rjf2019

I found this article, and am going to look into it. Thanks! https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mac-help/mchlp2266/mac

We have a Mac Mini which we run as a caching server for iOS and App updates, and works great to stop the internet connection from getting jammed up. It is the one bit of kit that gets overlooked for being turned back on though. We've had planned power outages twice this week. Every other bit of equipment in the cabinet comes back on as soon as the power is back on, but of course the Mac Mini needs to be turned on manually. One solution would be to put a reminder sign on the cabinets, and would probably do the job. I was wondering though if anyone has a technical solution that they use? I found this article on Google, and wonder has anyone had any success with it? https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-enable-mac-computers-to-automatically-power-on/

Thanks everyone. I will wait for the quotes and see where we are from there. Soundbars were mentioned, which I had completely overlooked. On the existing touchpanel TVs that we have, we have soundbars. The TVs are connected to the PC by HDMI, and the bar connects to the TV. They sound great when the TV is on. However, if the teacher is working outside of the school day without the TV on, they don't get any sound. Has anyone got a different / better set-up, that gets around this problem?

I have x2 sets of machines to convert to Cloud Ready Chrome OS. The first set were laptops, with built in wifi and worked perfecetly. (I'm very impressed with it all.) The second set are RM One PCs, which don't have built in Wifi. I have connected a dongle to one, but at the start up screen for installing Never Ware, it doesn't detect any Wifi networks, and the dongle doesn't flash or anything to suggest that it is doing anything. I have swapped USB ports for the dongle, including to one that I know to be functioning, which hasn't made a difference. I'm wondering if: 1) I need to get past the intitial set-up by using a network cable, and then plug the dongle in once the machine is up and running with Chrome OS? 2) I need to buy some different dongles. I don't have the name to hand of what I was using today, but can check my order history.

We are planning ahead for a refresh of boards in classrooms, and are looking at interactive TVs. We are currently all Promethean boards, and I wouldn't rule them out. Another brand that I keep hearing good things about is C-Touch. Does anyone have any opinions on them? Or other brands that you would encourage me to look at? And I guess also, any that you would discount?

Thanks everyone. Really helpful. @Danp That's a great map of how you've laid it out. Previously I had been thinking of splitting the content 50:50, but that makes much more sense. I'm going to have a play around with that today.

That's really helpful to know - and 44 more TVs that I have organised over the past 18 months. I'm really intersted to know more about the layouts that you are using, as it's something that I could get my head around fully. Am I able to combine a widget such as Google calendar with another such as the Clock or Weather on one page? This is the mount that I am looking at https://www.screwfix.com/p/sanus-full-motion-tv-wall-mount-full-motion-32-47/9461j It's a bit more pricey than the one you link, but I'm only doing one TV, so it's less of an issue. This is the TV. https://www.avpartsmaster.co.uk/samsung-32-dc32e-display-p90829 They had a few cheaper, but weren't expecting stock for a while.

It is time to update our staff room display, which is on approx 12 hours a day displaying our calendar. The simplest option for me is to grab a TV for Currys etc, and get our Premises Manager to mount it to the wall. However, I'm aware that ordinary TVs aren't designed for this use case: both in terms of being on 60 hours a week and also in terms of it displaying something so static. Would anyone try and persuade me towards a display panel specifically designed for this use case? And if so, towards and particular brands or suppliers that they would recommend. It will be fitted by our Premises Manager. Ideally a site that displays the prices, rather than me having to enquire. It will be attached to a Raspberry Pi running YoDeck, so need for any software etc. It just needs to be able to power on from CEC, and also not power itself off in the middle of the day because it thinks it isn't being used. It will be mounted portrait, and I'll also be looking for a mount that will hopefully allow it to be angled both left/right and up/down. (This really isn't my area of expertise!) ​Edit:​ I've had a quick look on AV PartsMaster and JP-UK and am more inclined to a commerical display. Pricing is pretty much in line with a TV, and it makes more sense to me to buy something that has been designed for this purpose.

Ahhh, that's a fair point and an oversight on my part - thanks! I'm looking for a way that we can get access to videos that we have filmed and uploaded to our own channel. Maybe there is a way within the Creator Studio, I just couldn't see it.

Does anyone have a reliable way to download videos from YouTube. (I'm looking at ones that are not copyrighted.) Happy to pay for some professional software, or if there is something free that someone is using happy to hear also. Got burned with this on my Home laptop by downloading some free software with a virus when in a hurry one time, so being particuarly cautious.

The extra info and suggestions are much appreciated jawebber and eean

That post did make me go away and think about whether a windows PC would do it. However, I’m realising that my wish list also extends to a few more things (some of which the Chromebit is doing) * consistently survive being powered off at the mains whilst running * stay up to date without any need for user interaction * run for months (or more) without being touched * boot to the OS as soon as it is powered on at the socket Maybe I am asking for too much...

