Indala 27-Bit Proximity Card: The Harder-to-Find Indala Format

Indala 27-bit proximity cards work in the same Indala PSK reader infrastructure as the standard 26-bit FlexPass line, but they encode a 13-bit facility code (up to 8,191 unique site codes) instead of the 8-bit facility code (maximum 255) used in standard 26-bit Indala. American Key Cards produces a compatible Indala 27-bit card programmed to your facility code and card number range — no dealer account, no minimum order requirement.

What Is the Indala 27-Bit Format?

Indala is a 125 kHz proximity credential platform originally developed by Motorola and now owned by HID Global. The standard FlexPass line encodes 26 bits — facility code 1 to 255, card number 1 to 65,535. The 27-bit variant extends the facility code field by one bit, which more than doubles the available site code space to 8,191. Card number capacity in the 27-bit format runs to 16,383.

The physical chip is the same Indala proprietary 172-bit RFID coil used across the FlexPass line, PSK-modulated. What changes is the programming: the 27-bit structure allocates 13 bits to the facility code and 14 bits to the card number instead of the 8-bit and 16-bit split used in the standard 26-bit format. No standard parity layout is defined — this is a fully proprietary Indala data structure not based on H10301.

Because the 27-bit format is proprietary and less common than the standard 26-bit variant, it is stocked by even fewer aftermarket suppliers. Most generic proximity card vendors only carry H10301-compatible 26-bit cards.

Technical Specifications

Parameter	Indala 27-Bit (Proprietary)
Carrier frequency	125 kHz
Air-interface modulation	PSK (Phase Shift Keying)
HID Prox compatible?	No — different modulation scheme
Wiegand output to panel	27-bit proprietary Indala
Facility code range	0 – 8,191
Card number range	0 – 16,383
Encryption	None (base card); FlexSecur available separately
OEM card part numbers	FPCRD (27-bit variant), FPISO (27-bit variant)
OEM brand	HID Global / Motorola Indala
AKC compatible card	AKC Indala 27-Bit (Proprietary) Compatible Card

Why Indala 27-Bit Cards Are Hard to Source

Most aftermarket proximity card suppliers stock the Wiegand H10301 26-bit open format. Some stock Indala 26-bit FlexPass. The 27-bit Indala variant appears rarely in non-OEM catalogs because demand is thinner than for standard formats — it exists specifically for deployments where the 255-site-code ceiling of 26-bit was insufficient.

That scarcity creates a real problem for facilities running 27-bit systems. The OEM supply path routes through HID Global authorized dealers, who impose minimum order quantities and pricing structures suited to integrators, not individual property managers replacing six cards for turned-over tenants.

American Key Cards programs 27-bit Indala credentials in-house and ships direct. Orders do not require dealer registration, and there is no enforced minimum quantity.

How to Identify Indala Readers

Indala readers sold by HID Global carry model designations in the FP series. The readers compatible with 27-bit Indala credentials include:

• HID Indala 603 FlexPass reader — the most widely deployed Indala model; supports 27-bit when configured accordingly
• HID Indala 610 Mid-Range reader — extended-range version for wider corridors or elevated mounting
• HID Indala FP4511A — mullion-mount proximity reader
• HID Indala FP3521A — surface-mount proximity reader

Reader configuration matters: the reader and panel must both be set for 27-bit output. A reader configured for standard 26-bit will not correctly pass 27-bit card data to the panel, even if the physical hardware is the same unit. If you inherited an Indala system and are not sure of the bit format, the panel software’s credential configuration page will show it, or your original installer documentation should record it.

Older readers installed before HID Global acquired Indala may carry Motorola or Motorola Solutions branding alongside the Indala name. The format specification is unchanged regardless of which logo appears on the reader housing.

Indala 27-Bit vs. Indala 26-Bit: Key Differences

Both formats share the same PSK modulation, the same physical chip family, and the same compatible reader hardware. The difference is purely at the data structure level.

