Deister Key Cabinet - Troubleshooting
Turning off Alarm Triggered Status
When the alarm is triggered, the first light on the top of the key cabinet will light and the display will indicate that an alarm has been triggered. The alarm may be triggered by the use of the physical master key for the cabinet or by tampering with the device. An administrator may turn off the alarm. To do so, press F to enter the menu, then select Device Manager > Alarm Status and press the F button to clear the alarms.
Expired License
If the license is expired (which can be seen on the bottom of the screen in Commander), it will have to be updated. Contact Deister sales for a new license and instructions for updating the license.
Sync Issue
If Genetec reports an issue with the Deister proxSafe connection in its diagnosis such as this, then there are unassigned keyTags in Deister Commander that are creating duplicate values in a key field. To resolve this, assign all keyTags using the terminal from Commander, and/or delete any unused keyTags that are not assigned.
keyTags Out of Order on Terminal Issue
If the keyTags are shown out of order on the terminal display (moving down through the menu does not match the order on the panel from top to bottom, left to right), there is a setting to force this to order itself. On the server with Deister Commander, open the DataCommEngine program on the server and under the IP address for the keyCabinet in the Preferences section, under the Terminal preferences tab, ensure that the keyTag number equals proxCylinder option is checked.
Key Cabinet is configured to read the original prox chip (instead of our OneCards)
Keybox terminals were originally configured to use “prox” chips with the 125KHz 26-bit card format. To comply with UConn’s current One Card policies, the keyboxes read the smart chips inside the cards instead. If the keybox terminal is reading the older prox chip and is a model such as a C4, then the internal module can likely be swapped to one which reads smart chips such as the 2619.000 reader module which can be purchased from the manufacturer, Deister Electronic. The 2 screws in front of the unit can be unscrewed and the module inside replaced. For new units, they should be purchased with appropriate hardware to read the smart chips in the SEOS 48-bit card format and have the prox reader disabled.
When a new module is installed, the firmware should be updated to the newest version if one is available. Updated firmware can be found by logging into Deister Dashboard online. To update the firmware, open the DataCommEngine program on the server and under the Action menu, select Firmware update and then select the file. Afterward, ensure that the “Card length (in bits)” setting under the Preferences menu for the terminal is set to 48 (for smart chips; this may vary if using different technology in the future, but it needs to match the installed module in the terminal).
Key Cabinet Access via UConn One Card
If the reader is double beeping, then it may be reading both chips. Another symptom of reading both chips is that the reader may permit access when a card is held on one end and deny access if the card is rotated.
If the reader is prompting for a PIN, and this is not desired, it can be disabled in Genetec if it is integrated.
(Genetec only issue) If the user is verified to have access to the terminal (in Deister Commander) and they are denied access, it is highly likely that the user was issued a second ID card. There is currently an issue (as of 9/22/25) that if a user is issued a second (or more) ID card, and if the user did not request that their credentials for the first card were removed by the One Card office, the terminal will not grant access, as it is looking for the old credential. The Deister system can store only one credential. It is hoped that this issue will be corrected by the One Card office.
Door Strike Issue
One issue that may arise is that the door strike (on the door portion of the cabinet) becomes harder and harder to close. The nuts can be loosed and the strike moved further away from the strike. Loosen the four nuts holding it, pry the strike inward with a screwdriver and then retighten the nuts while holding it inward. The door may become easier to close. It is unknown if this problem will be resolved permanently in this way or if the strike will have to be replaced, although we have noted that even with a new strike which works well at first, the issue then develops, and it also has come back after adjusting the strike.
Master Key Access
The cabinet came with 2 master keys. These are held by individuals who may need to use them. Additionally, a master key may be kept with the locksmith. Opening the cabinet with a master key will trigger the alarm status. This can be turned off in the terminal menu by a user with permission.
If the terminal does not provide access to the box and it is needed in an emergency situation, the outside door can be opened with the master key. The inside panel can also be opened with the master key. After opening the inside panel, one can see that there are black switch rods that can be toggled to release the keyTags from their port. The master key is required to relock the panel after it is unlocked.