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Answer: This issue only occurs with H-series card readers in M6 mode, and it happens when the 17  is mistakenly used to change the password instead of the correct command.

Step 1: First, check the following:

1. Does the card reader beep three times when scanning a card?
2. Is the card reader in M6 mode? (Enter 123456 in edit mode; the device should beep six times.)

In M6 mode, all users share a common access password. This means that the 15 and 17 affect the access mode for all users, switching between: "Card or Password" mode  or  "Card + Password" mode

Cause of the Issue:

Most locations use the "Card or Password" access mode, allowing entry with either a card swipe or a password.

• If the administrator correctly uses the 15 to change the password, the system maintains the "Card or Password" mode.
• If the administrator mistakenly uses the 17 , the system switches to "Card + Password" mode, requiring both a card scan and a password for entry. This results in the card reader beeping three times after scanning a card, prompting users to enter a 4-digit access password.

The default value of access function of M6 is Card and PIN, it will have 3 beeps for hinting you input PIN number after card presentation. Access function modification please refer the table below:

Access Mode	Command		Description
Card and PIN	17   ????	15   0000	????=4-digit PIN(0001~9999 ; default value=1234)
Card only	17   0000	15   0000	Can only use cards for access, password access is not allowed.
Card or PIN	17   0000	15   ????	????=4-digit PIN(0001~9999 ; default value=4321)

If you encounter this issue, first confirm that the card reader is in M6 mode and that the access control requirement is "Card or Password."

Then, follow the steps below to re-enter the correct command, allowing the cards to function normally again:

Answer: This issue is more common in M4/M8 modes and can occur for the following reasons:

1. M4/M8 modes allow multiple access passwords (up to the maximum user position limit of the device).

If the user position where you changed the password is different from the one where the previous password was set, you have simply added a new password instead of replacing the old one. This is why you may think the password has been changed, but the old password is still working. See the example below for a detailed explanation.

Example:

Using the AR-721H reader in M4/M8 mode, the user position range for password storage is 0000–1023 (allowing up to 1024 different passwords).

Assume two access passwords were previously set:

• First password: Stored at user position 1000, with the password 5678. The original command used was: 12010005678 .  To change this password to 6543, you must use:12010006543(overwriting position 1000).
• Second password: Stored at user position 1001, with the password 9876. The original command used was: 12010019876 . To change this password to 6666, you must use:   12010016666 (overwriting position 1001).

If you change the password by entering 12000019999, you are simply adding a new password at position 00001, without modifying the existing passwords at positions 01000 or 01001.

The logic is the same for other card reader models—the only differences are the maximum user limit and configuration method (E-Series screen-type readers require changes via the on-screen menu).

※ M6 mode has only one shared password.When changing the password using 15* or 17* commands, the old password should no longer be usable. If the old password still works, please verify that the device is indeed in M6 mode.

• Solution:

If you have confirmed that you are encountering this situation and understand the above setting logic, there are three solutions:

1. If you remember the user location where the password was previously set (e.g., location 1000), simply use the 12 command to change the password. Enter edit mode 123456 ➔ 12010006543 (change the password to 6543) ➔ Exit edit mode
2. If you do not remember the user location where the password was set, you can choose from the following two solutions:
   a. Ask the dealer to bring a laptop to the site, use software to help read the card machine data, confirm the password location, and reset the password.
   b. Reset the card machine. All passwords and cards need to be reset, and any cards that have already been issued need to be collected and re-issued. Please refer to Q3: What is the fastest way to reset the password when the reader operates in standalone mode?

2. In M4/M8 mode, an emergency password was set using the 15 command*

If an emergency password was mistakenly set in M4/M8 mode using the command 159999, entering 9999 will still trigger a door unlock output. However, the emergency function has three main purposes:

1. Logs an emergency event in the software.
2. Triggers a door unlock output, misleading a potential intruder into thinking the user is simply entering a normal access code.
3. Activates an emergency output, which notifies the security system of an ongoing emergency situation.

In summary, while the 15 command can still unlock the door in standalone M4/M8 mode, it is actually an incorrect configuration.

Even if the emergency output (duress output) is not wired, future integration with PC-based software will result in an emergency event being logged for every access attempt, potentially causing confusion and false alarms.

• Solution:

If you have confirmed that you are encountering this situation and understand the above setting logic, there are two solutions:

1. Enter edit mode (default 123456) ➔Enter 15000 (to cancel the card machine's emergency password)➔ Enter 12010006543 (to change the password at user location 1000 to 6543)➔ Exit edit mode.

2. Use the 29 command or the LCD screen menu to reset the card machine. All passwords and cards need to be reset, and any cards that have already been issued need to be collected and re-issued.

For details, please refer to Q3: What is the fastest way to reset the password when the reader operates in standalone mode? ➔ Enter edit mode (default 123456#)➔ Enter 12010006543 (to change the password at user location 1000 to 6543) ➔ Exit edit mode.

Ans: The quickest method is to reset the reader and then reconfigure the password. However, this means that all previously issued cards/key fobs must be collected and re-registered as valid cards.

1. For instructions on adding new cards/key fobs, please refer to the user manual for the specific reader model.

Common user manuals :

➤ H Series Manual

➤AR-725-E Manual

➤E Series Manual

2. For password setup,

refer to ➤ Section 3  : The procedure of access PIN modification

How to reset the Controller:

Controller	H Series Controller	E Series Controller (with Keypad)	E Series Controller  (with LCD Screen)
Image
Command Operation Steps	Step 1. Enter 123456 to access Edit Mode Step 2. Enter command 2929to reset user data Step 3. Enter the command  to exit Edit Mode		Step 1. Enter 123456 to access Edit Mode Step 2. Select 4. Card Reader Parameters (2) Step 3. Select 9. Restore Factory Settings Step 4. Select 1. Reset User Data Step 5. Continue pressing until selecting 6. Exit Edit Mode