Feature	Indala 26-Bit (FlexPass)	Indala 27-Bit (Proprietary)
Facility code bits	8 bits	13 bits
Facility code range	1 – 255	0 – 8,191
Card number bits	16 bits	14 bits
Card number range	1 – 65,535	0 – 16,383
Parity scheme	Standard Wiegand parity	Proprietary (no standard parity layout)
Reader hardware	Indala PSK readers	Indala PSK readers (same hardware)
Interchangeable?	No	No
OEM card part numbers	FPCRD-SSSMW-0000, FPISO-SSSCNA-0000	FPCRD (27-bit variant), FPISO (27-bit variant)
AKC compatible card available?	Yes — card and fob	Yes — card

The 27-bit format trades card number capacity (16,383 vs. 65,535) for far greater site code capacity (8,191 vs. 255). Organizations that chose 27-bit typically did so because they operate multiple buildings under a single access control installation, or because their deployment scale made 255 facility codes insufficient to keep sites fully segregated.

Can Indala 27-Bit Cards Be Cloned?

Standard Indala 27-bit cards, like standard Indala 26-bit FlexPass cards, carry no cryptographic protection. The card encodes facility code and card number in PSK modulation on a passive 125 kHz chip. The data can be read and reproduced by anyone who knows those two values.

American Key Cards does not clone existing cards. Instead, we manufacture compatible credentials: you provide your facility code and card number range, we program fresh cards to those values, and you enroll them in your system exactly as you would any new credential. The result is a card with the correct facility code and card number — functionally identical to an OEM card for your reader infrastructure.

The separate Indala ASP FlexSecur variant is a different matter entirely. FlexSecur adds a site-specific encryption layer between card and reader. Without the site-specific key held by HID Global, no third party — including American Key Cards — can produce functional FlexSecur credentials. If your Indala ASP FlexSecur system uses encrypted cards, replacements must come through HID Global or an authorized dealer with access to your site key. We say this plainly because it is the honest answer.

OEM Part Numbers and Related Formats

The OEM part numbers for Indala 27-bit credentials are FPCRD and FPISO, ordered with a 27-bit format code specification. These are the same base part numbers used for the standard FlexPass 26-bit line — the format is distinguished at order time, not by a separate SKU prefix. This is a common point of confusion when sourcing replacements: ordering FPCRD without specifying the 27-bit format will result in standard 26-bit cards that will not correctly read in a 27-bit-configured system.

Related formats in the Indala ecosystem include:

• Indala FlexPass 26-bit — the more common variant; larger card number range, standard facility code ceiling of 255; same PSK readers
• Indala ASP FlexSecur — encrypted variant; cannot be reproduced by third parties regardless of format

If you are not certain whether your building uses 26-bit or 27-bit Indala, the card number ranges can help narrow it down: if your facility code is above 255, you are on a 27-bit system.

What You Need to Order

Ordering Indala 27-bit compatible cards requires two pieces of information:

1. Facility code — a number from 0 to 8,191, assigned when the system was installed. Check existing card labels, access control software, or installer documentation.
2. Card number range — the specific numbers you need programmed. For replacements, provide the individual card numbers. For new issuance, provide a starting number and quantity.

Confirm that your reader configuration specifies 27-bit output before ordering. If you have an existing working card, you can verify the format by noting whether the system shows a facility code above 255 — that is a definitive indicator of 27-bit programming.

Why Compatible Cards Cost Less

HID Global distributes Indala credentials through authorized dealers with minimum order quantities. A property manager replacing eight cards after a tenant turnover has no practical path through that channel without absorbing significant excess inventory cost.

American Key Cards programs credentials to order and ships direct. No dealer relationship is required. No minimum quantity applies. Per-unit pricing reflects direct sourcing rather than dealer-channel markup.

Our compatible Indala 27-bit cards are manufactured to specification — compatible by specification with Indala PSK reader infrastructure, not affiliated with HID Global or Motorola. They are not clones of existing credentials. They are fresh cards programmed to your values, ready for enrollment.

Ready to Order?

If you have Indala PSK readers configured for 27-bit output and need compatible cards programmed to your facility code and card number range, contact American Key Cards with your facility code, card number range, quantity, and format confirmation. We will verify compatibility, confirm pricing, and ship programmed credentials ready for enrollment in your system.