Not Every Door Needs an IP Address: The Case for Kantech’s RS-485 Simplicity

In security today, everything is about IP. Every device wants its own address, its own connection, its own spot on the network.

But just because we can put every controller on Ethernet doesn’t always mean we should.

The IP Obsession

Modern IT infrastructure is incredible — fast, standardized, and everywhere. And yes, every Kantech controller (KT-1, KT-2, KT-4) is fully IP-capable, even supporting PoE power for simplified wiring. But in access control, reliability and resilience matter as much as connectivity.

When you have dozens or hundreds of doors, more IP devices also means:

Sometimes, the smartest network is the one that doesn’t rely on the network at all.

The Kantech Advantage: One IP, Thirty-One Friends

Kantech controllers don’t need to live on Ethernet to work together. You can connect up to 32 controllers in a daisy chain via RS-485 — one “head” controller on the network, and up to 31 others communicating through serial connection.

This architecture delivers huge real-world benefits:

And here’s the kicker: while Ethernet is limited to about 300 feet (90 meters) per segment, RS-485 runs 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) by default — and with low-cost adapters, you can reach up to 16,000 feet (nearly 5 km). That’s entire buildings, campuses, or industrial zones connected without touching the network.

When “Offline” is Smarter

Add SALTO electronic handles to the mix, and the network dependency drops even further. With SALTO Space SVN (data-on-card), access rights and events travel securely on the credential itself — allowing you to manage offline locks seamlessly through Kantech EntraPass. No cabling, no IT coordination, and no compromise on visibility or security.

The Balanced Approach

This isn’t about avoiding IP — it’s about using it wisely.

Kantech gives you both options:

In a world racing toward “everything online,” it’s worth asking:

Do you really need every door on the network — or do you just need every door secure?

Resilient by Design

Whether you connect over IP, RS-485, or a mix of both, Kantech is built for resilience. Each controller makes its own access decisions locally — so even if communication is lost, doors keep operating, credentials still validate, and schedules remain active.

That means uptime isn’t just a network feature — it’s a system philosophy. From single-door KT-1 setups to enterprise-scale EntraPass Global deployments, Kantech ensures security never stops — no matter how you connect.

The Takeaway

Because true innovation isn’t about adding more complexity — it’s about removing unnecessary ones.

At Titan Products Group, we help integrators design resilient, scalable systems across Canada — with Kantech, SALTO, exacqVision, and Illustra working together for smarter, simpler security.