--- title: Configuring Readers description: mercury,reader,osdp,wiegand,osdp secure,reader port,configure reader,save and link --- [Skip to content](https://help.alocity.com/knowledge/mercury-configuring-readers#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [SUBMIT A TICKET HERE](https://help.alocity.com/knowledge/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) [![Alocity](https://help.alocity.com/hs-fs/hubfs/alocity-logo%20Full.png?width=181&height=48&name=alocity-logo%20Full.png)](https://www.alocity.com/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations - [SUBMIT A TICKET HERE](https://help.alocity.com/knowledge/kb-tickets/new) - [Contact Support Now](mailto:support@alocity.com) [Contact Support Now](mailto:support@alocity.com) Hello. How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Alocity Help Center (Knowledge Base)](https://help.alocity.com/knowledge?hsLang=en) 2. [Mercury Installation, Setup And Configuration Guide](https://help.alocity.com/knowledge/mercury-installation-setup-and-configuration-guide?hsLang=en) 3. [Setup and Configuration](https://help.alocity.com/knowledge/mercury-installation-setup-and-configuration-guide?hsLang=en#setup-and-configuration) # Configuring Readers ## How to Configure, Link and Test Card Readers on Mercury Controllers Reader ports connect the card readers at each door. This article explains how to configure a reader on a Mercury controller or sub-panel, link it to a door, and test it. > **Note:** You can also set up a reader while creating a door, in the Create Door wizard. See [Creating and Managing Mercury Doors](https://help.alocity.com/knowledge/mercury-doors?hsLang=en). --- ### 1. Open a Reader Port 1. Go to **Hardware** › **ACUs** and click the controller's name. 2. On the **Topology** tab, click the board the device is wired to. 3. Click a reader port, such as **P1** or **P2**. Unassigned ports show **free**. > **Note:** Before making changes, confirm the board shows **MATCHED**. This means the configuration matches the physical hardware. The number of reader ports, inputs and outputs depends on the board model. ![Screenshot 2026-11-05 114016](https://help.alocity.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-11-05%20114016.png?width=670&height=300&name=Screenshot%202026-11-05%20114016.png) Reader settings are on three tabs: **Reader**, **Door & Role** and **Test**. OSDP Secure readers get a fourth tab, **Security**, after they're saved. See section 4. --- ### 2. Reader Tab ![Screenshot 2026-11-05 123133](https://help.alocity.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-11-05%20123133.png?width=386&height=490&name=Screenshot%202026-11-05%20123133.png) | Setting | What to enter | | --- | --- | | **Reader name** | A name that identifies the location and purpose, such as "Main Lobby Entry Reader". It's shown in events and access logs. | | **Model** | **HID Signo 20**, **HID Signo 20K**, **HID Signo 40**, **Alocity R3 (OSDP)** or **Generic Wiegand** (most other readers). | | **Protocol** | **OSDP Secure**, **Wiegand 26** or **Wiegand 34**. It must match how the reader is wired and programmed. Use OSDP Secure where the reader supports it: it encrypts the link between reader and controller. Wiegand is one-way and unencrypted. | | **Bus address** | OSDP only: 0–3. Each OSDP reader on the same port needs a unique address. Greyed out for Wiegand. | | **BAUD rate** | OSDP only: 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, 115200 or 230400. Must match the reader; 9600 is typical. | | **LED & buzzer** | On: the panel drives the reader's light and beeper on grant and deny. | | **Health** | Shows whether the reader is online. Click **Identify** to flash and beep it. | --- ### 3. Door & Role Tab | Setting | What to enter | | --- | --- | | **Linked door** | The door this reader controls. Check it carefully: a wrong door puts events under the wrong opening. | | **Role on this door** | **Entry**: the reader people use to enter the secured area. **Exit**: the reader people use to leave it. **Single**: the only reader on the door. | | **Access Mode** | **Card or Mobile**, **Mobile only** or **Card + PIN**. | | **Schedule** | **Always (24/7)** or one of the account's schedules, such as **Business Hours**. Schedules define **who** has access, **where** and **when**. See [Adding Schedules](https://help.alocity.com/knowledge/adding-schedules?hsLang=en). | ![Screenshot 2026-11-05 123339](https://help.alocity.