FAQ Access Control Systems

Fully Licensed: Yes. Access control and security camera installations require strict state
licensing. We hold active, state-mandated security alarm licenses in both New York and
New Jersey.

Coverage Area: We provide full deployment and rapid dispatch service across Northern
and Central New Jersey, as well as all boroughs of New York City.

No Ongoing Licensing Fees: DSX utilizes a site-license model. Once installed,
there are no monthly or annual recurring software fees. You can add cardholders,
doors, and workstations without being hit with expansion upcharges.

Rock-Solid Hardware Autonomy: Every DSX controller operates as a fully
independent, intelligent processor. If your local network or server drops, the
individual doors retain all memory, time zones, and user privileges, remaining
100% operational.

Browser-Based Management: Avigilon Unity is built on a hardened, Linux-
based appliance. There is no client software to install; administrators can
manage identities and permissions securely from any web browser or mobile
device.

Unrivaled Scalability: Perfect for growing mid-sized operations up to massive
enterprise footprints, supporting up to 4,000 doors per appliance with hot-standby
auto-failover for zero downtime.

Unified Security Ecosystem: Avigilon Unity Access seamlessly unifies with
Avigilon Unity Video. When an access event occurs (such as a forced door or a
specific credential scan), operators instantly see the associated live or recorded
video feed to visually verify personnel identities and threats in real time.

Battery Backed Security: All of our installations include dedicated backup battery
enclosures. If your facility loses mains power, the intelligent door controllers continue to
run seamlessly on battery power for several hours, keeping your perimeter secure and
your logs active.

Fail-Secure vs. Fail-Safe: We configure magnetic locks and electronic strikes based on
strict local NY/NJ life-safety codes. Fire exit doors automatically release during a fire
alarm event, while secure data spaces remain locked from the outside to protect assets.

Electric Strikes: These replace the standard lip of a door frame. They keep the door
securely latched mechanically. If power is lost, they can be configured to stay locked
from the outside while allowing free mechanical exit from inside.

Magnetic Locks (Maglocks): These use an electromagnetic plate affixed to the top of
the door frame. They require constant power to stay locked. Because they completely seal
the door shut via magnetic force, local fire codes strictly dictate they must instantly drop
power and unlock during a fire alarm event.

It Depends on Your Preference:

If you deploy DSX, a local PC or server acts as the central database manager, but
the physical controllers operate independently.

If you choose Avigilon Unity, the system runs off a hardened network appliance,
allowing you to manage everything securely via web browser without a traditional
Windows server.

Mobile Credential Support: Yes. Both DSX and Avigilon Unity support mobile access.
Employees can present their smartphones to a smart reader via Bluetooth or NFC to
unlock doors.

Easy Provisioning: Administrators can instantly issue or revoke mobile credentials via
the management portal, eliminating the cost and administrative hassle of replacing lost
physical fobs.

Legacy Compatibility: Not necessarily. We frequently install multi-technology readers
that read both older 125kHz legacy proximity cards and modern, highly secure
13.56MHz smart credentials. This allows you to phase out old cards over time rather than
buying hundreds of new fobs on day one.

Code Enforcement Compliance: In NYC and across New Jersey, access control
installations must adhere strictly to National Electrical Code (NEC) regulations, NFPA
101 Life Safety Codes, and local building inspector mandates.

Professional Layouts: Because Comtex is a licensed security alarm business, our
installations integrate directly with your building's master fire alarm panel to ensure fail-
safe emergency egress compliance without compromising structural security.

Multi-Tenant Partitioning: Yes. Both systems allow us to partition a single building
deployment. A commercial landlord can manage master access for common areas,
loading docks, and exterior gates, while individual tenants retain private control over
their specific warehouse or office suites.

Retrofit Specialists: Frequently, yes. In many cases, the physical lock hardware, door
strikes, and field cabling are still perfectly usable. We can often replace your outdated
head-end panels with modern DSX or Avigilon controllers, saving you substantial capital
on new wiring and labor.

Direct Tech Dispatch: Because we serve a concentrated footprint (Northern/Central NJ
and the NYC boroughs), our technical teams are deployed locally every day. When you
call our office, you talk to a real person immediately, and we prioritize emergency service
requests for critical perimeters.

Real-Time Audit Trails: Yes. Both DSX and Avigilon platforms record the exact date,
time, and location of every single credential scan.

Custom Reporting: You can easily run reports filtering by individual employees,
specific departments, or specific doors. These audit logs can be exported directly to CSV
or PDF to assist your HR or management teams with time-verification needs.

Instant Deactivation: You can terminate access rights immediately through the system's
management software interface. The moment you disable the credential, it is instantly
pushed out to all physical door controllers, rendering the card or mobile token useless
across the entire property.

Negligible Bandwidth Footprint: No. Door controllers pass tiny data packets (just basic
alphanumeric card numbers and timestamps) back to the database. They will not cause
lag on your corporate network or interfere with day-to-day operations.

Hardened Architecture:

DSX systems run on localized local networks or secure workstations, meaning
your database isn’t sitting exposed out on the public web.

Avigilon Unity systems use Linux-based embedded appliances featuring end-to-
end data encryption and strict user authentication rules to block unauthorized
network access.

Industrial Integration: Yes. We frequently wire access control relay outputs directly
into motorized gate operators and commercial overhead door lift systems. This allows
employees to open security gates or loading docks using the exact same card, fob, or
mobile token they use for the office front doors.

Built to Last: With commercial-grade hardware like DSX and Avigilon, the physical
infrastructure is incredibly durable. It is common for our head-end control panels and
wiring deployments to operate flawlessly for 15 to 20 years or more. Software and
readers can be easily updated over time without needing to replace the foundational core
of your system.

Instant Rights Management: High turnover is a reality in logistics. With our platforms,
you can issue temporary credentials that automatically expire after a set duration (e.g., a
peak season contract). If an employee leaves unexpectedly, their badge or mobile access
can be revoked instantly from the management console, rendering it dead across the
entire facility immediately.

Bulk Provisioning: HR or shift supervisors can rapidly program and distribute batches of
fobs or cards to new shift teams without complex administrative overhead.