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The most visible new part is the entrance unit. Key design goals have been durability, eas of use and installation, not forgetting usability either.

The unit is mainly built of roster steel and has a very durable multi-layered construction. Only two cables need to be brought from the entrance unit into the library; one carrying low voltage power (24V) and the other the data signals. These have a maximum running length of 30 meters from the entrance unit to the IO module.

Note: the power and signal cables are not supplied with the units by default, as they can easily be sourced locally. The power cable should be minimum 2 x 1.0mm2, or 2 x 1.5mm2 recommended. Double cabling can also be used, for example 4 x 0.5mm2 or 4 x 0.75mm2 if such cable is easier to find. The longer the cable run, the more important it is that it is of the thicker variety.

Signal cable must be shielded (STP) Cat5 cable.

Do not exceed 30 meters on either cable without consulting P.V. Supa first!

The unit is entirely operated with the steel keyboard; it has no touch-screen, which allows the screen to be covered under a tough glass, to prevent vandalism or to at least make it a bit more difficult to break anything.

The entrance unit is a “dummy” unit; it has no computer in it, all the logic and data processing is done inside the library, in the server running the entrance software. Thus, should the entrance unit break, changing it or any component in it requires little if any configuration work. It is also kept simple to keep it as inexpensive as possible, as it is the part most exposed to the elements and potential vandalism.