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-11-05%20123339.png?width=339&height=299&name=Screenshot%202026-11-05%20123339.png) --- ### 4. Save and Link OSDP Secure Readers OSDP Secure encrypts everything between the reader and the controller, so a card number can't be captured from the reader cable. After an OSDP Secure reader is saved, the controller and reader must be **linked**: they exchange an encryption key, and only then is the connection encrypted. This applies to third-party OSDP readers and to Alocity devices wired to a Mercury reader port. #### Save the reader With **OSDP Secure** selected, the footer reads **OSDP Secure needs a link after saving** and offers: - **Save & link**: saves the reader and starts the link right away. Use this when the reader is wired, powered and online. - **Save only**: saves without linking, for example if the reader isn't installed yet. Link it later from the **Security** tab. - **Cancel**: closes without saving. *![Screenshot 2026-11-05 120310](https://help.alocity.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-11-05%20120310.png?width=622&height=862&name=Screenshot%202026-11-05%20120310.png)* #### Check and link from the Security tab Once an OSDP Secure reader is saved, the drawer shows the reader's name and gains a fourth tab, **Security**, between Reader and Door & Role. While the reader isn't linked: - The header shows a gold **OSDP Secure · Not linked** badge, and the Security tab shows a **!**. - On the controller's Topology tab, the reader port is shaded gold with a lock icon. - The Security tab shows the panel port and the reader side by side, marked **Not encrypted**, with the reader's status (for example, **Online**). 1. Open the reader port and select the **Security** tab. 2. Check that the reader shows **Online**. If it doesn't, check its wiring, power, bus address and baud rate first. 3. Click **Link reader**. The panel and reader exchange an encryption key. 4. When the link is established, the connection shows a green "OSDP SECURE \* Linked" the orange warning clears. 5. Click **Done**. *![Screenshot 2026-11-05 120343](https://help.alocity.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-11-05%20120343.png?width=631&height=883&name=Screenshot%202026-11-05%20120343.png)* > **Note:** Link the reader again whenever the pairing changes: after replacing or factory resetting the reader, changing its bus address, or moving it to another controller or port. > **Tip:** The **OSDP Secure** card on the Hardware page's ACUs tab shows the percentage of paired readers across your controllers. Use it to spot readers that still need linking. Wiegand readers have no link step. Click **Save**. --- ### 5. Test Tab - **Identify** (LED + beep): confirms you're configuring the right physical reader. - **Test swipe**: shows the next card read, with its data and format. - **Link health**: checks latency and error rate. Repeated errors point to wiring, address, termination or power problems. ![Screenshot 2026-11-05 123701](https://help.alocity.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-11-05%20123701.png?width=340&height=307&name=Screenshot%202026-11-05%20123701.png) > **Note:** Card formats are set for the whole account in Settings › Card formats, not per reader. A card can be read but still denied if its format isn't loaded. See [Card Formats](https://help.alocity.com/knowledge/card-formats?hsLang=en). --- ### 6. Checklist 1. Model and protocol match the reader. 2. For OSDP, the address and baud rate match, and the Security tab shows the reader linked. 3. The reader is linked to the correct door and role. 4. Access mode and schedule are correct. 5. Identify and Test swipe work. Next, configure the door's inputs ([Configuring Inputs](https://help.alocity.com/knowledge/mercury-configuring-inputs?hsLang=en)) and lock relay ([Configuring Relay Outputs and Locks](https://help.alocity.com/knowledge/mercury-configuring-relay-outputs-and-locks?hsLang=en)). 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