What is the best CAC reader to buy? I'm interested in picking one up for my personal laptop but I don't know which one to get. Are there any brands in particular that are worth the investment? I've seen some completely malfunction after a few uses and others not work at all. Thanks in advance.

What is the best CAC reader to buy?

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SSG Andrew Dydasco

Edited 12 y ago

Posted 12 y ago

I'm not sure if my issue is CAC related but the only issues I've ran into using military applications at home is SSD1. As soon as the application for the courses load, it's nothing but a wall of Chinese text.

I apologize if this is unrelated to CAC.

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CW3 Michael Danberry

12 y

Hello PFC Dydasco, Please go through this entire guide: http://milcac.us/tweaks I also had a person this past weekend who kept getting chinese characters. We created a new / second user profile, and it worked fine from that profile. I'm assuming you are using a Windows computer? Here is the SSD help desk contact information:

Web: https://athd-crm.csd.disa.mil
Phone: [login to see] , option
1
DSN: [login to see]
Email: [login to see] .disa.mil

Phone: [login to see]

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SSG (Join to see)

12 y

Hey PFC Dydasco I don't know if you are still having this issue or not, but if you are using IE 11 in compatibility mode you need to roll back to IE 10 in compatibility mode for it to work properly.

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CW3 John McConnell

Posted 12 y ago

Chief. Your probably aware of it already but I will share my experience. Apple, 10.8.x going to 10.9 (mavericks) I had an issue at first with the CAC not working like it was supposed to. I ended up uninstalling all of my middleware. I also cleared out all old certificates that had anything to do with DOD. I reloaded middleware from scratch (pick your poison but mine is CACKEY). Had to redo all of my certs from my card and manually re-associate them with the websites (through keychain). After I did all that everything worked fine. Also a side note for remote desk top. Windows has a new version that must be installed in order for it to work on mavericks. Had an issue with BAS admin not working... installed new RDP and now it works again as well. Thanks for your site! Recommend it to everyone!

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CW3 Michael Danberry

12 y

Thanks for the information. Yes, it seems like each and every time Apple updates their OS, we have to reload the CAC enabler. The removal of the items in Keychain is "normally" only needed when a person gets a new CAC. Not sure what items you had to manualy re-associate. What I usually do is simply delete them, then let the site and the CAC automatically recreate the entries. My guess is you uses Leopard 10.5.x in the past. The manual configure was removed in Snow Leopard 10.6.x. I had not used RDP via the Mac, so, thanks for this additional information.

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SGM (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

I second the motion - your site is awesome and helps tons of people. My biggest issue was owning a mac but your site makes it easy. Once I figured out that every once in awhile a identity gets put in the wrong place and I have to delete it I was good. Keep up the awesome work!

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CW3 Michael Danberry

12 y

Thanks 1SG, yes, the Keychain is the main source of headaches for Mac users. Other than not being able to do everything a Windows computer can do, like sign evaluations and encrypt email for mail.mil :)

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SGM (Join to see)

12 y

Yeah one of these days I will break down and get windows running on boot camp. Had XP about 5 years ago and got rid of it after I got a bad sector on my XP hard drive partition while deployed.

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CW3 Michael Danberry

12 y

Most people are going with the virtualization option these days. It will allow you to continue to work in your Mac, but then still do the few items in Windows that you need to do without having to shut down and reboot just to get into Windows. If you are worred about virus' you'll be safer as well, since the Virtual disk is more secure and is kept virtually seperate from the Mac hard drive.

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SFC (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

Sir,

The only problem I am running into is that I cant sign paperwork at home. I can do it at work just fine and sign in to my email at home fine. Is there something I need to change on the settings on my computer?

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CW3 Michael Danberry

12 y

Hello SSG Graves, Are you using a Windows based computer at home, or a Mac? if a Mac based, you'll need to install Windows as either a virtual install, or via Bootcamp, because Lotus Forms and eSign are written only for Windows. Find out more at: http://militarycac.com/lotusforms.htm & http://militaryac.com/esign.htm you will have to be able to login to AKO with your CAC to download the programs and install them.

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SFC (Join to see)

12 y

I have a windows based computer at home. When I go to sign, everything works until its ready to hit the sign button and its grayed out.

