Before we get into Logi's specific solutions and environments, it's often relevant to know that both Microsoft
Teams Rooms and Zoom
Rooms have various wireless casting features built into their software that allow the user to wirelessly screen cast to the room or ingest their laptop screen wirelessly into a meeting for content sharing.
Logitech has built a robust ecosystem of solutions for unified communication and the topic of BYOD and content ingest comes up frequently. This article aims to cover the basics of Logi's primary BYOD and Content Sharing solutions, and how they work in specific environments.
BYOD or BYOD Mode?
BYOD meaning a
hosted environment, that supports BYOD takeover or switching, when a laptop is
introduced into the system. BYOD Mode
refers to a set of peripherals (cameras, mics, speakers) that are not connected
to a dedicated host system and instead lie in wait for a laptop to be
connected to the system that will be the host device.
Logi has offered their first USB host switching solution, the
Swytch, for some time now, and has more recently introduced, the
Extend. It's important to know which
solution to use depending on your project needs, and to know how each solution
functions in a given system.
The Swytch
The Swytch is designed to be used with compute-based solutions, such as Logi Roommate or a Windows IoT compute. When a laptop is introduced into the system by connecting either the USB-C or USB-A jack from the Swytch, the USB "handshake" switches to the laptop so that the peripherals will be available to the computer and inside the UC platform options, and the video from the laptop will transmitted
up to the screen in the room as long as the user has the DisplayLink driver
installed on their laptop and the USB port they are using is ≥ USB 3.x.
When the system is running a meeting on the dedicated host device, the Swytch cannot be used to plug into the laptop for the sake of content sharing into the meeting. The Logi Tap (939-001950) has an integrated HDMI (mini) input that can be utilized for the purposes of content ingest for a dedicated hosted meeting.
The Swytch utilizes
2x hubs that connect between each other via an included 5m USB-C cable. If a longer cable is needed you can utilize
Logi's Strong USB cables for 10m, 25m, and 45m lengths.
The Swytch is a double headed cable that features a USB-C and USB-A connection.
The Extend
The Logi Extend is single USB-C 3.x connection that is a feature rich, made for bar-based solutions, such as Logi Rally Bar. The Extend utilizes DP Alt Mode for video transmission, which does not require any drivers to be installed on the connected computer. The Extend offers a USB-C charging input port, that allows a connected USB device to also charge while using it, and an expansion USB-A port on the hub, which can be utilized for USB/Network peripherals, keyboard and mouse dongles, etc.
The Extend also
offers content ingest functionality for both MTRoA and Zoom Rooms on Android,
so that the user can easily content share into a meeting running on the
dedicated UC platform.
The Extend utilizes
2x hubs that connect between each other via Cat cable. The maximum cable length depends on the cable
type used. 60m for Cat5e and 100m for
Cat6a
The extend has a single USB-C connection with a magnetic attachment to help dock the cable at the table.
So what to use, when?
Generally, the Swytch is utilized in solutions that are hosted on a dedicated host compute with the Tap, and the Extend is utilized on a dedicated video bar system with the Tap IP, or a BYOD Mode solution. If you're not sure what parts and pieces will work for your needs, you can always build your room out on the Logitech
Room Configurator and reach out to
our team at Midwich for more help.