Projector remote control theft and pranks

[petben]

Hello, we are having some problems with projector remotes being stolen from classrooms and then students doing hilarious things in lessons....the behaviour is one thing, but does anyone use a fixed remote control or secure connected remote control solution? all are projectors are Epson and use the same remote luckily.

 

Thanks

[hardtailstar]

We have issues with teachers stealing remotes even though they have their own!

 

At the start of the first lockdown, every teacher was bought their own remote as well as one being in the classroom.

 

The classroom ones go missing and turn up later with a teacher that 'found' the remote.

 

We have asked for them to be fixed but told that we would belittle teachers.

[GizmoIT]

We used something like this when encountering a similar problem to yourself, worked a treat!

 

https://www.flex-lock.co.uk/

[6Foot2]

We used something like this when encountering a similar problem to yourself, worked a treat!

 

https://www.flex-lock.co.uk/

We were starting to deploy something similar when I left my last place. It wasn't intended as a 'proper' security measure, more a reminder to teachers that 'This belongs here' and a 'Think again' prompt to students.

[3s-gtech]

I've now taken them out of classrooms, and teachers have their own which are labelled and branded with a soldering iron.

[Jaan]

I couldn't control this. We stopped buying "replacements" staff were worse than students tho.

 

Wait until the students figure out they can download the projector IR app to their phones. I was shocked to find that a student had a samsung phone with a IR blaster on it..... i once had a casio watch with an IR blaster at high school....... fun times

 

We now have touch screen with the IR disabled for the same reason. Thankfully there's a screen freeze option on the menu. So no remotes.

 

We once had a whole teacher desk moved because it had a remote securely locked to the desk!

[Chaniel]

We used something like this when encountering a similar problem to yourself, worked a treat!

 

https://www.flex-lock.co.uk/

 

We've used something similar in shared classrooms as we found those were the worst for remotes/hdmi cables going missing. We had a recoiling cable version screwed to the wall then stuck to the remote.

 

Only had one issue - a student had pulled it all the way out and let it go which then recoiled with some force and smashed the remote... was still in the right place though!

[Ditto]

I've now taken them out of classrooms, and teachers have their own which are labelled and branded with a soldering iron.

Gees, that's a way to go! I can smell the burning plastic from here - I can't imagine it does the soldering iron tip much good!

[3s-gtech]

Doesn't even need to be hot, it's only a gentle singe! Of course, you don't want to be breathing the fumes. The tip can be cleaned with a mild abrasive.

[6Foot2]

Another deterrent that was tried (popular with some, but I found it to be equally ineffective)

 

SLT would get the Technology Department to create whacking great 'key fob' projector idents for each projector/room made from either perspex, or wood and then glue the remotes to them. They STILL went missing!

[Davit2005]

We put remotes in cages at the first school I worked in after many remote disappearing acts. We had backing from SMT and at first there was some push back, we let the IT teachers have the keys in IT rooms and it worked OK.

[chazzy2501]

if the remote goes missing the teacher gets a long stick.

[6Foot2]

if the remote goes missing the teacher gets a long stick.

 

You're not allowed to beat the students into confessing that they took stuff any more!

 

[Driftingforlife]

We have asked for them to be fixed but told that we would belittle teachers.

 

The students know their teachers are stupid already

[Ditto]

Seems like we need a technical solution that does away with the need for a remote. I know there are phone based solutions, but too many cost and problems there. How about voice control, where the voice recognition is person specific? Maybe I should rush off and submit to the patent office - but if it isn't already done, I'd be amazed.

 

 

*** EDIT *** this has got my creative side thinking. How about a GPS tracking device in each remote - you'd then tackle the underlying issue.

Edited March 17, 2021 by Ditto

[6Foot2]

...How about a GPS tracking device in each remote - you'd then tackle the underlying issue.

*Students remove said tracking device and attach it to a random object.

[chazzy2501]

some projectors can come on when a signal is detected (even VGA which is nice.) some projectors are on ethernet and accept telnet commands (startup script on teacher PC) and some projectors accept HDMI CEC commands, so usb CEC injector or a graphic adaptor that supports CEC.

 

and of course the if no signal turn off power saving that you all set because teachers don't "have time" to turn them off.

[JATSO]

We don't replace remotes for classrooms if they lose they get the stick, a stick with a rubber on it, they should only need to turn it or off.

[jthompson]

Finglongers for all?

 

[Zammo]

We don't replace remotes for classrooms if they lose they get the stick, a stick with a rubber on it, they should only need to turn it or off.

 

Your teachers dont ever use the freeze option?

[JATSO]

Your teachers dont ever use the freeze option?

 

They probably do, so they must work round it somehow or maybe they just take care of the kit.

I have been here a long time and only ever had to replace one because it was faulty.

Until they ask the budget manager or head to get me to source a replacement its a do without.

Its a simple rule, look after your supplied kit.

Shame others can't do the same.

[TriggerHappyUK]

Hello, we are having some problems with projector remotes being stolen from classrooms and then students doing hilarious things in lessons....the behaviour is one thing, but does anyone use a fixed remote control or secure connected remote control solution? all are projectors are Epson and use the same remote luckily.

 

Thanks

 

We use the EPSON Web Remote. We found that the physical remotes kept going 'walkies' too.

 

We put a shortcut to the remote in the root of the staff shared drive. It's configured to only connect to the projector that is in the room that that the teacher is logged into. This is done using a xampp database.

 

To set this up, you have to have a xampp server with a database that corelates the room computer name and the room projector name. The projectors need to have static/reserved IPs and a set name. Don't forget to turn the Standby Mode to 'Communication On'. This allows the teacher to turn the projector On from the web remote.

 

Here's the code for the xampp index.htm file

 

$hostname = gethostbyaddr($_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR']);

$servername = "[sERVER NAME]";
$username = "[uSERNAME]";
$password = "";
$dbname = "[DATABASE NAME]";

// Create connection
$conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);
// Check connection
if ($conn->connect_error) {
   die("Connection failed");
} 

$sql = "SELECT client_host, projector_host from mapping where client_host = '$hostname'";
$result = $conn->query($sql);

if ($result->num_rows > 0) {

   while($row = $result->fetch_assoc()) {
$projector_host = $row['projector_host'];
$url = "http://EPSONWEB:admin@$projector_host/webremote/index.html";

echo "






";	
exit();
   }
} else {
die("You are not allowed to access this page from this location.");
}
$conn->close();


?>

Edited March 22, 2021 by TriggerHappyUK

[TriggerHappyUK]

.......

[SamanthaD]

Been using RS232 control panels (Extron - other brands available) for a good few years. No remotes, no batteries, no issues. Yes they're a little more pricey but for the reduction in support costs it's so worth it!

[lmgtfy]

Been using RS232 control panels (Extron - other brands available) for a good few years. No remotes, no batteries, no issues. Yes they're a little more pricey but for the reduction in support costs it's so worth it!

Do you have any more info on this sounds interesting [emoji1303] thanks