I’d forgotten that I had been down a similar route too, as one of the solutions I found wouldn’t allow me to log in to a google calendar. The calendars do need to be kept private, and only accessed via an approved google account. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Edimax rang a bell when I read that, so I have gone and checked. These are the ones that we have for the PCs. There’s no harm in trying one and seeing what happens. TP-Link TL-WN823N Wi-Fi Dongle, 300 Mbps Mini Wireless Network USB Wi-Fi Adapter for PC Desktop Laptop(Supports Windows XP/7/8/8.1/10, OS X (10.9-10.13) and Linux, WPS, Soft AP, USB 2.0)

We have a selection of school google calendars that are shared with staff. We also have a TV in the staff room that displays the week view for a quick glance. We’ve never quite got this right though. To begin with we had an Android device, which we replaced with a Chromebit (I don’t think they’re made any more.) We have chrome extensions to stop the device from going to sleep and to refresh the page every few minutes. However, due to firewall restrictions, we can’t access it remotely through Chrome Remote Desktop, which can make managing it tricky sometimes. The main issue is that every so often, it will get turned off at the plug or unplugged and it just sits on the desktop, and someone needs to manually visit it and open Chrome again. (And I think possibly enter the password for the google account to log on in the first place.) Has anyone got a solution for a similar situation? I have played around with kiosk mode, but never got it to work correctly, and also tried to get a Rapsberry Pi that would do the same, but never quite got that working either. The disadvantage of the Pi is that if I were to leave I don’t think anyone else would have the experience / interest in them to get it working if it became corrupted etc, and I’ve learned from experience that automated updates aren’t ideal on Raspbian OS. Open to any suggestions.

That’s really helpful David. Unless something big comes up, I’m going to reprovision them as Neverware / Chreome devices. I think they’ll be easier for families to manage at home, and it will take little effort. We have repurposed some low spec laptops we got from the DfE as Chromebooks, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with how easy the whole process was. The PCs don’t actually have built in WiFi, and Ubuntu accepted a dongle no problem. Has anyone got any experience with attaching dongles to devices running Neverware?

Thanks for all of the Zioxi recommendations. I went ahead and ordered a Chromebook trolley, x10 iPad wall cabinet and x16 iPad floor standing cabinet. Went for the versions with digital code locks, as it's always a bit of hassle looking after all of the keys. The help is well appreciated.

Yeah, thinking about it like that, it was the same .iso used for all of the Ubuntu devices, and I would be very surprised if I'd searched for a 32bit version. That's a good point about drivers. Can I just assume that if Neverware/Chrome loads up on the devices that all is good, or it's worth checking specific things like sound compatability? The more I think about it, the more I think to invest the time in Neverware, and leave Ubuntu. I think it will be worth the extra work.

Thanks for the endorsement rogerdnixon, you’ve gone a long way to getting me to invest the time. The PCs are definitely 64bit, the laptops I’m sure are but would have to check. I do remember looking a year ago and the laptops weren’t on Neverware’s officially supported list, however I’m sure that doesn’t completely rule them out.

We have a bunch of old laptops and PCs that we are repurposing to give away to students for free. They have been professionally wiped with enterprise grade software. Originally they had Ubuntu installed for ease, as they were going to be given away during the first Covid lockdown (but weren't needed in the end.) Since then I have played around with Neverware, and wonder whether setting them up as Chromebooks instead would be a better idea. We are a primary school, so the children receiving them would be aged between 4 and 11, and all have their own Google accounts already. I'm thinking that the advantage of Ubuntu is that they are ready to go already. We have one model of laptop and one model of PC, which I haven't tested with Neverware yet, so of course one of each would be the starting point if this felt like the right move. The advantage of Chromebooks is that they will be easier to use for the students especially as we have just bought some in school, and they will be continually kept up to date. I think if I was setting them up fresh now, I would go with Neverware, but am think I need someone to sway me to make the effort to change them.

We have bought a few of the 15 capacity version of these and been pleased with them. I've just gone to order two more and been told they've been discontinued though. https://www.lockncharge.com/products/carrier-charging-stations/ Does anyone have a similar suggestion? Ideally a cabinet rather than a trolley, and like the idea of being able to use our own padlock as it means we can use a combination code and not worry about losing keys. I have had trouble with locks on trolleys before, so atleast the padlock can be replaced. Shame we can get more of the same units. ​Edit​ Also really like the baskets as it makes them easy to give out for the children.

Oh wow, thanks for the quick reply. It looks like it is DLP indeed. https://www.projectorcentral.com/Promethean-UST-P1.htm I have contacted them.

Recently had one of our Promethean UST-P1 projectors show only black and white. It does this even in the settings menus, which we think rules out video cable / PC error. We have also replaced the lamp bulb with a known good one, and that didn't fix it either. Does anyone have any ideas? Promethean told me that they don't have any authorised repair people, and every projector company I have contacted say they don't do Promethean. The UST-P1 is no longer made, and been quoted £1,100 for a replacement of another brand. We are 24 months away from our planned refresh cycle, so ideally want to get this working again.

I have a the high quality 3m cable sold by Lindy that was recommended, which didn't solve it on its own. I now have the board connected via the USB hub, which also has not resolved it. I've just noticed that you've specified a USB 2.0 hub, and I have bought a USB 3.0 hub. Is it worth me trying a USB 2.0 hub powered hub? If not, does anyone have any other suggestions?

Really helpful. Thank-you all. The USB cable has been replaced, but only for another of the same length. Do these two products look like they would do the trick? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vemont-Individual-Switches-Powered-Ultrabooks/dp/B01MQE53GL/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=powered+usb+hub&qid=1615293569&sr=8-5 and https://www.amazon.co.uk/AmazonBasics-Male-B-Male-Cable-Feet/dp/B00NH13DV2/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=3m+usb+cable&qid=1615293599&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExVkYyVjVHRzBRMUYxJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTcyNjU5MlVITFhJNUZRRlRKSiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwOTMxMTA3M0ZBRlpBMzFUR0dSTiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU= More than happy to pay more money for better quality if it is needed - open to suggestions.