1. Q: What are the differences between non-contact type and contact type security guard tour systems?

A: What are the differences between non-contact type and contact type security guard tour systems?

	Non Contact Type	Contact Type
Signal Card's Operating Environment	Flexible: work in adverse conditions; temperature range: -50'F to 186'F (-45'C to 85'C)	Inflexible: cannot use in conditions of rain, snow, ice, or dust
Station tag Installation	Convenient: can be installed in multiple ways	Complicated: need to be installed anchoring devices
Station tag Resistance to Sabotage	Excellent: can be mounted inside walls	Not good: must be exposed, vulnerable to sabotage and theft
Station tag Cost	Low: manufactured in high volumes and by many manufacturers	Relatively High: decreased usage led to higher unit prices
Station tag Compatibility	Good: durable & economical	Poor: few manufacturers, few applicable fields
Reader Casing Durability	Good	Good
Reader Waterproofing	Good	Good
Reader Battery Life	Long	Long
Reader Break-Down Rate	Low	High: due to contact-points wearing out

Reader Data Output	Connect with computers via a cable-type adapter	Require separate communication units to communicate with computers
Guard Tour System Total Cost	Low	High
Statistical Report Query Capabilities	Good	Good

2. Q:What are the differences between off-line and on-line type security guard tour systems?

A: In on-line type security guard tour systems, each checkpoint is connected to the central computer. Patrolling personnel bring with them non-contact RFID guard tour reader on their routes and have them read at each checkpoint. The data is then passed from each checkpoint to the central computer via data cables. In this system, each checkpoint is composed of a card reader.
In off-line type security guard tour systems, the patrolling personnel bring with them RFID guard tour reader to read from station tags installed along the route. The data is later passed onto the central computer via a communication cable.
The following chart compares some of the differences in characteristics between the two guard tour system types.

	Off-Line Type	On-Line Type
System Cost	Low: checkpoints are composed of low-cost signal cards	High: installing a network of communication cables and card readers is costly
Scale	Large	Small
Timely Data Reporting	Poor	Good
Resistance to Destruction	Good	Normal
Convenience In Usage	Very Convenient	Convenient

3. Q: How important is Patrol Management System for our guard tour systems?

A: In complete security guard tour systems, even though station tags are most popular representatives, they still need to cooperate with other hardware and software to make the whole system work. For managers, it is also extremely important to be able to record and verify patrol data conveniently and accurately. Since all managers may not have the same level of computer literacy, the software that is designed for their use must be as easy and intuitive as possible.
The software also must be able to accurately process large volumes of complicated data, and automatically generate reports based on verification results. For these reasons, a well-designed management software is a crucial component of a RFID security guard tour system. RFID security guard tour systems make the assessment of the job performance of patrol guards efficient and accurate. A good management software is able to assist in analyzing data collected, in addition to being easy to learn and use. In other words, it can be said that the successful deployment of security guard tour systems is heavily dependent on the good design of its management software.

4. Q: Why are network-enabled versions of the guard tour management software necessary?

A: As computer networks become more popularized and managers become more capable, there appears the need for network-based guard tour management systems.
Network-based guard tour management software are able to pass the data collected through computer networks for central processing. This way, managers can remotely assess the status of patrols. Network-based software can significantly improve the work quality and volume that can be handled by a manager.

5. Q: Can Station Tags be used on metal surfaces?

A: Since non-contact station tags rely on electromagnetic waves to transmit power and data, their effective reading distance can be shortened when used on metal surfaces. When the cards placed on less conductive metals such as iron, the effect is minimal, and the station tags can be used normally. If the station tags are placed on more conductive metals such as aluminum and copper, to eliminate the strong effects of those metals, they should be elevated from the metal surfaces by 5-10mm.

6. Q: What are the differences between non-contact type RFID security guard tour systems and GPS-based guard tour systems?

A: Non-contact type RFID security guard tour systems can quickly perform location-specific data readings accurately and quickly. GPS-based guard tour systems can only narrow down the location within tens of meters, and can be slow at determining positions.
Non-contact type RFID security guard tour readers are durable in design and convenient to use. Currently, there are no GPS products made specifically for use as security guard tour systems, and have problems such as being fragile, having short battery lives, and with high malfunctioning rates under adverse environmental conditions.
GPS-based “guard tour systems” are easily affected by weather conditions such as snow, and cannot work indoors or anywhere else where their line-of-sight with the satellites are blocked.
GPS-based “guard tour systems” are generally more costly than non-contact type guard tour systems.
The advantage of GPS-based guard tour systems is that they do not require the installation of security guard tour check points.

7. Q: What is a Security Guard Tour System?

A: A security guard tour system is an essential tool which enables to monitor if people assigned to a tour patrol task are completing their duties on time and at their correct locations. In summary the system makes it possible to know where and when the patrols were made.

8. Q: What does RFID stand for?

A: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders. An RFID tag is an object that can be attached to or incorporated into a product, animal, or person for the purpose of identification using radio waves. Chip-based RFID tags contain silicon chips and antennas. Passive tags require no internal power source, whereas active tags require a power source.
RFID cards are also known as "proximity", "proxy" or "contactless cards" and come in three general varieties: passive, semi-passive (also known as semi-active), or active. ProxiGuard uses passive cards of.
Passive RFID tags have no internal power supply. The minute electrical current induced in the antenna by the incoming radio frequency signal provides just enough power for the CMOS integrated circuit in the tag to power up and transmit a response.
ProxiGuard uses EM type of cards with low frequency of 125Khz.
“Source for RFID information: WIKIPEDIA”