Classroom laptop connectivity

[alex13p]

I can't believe there isn't a USB-C one cable solution out there for video, data & power to a laptop from a wall plate.

 

We're having never ending problems with teachers trying to connect to their touch screen displays in their classrooms, connections will drop, USB continually connecting/disconnecting. The standard of the cables isn't great, with long HDMI cables that aren't 'active' or optical.

 

I want to find a solution that will allow me to put this problem to bed once and for all, and want it to be done right. Has anyone seen a solution as mentioned above? What I'm looking for is essentially a USB-C dock in the form factor of a wall mounted AV plate, with a single USB-C port.

 

Thanks

[3s-gtech]

Running a dock instead of a wall plate means that you will have much higher gain on the signals sent to the board. Trying to do this without a docking station will likely still give you reliability issues.

 

You could mount a dock further along the signal chain, with a USB-C wall plate, but this reduces the reliability as more joins in the cables are introduced.

 

Basically, my advice is to use a docking station.

[DalekSec]

As above,

 

Dock

[alex13p]

I agree, a dock would be a good solution, that is what I'm looking for just in the form factor of something that can be mounted on the wall. Not something that is strapped to the wall with metal tape or velcro...

[DalekSec]

Dock on the desk?

 

Buy VESA mount for said dock, stick to wall if needed (unsure where you'd put laptop?)

[lmrogers]

How about Dell Monitors with Docks built in, cables from the wall into the monitor then single cable from monitor on desk to laptop.

[jthompson]

If it were me, I'd be looking to mount the dock on the side/underside of the teaching desk (perhaps by utilising a VESA mount). I'd also be wanting to have the USB-C lead that connects to the laptop be able to be swapped out without having to bin a dock. Either a dock where the main lead is replacable, or a short extension, and tethering the lead to the mount/desk such that there's no strain on the dock itself when the user inevitably snags it.

 

IME USB-C cables aren't very robust and suffer a lot in the characteristically 'robust' environment of a teacher's desk.

[Brax]

We've just mass rolled out docks. The only good solution imo.

[psydii]

How about Dell Monitors with Docks built in, cables from the wall into the monitor then single cable from monitor on desk to laptop.

Then you have to be acutely aware of the capabilities of the various graphics subsystems (formerly Graphics Adapters/Driver) of your fleet. Not all past and future laptop chipsets support the combinations of display tech you will have deployed.

 

For us the biggest win for reliability was the installation of high quality USB and HDMI cabling. We have found docks and USB C cables go bad far more frequently than you might suppose. Teachers are actually ok with plugging in an HDMI and USB A cable for the board and a USB-C(typically from a dock) for power.

 

So yes we have docks in most rooms, but these days they mostly provide power only. Some drive a webcam/visualizer/interactivity. We label cables teachers need to touch with a sticker ("no sticker - do not plug in to laptop"). Works really well. Not as pleasing as a single usb-c but literally 1000% more reliable.