Can You Copy a Building Fob? How Fob Duplication Works

If you live or work in a downtown Vancouver building, the small plastic fob on your keyring probably opens the lobby door, the parkade gate and maybe the gym. When a roommate moves in or you want a spare for a dog walker, the obvious question is: can it be copied? Sometimes yes, sometimes no — it depends on the technology inside the fob. Here’s how to tell, and what to sort out before you ask for a copy.

How a building fob works

A fob is a tiny radio tag. Inside the plastic is a small chip and a coil of wire that acts as an antenna. There’s no battery: when you hold the fob near a reader, the reader’s radio field powers the chip just long enough for it to answer. The reader passes that answer to the building’s access control system, which checks whether the fob is on its list and whether it’s allowed through that door at that time of day.

What the fob actually sends is the important part — and that’s where fobs differ.

Two broad families of fobs

Low-frequency “proximity” fobs

Many older and mid-range systems use fobs that work at 125 kHz. A lot of these simply send a fixed identification number every time they’re read. The system doesn’t ask the fob any questions; it just looks the number up. Because the fob only sends an ID, this is often the type that can be copied onto a compatible blank fob.

High-frequency “smart” fobs

Newer systems often use fobs that work at 13.56 MHz — the same family of radio technology as contactless payment cards. Some of these still behave like a simple ID tag, but many use encryption and a back-and-forth “challenge and response” with the reader. Those secure credentials are designed so they can’t be duplicated, and a legitimate copy service won’t be able to copy them.

The catch is that both families come in the same shapes and colours. A blue teardrop fob might be a basic ID tag in one building and an encrypted credential in the building next door.

Why some fobs can’t be copied

If your fob can’t be copied, it’s usually for one of these reasons:

• Encryption: the fob and the reader exchange protected data, so reading the fob’s ID number isn’t enough to make a working copy.
• An unsupported format: some manufacturers use their own formats that compatible blank fobs don’t support.
• Physical damage: a cracked or water-damaged fob may not read reliably enough to copy.

That’s why the honest answer to “can you copy my fob?” is always “let’s check.”

Check your building’s rules first

Before you get a spare, take a quick look at your building’s rules. In B.C., many condo buildings are run by a strata corporation, and the bylaws or rules often cover fobs — how many each unit gets, how replacements are ordered and whether copies are allowed. Rental buildings and offices usually have similar policies set by the landlord or property manager.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Some systems track each fob. A copied fob carries the same ID as your original, so the system sees the two as one fob.
• Switching one off affects both. If the original is reported lost and deactivated, a copy with the same ID stops working too.
• Only copy fobs you’re entitled to use — your own fob, for your own home or workplace, within your building’s rules.

What to expect when you bring a fob in

At MyChoice Mobile Repair, fob copying is for compatible building access fobs. The process is simple:

1. Bring the fob you want copied to the kiosk at 798 Granville St.
2. We check it to see whether it’s a type we can copy.
3. If it’s compatible, we make the copy. If it isn’t, we’ll tell you, and you’ll know to ask your building for an official replacement instead.

Bring the fob itself rather than a photo of it — the chip inside is what matters, not the outside.

Looking after your fobs

Whether you end up with a copy or an official spare, a little care keeps them working:

• Keep them away from heat. Don’t leave fobs on a sunny dashboard or next to a heater.
• Avoid water. Most fobs are sealed, but a crack in the casing can let moisture reach the chip.
• Don’t label them with your address. If a fob is lost, it shouldn’t lead anyone to your door. A coloured ring or tag is enough to tell spares apart.
• Test a copy straight away on the doors you use most, so you know it works before you hand it to someone else.
• Report lost fobs promptly to your strata or property manager so they can switch them off.

Lost your only fob?

A copy needs an original, so if your only fob is gone, contact your building management first. They can deactivate the lost fob and issue a new one. Once you have it, you can ask whether it’s a type that can be copied, so you’re not caught out a second time.

Get your fob checked

Want to know if your building fob can be copied? Bring it to the MyChoice kiosk on Granville Street in Downtown Vancouver — we’re open every day from 9 AM to midnight. You can also send us a quick request or call (236) 785-8300 first. While you’re here, take a look at our other phone services, or read about unlocking your phone in Canada.