Access Reader Troubleshooting Guide

Modified on Wed, 18 Aug, 2021 at 2:02 PM

If your property uses a LittleBird Access Reader, it's important to understand the main issues of the access reader and their solutions. If at any point during troubleshooting you determine the access reader needs to be replaced or that you require replacement equipment, please contact LittleBird Support by phone (602-775-5360) or email ([email protected]).

Access reader sounds

If your access reader starts beeping with a constant or intermittent beeping tone, or if it doesn’t produce any sounds when it should, you may need to troubleshoot this issue. Here are a few things to check for on your access reader.

Constant/Intermittent beeping from the access reader

The access reader may start beeping with a constant or intermittent beeping tone.

Here are a few things to check if this is happening to your access reader.

Check the wiring in the back of the access reader. A wire that was improperly installed, or touching another wire will cause the access reader to beep continuously. Make sure that the yellow wire was not accidentally connected to the power wire, or placed touching another wire. If the wire is exposed, you can try an easy fix of applying a piece of electrical tape around the end of the brown wire.

Check the voltage input that’s powering your access reader. If the current is too low, the access reader may start to slowly beep or sound delayed as the access reader starts up. You’ll know that the access reader is receiving the proper voltage because it will give a solid, quick beep and the LED light will turn solid red.

Note: Optimal voltage for the access reader should be 12V, 50mA. However the unit will function with any voltage amount between 9V and 18V.

No sound when a card or fob is presented

When an access card or fob is presented to the access reader, the unit should make one quick beep before the gate or door opens. If the access reader makes no sound, it’s a good idea to check out your access reader’s audio settings.

Remove the access reader from its mount, and look at the back of the unit. You’ll see a small bank of pins. The middle-seated pins are the pins that control the buzzer. If these pins do not have a pin jumper the access reader will not sound when a card is presented.
If the pin jumper is not with the unit, you will need to contact LittleBird Support for a replacement jumper.

LED is solid green

When properly installed, the access reader shows a solid red light, and then switches to a green light when an authorized card or fob is presented to the access reader, and then back to solid red. You might come across an issue of your access reader showing a solid green LED light. Most of the time, this issue can be easily corrected by simply scanning a card or fob, or power cycling the system.

If the solid green light still doesn’t change to a solid red LED light, then it’s a good idea to check the wiring on your access reader to make sure the red, black, green, and white wires are all connected properly.

Note: While you’re checking the wiring, it’s worth additionally checking on the brown wire in the back of the access reader to make sure it’s not exposed and shorted against any other wires. If the brown wire is exposed, the easiest solution is to cut off any exposed wire and place a small amount of electrical tape around the end of the wire.

Access reader does not respond

If your access reader has been installed but does not appear to respond to an authorized card or fob, first check the wiring to the access reader, and measure the voltage going to the unit on the positive and negative wires.

Note: Optimal voltage for the access reader should be 12V, 50mA. However, the unit will function with any voltage amount between 9V and 18V.

If the correct voltage is going to the access reader and it still does not respond to the card or fob, the access reader may need to be replaced. Contact LittleBird Support by phone or email to begin the replacement process.

If the access reader is still functional but no LED light is visible, you may need to replace the access reader in order to have a functioning LED light.

Access reader not found on the LittleBird app

LittleBird smartphone credentials rely on the Bluetooth and NFC features of your phone. If either of these functions are not enabled, you will not see the access reader in your LittleBird app. If you do not see the access reader in your LittleBird app, here are a few steps you can try.

Check that both of these features are enabled on your mobile device. If Bluetooth and NFC features are not enabled, take a moment to enable them on your device, and look for the access reader once again in the LittleBird mobile app.

Note: For optimal testing results mobile credentials should be conducted with an Iphone7 phone or newer, or an Android phone manufactured after 2015.

If the access reader still doesn’t appear in the app, and if possible, have a second person check for the access reader function within the app on a different device to rule out the possibility of a phone error.

If the access reader still doesn’t appear in another user’s app on a second device, download an app called “NFC Tools.” or "NRF Connect" This type of app can be used to scan for broadcasted Bluetooth devices and will list them by the devices’ ID number. Assuming the device shows up on the nRF connect app, the ID number will be the same number that matches the ID tag on the back of your access reader, usually found on the backside of the access reader mounting plate. Here’s an example of what such an ID code might look like:

Ex: 25c7e248456c5f3b

Note: The above code is a sample device ID. Your own device ID will not match the one above but this will give you an idea of what to look for.

If the device ID in the nRF app appears, this indicates that the access reader is functioning properly, so it’s likely the issue is related to the phone or mobile device, and the access reader should be tested further with different phones and/or devices.

If you are not able to see the device ID this means that the access reader is not broadcasting like it should and will need to be replaced with a new access reader.