It is not a secret that very widespread 125 kHz read-only RFID cards can be cloned with inexpensive and accessible equipment that have become quite widely used. Several key makers (in shopping malls, etc.) can duplicate in addition to your regular keys made from metal also your digital key stored on a RFID card or key fob. Banking cards and other secure RFID cards have their security on another level.
Atmel Temic cards T5577 contain a T5577 chip, and its basic component is the Atmel® ATA5577M1330C IDIC® chip that operates on a frequency of 125 kHz and has a programmable memory.
The T5577 chip is the latest version of the T55xx chip and is compatible with the previous versions, the T5557 and T5566.
The T5577 is used for several applications. It is quite common in older hotel systems where the room management system generates a temporary key and it stores it on the card, and is also used in amusement parks, wellness centers, etc.
Lately, the chip has become very popular for cloning the ID from other 125 kHz cards or key fobs. It can store an ID key from 125 kHz read-only chips like EM4100, EM4102, EM4200, and TK4100. When programmed, it works like the original card and is hard to see any a difference at all.
The T5577 chip gives multiple opportunities to users and facilitates the work of property managers as well. If a user has a key on a card, it can copy it to a key fob or a sticker. The property manager can issue multiple key cards with a same key (for example for multiple family members), and if he uses offline standalone access control systems he does not have to go physically to the property.
By default, the chip is blank and needs to be programmed before the standard 125 kHz reader can read it.
The T5577 cards are bright white, without numeration or other printed elements. The top layers are coated and can be printed with all kinds of card printers (thermo transfer or thermo retransfer printers).
When printing background pictures or other more involved artwork, we recommend to use a thermal retransfer printer. For serialization with QR codes, barcodes, other numbering or personalization with names, you may use any kind of desktop card printers.
If you need 500 printed cards or more, it is usually better and more cost effective to print the cards with offset printing technology during the manufacturing process. This kind of printing requires special equipment and is usually done with specialized card manufacturers. For the printing, we usually use digital printing with CMYK colors which we combine with silk screen printing when there is a need for Pantone colors or metallic effects (golden colors, silver, glitter, etc.).
Reading test for 125 kHz cards T5577 (after the encoding)
The reading distance between the card and the reader is affected by many different factors, like the size of the antennas and quality of the chips, the interferences of metal and electromagnetic signals, etc.
We tested the programmed 125 kHz cards T5577 with different kind of readers and measured the reading distances. This is not an official test, and it was made to inform you about what reading distances you may expect with your application.
Below are the distances we measured with our test:
Technical specification
Manufacturer: Atmel Temic
Chip: T5577 (basic component: Atmel® ATA5577M1330C IDIC® chip)
Compatible with: EM4100, EM4102, TK4100, T5557
Frequency: 125 kHz
Reading distance: up to 9 cm (depending on reader)
Card dimensions: CR80 (85.60 x 53.98mm)
Thickness: 0.84 mm
Material: PVC
Printing options: offset print, thermo re-transfer, thermo transfer
You are welcome to check also our other products with chip T5577
T5577 stickers, key fobs, wristbands:
https://rfidspecialist.eu/store.html#p=235
If you have any questions send an email to info@rfidspecialist.eu or call +38641 884 124 and we will be happy to help you.