China - my building's security system cracked by yitongka

About 6 months back, my apartment complex forced all of us to get cards (or similar gadgets that you put on your key chain) in order to enter the complex/buildings. I did the drill, which was really annoying. But, yesterday my boss proved to me that his subway card granted him access to everywhere around here (Fuli, Hopson, Pingguo). It gets you inside the gates, and also into the buildings.

About 6 months back, my apartment complex forced all of us to get cards (or similar gadgets that you put on your key chain) in order to enter the complex/buildings. I did the drill, which was really annoying. But, yesterday my boss proved to me that his subway card granted him access to everywhere around here (Fuli, Hopson, Pingguo). It gets you inside the gates, and also into the buildings.

Does the card have 2RMB deducted? :D

Seriously, that's woeful security...we have a similarish issue (I think): we have keyfobs to get us into our complex, and into individual buildings. I think it's designed that the two layers of security don't overlap (i.e I should not be able to get into any other building but my own), but somehow, that's not how it works...must try my yitongka this evening just for fun!

tb

Does the card have 2RMB deducted? :D

Seriously, that's woeful security...we have a similarish issue (I think): we have keyfobs to get us into our complex, and into individual buildings. I think it's designed that the two layers of security don't overlap (i.e I should not be able to get into any other building but my own), but somehow, that's not how it works...must try my yitongka this evening just for fun!

tb

I don't really care about security; there are very few bad apples in my neighborhood, and I keep the things I care most about in my safe.

The stupidest part about our current system is that guests have no way to even enter the complex if an anal security guard is on duty. This requires me to physically go to the gate and receive them. From now on, all shall have yitong cards!

Have been on the road for awhile, and found that my trusty Beijing public transport yitongka has been able to power up the in-room electricity activator (the thing by the door that you stick your room card in to turn the juice on). Works about 50% of the time.

Very useful in hot weather when you want to keep the room cooled with the a/c running, and need a proxy card so you can take the room card key with you. Heh.

Have been on the road for awhile, and found that my trusty Beijing public transport yitongka has been able to power up the in-room electricity activator (the thing by the door that you stick your room card in to turn the juice on). Works about 50% of the time.

Very useful in hot weather when you want to keep the room cooled with the a/c running, and need a proxy card so you can take the room card key with you. Heh.

I think the times 'it works' -- it just detects something is there: can use any plastic card. At least that is my experience. An alternative is to ask for two keys from the front desk -- although sometimes housekeeping then confiscate it.

tb

I think the times 'it works' -- it just detects something is there: can use any plastic card. At least that is my experience. An alternative is to ask for two keys from the front desk -- although sometimes housekeeping then confiscate it.

tb

My initial (and clearly incorrect) interpretation of her post that those things could be used to power up the electric meters in our apartments. This would be a godsend because anyone who's ever had to get a replacement card knows that the process is far more annoying than applying for a temporary residence permit.

I think the times 'it works' -- it just detects something is there: can use any plastic card. At least that is my experience. An alternative is to ask for two keys from the front desk -- although sometimes housekeeping then confiscate it.

tb

Actually, not every plastic card does work, I've tried many times with an assortment of other options (not my credit or ATM cards though!). Nor does most cardboard. I'm usually traveling alone, and can't ever get two keys issued to me, so that gambit doesn't work.

I'm more inclined to think yitonka's have magical powers and we are just now scratching the surface of possibilities! It's going to be interesting when I get back to Beijing, try the card on the subway, and find out the RMB 50-60 balance I had on it when I left has all been deducted. :D

Have been on the road for awhile, and found that my trusty Beijing public transport yitongka has been able to power up the in-room electricity activator (the thing by the door that you stick your room card in to turn the juice on). Works about 50% of the time.

Very useful in hot weather when you want to keep the room cooled with the a/c running, and need a proxy card so you can take the room card key with you. Heh.

I think the times 'it works' -- it just detects something is there: can use any plastic card. At least that is my experience. An alternative is to ask for two keys from the front desk -- although sometimes housekeeping then confiscate it.

tb

jiejie, that's interesting. I have a friend who said that other cards put in the power slot wouldnt turn the power on; only the room key card would do the trick. I'll ask him to try his YangChengTong card (GZ version of yitonka)

jiejie, that's interesting. I have a friend who said that other cards put in the power slot wouldnt turn the power on; only the room key card would do the trick. I'll ask him to try his YangChengTong card (GZ version of yitonka)

It depends on the type of key card/reader. If your hotel uses cards with magnetic SIMs, then you usually need to use the cards themselves. But, in the case of the --much more common -- standard plastic key cards, almost anything (e.g. folded up piece of paper) usually does the trick.

My initial (and clearly incorrect) interpretation of her post that those things could be used to power up the electric meters in our apartments. This would be a godsend because anyone who's ever had to get a replacement card knows that the process is far more annoying than applying for a temporary residence permit.

LOL you know I read it like you did and I would so love for it to be true because I ended up with a faulty electricity card with a recent switch at my apt and now I have to go get a replacement :( To hear that the process is painful now makes be doubly annoyed and pissed! I'm practically living by candlelight no thanks to some snafus... What i'd give for the yikatong to work! Thank goodness it's a rainy cool night.

LOL you know I read it like you did and I would so love for it to be true because I ended up with a faulty electricity card with a recent switch at my apt and now I have to go get a replacement :( To hear that the process is painful now makes be doubly annoyed and pissed! I'm practically living by candlelight no thanks to some snafus... What i'd give for the yikatong to work! Thank goodness it's a rainy cool night.

My building's management office offers zero help on this front, but maybe yours does. If not, you'll need to go to the state power grid office that actually provides your electricity, and present those folks with:

1) your lease
2) your ID/passport
3) your meter number, its remaining units, and a few other minor details
*a simple photo from your phone can easily knock down all of these requirements
4) money (the replacement card is dirt cheap, but while you're there, you might as well buy some credits)

Once you've been through this drill a single time, it's actually no worse than waiting in line at your bank, but most people end up wasting half a day the first time they attempt it. If you make sure your ducks are in order, this will not be the case for you... just be sure to go to the correct location.

The night guy at the management office was no help...even the front desk concierge was surprised by the response. I am going to try again in the morning and hope for someone with a much better service mindset to at least handle this more professionally. This place is practically 100% expats, a "not my problem" attitude is not acceptable.

Thanks for the info on what to bring. I hope I can preload credits while I am there, as it's a new card (we switched early this year but I only knew to pick up a new card when my credits ran low) apparently I need to insert the card in my meter to activate it before I can load it. Which I only found out at the bank today much to my annoyance.... Apparently no one thought to inform tenants/residents of this, even the 95998 customer service dude didn't know.

Thank goodness for the friendly front desk guys helping out a clueless n00bie expat.