Key Fob Systems in San Diego

75 Years of Combined Experience Behind Every Access Control Installation

Silverstrand Technologies Inc. is a San Diego-based technology contractor with over 75 years of combined team experience installing and managing security, access control, surveillance, fire alarm, audiovisual, sound masking, and structured cabling systems. We serve commercial, government, residential, and military clients throughout the region. Key fob access control is one credential option we design and install as part of integrated security deployments, applying the same certified teams and through-life project support we bring to every engagement.

Key fob systems use RFID credentials that a door reader scans to verify identity before releasing an electronic lock. They’re a practical fit for commercial building entrances, office suites, equipment rooms, and multi-tenant common areas where you need controlled, auditable access without the complexity of biometrics or the reliance on employee smartphones.

Ready to discuss a key fob access control system for your facility? Call (619) 732-0628 to speak with our team about your project.

How Key Fob Access Control Works

A key fob system has four core components: the credential itself, a door reader, an access control panel or controller, and an electrified locking device such as an electric door strike or magnetic lock. When a fob is presented to a reader, the controller checks the credential against its access rules and signals the lock to release if the fob is authorized.

Credential Frequencies

Fobs operate on one of two radio frequencies. Older 125kHz low-frequency proximity technology is widely deployed but more susceptible to cloning. Encrypted 13.56MHz high-frequency credentials such as MIFARE offer stronger security for facilities where cloning risk is a concern. The right choice depends on the sensitivity of what’s being protected.

Software Management & Audit Trails

The software layer is where day-to-day management happens. Administrators assign each fob its own access level and time schedule, restricting it to specific doors, limiting it to business hours, or granting broad access across a campus. The system logs every entry with a time stamp, creating an audit trail of who entered which door and when. When an employee leaves or a fob is lost, that single credential is deactivated without rekeying doors or reissuing credentials to anyone else.

Key Fob vs. Other Access Credentials

Every credential type involves tradeoffs. Key fobs occupy a useful middle ground for most commercial applications.

PIN Keypads
PIN keypads require no physical token, but codes get shared, forgotten, or compromised. When an employee leaves, changing a shared code disrupts every remaining user. A fob can be deactivated individually.

Mobile Credential Apps
Mobile credential apps turn a smartphone into the credential, but they depend on a charged battery, an installed app, and a compatible operating system. Key fobs carry none of that dependency.

Biometric Readers
Biometric readers tie access to something the user is rather than something they carry, which eliminates credential sharing. They also require a hardware and per-user enrollment step that fob-based systems don’t.

For most commercial properties, key fobs strike a practical balance: individual credential management, no device dependency, and clear audit trail capabilities. Encrypted 13.56MHz credentials address the cloning vulnerability associated with older proximity fobs when security requirements are higher.

Our Installation Approach

Our certified professionals manage key fob access control projects from initial consultancy through installation. We assess your facility, specify the right hardware and credential type, handle integration with your existing security infrastructure, and see the project through commissioning. We work on both single-door deployments and large multi-door, multi-building installations.