AWID 26-Bit Compatible Cards & Fobs
A 125 kHz proximity format that outputs standard Wiegand 26-bit data — facility code 1–255, card number 1–65,535 — over AWID's own air interface, found on decades of commercial and residential installations across the U.S.
Does American Key Cards make AWID 26-Bit compatible cards?
Yes — American Key Cards supplies unbranded AWID 26-Bit compatible cards and key fobs (AKC AWID 26-Bit Compatible Card), encoded to your facility code and card-number range and ready to use on your existing AWID readers. No hardware changes and no dealer account required.
- 125 kHz
- Frequency
- 125 kHz prox (standard Wiegand 26-bit, AWID air-interface encoding)
- Technology
- 1
- Bit format
- 4+
- OEM part nos.
- American Key Cards
- Order from
AWID 26-bit is one of the workhorse proximity formats of American access control. The credential carries a facility code and card number in the classic 26-bit Wiegand layout, but transmits them using AWID's own low-frequency air-interface encoding — which is why a generic 125 kHz card at the same frequency will not read on an AWID SP-6820 or SR-2400, and why ordering the correct format matters more than matching the frequency. Buildings running AWID readers usually stay on this format for decades because the panels, wiring, and reader fleet keep working; only the cards and fobs wear out or run short. That is the gap we fill: our unbranded, compatible-by-specification credentials are programmed to your existing facility code and your next card-number range, so new cards enroll in your panel exactly like the originals did — no reader changes, no reconfiguration, no dealer account.
AWID 26-Bit specifications
- System brand
- AWID (Applied Wireless Identifications Group)
- Technology
- 125 kHz Passive Proximity (standard Wiegand 26-bit, AWID air-interface encoding)
- Frequency
- 125 kHz
- Credential platform
- 125 kHz passive low-frequency transponder tuned for the AWID reader family
- Bit formats
- 26-bit Wiegand (H10301-compatible output) — facility code 1–255, card number 1–65,535
- OEM part numbers
- CS-AWID-0-0, GR-AWID-0-0, AW-PROXLINC-CS, AW-PROXLINC-GR
Specifications reviewed August 2026
Our compatible AWID 26-Bit credentials
American Key Cards manufactures unbranded credentials engineered to work with your existing AWID readers — no hardware changes, encoded to your facility code and card-number range before they ship.
Full specifications, form factors and ordering FAQ: Standard 125 kHz proximity cards
American Key Cards is an independent manufacturer of unbranded, compatible-by-specification credentials. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by AWID, and we never supply OEM-branded product — for brand-original credentials, order from AWID or an authorized dealer. Brand names appear only to identify compatibility, and all trademarks remain the property of their respective owners.
Where AWID 26-Bit is used
- Commercial and light-industrial buildings with AWID reader systems
- Parking and gated-community access with AWID readers
- Multi-tenant apartment complexes using AWID SP-6820 or SR-2400 readers
- Legacy access-control systems originally installed with AWID infrastructure
Works with these readers
Related formats
You might also need
AWID 37-Bit
AWID's extended-capacity format: a 35-bit globally unique card number in the H10302 structure — no facility code at all — carried over AWID's 125 kHz air interface for larger fleets that outgrew 26-bit.
View compatible cardsHID Prox H10301 (Standard 26-Bit)
The most widely deployed proximity format in North America: 26-bit Wiegand — an 8-bit facility code plus 16-bit card number — on the 125 kHz HID Prox platform, live on millions of doors.
View compatible cardsEM4100 (64-bit Read-Only)
The world's baseline 125 kHz credential: EM4100's 64-bit read-only ID, transmitted in Manchester-encoded ASK, is what most simple prox systems, time clocks, and gym doors actually run on.
View compatible cardsAWID 26-Bit — FAQ
What is the AWID 26-bit format and how does it differ from HID 26-bit?
Both carry the same 26-bit Wiegand data — an 8-bit facility code and 16-bit card number — but they travel over different air interfaces. An AWID reader expects AWID's encoding, and an HID Global reader expects its own, so the two card types are not interchangeable even though the panels behind them read identical data. Match the card to the reader brand, not just the bit count.
How do I identify an AWID reader in my building?
Look for the AWID name or logo on the reader face or a model number such as SP-6820, SR-2400, KP-6840, or MM-6800 on the housing label. If the label is gone, a photo of the reader plus one of your working cards is enough for us to identify the format before you order.
What information do I need to order compatible AWID 26-bit cards?
Your facility code (1–255) and the card-number range you want programmed, both usually printed on your existing cards or available from your access-control software. If you only have a working card, send clear photos of both sides and we will decode what we need from the printed numbers.
Will these work alongside my original AWID-branded cards?
Yes. Compatible cards programmed with the same facility code and unused card numbers coexist with originals on the same system — the panel sees identical 26-bit data either way. We recommend continuing your existing number sequence so record-keeping stays clean.