AWID 37-Bit H10302 Proximity Card: Complete Buyer's Guide
If your access control system uses AWID readers configured for 37-bit output, you are already operating in a relatively uncommon credential format — and finding a supplier who can program compatible replacement cards is harder than it is for AWID 26-bit. The AWID 37-bit format uses the H10302 Wiegand structure, which carries no facility code at all: every card is identified by a globally unique 35-bit card number. American Key Cards supplies compatible AWID 37-bit clamshell cards and key fobs, programmed to your card number range and shipped direct without dealer minimum-order requirements.
What Is the AWID 37-Bit H10302 Format?
AWID (Applied Wireless Identifications Group) produced proximity credentials and readers that became widely installed in North American commercial, residential, and parking access control systems. While the AWID 26-bit format is the more common variant, some larger AWID deployments use the 37-bit extended format — particularly enterprise sites and multi-site organizations where the 65,535 card-number ceiling of 26-bit becomes a practical constraint.
The 37-bit format implements the H10302 Wiegand protocol, a well-defined structure with the following layout:
- 1 even parity bit (leading)
- 35 bits of unique card number (0 to 34,359,738,367)
- 1 odd parity bit (trailing)
No facility code field exists in this structure. The practical consequence is that each card gets a globally unique identifier — no two cards produced under H10302 will ever share the same number, across any site or organization. This eliminates the site-code coordination overhead that 26-bit systems require when a single facility code is shared across multiple locations.
The card-to-reader communication uses AWID’s proprietary 125 kHz air-interface protocol. This is the same low-frequency passive transponder platform as the AWID 26-bit line, with extended bit-count programming. The reader must be configured to expect 37-bit output rather than 26-bit output — this is a reader-level setting, not a hardware swap.
OEM Part Numbers and Format Identification
AWID 37-bit credentials were not sold under as memorable a part number structure as the AWID 26-bit line. They were ordered through AWID’s dealer channel by specifying the 37-bit format at the time of order. The OEM references most commonly seen in the field are:
| Reference | Description |
|---|---|
| AWID 37-bit card (37-bit format specification) | ISO PVC card body, AWID air-interface, H10302 encoding |
| AWID 37-bit key fob | Standard key ring fob form factor, same encoding |
If you have cards in your system and need to confirm whether they are 26-bit or 37-bit, the card number printed on the label is your clearest indicator. A card number above 65,535 definitively means 37-bit — the 26-bit format cannot exceed that ceiling. A card number of 65,535 or below could be either format; check your reader’s configuration or access panel software to confirm. Any panel receiving 37-bit Wiegand data will show 37 bits in its credential log, which distinguishes it from a 26-bit enrollment.
American Key Cards produces compatible 37-bit credentials. We are not affiliated with AWID or HID Global — our cards are compatible by specification with the OEM product, using the same H10302 structure and AWID air-interface encoding.
AWID 37-Bit vs. AWID 26-Bit: Specification Comparison
The table below captures the meaningful differences between the two AWID proximity variants. Both use the AWID proprietary 125 kHz air-interface and require AWID-compatible readers, but they output different Wiegand bit counts and have fundamentally different identifier structures.
| Property | AWID 26-Bit (H10301-equivalent) | AWID 37-Bit (H10302) |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency | 125 kHz | 125 kHz |
| Air-interface protocol | AWID proprietary | AWID proprietary |
| Wiegand output bit count | 26 bits | 37 bits |
| Facility code field | Yes (1–255) | None |
| Card number range | 1–65,535 | 0–34,359,738,367 |
| Globally unique per card | No (facility code + number pair) | Yes (number alone is unique) |
| Encrypted | No | No |
| Cloneable from known data | Yes | Yes |
| Typical deployment | Standard commercial, residential | Larger enterprise, multi-site |
The reader hardware is often the same physical model — AWID SP-6820, SR-2400, KP-6840 — with the bit-format output configured at the reader or controller level. A site that started with AWID 26-bit and needed to expand beyond 65,535 card numbers could be re-configured to issue 37-bit credentials, though this requires reconfiguring both the reader output and the access panel enrollment database.
Can AWID 37-Bit Cards Be Cloned?
Yes. AWID 37-bit credentials are 125 kHz passive proximity cards with no encryption layer. The 35-bit card number is stored in plain form on the chip and can be read with commercially available RFID tools — a Proxmark3 device or a T5577 programmable blank configured with the AWID air-interface encoding.
This is not unique to AWID 37-bit. It applies to all standard 125 kHz proximity formats, including the H10301 26-bit format used by HID, AWID, Indala, DoorKing, and many others. These formats were designed before cryptographic authentication became standard in access control, and the physical technology does not support encryption.
For organizations where clone resistance is a security requirement, the answer is not a different 125 kHz format — it is a move to 13.56 MHz smart card credentials with cryptographic mutual authentication. The AWID reader infrastructure does not directly support this without a hardware replacement. If your security posture requires that level of protection, that is a system-upgrade decision rather than a credential-swap.
For the majority of AWID 37-bit installations — multi-tenant buildings, enterprise campuses, and parking systems using AWID infrastructure — the unencrypted 125 kHz model has been the accepted credential architecture for years. If your organization falls into this category and needs replacement cards due to attrition or a lost badge, the cloneability of the format is what makes aftermarket supply possible: American Key Cards can produce cards from your card number specification alone, with no need to present a physical existing card.
