How to prevent the loss of projector remotes from classrooms

[6Foot2]

I have been instructed to ask my fellow Edugeekers how you prevent the loss of projector remotes from classrooms (we lose far too many)

 

I have seen wall-mounted cages with a padlock for closure, and a mirror at the top to send commands to the projector (personally I doubt the effectiveness of this solution for this school) These enclosures do not seem to be on sale (that I can find anyway)

 

We have glued the remotes to huge bits of plastic, large chunks of wood but they still disappear.

 

Ideas...

[Asgard]

Hi

When we took a school into our trust we had an issue of staff taking remotes and IWB pens home with them “well there mine I need them”..... and forgetting to bring them back in.

 

One week we had to replace 15 epson ultra short throw projector remotes; so we bought a load of these for the remotes

 

https://www.kpms.co.uk/product/sk1300-remote-secure/

 

Fantastic little bit of kit and stopped them going walkies

- even stopped a member of staff taking a pair of scissors to them.

 

Issue of missing remotes neutralised [emoji106][emoji106][emoji106][emoji106]

Edited September 11, 2018 by Asgard

[6Foot2]

@Asgard: Thanks. E-Mailing the Busines Manager now. We could be trying one out in a few days.

 

[Arthur]

My school had a local company custom design some remote holders which get screwed into the wall. Total cost was around £10-£13 (inc. the cheap Chinese remote inside).

 

Edited September 11, 2018 by Arthur

[Katy]

We went about it a different way, while we still get missing remotes it's nowhere near as bad as before.

 

Instead of one remote per room we bought a load of extras to have one remote per teacher, that way have to look after them as they are "theirs" rather than them being "the room's". (Helps that the majority of our projectors are the same remote model)

 

We have much more problems with IWB pens vanishing, especially the old orange ones that we can't get hold of any more. Not sure what happens when we've gone through our stock of them.

[6Foot2]

@Katy: Your approach won't work for us because we have, despite my concerns, a range of projectors installed in our rooms.

 

Each teacher would need 4 or 5 remotes to cover all rooms. I doubt universal remotes would address the issue.

[AlanD]

We experimented with providing a network link to the projector’s “remote” page...with the projectors on their own vlan via a smoothwall rule that only allowed staff access to that vlan.

[dhicks]

We experimented with providing a network link to the projector’s “remote” page...with the projectors on their own vlan via a smoothwall rule that only allowed staff access to that vlan.

 

...rig it up to an Alexa skill or similar and you could have voice-controlled projector on/off...

[Chris_Cook]

In the past we have billed the department. Many remotes suddenly appeared the following day when they realised that they would lose £30 from their budget.

 

They often get put somewhere safe, like in a draw. Or balanced on top of a cupboard for a caretaker to find several years later when it hits them on the head whilst moving said cupboard...

 

We've also used the previous version of these in the past: https://www.avpartsmaster.co.uk/p-64692-vision-tc3-ctl-universal-control.aspx but they are now too expensive to be worth it in most rooms. Great for larger AV installs in meeting rooms and halls though.

[free780]

I still don't understand why vendors can't create a utility on the PC/Laptop to control the projector/screen. Then remotes wouldn't be a issue.

[6Foot2]

I still don't understand why vendors can't create a utility on the PC/Laptop to control the projector/screen. Then remotes wouldn't be a issue.

Because they do a roaring trade in remotes!

 

[Sonic007]

Heres the remote. Its your responsability. If you lose them you pay for them.

 

Done.

[6Foot2]

Heres the remote. Its your responsability. If you lose them you pay for them.

 

Done.

Doesn't work!

[Andrew_C]

I still don't understand why vendors can't create a utility on the PC/Laptop to control the projector/screen. Then remotes wouldn't be a issue.

 

Many do...

 

I've used a wired "learning remote" in the past; but can't find the thing now. Wasn't cheap. Wire from simple programmable push button to IR transmitter fixed on ceiling near projector.

[MisterTechMan]

We use These - they are the cheapest we could find and solve the problem quite nicely! Though be sure not to stick it to the battery cover which can easily be removed...

[hardtailstar]

We bill the departments and at £30 a time they seem to look after their remotes.

 

We get a few go missing after holidays when holiday schools are in but other than that, seems to be working.

[mister_Q]

I still don't understand why vendors can't create a utility on the PC/Laptop to control the projector/screen. Then remotes wouldn't be a issue.

They do have software remotes. The bigger problem is that students now run those from their phones and create another problem.

[mikeprice]

As most teachers only actually need access to the on/off button I have been known to issues the 'usual suspects' with a stick to use until the remote re-appears

 

it normally appears in a day or so - but I have know some just keep with the stick because it is easier to find and less likely to go missing due to pupil interference

[6Foot2]

...until the remote re-appears...

The remotes sometimes reappear. Occasionally in pieces on the school field.

 

[free780]

It was always the freeze button that is the killer feature of remotes

[AlanD]

The remotes sometimes reappear. Occasionally in pieces on the school field.

 

or on eBay ...

[ricki]

Billing department is the best way it's amazing how many remotes reappear when they are going to be charged

[Latham]

I don't think we use remotes any more. Staff just turn the projectors on and/or change the source via the buttons on the underside of the projector that are quite reachable.. In regards to freezing the screen staff usually duplicate or extend the screen. It generally works quite well as we never really get any comments about wanting projector remotes. If they fail we start replacing them with screens and the buttons are at the front.

 

What we do get, is phone calls where the fix is that they just need to extend the screen. My joke about changing the desktop wallpaper to "Press the Windows Button + The Letter P" is becoming less of a joke and more like an item to add on my todo list...

[andyfield]

I've just installed remote cages and coiled wires in all my rooms from https://www.flex-lock.co.uk. Find out Monday what happens!

[AlanPartridgeAhaa]

After we billed the departments they all stopped vanishing. An annoyed HoD is much more effective than a sticky pad in my experience.