliance
Listings and marks such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Conformité Européenne (CE), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and related documentation
Listing marks
ADA
Hardware intended for accessible activation force, height, and reach.
CE
A mark used on products sold for the European market.
cUL
A UL mark for Canada.
ETL
A safety listing from Intertek, used like UL on some hardware.
FCC
A U.S. mark on wireless and electronic products that meet FCC equipment rules.
ISO
A standards mark that may appear for quality systems or card size, depending on the product.
NEMA
An enclosure rating for dust, water, and corrosion, used alongside or instead of ingress protection (IP).
UL Listed
Underwriters Laboratories tested the hardware. Common on locks, strikes, and holders.
WEEE
A recycling mark for electronic waste in markets that require it.
Product safety
Troubleshooting
Common failure modes and how to diagnose remotes, power, and radio frequency (RF) issues
Wireless and remote issues
Power and electrical
Identification and compatibility
Company & Services
Transmitter Solutions programs: support, training, branding, quoting, and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) options