Wiegand 26-Bit Format:

The term Wiegand is applied to several characteristics related to access control readers and
cards. Unfortunately, the word is used carelessly and can lead to unnecessary confusion.
Here are the basics. Wiegand is:
1. A specific reader-to-card interface
2. A specific binary reader-to-controller interface
3. An electronic signal carrying data
4. The standard 26-bit binary card data format
5. An electromagnetic effect
6. A card technology

PASSIVE TAG
RFID READER

+5V G D0 D1

G Ground

D0 DATA(0)

D1 DATA(1)

Wiegand26 protocol has 26 bits of length. It contains two parity bits (the first and
the last), 8bits of Facility code, 16 data bits. MSB parity bit is set, if the first 12 bits
has odd number of ones. LSB parity bit is set, if the second 12 bits has even number
of ones. The format is represented in the next fgure:
Fig: wiegand26 protocol

Normaly, both lines are pulled-up on 5V. If RFID reader wants to send 1, DATA1
line is grounded for 50s and then this line is returned to 5V level. Similarly, if RFID
reader wants to send 0, DATA0 line is grounded for 50s and then returned to 5V
level. Typicaly, there is 2ms between bits