Dell Lattitude 3440 HDMi Issue

[Colt_phil]

Anyone experienced hdmi issues with Dell Lattitude 3440 laptops, any cable over 2m in length and the image flashes on/off repeatedly?

 

 

[Gongalong]

We have the issue with most laptops when using average quality cables much over 3m with 4k capable screens. Most laptops try to push an image at 60Hz to 4k screens, and average cables, wallboxes etc. mean that the display frequency has to be dropped to 30Hz, plus it might required very good quality cabling (we only use cables from Antiference).

[chazzy2501]

all 4k displays create annoying, intermittent issues with the image... All devices should have a 1080p mode. Windows is a unique pain as you cannot override the active display resolution. 

 

 

[Gongalong]

Benq have, I think. Promethean, no.

[chazzy2501]

on our clevertouch after new cables, adaptors, and PCs, we installed a VGA cable and a DP to VGA adaptor.. As we just could not get the TV (on any input) with any cable combo to 100% always display a picture.

 

We also tried 2 different docking stations and 2 different dp to hdmi adaptors (passive and active) as well as the native HDMI as well as an optical HDMI cable.. TV has 3 HDMI inputs..  Nothing would get the picture 100% of the time.. TV would run at 4k30 and fail sometimes... VGA is stuck at 1080p but works 100%...

 

We also used contact cleaner 2 desktops and 2 laptops for testing.. 

 

Fricking HDMI.... 

[psydii]

I seem to recall seeing talk of edu-specialist vendors getting customised firmware to increase the chances that their higher end kit would gracefully and swiftly fail back to 1080p in more scenarios than would be accecptable to someone who'd purchased a 4k screen would normally want.  It might be worth reaching out to the vendor to see if they have something available to encourage stability by sacrificing resolution/refresh rates.

 

We went the other way, and now for  10m and over we use Bluestream 48GBps 8K AOC cables.  Which seem to connect reliably first time every time.

[BenQ_Chris]

@Colt_phil does the display device have an EDID mode switch? Going from EDID 2.0 to EDID 1.4 will drop the maximum resolution to 4K30 and in doing so reduces the bandwidth which will get you a longer cable run. Most modern displays give you this option, we managed to implement it via firmware to include the previous 2 generations of panels.

 

Thanks, Chris

Senior Technical Manager

BenQ UK & Ireland

[chazzy2501]

hey @BenQ_Chris if you can pass this up the chain, an HDMI input that is limited to 1080p would be a great option.  (4k is too unreliable in tough environments)

 

(while you are here) built in Wi-Fi (no dongle or removable antennas) and built in miracast with touch feedback. (not your own version;) (epson can do it)

 

 

[BenQ_Chris]

Hi @chazzy2501 - I've asked the question if there is anything we can do on the 1080p front. I think it is also possible, via group policy to set default resolutions of Windows devices. As for built in Wi-Fi, they are all dongles; however the RP series the dongle is pre-installed in a hidden USB compartment and on the RE series the dongle is optional, but you also have the hidden USB compartment. It isn't built in as some sites for security cannot have wireless devices on site. Our latest panels (and some older ones too) using InstaShare 2 you can natively cast to the screen P2P with Miracast and it supports touchback. You have to run the host app on the screen (but you can enable this to start automatically on boot using our free cloud Device Management Solution (DMS). But from a user perspective it works just like using the Microsoft dongle, except you get touchback option.
 

Thanks, Chris

Senior Technical Manager

BenQ UK & Ireland

[chazzy2501]

Thanks @BenQ_Chris! I have an 83" benq, and I'll see where the dongle is hidden and install the instaShare2 software. it'd be better if miracast was a selectable input like the epson projectors though  (we also don't connect the TV to the internet as it is distracting, unmonitored, filtering, etc)

 

I "think" the GPO will set the desktop resolution NOT the "active" resolution, so the cable(s) signal integrity is still an issue. (it'll show 1080p desktop over a 4k signal and fall apart)

 

Anyhow make a 1080/30 HDMI port and call it "sure thing link" or "Robusto Port". 

 

oh the usbc port on my benq is at the front, put one on the side and make a clamp available (or zip tie spot) as people tug on the cable! (or steal it!)

 

btw btw, you have a built in clock and made it analogue... the kids need digital! (I made my own html version)

 

btwbtwbtw the clock drifts about 15 minutes a week.... a 1983 Casio keeps better time. (internet would probably fix that)

 

cheers

 

 

[BenQ_Chris]

@chazzy2501 if you let me know the exact model or serial number I'll let you know what you can do. Don't think we ever had an 83" interactive screen. From memory we have only ever had:
55", 65", 70", 75", 84", 86" and 98". In the current ranges we offer 65", 75" and 86" with a 98" available in the RE series.

 

The Wi-Fi dongle was included as standard on RP03 and RP04, all previous models were optional.

Depending on the model there may be a sticker on the right hand side with model and serial number, if you let me know the current firmware version of the panel too I can send you latest firmware to install via USB.

 

If you drop it in a DM with your email I'll get back to you, latest tomorrow.

 

The clock indeed has an internet time sync function.

 

USB-C is not without its own issues, we provide a 1.5m cable in the box, most cable manufacturers don't go longer than 3m, think Lindy do longer. But longer USB-C cables get expensive very quickly. It's primarily because USB-C doesn't just do video and audio, it's doing data, touch and power all through the one cable.

 

Thanks, Chris

Senior Technical Manager

BenQ UK & Ireland