I wanted a cheap and easy way to gain entry into my office and secure it without having to carry a key.
The ROTHULT cabinet locks from IKEA are horrible as far as security and read range, but are really cheap which is perfect for my current application.
I started by disassembling the current unit and unsolder the RFID antenna. Once unsoldered I had to widen the hole a bit to accept the jumper wires I had to crimp and solder to the antenna
I have a generic office nameplate I have taped the antenna to the back of. I’m using one of my resonant repeater circuits on the front of the nameplate to help the already weak signal to pass through.
Next I need to drill a hole in my door to pass the jumper cable through. Mount the ROTHULT, and the striker plate I need to fabricate.
When finished I should be able to lock and unlock my office by presenting my XSIID. Since it is completely insecure my wife can use any NFC card to present to the nameplate and it will also lock or unlock the door.
But still that’s nuts and I have a feeling it definitely shouldn’t be like that. IIRC they at least used to have a list of allowed users toggle able via the management card
Well I would have thought that as well. But I was able to trigger the lock with my nano vna… I honestly have no clue why. Most I can wager is it’s a simple relay and if it detects anything coupling with it, it’s triggered.
It is supposed to allow you to register your own cards using the admin card. But mine will trigger with any card. My phone even will trigger it with just the NFC field it generates.
That’s so strange. I think it’s probably broken or a bad firmware version or something?
The way I understood it is that a properly working unit worked with similar to hotel safes in that you basically are free to register a card with it, then lock it, then use that same card to open it… but there is no master registration process… It’s just whatever card was used to lock it needs to be used to unlock it for that cycle. The next cycle can be a different card.