Compatible Readers
AWID 37-bit cards work with AWID reader hardware that has been configured for 37-bit output. The same physical reader models used for AWID 26-bit installations support 37-bit operation with the appropriate configuration:
AWID SP-6820configured for 37-bit outputAWID SR-2400configured for 37-bit outputAWID KP-6840keypad proximity reader configured for 37-bit output- Any Wiegand-capable access panel accepting a 37-bit
H10302data stream
The Wiegand output from the reader to the access control panel follows the standard H10302 protocol and is compatible with any panel configured to accept 37-bit Wiegand input. Confirm with your installer documentation or reader configuration records that your readers are set to 37-bit output before ordering — receiving 26-bit cards for a 37-bit-configured reader (or vice versa) will result in credentials that do not enroll correctly.
Typical Use Cases for AWID 37-Bit Credentials
The 37-bit format is most common in deployments that outgrew the card-number ceiling of 26-bit systems or that prioritized global card uniqueness from initial installation:
- Large enterprise campuses using AWID readers where the facility needs more than 65,535 unique card numbers across the organization
- Multi-site AWID deployments where a single card number pool is managed centrally and uniqueness across locations is required without site-code coordination
- AWID parking and gated community systems that were initially configured for 37-bit to simplify credential issuance across multiple building entries
- Legacy AWID installations that transitioned from 26-bit to 37-bit when the card number range was exhausted
In practice, encountering an AWID 37-bit installation means the original installer or system owner made a deliberate choice to use the extended format. If you are inheriting management of such a system without original documentation, the easiest way to confirm the format is to read an enrolled card with any supported RFID tool — the bit count will be clear from the output.
Why Aftermarket AWID 37-Bit Cards Are Hard to Find
Most generic proximity card suppliers stock H10301 26-bit cards in one or more air-interface encodings. AWID 37-bit sits at an intersection that eliminates most of those suppliers: it requires both the AWID air-interface encoding (already less common than HID) and the 37-bit H10302 bit structure (less common than 26-bit).
The result is that AWID 37-bit credentials are stocked by even fewer aftermarket sources than AWID 26-bit. OEM replacement through the AWID or HID Global channel typically requires a dealer account and minimum quantities that don’t match the needs of a property manager ordering credentials for normal attrition replacement.
American Key Cards programs AWID 37-bit compatible cards and fobs to order. The credential is manufactured to the AWID air-interface specification and H10302 bit structure — the same encoding your existing system uses. The difference from OEM is distribution channel and price, not specification. For related format context, see our guide to the AWID 26-bit format, which uses the same reader family with the standard 26-bit structure, or our DoorKing DKProx format guide if your AWID readers are OEM-labeled under the DoorKing brand.
What to Have Ready When Ordering
Because the H10302 37-bit format carries no facility code, the ordering process is simpler than 26-bit:
- Card number or card number range — the 35-bit number(s) you want programmed (0 to 34,359,738,367)
- Quantity — cards, key fobs, or both
- Sequential or specific numbering — whether you need a sequential run or a specific list of card numbers
- Label requirements — whether you want the card number printed on the credential face or label
If you are unsure of your card number range because documentation is unavailable, contact us before ordering. In some cases it is possible to read the card number off an existing working credential in the system.
Ready to Order AWID 37-Bit Compatible Cards?
If you manage a facility with AWID readers configured for 37-bit output and need replacement clamshell cards or key fobs, American Key Cards can program and ship compatible credentials directly to you. No dealer account, no high minimums, no waiting on an integrator’s schedule.
Have your card number range and quantity ready and contact us to place an order or ask a question. We will confirm the format details with you before programming begins to make sure every card works in your system.
Frequently asked questions
What is the AWID 37-bit H10302 format and how does it differ from AWID 26-bit?
The AWID 37-bit format uses the H10302 Wiegand structure — a 35-bit globally unique card number with one even and one odd parity bit, and no facility code field at all. AWID 26-bit uses the H10301 structure with a facility code (1–255) and a card number (1–65,535). The two formats output different bit counts to the access panel and are not interchangeable, even on the same AWID reader hardware.
Do I need a facility code to order AWID 37-bit cards?
No. The H10302 format has no facility code field. Each card is identified by a unique 35-bit card number only, which can range from 0 to 34,359,738,367. You simply provide the card number or sequential range you want programmed and each card receives a globally unique identifier.
Will AWID 37-bit cards work in a standard HID or Wiegand reader?
The data output from an AWID reader to the access panel follows the standard H10302 37-bit Wiegand protocol, which any 37-bit-capable Wiegand panel can accept. However, the card-to-reader air interface is AWID proprietary — the cards will only be read by AWID-compatible readers such as the SP-6820, SR-2400, and KP-6840, each configured for 37-bit output. A standard HID reader will not read an AWID 37-bit card.
Are AWID 37-bit proximity cards cloneable?
Yes. AWID 37-bit credentials operate at 125 kHz with no cryptographic protection. The card number is stored in plain form and can be read and reproduced with commercially available RFID tools such as a Proxmark3 or a T5577 programmable blank encoded to the AWID air-interface protocol. This is the same security posture as all standard 125 kHz proximity formats.
