The Division of Personnel Security and Access Control (DPSAC) anticipates that by the end of January it will have completed replacing the last of more than 5,000 PIV Card readers across NIH campuses. These upgraded devices will be capable of reading the new v.8 PIV cards that offer more secure, high-speed access to NIH facilities.
The PIV card currently in use, referred to as the v.7 or 'tri' card, contains a contact chip, two contactless chips and antennae that operate at different frequencies: a low frequency antenna for proximity reading; a high frequency antenna capable of reading the Card Holder Unique Identifier (CHUID) contained in the card's contactless chip.
While the old card readers could read only the proximity antenna, the new readers are capable of reading both the proximity and the CHUID (pronounced chew-id) antennae. DPSAC plans to disable the proximity antenna once the new readers are in place.*
Wave goodbye to the old 'prox' reader
Once you receive a v.8 card, you will no longer be able to just wave your badge near (i.e., in proximity of) the new reader to unlock a door or open a gate. Instead, you will need to touch and hold the PIV card to the surface of the reader for a couple of seconds in order to unlock the door or gate. The use of proximity technology is no longer permitted under HSPD-12 requirements. Using proximity technology to unlock doors is less secure as the signal can be intercepted and replicated.
To help familiarize the NIH workforce with this 'new' way of using the v.8 PIV cards with the CHUID readers, DPSAC produced a four-minute video, "Using Your PIV Card to Enter the NIH Campus".
Video: Using Your PIV Card to Enter the NIH Campus
DPSAC recommends all employees, contractors and affiliates view this short video to make sure they know the right way to use their cards with the new card readers.
Since the current v.7 cards contain both 'prox' and CHUID antennae, users can practice their touch and hold technique before the prox antenna is disabled and the v.8 card becomes the new standard.
* Note: the new PIV card readers have been in use at the NIH perimeter entrances for the last few years.
