Vicon Compatible Access Cards — VAX Replacement at a Fraction of OEM Cost

Vicon VAX Compatible Credentials

Facilities and integrators running Vicon VAX access control are often surprised to discover that sourcing replacement cards does not require going back to the original equipment supplier. Compatible credentials — encoded to the same format and facility code as your existing badges — present to the panel exactly as a factory-issued card would, because they reproduce the same bit-structure the readers expect.

Security ID Systems stocks both the standard LF 125 kHz credential and the HF 13.56 MHz VAX-CRD-MT variant. Single-user replacements ship quickly; bulk runs for large facilities or multi-site rollouts are quoted on request. Browse the full Legacy OEM Proximity range for context on how we handle other proprietary formats that follow the same pattern.

The practical benefit for facilities managers is operational continuity. There is no need to re-enrol existing cardholders, reconfigure access levels, or schedule downtime on the panel. Compatible credentials slot directly into an active deployment without disturbing its policy configuration. For integrators, this means a clean, documented substitution path that can be presented to clients as standard practice rather than an exception.

The Farpointe Pyramid Format Underneath

Vicon did not develop a proprietary silicon protocol for VAX credentials. The standard VAX card is a Farpointe Data Pyramid credential operating at 125 kHz with Wiegand output — the same underlying technology used across a broad range of OEM-branded proximity cards from multiple system vendors. Understanding this is what makes compatible supply straightforward: the format is well-defined, the electrical interface is standard Wiegand, and there is no proprietary handshake between card and reader.

The Farpointe Pyramid compatible card reproduces the Pyramid bit-encoding faithfully. If you have ever cross-referenced a VAX-CRD part number with Farpointe's own catalogue, the relationship is direct. Our Vicon VAX Proximity Cards Explained article covers the technical lineage in full for integrators who need to document the substitution for a client.

For comparison, Farpointe Pyramid 39-bit compatible proximity cards use an extended bit-length for larger deployments requiring a wider cardholder number space — a common upgrade path when a facility expands beyond 255 users per facility code in the standard 26-bit scheme.

The 26-bit H10301 format that underpins VAX-CRD credentials is the most widely deployed Wiegand structure in North America. Its broad support across access control panels from different manufacturers is precisely why compatible supply is both practical and widely accepted in the integrator community. A reader that expects a standard 26-bit Wiegand signal cannot distinguish the origin of that signal — only its content.

Encoded to Your Facility Code

Every Vicon VAX card ships from the factory with a facility code written into the credential. Your panel is programmed to accept only that facility code, which means any replacement card must carry the same value. Security ID Systems encodes compatible credentials to your specified facility code and card number range before dispatch — no reader reprogramming, no panel changes, no downtime.

Facility code matching is standard practice across the 125 kHz LF Proximity range. Provide your facility code and the card number block you need covered; we handle encoding. If you have lost track of your facility code, our How to Identify Your Access Card or Key Fob Format guide walks through the straightforward process of reading it from an existing credential.

Integrators managing multi-site deployments — where different buildings may run different facility codes — can order site-segregated batches in a single purchase order. Refer to our Buying Compatible Access Cards in Bulk guide for logistics on split-encoded bulk runs.

Card number sequencing matters as much as the facility code itself. If your existing deployment uses a specific number range — for example, 1 through 500 in a building's first phase — replacement cards must fall within that range or into a clearly documented extension. When placing an order, specify both the facility code and the exact number sequence required. Security ID Systems encodes each card individually to your supplied list, so there is no risk of duplicate card numbers being introduced into an active deployment.

LF VAX-CRD vs HF VAX-CRD-MT: Which Format Do You Have?

Vicon offers two distinct card families under the VAX-CRD product line. The standard VAX-CRD is a 125 kHz LF proximity card based on the Farpointe Pyramid protocol with 26-bit Wiegand output. The VAX-CRD-MT is a 13.56 MHz HF smart card using MIFARE technology, built on genuine NXP silicon and operating at a higher data rate with a larger memory footprint. The two are not interchangeable — your readers are configured for one frequency and protocol.

The easiest way to confirm which format your installation uses is to look at the part number on existing cards or on the hardware purchase documentation. Alternatively, a 125 kHz proximity reader will ignore an HF card entirely and vice versa, which makes the test trivial. Our Vicon proximity card compatible format page lists the electrical parameters and part number cross-references for both variants.

For the HF VAX-CRD-MT, compatible blank credentials are supplied on genuine NXP MIFARE Classic 1K or MIFARE Classic 4K chips depending on the memory profile your VAX software instance expects. The Complete Wiegand Format Guide covers how HF smart cards carry Wiegand-equivalent data for backward-compatible panel integration.

• VAX-CRD (standard): 125 kHz LF, Farpointe Pyramid, 26-bit Wiegand
• VAX-CRD-MT (HF): 13.56 MHz, genuine NXP MIFARE, higher memory capacity
• Confirm format before ordering — readers are frequency-specific and will not read the wrong credential

Key Fob Replacements and Multi-Credential Formats

Not every Vicon VAX deployment relies exclusively on ISO-format cards. Many installations — particularly those covering parking structures, garages, or high-traffic perimeter entry points — use key fobs rather than cards, or a mix of both. Security ID Systems supplies compatible credentials in key fob form factor as well, encoded to the same facility code and Pyramid bit-structure as the corresponding card.

Multi-building and campus environments sometimes run the same access system across facilities that issue cards in different physical formats. When submitting a bulk order that spans form factors, specify the format alongside the card number range for each line item. The underlying credential encoding is identical regardless of physical form factor — a VAX-CRD key fob and a VAX-CRD card carry the same bit-structure and present identically to the panel.

For installations where a future upgrade to a higher-security credential tier is under consideration, reviewing the pyramid 39-bit proximity card compatible format is worthwhile. The extended bit-length accommodates significantly larger cardholder populations without facility code collision — relevant for campus or government deployments where 26-bit capacity has been exhausted or is approaching its ceiling.

Mixed-Vendor Environments and Adjacent Formats

Large facilities rarely run a single access control brand across every door. Property portfolios, university campuses, and healthcare networks commonly operate Vicon VAX at one site alongside systems from other manufacturers at other locations. Security ID Systems maintains compatible credential inventory across a broad range of formats, which means a single supplier relationship can cover the full estate.

Common adjacencies in mixed-vendor environments include Software House CCOTZ 37-bit compatible cards, Lenel 42-bit compatible cards, Avigilon compatible cards, and ADT 31-bit compatible proximity cards. When a single facility uses more than one platform, a consolidated order covering all formats reduces procurement overhead and ensures consistent encoding quality across the estate.

Integrators handling multi-vendor deployments will find the full products catalogue useful for cross-referencing format requirements. Each format page documents the underlying protocol, bit-structure, and chip requirements so that substitution decisions can be made with technical precision rather than guesswork.

Request a Vicon Quote

Whether you need a handful of replacement cards for an office re-badge or a multi-site bulk order for a property management portfolio, the process starts with a quote request. Provide your format (LF or HF), facility code, card number range, and quantity. Standard turnaround applies; expedited production is available for urgent requirements.

Security ID Systems is an independent manufacturer and supplier of compatible access-control credentials and is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by Vicon Industries or Farpointe Data.