Inside the I.D. Card

The information contained within and linked to this web page is provided to the Electronic Access Admins, Managers and Maintenance personnel. Documents are for reference purposes only, and are subject to change without notice. Contact the ELECTRONIC ACCESS GROUP eaccess@uoguelph.ca with any questions or concerns.

The H.I.D. iClass I.D. card contains sophisticated technology that is sensitive enough to communicate with the Electronic Access card reader.
The card chip contains the token number which is associated with the access control software and refers to a particular card holder (a.k.a. person).

• The card is primarily made from PVC plastic.
• The iClass card does not contain any personal information
• The iClass chip is connected to a thin copper wire antenna that winds around inside the card.
• iClass cards issued by the university contain only iClass technology.
• Cards with multiple technologies may have more than one antenna inside. (As shown in this example image)

The card can be damaged by the following factors:

• bending the card breaks antenna wires (card in backpack or purse or wallet)
• exposure to high heat (heater, boiling water, clothes dryer, dash board of car)
• exposure to extreme cold (left in the car in the winter cold, used as a window scraper)
• physical damage (punching holes in the card, cutting the card in size)
• exposure to magnetic fields