Kantech HID-C1326 ProxCard II 26-Bit Wiegand Card
The Kantech HID-C1326 is a standard-format proximity credential card engineered for HID ProxCard II access control systems and compatible 26-bit Wiegand readers. Built on proven proximity technology, this card delivers reliable authentication across enterprise campuses, government facilities, and multi-tenant infrastructure where high-volume credential issuance and rotation are routine operational needs. The clamshell form factor provides durability against daily wear, and 100-unit minimum order quantities align with typical facility rollout and periodic refresh cycles.
Key Features
- 26-Bit Wiegand Protocol: Industry-standard format ensures compatibility with HID ProxCard II readers and legacy 26-bit Wiegand infrastructure without custom integration.
- Clamshell Card Design: Rigid card stock withstands pocket and badge-reel wear; secure credential embedding prevents delamination.
- OEM Part K901300A: Consistent part numbering guarantees interchangeability and predictable performance across standardized deployments.
- Bulk Ordering (100-Unit Increments): Minimum order of 100 cards supports initial facility rollouts and planned credential replacement without excess inventory.
- ProxCard II System Integration: Direct compatibility with HID ProxCard II reader platforms; no reader firmware or protocol translation required.
- Large-Scale Credential Management: Designed for enterprises managing thousands of credentials across multiple facilities and regular turnover cycles.
The HID-C1326 operates on the ubiquitous 26-bit Wiegand protocol, a de facto standard for proximity-based access control since the 1980s. This protocol encodes 8 facility code bits and 16 cardholder ID bits, yielding approximately 65,000 unique identities per facility code — adequate for most corporate and institutional deployments. Because 26-bit Wiegand is read-only (no encryption or challenge-response), credential cloning is theoretically possible; organizations requiring cryptographic security should evaluate iCLASS or NFC-based alternatives. For standard facility badge issuance, however, 26-bit proximity remains the lowest-friction option on legacy HID infrastructure.
Deployment contexts range from corporate campus badge systems and government building access to healthcare ID credentialing and multi-tenant commercial real estate. The card's durability and simplicity make it the default credential for high-turnover environments (contract workers, seasonal staff, frequent visitors). In facilities with 500+ active credentials, bulk ordering in 100-unit lots reduces per-card cost and simplifies supply-chain management. Most integrators maintain standing inventory of blank HID ProxCard II stock to support same-day card issuance and emergency credential replacement.
Integration is straightforward: any HID-compatible reader accepting 26-bit Wiegand input will communicate with these cards via standard Wiegand protocol (D0/D1 signal lines to the access control panel or controller). No special drivers, firmware updates, or protocol bridges are required. Reader programming (facility code, cardholder ID ranges, access group mappings) happens in the access control management software (Kantech's own controllers, or third-party panels supporting Wiegand input). Card issuance typically uses a dedicated card encoder or badging station; OEM part K901300A ensures that blank stock remains compatible with existing encoding workflows.
From a lifecycle perspective, 26-bit proximity cards are one of the lowest-cost credentials available. Per-card material cost is minimal, and reader hardware is mature and widely available as replacement stock. The trade-off is lack of encryption and limited audit trail (the card itself stores no transaction history). Organizations prioritizing forensic accountability or resisting credential cloning should pair 26-bit Wiegand rollout with reader-side validation (e.g., facility code checks, lost/stolen card blocking lists in the access control panel). For standard facility badge programs where convenience and cost dominate, HID-C1326 cards remain industry-standard infrastructure.
Marty AllisonPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
We've specified the Kantech HID-C1326 in hundreds of facility badge programs over the past decade, and it remains the workhorse credential for HID ProxCard II infrastructure. The real value isn't in the card itself — it's that 26-bit Wiegand is a solved, commoditized standard. Every access control panel manufacturer from Kantech to Honeywell to Salto supports it. Every card encoder in the market can print and encode HID ProxCard II blanks. This means your credential supply chain is locked into no single vendor; you can source C1326 equivalents from multiple distributors, and your readers will accept them without reconfiguration. In a 10-year-old access control system where you can't justify a full platform upgrade, HID-C1326 cards let you sustain badge issuance indefinitely. The clamshell design is also genuinely durable — we see five-year-old cards still readable in high-turnover environments where cheap PVC stock delaminated years ago. The one hard constraint: 26-bit Wiegand has no built-in encryption or replay protection. If a cardholder's badge is compromised, the access control panel relies on administrative revocation to block it; the card itself can be cloned with commodity RFID hardware. For most office and light industrial facilities, this is an acceptable trade-off. For sensitive government, healthcare, or financial environments, you need iCLASS or NFC credentials with mutual authentication and encryption. Know which camp you're in before specifying.
Technical Highlights:
- 26-Bit Wiegand (8-Bit Facility + 16-Bit Cardholder): Encodes up to 256 facility codes and 65,536 card IDs per facility — sufficient for most corporate and government deployments. Read-only format means no on-card encryption; authentication relies entirely on panel-side revocation lists and time-based access rules.
- ProxCard II Clamshell Form Factor: Rigid PVC/polyester laminate resists pocket wear and badge-reel stress; standard 3.375" × 2.125" badge dimensions fit all commercial ID badge readers and printing systems. Embedded proximity chip is centered for optimal reader range (typically 2–6 inches).
- OEM Part K901300A Consistency: Kantech's standard part numbering ensures that replacement stock ordered years apart remains electronically and physically identical. No surprise reader incompatibilities or encoding workflow disruptions when you refresh your badge stock.
- Bulk Ordering in 100-Unit Lots: 100-card minimum aligns with typical facility issuance cycles (new-hire onboarding, seasonal contract staff, periodic badge replacement). Volume pricing kicks in at 100, 500, and 1,000+ quantities; work with your distributor on standing orders if you issue 50+ badges per month.
- No Reader Firmware or Integration Complexity: Wiegand is hardwired protocol — D0/D1 lines from reader to panel. No IP networking, HTTPS configuration, or device firmware updates required. Especially valuable for legacy Kantech controllers and standalone reader installations where IT infrastructure is minimal.
Deployment Considerations:
- 26-Bit Wiegand is read-only and offers no encryption. Implement reader-side controls (facility code validation, lost/stolen revocation lists, time-based access policies) in the access control panel to compensate. For high-security environments, evaluate iCLASS or NFC alternatives.
- Card read range is typically 2–6 inches depending on reader antenna design and interference. Test reader placement during installation; metal-rich walls or RFID-dense areas (warehouses with RFID pallet tracking) can reduce effective range by 30–40%.
- OEM part K901300A is the canonical Kantech equivalent. Compatible generic 26-bit Wiegand proximity cards exist from HID and others, but mixing brands in the same facility introduces support and quality-control risk. Standardize on HID-C1326 to ensure reader diagnostics and encoder compatibility.
- Card issuance requires a dedicated card encoder or badging station (typically USB-connected barcode scanner + encoder software). Verify your encoder supports ProxCard II 26-bit format before ordering bulk stock; some older systems only support legacy 35-bit or iCLASS encoding.
- Plan for periodic credential replacement (every 3–5 years) due to wear, badge redesigns, or facility rebrandings. With 100-unit minimums, establish a standing inventory refresh schedule to avoid stockouts or obsolete badge designs.
The HID-C1326 is the right choice for facilities running mature HID ProxCard II infrastructure where cost-per-credential and supply-chain simplicity are paramount. If you need cryptographic security, multi-factor authentication, or mobile credential support, step up to iCLASS or NFC. For standard badge issuance on proven access control panels, Kantech HID-C1326 delivers 20+ years of proven reliability. See the Kantech catalog for controller and reader options compatible with these credentials.
