Card readers and keypad entry.
Card readers and keypads replace keys with credentials you can add or switch off instantly: key cards, fobs, PIN codes, or a phone. Each entry is logged, and access can be limited by door and time. Lock Raven installs reader and keypad systems for single doors and whole buildings, planned around your existing locks and master key system.
Choosing a credential
Cards and fobs suit staff who come and go daily. PIN keypads suit deliveries and shared spaces but codes get shared, so change them regularly. Mobile credentials put the key on a phone. Many systems support more than one at the same door.
| Credential | Strengths | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Key card | Cheap to issue, easy to revoke | Gets lost or lent |
| Key fob | Durable, fits on a key ring | Same as cards |
| PIN code | Nothing to carry | Codes get shared |
| Mobile phone | Always with the user, easy to manage | Needs a compatible system |
How it works.
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Walkthrough
We look at the doors, frames, and existing hardware and talk through who needs access where.
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Plan and quote
Readers, controller, and locking hardware for each door, priced before anything is installed.
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Install and set up
Hardware installed, credentials enrolled, and the system handed over with a walkthrough.
Related services.
- Mag locks and electric strikes Electric strikes and magnetic locks are the hardware that lets a reader, keypad, or intercom actually unlock a door. Learn more
- Video intercoms A video intercom lets staff or residents see who is at the door, talk to them, and release the lock from a phone or a station inside. Learn more
- Smart locks A smart lock replaces or adds to a deadbolt so you can lock and unlock with a code, a phone, or remotely, and see who came and went. Learn more
Before you call: guides.
- Commercial security · 6 min read Access control for small businesses, in plain English. How keycard, fob, and keypad access control works, the hardware involved, fail-safe versus fail-secure, and how to start with one door. Read the guide
- Access control · 5 min read Mag lock or electric strike? How to choose. How magnetic locks and electric strikes work, fail-safe versus fail-secure, code considerations, and which suits your door. Read the guide
Card readers and keypads across Central Maryland.
Baltimore City and Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Harford, Carroll, and Howard counties. All service areas
Card readers and keypads: common questions.
Straight answers, without the upsell.
Can we start with one door?
Yes. Many businesses start with the front entrance or a server room and add doors later. We plan it so the first door does not have to be redone.
What happens in a power outage?
It depends on the locking hardware. Fail-safe hardware unlocks without power and fail-secure stays locked. We choose per door, and people inside can always get out.
How much will it cost?
It depends on the hardware, the door, and the number of locks, so we price every job before any work starts. Call with the details, or send the quote form, and you will have a price before you commit to anything.
Get a quote.
Tell us about the job and we will reply the same day. For a lockout, call (410) 449-4940.
We accept Cash, all major credit and debit cards, checks, Zelle, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.