Key takeaways
- Avigilon's FAQ says Openpath access control has been rebranded under the Avigilon name. Avigilon prices Alta by customized quote.
- Avigilon's Single Door Controller page describes its readers on CAT 5/6 cable with RS-485 signaling.
- Any door with a maglock, a fail-safe lock or an exit device needs its release checked on a swap. Your fire marshal or AHJ determines compliance.
- Elwin Security starts with a site walk or service call, then plans the work around the property.
What Avigilon Alta is, and what a swap has to replace
Avigilon describes Alta as a cloud-native security platform. Its FAQ says Openpath access control has been rebranded under the Avigilon name. The old openpath.com address now redirects to avigilon.com/access-control.
The hardware on the wall is the Core Series. The 12/24V 4-Door Smart Hub supports four Avigilon readers and four doors, with two AUX relays and 12 to 24 V locking hardware. The 8-Door Smart Hub supports eight readers and the Large 16-Door Smart Hub sixteen.
Avigilon says the 4-Door Smart Hub combines an ACU, an expansion board and a power supply in one enclosure, and stores its cloud configurations locally for an outage. Smaller jobs use the Single Door Controller, a PoE or PoE+ unit for up to two entries and two Avigilon readers.
That product page is where Avigilon describes its reader wiring: CAT 5/6 cable with industry standard RS-485 signaling, plus configurable inputs for Wiegand devices. The Smart Reader pages list HF and LF key cards, fobs, Cloud Key credentials and the mobile or watch app.
Avigilon prices Alta by customized quote. Avigilon's Alta page says an Avigilon Alta security expert can provide a customized quote based on your needs.
Elwin installs, configures and supports access control for apartment buildings, condominiums and HOAs across the Bay Area, and plans each system around the building on a site walk.
What a swap keeps and what it replaces
Two interfaces carry a reader to a controller. Wiegand is the legacy interface.
Swiftlane's door controller data sheet lists a 6 conductor (shielded), 18-24 AWG recommended reader cable.
Avigilon's Single Door Controller page describes its readers on CAT 5/6 cable with RS-485 signaling. Whether an existing reader run can carry a new reader depends on its conductor count, gauge and length. Elwin checks that at each door before quoting.
The readers are the first question. Avigilon's Single Door Controller page describes connecting Avigilon readers with CAT 5/6 cables and industry standard RS-485 signaling. Ask each vendor in writing whether it supports your existing readers before you count on reusing them.
Kisi's Controller Pro 2 sheet describes keeping existing wiring, readers and credentials. ButterflyMX says its controller installs over existing access control wiring, and Verkada says existing readers and keycards can stay.
Each of the six alternatives has relays for the door hardware. Kisi lists 12 generic inputs configurable as contact sensor, request to exit or tamper detection, Swiftlane's door controller data sheet lists 4 REX and 4 DPS inputs, and ButterflyMX's 2-Door Controller lists two REX inputs and two door state sensor inputs.
The strike or maglock, its power supply and the exit device stay where they test good, and Elwin reads each relay rating against the lock.
See all before and after photos
For how the lock side is wired and powered, see electrified locks and power transfer and maglock release and egress requirements.
Each alternative on an apartment or HOA door
Elwin's Kisi, PDK and ButterflyMX pages describe how each is scoped on a site walk. Elwin also works with Brivo, Verkada and Swiftlane hardware.
Kisi
Kisi's Controller Pro 2 allows the connection of up to four doors, with four dry or wet relays and 12 generic inputs configurable as contact sensor, request to exit or tamper detection. The Reader Pro 2 is an Ethernet or Wi-Fi device, PoE Class 2 at 6.49 W maximum; it reads Android and iOS phones over BLE and NFC, Kisi and third-party high-frequency cards and fobs, and low-frequency cards and fobs.
Brivo
The ACS300 handles up to two doors, powers from a PoE+ switch and is designated for indoor use only. Brivo Smart Readers read Brivo mobile credentials, 13.56 MHz encrypted smart cards and 125 kHz proximity cards over OSDP or Wiegand, with an IP55 rating.
PDK
The Red Cloud Node is the main controller and doubles as a single-door controller with a 2 A relay; the Red 4 adds four doors with four 2 A relays and four reader ports. PDK's Cloud Node lists built-in Ethernet connectivity, and its Red 4 datasheet says Red WiMAC wireless or PoE++ Module Kit options are available for plug-and-play connection. PDK's controller page also lists the Red 1, Red 2 and Red 8, and its standard readers use 125 kHz, 26 bit Wiegand communication protocol.
Verkada
The AC12 is a one-door controller on a single PoE cable; the AC43 takes four doors on 100-240 VAC and the AC62 sixteen. Each door gets a reader port for a Verkada/RS-485 or Wiegand reader, and the AC43 sheet lists Verkada or third-party OSDP and Wiegand readers. Verkada's access control page says its access control devices come with a 10-year warranty.
ButterflyMX
The 2 Door Controller has two ButterflyMX reader ports, two 12 VDC 1 A wet relays and two 24 VDC 4 A dry relays, on Ethernet or Wi-Fi. It adds door state and REX inputs, a fire relay input and a battery backup input.
Swiftlane
Swiftlane's door controller data sheet lists two reader ports with TTL Wiegand data input, four Form C output relays rated 5A at 125 VAC or 30 VDC, eight unsupervised inputs (4 REX, 4 DPS) and 12-24 V DC primary power. The ACU stores credentials locally for offline operation and supports up to 64 expansion boards and intercom readers.
What the published prices say
Kisi's pricing page and ButterflyMX's shop page list hardware prices. Kisi's software is by quote, with discounts for annual contracts.
Estimate for four doors, hardware list price only.
