Joined Dec 2004
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Forum Thread
Any way to "mirror" [duplicate] the magnetic strip off of an ID card?
September 27, 2007 at
11:17 AM
This may sound kind of dumb, but I've run into a bit of a dilemma. It's not a huge deal, but it would be nice if I could do what I'm thinking, to save a good amount of headache.
Basically, here's the situation: I live in an apartment which has gated access into the parking area. It uses a standard ID card to let you into the parking area. You don't swipe the ID card, but simply hold it close to the sensor, and it will read it and let you in. After parking, you can then walk into the main doors of my apartment. To get in through the secondary doors, you use the same ID card, holding it close to another sensor, and it will let you in those doors.
For me, there is no problem with the way it's set up. However, there is another issue that has developed. My girlfriend, who comes over quite a bit, has to park a couple blocks away (outside of the gated area), because she doesn't live in the apartments, and thus, doesn't have any ID to get in. So, she has to walk a few blocks to get to my apartment, and then has to have me come outside and let her in, since she can't get into the apartment either.
So, my question is, is there any way to mirror the data on my ID card with another ID card, or a blank card? There isn't any lockout feature in our apartment that I'd have to worry about. The only issue is that you can only be authenticated to get into the gated parking lot once every 5 minutes. However, that wouldn't be an issue, since I would have already been in my apartment for longer than that before she would get there. So, if I could give her an exact copy of my ID card, then she could get into our parking lot, and into my apartment, and wouldn't have to walk so far just to get here.
Does anyone know of any possible ways to do that? Is it even feasible?
Thanks for any input!
Basically, here's the situation: I live in an apartment which has gated access into the parking area. It uses a standard ID card to let you into the parking area. You don't swipe the ID card, but simply hold it close to the sensor, and it will read it and let you in. After parking, you can then walk into the main doors of my apartment. To get in through the secondary doors, you use the same ID card, holding it close to another sensor, and it will let you in those doors.
For me, there is no problem with the way it's set up. However, there is another issue that has developed. My girlfriend, who comes over quite a bit, has to park a couple blocks away (outside of the gated area), because she doesn't live in the apartments, and thus, doesn't have any ID to get in. So, she has to walk a few blocks to get to my apartment, and then has to have me come outside and let her in, since she can't get into the apartment either.
So, my question is, is there any way to mirror the data on my ID card with another ID card, or a blank card? There isn't any lockout feature in our apartment that I'd have to worry about. The only issue is that you can only be authenticated to get into the gated parking lot once every 5 minutes. However, that wouldn't be an issue, since I would have already been in my apartment for longer than that before she would get there. So, if I could give her an exact copy of my ID card, then she could get into our parking lot, and into my apartment, and wouldn't have to walk so far just to get here.
Does anyone know of any possible ways to do that? Is it even feasible?
Thanks for any input!
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If the card just has to get close, it is probably an RF based card. Does it look like it has a chip in it? Is it thicker than a normal credit card? If so, duplicating would be alot more difficult. Duplicating a magnetic card (typical credit card) is much easier with the right equipment. Hotels do it in about three seconds for room access. Most normal people don't have the equipment to accomplish the task.
I agree that the best bet is to suck up to the office staff and get another card.
If you "lose" your access card, it will be deactivated as soon as you get a new one and the old card will not work.
You will need to ask for a 2nd card and see if they allow it. It may be written in the contract that you cannot have a 2nd card but you may be allowed to have a "visitor" card. those usually have Timeframes that they work though (aka between 6am and 9pm).
~SB
oh, feel free to ask more or PM me if you need more info about Prox Cards - I'm the System Administrator for the College I work at's ID card Access system.
Here's [cardquest.com] an example of such a card. This particular type of technology has been around for years.
EDIT: Specboy beat me to it.
~SB
I stand corrected (ok, I actually sit corrected.)
I stand corrected (ok, I actually sit corrected.)
~SB