Paxton Access Control System Products

Company Overview

Paxton Access is a global brand of IP access control and door systems that has been on the market for more than 30 years. Based out of the United Kingdom, it’s a brand that’s focused on innovative products, devices that are easy to use and understand, and world-class customer service. Even better, their products come with a five-year warranty that protects against any damage that may occur in that time period.

Paxton works well for businesses of all sizes, and the company is one of the leading manufacturers of access control systems worldwide, especially after launching in the United States a little over a decade ago. They are often deployed in multiple-site premises, government buildings, universities, sports clubs and parking lots and are sold with scalability and modular use in mind.

Paxton Hardware

Paxton offers the following hardware and software, which can be used on their own or as part of a larger system:

• Door entry
• Control units
• Monitors
• Proximity readers
• Mounted readers
• Energy saving readers
• Access cards and fobs
• Hands-free interface
• Exit buttons
• Reader connection modules
  

Major Features

The company has three separate categories of access control products available, including the Net2, the Switch2 and the Compact ranges. Paxton offers PC-based systems only. Paxton may not be ideal for startups who need to remain mobile and don‘t like investing too much in fixed access control architecture which is locally hosted. Their monitors include a color touchscreen, easy use with a handset or in hands-free mode, and the ability to be placed on a desk or a wall. They include a video voicemail option and both IP and PoE expansion options.

The software, of which there is both a free and a paid version, is compatible with Windows XP or Vista and can manage up to 50,000 users and thousands of doors. The control unit is an interface between the panel and the door and it is used as a PoE to the monitors. The panels have many useful technical characteristics, including tilted cameras for angled view; the capability to read EM, Paxton, and MIFARE tokens; SIP compatibility; integrated keypad and RFID readers; and an IP and PoE expansion option.

The cloud-based component of Paxton door access systems is called Paxton BLU. Anyone can manage the Paxton BLU system from a smart device or a PC that is connected to the Internet. Paxton BLU is designed for remote sites that don’t have other access control alternatives. It is based on a dealer-managed system, allowing for maintenance without site visits.

Advantages of Paxton

• Three product lines: Instead of throwing all of the available options at their customers, Paxton instead provides a variety of options within three different ranges, allowing shoppers to find the collection that works best for them and then work from there.
• Cloud-based results: Certain products in the Paxton line are available for use through the cloud, which allows administrators to keep up with and modify the system from anywhere with internet access.
• Multiple accessories: With nearly endless abilities to customize a system with accessories like exit buttons, Paxton allows spaces to find the solutions that work best for their unique needs.
• Scalability: More products can easily be added to an existing Paxton system, meaning easy growth for businesses that plan to expand.
  

Disadvantages of Paxton

• Third-party sellers: Unlike many other companies, Paxton only sells its access control products through third parties, meaning that prices could inflate and installation costs could also go up for no good reason.
• Multiple products: This can be both a blessing and a curse — by offering so many variations on the same products, plus a range of accessories, choosing the right Paxton product could prove a difficult task.
• No mobile app: After discontinuing its app, Paxton is harder to use on the go. And because of its Windows-only requirement, businesses that run on Apple products will not be able to implement the company’s devices.