Keyless locks

[Baldhead]

Does anyone have any knowledge of electronic key fob door locks?

The reason I ask is, my MIL lives in sheltered accommodation, the door entry system into the main building is an electronic fob which you place against a pad to unlock the door, all residents were given 2 fobs when the system was introduced, my MIL has one, her eldest sibling has the other, now because MIL is not very well at the moment my wife has asked for one, she was told there are non available.

MIL is 98 and recently had a fall and has just returned home after a stay of nearly 2 weeks in hospital, I don't think unreasonable that other family want to be able to visit her in an emergency similarly to yesterday when we got a call at 5am saying mother wanted some help (she is also very confused now)

My question are, are these fobs expensive, can they be easily programmed like a car key fob, and how much do they cost?

TIA

Baldhead

 

[Ed Bray]

Not sure that the fobs are the same but we had to buy a large number of IR dip switch remotes (10 miniature switches inside to set to a number of different settings) and they were £30 each plus VAT. These were for operating security gates so not sure how they would compare to other keyless entry systems, but I doubt they will be cheap.

 

[monkeybiter]

I'm guessing it will be something like this? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1-Wire

If so google iButton and/or iButton programming, copying/cloning may be available.

 

[Jamesc]

On a typyical commercial job which I would imagine this is the key fobs will be RFID and progrmmed for the particularl building. Normally the building owner would have a programming system that would allow new fobs to be written and to manage existing ones, making certianfobs masters etc.
It may be that they do not have the programmer (or how to use it) in which case new keys will be available from the company who installed the system and maintains it. Don't expect them to be cheap though. The fob itself is a few quid but you will be paying for the time to programme it and then attend site and programme the access system to accept the new fob.

James