Problem with Bluetooth Read Range for Arduino Project

Good reads out to 5 or 6 feet but no false positives beyond that point sounds like a challenge.

A common solution to a similar problem would be LF RFID tags on the company ID badge. Read range is only several inches but since company ID tags must be visible inside the building it is normally not much of a problem. Now, if you don't have company ID badges then this might not work well for you.

If I recall correctly there are Arduino projects that use the little blue "key fob" 125 KHz RFID tags. There are also commercially available door locks that use them.

The higher frequency RFID tags have longer range. They might work better for you but greater read range might cause problems too.

Another option is a motion activated security camera inside the room pointing at the door. Put a little sign on the outside of the door stating that anyone except x, y & z that appears on the security camera's video inside the room will be terminated.

Thanks a lot Bruce I have been racking my brain for a perfect answer but can't find one yet... Is there a way of limiting the range of the higher frequency tags?

I worked in this industry for some time.

Not sure where you are trying to reinvent the wheel. Long-range or short any tags range can be compromised by stacking them up inside a wallet.

Speaking of cell phones. there are some nice and very inexpensive access control systems that will open the door when you approach with your cell phone that has been authorized.

Save the fobs for other doors.

If you are still having issues you can add a request to enter passive infrared detector that will trigger a relay only when someone is standing in front of the door who is authorized. The better units have a very localized (beam) that will see your hand reaching for the knob.

This is one way of achieving a request to exit / enter without false trigger.

I would go with facial recognition system...

Link...

You are using the wrong approach. You need to install a physical barrier with an electrified lock that is controlled by the BLE fob.

To access the room, the employee must present their fob to a fob reader associated with the door. When the fob is authorized, an unlock signal is sent by the fob reader to the lock, allowing it to open.

Moving the distance of the reader to access point won't do?

UHF RFID is ideally good for this.