Viking 26-Bit Wiegand Key Ring Fob - PRX-FOB

Viking Electronics PRX-FOB 26-Bit Wiegand Proximity Key Fob

Overview

The Viking Electronics PRX-FOB is a 125kHz proximity key fob programmed to the industry-standard 26-bit Wiegand format — the credential format supported by virtually every access control panel and reader deployed in North American commercial installations over the past three decades. At 38.1mm x 30.5mm x 3.8mm (1.5" x 1.2" x 0.15") and just 3 grams, it attaches to a key ring without bulk, making it a practical choice for end users who resist carrying card credentials.

The PRX-FOB (often searched as PRX FOB) is designed to pair directly with Viking's own access control reader line — including the PRX-1 mullion-mount proximity reader and the PRX-2 and PRX-5 combination proximity reader/keypad models — and will work with any third-party panel or reader that accepts standard 26-bit Wiegand input, which covers the vast majority of deployed hardware in the market.

Important purchase note: programmed credentials are non-cancelable and non-returnable. Confirm your facility code and card number range before ordering.

Key Features

• 26-Bit Standard Wiegand Format: The 26-bit Wiegand protocol is the de facto standard for proximity credentials across commercial proximity readers and panels. Specifying PRX-FOB into an existing Wiegand infrastructure requires zero reader-side reconfiguration — the panel sees it as any other 26-bit credential.
• 125kHz Operating Frequency: Operates on the same 125kHz HF band used by the vast majority of legacy proximity infrastructure. If your readers are already deployed for 125kHz cards, the PRX-FOB slots in without frequency conflicts or reader firmware changes.
• Facility Code Range 2–255: With 254 usable facility codes, a single credential program order can support multi-site deployments or logically segmented access zones within a single property — useful when a facility manager needs to distinguish contractor credential pools from employee pools on the same panel.
• Card Number Range 1–65,535: Up to 65,535 unique card numbers per facility code gives enterprise deployments room to scale without credential collisions. A 500-person office with 10-year churn history typically stays well under 5,000 issued numbers — this range handles even large multi-tenant buildings.
• Compact Key Fob Form Factor: At 38.1mm x 30.5mm x 3.8mm and 3 grams, the fob is genuinely pocketable and key-ring friendly. End-user adoption is higher with fobs than with cards in environments where staff don't typically carry wallets (warehouses, production floors, labs).
• Pairs with Viking PRX Reader Line: Designed to credential-match with the PRX-1 mullion-mount reader, the PRX-2 single-gang reader/keypad, and the PRX-5 flat-surface reader/keypad — giving integrators a closed-loop Viking credential-to-reader chain when the project calls for it. Also compatible with any third-party 26-bit Wiegand reader.

Integration & Compatibility

Because the PRX-FOB outputs standard 26-bit Wiegand, it integrates with any access control panel that accepts this format — including systems from HID, Lenel, Software House, Genetec, and others. No custom reader configuration is required on the panel side. The 125kHz frequency aligns with legacy EM/HID proximity infrastructure; it is not compatible with 13.56MHz smart card readers (MIFARE, DESFire, iCLASS) or mobile credential platforms. If your project is migrating from 125kHz to smart card or mobile credentials, this fob is not the right path — it is a 125kHz passive proximity credential only.

For integrators specifying a full Viking entry solution, the PRX-FOB credentials pair with the Viking Electronics access control line, and the readers in that family connect back to panel infrastructure via standard Wiegand wiring. Pairing reader and credential from the same manufacturer simplifies pre-commissioning testing and support escalation.

For projects where credential management is handled through an enterprise access control platform, confirm your panel's Wiegand bit-length support. A small number of older panels default to 34-bit or proprietary formats — verify 26-bit support before deploying bulk credential orders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the PRX-FOB compatible with non-Viking access control panels?

A: Yes. The PRX-FOB outputs standard 26-bit Wiegand, which is supported by virtually all major access control panels and readers deployed in North American commercial installations. Verify your panel supports 26-bit Wiegand before ordering.

Q: What is the operating frequency of the PRX-FOB?

A: 125kHz. This is compatible with legacy proximity readers (EM, HID Prox, and similar). It is not compatible with 13.56MHz smart card readers (MIFARE, DESFire, iCLASS) or mobile credential platforms.

Q: Can I return or cancel a programmed PRX-FOB order?

A: No. Programmed credentials including the PRX-FOB are non-cancelable and non-returnable. Confirm your facility code and card number assignments before placing the order.

Q: How many unique cardholders can the PRX-FOB credential set support?

A: Card numbers range from 1 to 65,535 per facility code, and facility codes range from 2 to 255 — providing a very large credential space for enterprise or multi-site deployments.

Q: What Viking readers accept the PRX-FOB credential?

A: The PRX-FOB is designed to work with Viking's PRX-1 proximity reader, PRX-2 proximity reader with keypad, and PRX-5 proximity reader with keypad. Any 125kHz 26-bit Wiegand reader from other manufacturers will also accept it.

Q: What are the physical dimensions and weight of the PRX-FOB?

A: 38.1mm x 30.5mm x 3.8mm (1.5" x 1.2" x 0.15") and 3 grams. It is designed for key ring carry.

James Everett

The PRX-FOB's 26-bit Wiegand output at 125kHz is essentially the universal credential passport for North American commercial access control — I've deployed these into facilities running panels from at least a dozen different manufacturers without a single reader-side configuration change. The credential space (facility codes 2–255, card numbers 1–65,535) is more than sufficient for any single-site deployment, and the 3-gram form factor is one of the lightest fobs I've handled in this frequency class.

Technical Highlights:

• 26-Bit Wiegand: Industry-standard format means the PRX-FOB is readable by virtually any proximity panel or reader without custom bit-length configuration — critical when you're credentialing into an existing installed base you don't control.
• Facility Code Range 2–255: 254 usable codes let you logically partition credential pools across departments, contractors, or sub-tenants on a single panel without issuing separate card number ranges — reduces administrative overhead on multi-group sites.
• Card Number Range 1–65,535: At 65,535 unique IDs per facility code, a 200-person site with 20% annual credential turnover has roughly 300 years of headroom before exhausting the number space — practically unlimited for any single-site deployment.

Deployment Considerations:

• Confirm your panel's Wiegand bit-length configuration before submitting a bulk credential order — a small number of older panels default to 34-bit or proprietary formats and won't read 26-bit credentials without a configuration change.
• These are programmed credentials: non-cancelable, non-returnable. Get facility code and card number range signed off by the end client before ordering. A misprogrammed batch is a sunk cost with no path to recovery.

The PRX-FOB is the right credential for any project where the reader infrastructure is already 125kHz Wiegand and the client wants a key-ring form factor — particularly well suited to manufacturing floors, warehouses, and utility facilities where employees don't routinely carry wallets but do carry keys.