Configure readers

The Gallagher SMB solution supports three different readers or the ability to configure a door without a reader.

  • Gallagher SMB T11 (C500430/C500431)

  • Gallagher SMB T15 (C500480/C500481)

  • Gallagher T30 Multi Tech Keypad (C300490/C300491)

The Gallagher SMB Reader provides users with a convenient way to control their site’s security. The reader can be used for local alarm management, access control, or both.

Arming Reader: When a reader is not associated with a door, it's an arming reader, by default.

Access Reader: When a reader is added to a door, it's can perform both jobs, access and (local) arming.

Alarm management

Arming and disarming affect a whole site or area. When one or more areas are armed, all doors in those areas are locked.

A privileged user can locally arm or disarm their site at a reader using their smartphone, SMB Key Tag, SMB Card, or User Code. A user’s smartphone communicates using Bluetooth® to the reader. This functionality is useful if internet connectivity has been lost. The areas that a user can arm and disarm are determined by their roles and configured privileges.

Users arm and disarm areas by:

  • presenting their smartphone, SMB Key Tag, or SMB Card to the reader (a single badge is required to disarm the site and a double badge to arm the site), or

  • entering their User Code (T30 Keypad only).

Gallagher SMB T11 and T15

When a T11 or T15 is configured as an arming reader, the reader’s LED will display:

  • Green: one or more areas are disarmed.

  • Red: all areas are armed.

Gallagher SMB T30 Keypad

When a T30 Multi Tech Keypad is configured as an arming reader, the reader’s LED squiggle will display:

  • Green: one or more areas are disarmed.

  • Red: all areas are armed.

And the reader’s LED Arm (shield) icon will display:

  • Green: one or more areas are disarmed.

  • Red: all areas are armed.

  • Quick Flash White: a long press on the Arm (shield icon) button causes the LED to flash white briefly, ready for the user to present their smartphone, SMB Key Tag, or SMB Card, or enter their User Code, to start the arming process.

  • Blue: a long press on the '0' button changes the LED Arm icon to blue or white to reveal the reader's supported technology; blue is the Multi Tech variant and white is the MIFARE variant.

Access Control

Access control affects only one door at a time. When a door is unlocked with a user's credential, only that door momentarily unlocks to allow access. Additionally, if the door's area was armed and the user has the privilege to disarm, entering their credential disarms that area only.

If a reader is assigned to a door, a user can locally request access at the reader. Access can be requested using a smartphone, SMB Key Tag, SMB Card, or User Code. Access control is limited to Bluetooth® for iOS devices. Android devices will use NFC for access control by default (if enabled on the device) or Bluetooth®.

Users gain access through doors by:

  • presenting their smartphone, SMB Key Tag, or SMB Card to the reader, or

  • entering their User Code (T30 Keypad only).

When configured as an access reader, the reader’s LED (squiggle) will display:

  • Solid green: the door is unlocked.

  • Solid red: the door is locked.

  • Flashes green: access has been granted.

  • Flashed red: access has been denied.

  • Note: When assigned to a door, the reader’s LED squiggle will always display the locked state of the door, not the armed or disarmed state of the site.


Adding a reader

  1. From the Hardware tab, click the + ADD NEW button and select a reader.

  2. Enter a name for the reader.

  3. Enter the reader's serial number in the Serial Number field. After plugging in the reader, the serial number can be copied from the controller's event history. The serial number can also be found on the back of the reader and on its packaging.

  4. If required, adjust the reader's Bluetooth Connection Settings. Refer to the section below.

  5. Click OK.

Notes:

  • If all T30 Keypads are removed from the site configuration, all User Code functionality is hidden within the SMB app, including existing User Codes. If the T30 Keypad is ever added back again, any previously-configured User Codes will remain and can be used again (and new ones can again be generated).

  • If you are replacing a T15/T11 reader with a T30 Keypad, the door associated with the reader must be unlocked.

  • Once a reader has been assigned to a door, the 'Enable NFC connectivity' check box is included in the reader's properties, and is enabled by default. Refer to the section below.


Enable NFC connectivity

The Enable NFC connectivity check box is included in the properties of all readers that have been assigned to a door. Hence, you will not see this option on readers you have only just created. After assigning the reader within a door's properties, you can return to the reader's properties and:

  • select the 'Enable NFC connectivity' check box to allow Mobile Credentials to request access via NFC and Bluetooth® (selected by default), or

  • deselect the 'Enable NFC connectivity' check box to force Mobile Credentials to request access via Bluetooth® and not NFC. SMB tags are unaffected by this setting.


Bluetooth® Connection Settings

Environmental factors (e.g. metal surfaces) will affect the reader's Bluetooth® performance. The following Bluetooth® connection settings can be adjusted to improve the user's phone performance when communicating with the reader.

These settings are adjusted in the SMB Installer Portal on the Reader's properties tab.

Transmit Power

Increasing the Transmit Power will increase the readers Bluetooth® read range. Adjusting this range will increase both the Door Connection and Local Arming ranges. The default value is -26 dBm (decibel-milliwatts).

Door Connection Range

This is the range at which the customer’s Bluetooth® device will automatically connect to the reader and grant access to the user if the user has access privilege to the area the door is associated to. The default value is 45 dBm (decibel-milliwatts) and must always be less than the value set for the local arming range.

Local Arming Range

This is the range within which the user can manually connect their Bluetooth® device to the reader to arm or disarm their alarm system. The default value is 64 dBm (decibel-milliwatts).

Note: These settings will need to be checked and adjusted according to the site as the distance at which a device connects to the reader depends on the construction of the wall the reader is placed on and the types of devices (phones) the users will be using.


Troubleshooting

  • In the following situations, if the T30 Keypad loses power and comes back online, it might cause the Keypad to become unresponsive:

    T30 Keypad is unplugged and connected back.

    The Controller is power cycled.

    The Controller is soft restarted or restarted from the controller debug page.

  • When replacing a T15/T11 reader with a T30 Keypad, the door must be unlocked.

    If the T30 Keypad becomes unresponsive, unlocking and then locking the door will recover the reader.

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