Specifications

Biometric Readers
www.benchmarkmagazine.com
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elements as per the original product
specification for a standalone biometric reader.
Supporting up to 1,000 users with fingerprint
(other technologies have differing capacities),
the unit allows the biometric element to be used
with a PIN, or with other supported access
technologies.
The unit supports door monitoring and
connection of a request-to-exit button. It also
features two auxiliary outputs. Other functions
include scheduling including holidays, data
back-up, selectable door open time (0-99
seconds)and a duress alarm.
The unit is tamper-protected, and includes a
rear bracket for simple mounting. Power input is
12V DC. The reader is manufactured from
polycarbonate, and its dimensions are 192 x 160
x 44mm.
No IP rating is given, and a look at the product
quickly tells you that it is not intended for
external use. This does somewhat limit its
potential for access control applications,
especially those requiring protection of an entry
point on top of a building.
The SSA-S3010 is supplied with fixing screws,
various diodes, push-fit cable connectors, a
quick start guide and a full manual on CD. If you
need the full manual, and our guess is that you
will, it’s 80 pages long, and the translation isn’t
the best. That said, you will be able to
understand it.
Installation is relatively simple, as all cabling
connections are catered for with push-fit
connectors. Flyleads are included. There are six
connections in all, and these are not labelled.
They are for power input, input/output, relay
wiring, RS-232/RS-485 connection and two
extension connections. There is also a TCP/IP
port.
Once the connections are made, the unit is
fixed to the separate mounting bracket. This
needs to be done to close the tamper switch. On
power up, the unit emits a short tone via its
integral speaker, and the buttons are
illuminated.
The screen flashes up a message, and then
unit speaks to you. Whilst we’re sure it’s not
polite to laugh, we sadly did. The speaker
quality isn’t brilliant, so it did have a strangely
comedic quality about it.
Programming is carried out via 12 function
buttons, which share the fascia with the numeric
keypad. Programming is fairly simple, and if you
only want to use the fingerprint element, then
it’s also a fast process. However, if you want to
do more, you need to check the manual, which
spreads some of the instructions around on
different pages. Inevitably, by the time you’ve
found the parts you need, the programming
mode will have timed out.
One of the team did come up with a theory.
His thinking was that Samsung – who more
often than not do deliver a proper manual –
opted not to print one until the translation was
improved on! Let’s hope so; if that is the case,
we’ll let you know!
Generally, the unit works well. Entry attempts
are responded to by the voice message, but if
you go into the Time Schedule menu, you can
mute this. This can be done by schedules,
although we opted for turning it off altogether!
Accuracy of the system was good, and it
coped well with high traffic periods. Time for
access to be granted was around 2 seconds. We
tried the usual issue with wet hands. The
Samsung unit did cope with generally damp
fingers; it only rejected wet fingers.
Verdict
The 1FP Fingerprint Switch from GSD is a low
cost standalone device that performs well. It is
easy to install, simple to configure, and the unit
does what is expected from it. The only very
slight niggle is that a clearer explanation of the
user code in the manual would save a little
confusion.
The SSA-S3010 from Samsung is a good unit.
It does offer a lot of flexibility, but you have to
ask whether you’re going to need it all in a
standalone reader. Obviously the unit is a part
of a larger range, so much of the functionality
has been inherited from higher spec models. It
could be immediately improved with a well
written hardcopy manual.
We also felt that we’d happily forgo some of
the advanced features for a housing that
delivers external use.
Both units do the same job, but in different
ways. The GSD unit is quick, simple, low cost
and effective. For many, it will be an ideal
standalone reader. The Samsung unit isn’t as
simple, but it’s certainly not a headache either.
You do get extra functionality, and there’s more
flexibility than you will need in the vast majority
of applications.
Essentially, both products are recommended
for differing reasons. Neither will disappoint!
Samsung SSA-S3010
Plenty of flexibility with regard to configuration
A proper manual, with a rewrite, would simplify installation
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