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CW3 Michael Danberry

12 y

This helps SSG Graves, please look at: http://militarycac.com/errors2.htm#SIGN_IS_GRAY for all known ideas for the sign button being gray.

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SSG Robert Burns

Posted 12 y ago

I use a mac and always have issues making the right download. Which one should I be downloading? I have a macbook pro with the newest OS.

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CW3 Michael Danberry

12 y

MAJ Weiss, most of the issues with upgrading your OS 10.7.x to OS 10.9.x have been resolved. Since you have already purchased PKard, you'll need to reinstall it using the latest version they have out. You should have received emails with download links for the latest version. What worries me, is if your sytem is slow running Parallels, you might have an older Mac, so, it might not be able to install Mavericks 10.9.x. Since you system is very slow, you might have been better off using Bootcamp, where you could allocate the full amount of RAM to your Windows when it is running. When you are using Paralles, you are sharing the memory on your computer. You might have selected too low amount of RAM. How much RAM does your Mac have? Have looked at addming more? You can thank APD (Army Publishing Directorate) for the lack of support to Macs. They are stil stuck in an XP world. They can't comprehend that there are Mac users out there in the world in the Army. Which is why I have a page for people to contact them at: http://militarycac.com/apd.htm "Sometime" this FY, they are "supposed" to switch over to signable Adobe Reader. I haven't been able to get anymore information from them yet about it. :(

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CW3 Michael Danberry

12 y

Hello SPC(P) Mullett, Did you run the needed update for your HID Omnikey 3121 yet at this link? http://militarycac.com/usbreaders.htm#HID_/_Omnikey_/_ActivIdentity

There is a link you need to click to make this reader Mac friendly. As you can see, all CAC readers are not created equal.

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SFC (Join to see)

12 y

Chief,

When I found my specific model, none of them were for OS X 10.9.1 and worse yet, I tried to see if an earlier one would work, but none of them would even open. If you want, I can take a screenshot.

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CW3 Michael Danberry

12 y

Hello MAJ Weiss, Yes, PKard is a great program and provide great support to their customers. They are the only company that does this of all of the CAC enablers I've been able to find. Was the "reset" similar to what I have on http://militarycac.com/keychain.htm ?

Yes, Parallels, Bootcamp, Virtualbox, or VMware is your only options for signing forms with Lotus Forms.

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SGT (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

I am having a problem accessing my ako/enterprise all of the DoD certificates have been downloaded but I am clueless as to why I cannot still logon with my CAC, what am I doing wrong?

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CW3 Michael Danberry

12 y

This is hard to say without knowing which Operating System your computer is using, which CAC reader, and which exact CAC you have. Please visit: http://militarycac.com/questions.htm scroll to the bottom and select whether you are a Windows or Mac user. Then fill out the respective form for support. This will great help me help you.

MilitaryCAC's Ask your Questions page

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Lt Col Luis A. Rojas

Posted 12 y ago

Chief, outstanding site...I've used it a lot. My CAC access at home works great thanks to your site.

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CW3 Michael Danberry

12 y

This is great to hear, thanks for letting me know.

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CPT Brandon Christensen

Posted 12 y ago

First off, I love the information on the site. I have used it multiple times at home and recommended it to my fellow troops to getting their CAC to work on their personal computer.

With that said, I would recommend updating the site and how its presented. There is a lot of information and all crammed into a small area. The standards have changed on how website "should" be developed to present the information correctly to all users.

Great site Chief. Keep it up!

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CW3 Michael Danberry

12 y

1LT Christensen, since your unit is about 15 miles from my home town in Minnesota, please email me with ideas to update my site. My biggest issue is time. It already takes all of my evening time after work just to keep the information as up to date as possible.

I am a team of one answering all emails for Windows and Mac users, not including my regular job.

[login to see] is my email address for the site. Thanks for responding

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CPT Brandon Christensen

12 y

I will try and shoot you an email tomorrow (Sunday) and give you some pointers. As I have a degree in web design, I can even help develop the new look of the site if needed as well.

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CPT Brandon Christensen

12 y

Just sent an email to you, Chief. Hopefully it will help you out on the website.

**edited for spelling**

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