The per-door install ranges are inaccess control cost per door, and the retrofit path is in repair, retrofit or replace.
Which alternative fits which building
Start with what is on the doors today. Verkada's access control page says "Continue using your existing readers and keycards, or upgrade to Verkada's on your schedule."
Swiftlane's SwiftReader X combines a video intercom with face, mobile, PIN and card access and has three relays.
Verkada's AC12 runs on one PoE cable and Brivo's ACS300 on a PoE+ switch, both for indoor use only.
Bring these to the site walk:
- The make and model of each reader, and its cable's conductor count.
- Which doors have maglocks or fail-safe locks tied to the fire alarm.
- Where the current hub sits, and whether there is Ethernet and power at each door for a PoE controller or an Ethernet reader.
Questions about replacing Avigilon Alta
Is Openpath the same as Avigilon Alta?
Yes, as the brand it became. Avigilon's FAQ says Openpath access control has been rebranded under the Avigilon name. Avigilon describes Alta as a cloud-native security platform.
Can I keep my Openpath readers if I switch platforms?
Plan on replacing them. Avigilon's Single Door Controller page describes connecting to Avigilon readers with CAT 5/6 cables and industry standard RS-485 signaling. The reader cable can stay where its conductor count, gauge and length suit the new reader, which the installer checks at each door.
Which alternatives accept third-party Wiegand or OSDP readers?
PDK's Cloud Node and Red 4 list OSDP, and ButterflyMX's controller has two ButterflyMX reader ports.
Do the doors keep working if the internet goes down?
Brivo's panel page says panels enforce local rules and synchronize activity once connectivity is restored, Kisi lists three fallback mechanisms for unlocking doors or elevators with no internet connection, and ButterflyMX's fact sheet says it provides access even when the internet is down. Kisi's controller page lists three fallback mechanisms for unlocking with no internet connection. ButterflyMX's controller stores logs, codes and fobs onboard and provides access through a power loss when a backup battery is installed.
What does it cost to replace Avigilon Alta with one of these?
Avigilon's Alta page offers a customized quote through an Avigilon Alta security expert, and Kisi's pricing page says to contact them for a customized Kisi quote. For installation pricing, request a site walk.
Does Elwin install these systems?
Elwin installs, configures and supports Kisi, PDK and ButterflyMX access control, with ButterflyMX-certified technicians for ButterflyMX, and works with Brivo, Verkada and Swiftlane hardware. That covers apartment, condominium and HOA properties across the Bay Area. Request a site walk and the readers, locks, cable and network at each door are checked before a quote.
See all before and after photos
Sources and further reading
These sources back up the general guidance. Your building and the people who approve the work decide the details for your doors.
- Avigilon: Access control: FAQ on Openpath being rebranded under the Avigilon name
- Avigilon: Avigilon Alta: cloud-native platform, customized quote
- Avigilon: 12/24V 4-Door Core Series Smart Hub
- Avigilon: 12/24V 8-Door Core Series Smart Hub
- Avigilon: Boards and panels: Core Series hubs, Single Door Controller, Access Control Core
- Avigilon: Single Door Controller: CAT 5/6 with RS-485 signaling, Wiegand device inputs
- Avigilon: Door readers and intercoms: RS-485 wiring
- Avigilon: Standard Smart Reader: supported credentials
- Avigilon: Mullion Smart Reader v2: supported credentials
- Avigilon: Warranty page
- Security Industry Association: Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP): IEC 60839-11-5:2020, Secure Channel
- Kisi: Controller Pro 2 installation reference (updated October 12, 2026)
- Kisi: Controller Pro 2 and Wiegand board KD-WB1 product sheet
- Kisi: Controller Pro Series product page: offline fallback mechanisms
- Kisi: Keypad readers on the Wiegand board (updated October 12, 2026)
- Kisi: Reader Pro 2 reference (updated October 12, 2026)
- Kisi: Pricing: Controller Pro 2, Reader Pro 2, Wiegand board, 5-year hardware warranty
- Brivo: Control panels: ACS300, ACS-SDC, ACS6100
- Brivo: ACS300 Quick Reference Sheet v1.9
- Brivo: ACS6100 Series Control Panel data sheet (2025)
- Brivo: Brivo Smart Readers data sheet (2025)
- ProdataKey: Controllers: Red Cloud Node, Red 1, Red 2, Red 4, Red 8
- ProdataKey: Red Cloud Node datasheet, REV 06032024
- ProdataKey: Red 4 controller datasheet, REV 06032024
- ProdataKey: Red Readers V2 datasheet, REV 03062026
- ProdataKey: Standard readers: 125 kHz 26-bit Wiegand
- Verkada: Access controllers overview: AC12, AC43, AC62 (September 2026)
- Verkada: AC12 overview with MSRP and door license pricing (July 2026)
- Verkada: Pricing (MSRP): AC12, AC43, AC62, AD34, AD64
- Verkada: Access control: existing readers can stay, 10-year warranty
- Verkada: Badge reader support: Wiegand six outputs, OSDP four outputs
- ButterflyMX: 2 Door Controller: price and specifications
- ButterflyMX: Cloud-based access controller fact sheet, Rev. 03/17/2023
- ButterflyMX: Keypad Reader cut sheet, v1 (updated 12/20/23)
- ButterflyMX: Keypad Reader: price and integrations
- ButterflyMX: Pricing: software per apartment unit per year
- Swiftlane: Data sheets index: DCU 5.2 up to four entrances
- Swiftlane: Door Controller SL-DCU5-C1 technical datasheet (UL 294)
- Swiftlane: Access Control Unit datasheet (UL 294)
- Swiftlane: Z-10 card reader datasheet
- Swiftlane: SwiftReader X data sheet