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Hardware recommendation for a remote monitor

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  • Hardware
  • Monitors
  • Business Computing
Last response: in Business Computing
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August 9, 2013 7:35:08 AM

Hi All,

First - apologies if this isn't the best forum. I looked through all categories and it seemed like the closest place to me.

I work in a large factory, and would like to set up a TV or monitor out in the factory that I can connect to at-will and display an Excel spreadsheet with work orders and/or production status.

Because it's heavy industry (dusty, dirty, low-tech), I was trying to avoid setting up a whole computer out there and using something like VNC. If I can find a solution that converts ethernet to HDMI and then software I can install on my laptop back in the office or something, that would be ideal.

I see lots of streaming TV solutions for residential use... I'm leery those wouldn't work for just plopping an Excel file up and leaving it.

I was originally going to use a big dry-erase white board (we really are low-tech), but they are like $600 for one that will last. I could set up a monitor for half that price.

Thanks for any thoughts & recommendations!

Timothy

More about : hardware recommendation remote monitor

a b C Monitor
August 9, 2013 7:53:07 AM

What kind of distance are we looking at here?
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August 9, 2013 8:01:09 AM

USAFRet said:
What kind of distance are we looking at here?


Hi - thanks for your response. It's a pretty long distance - we couldn't do wireless (distance + interference). I'd say around 700 feet roughly.
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August 9, 2013 8:01:36 AM

Why not get a smart tv, publish your spreadsheet to a website(intranet or sharepoint). Run a network cable and use the browser on the tv to show the website.
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a b C Monitor
August 9, 2013 8:05:27 AM

ss202sl said:
Why not get a smart tv, publish your spreadsheet to a website(intranet or sharepoint). Run a network cable and use the browser on the tv to show the website.


That was going to be my suggestion as well, but now that we know it is 700'....that makes things a lot harder.
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August 9, 2013 8:12:04 AM

USAFRet said:
700' is going to be tough.

This article from Popular Mechanics speaks to HDMI over Cat6, but tops out at around 150'.


Good article. We actually have fiber runs & switches out there because our machines are networked... if we can find something that converts the signal to ethernet & back we could piggyback right on that existing infrastructure.

People are recommending the Western Digital TV streamers... maybe I'll find one of those and try it out in a test environment.
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August 9, 2013 8:21:44 AM

ss202sl said:
Why not get a smart tv, publish your spreadsheet to a website(intranet or sharepoint). Run a network cable and use the browser on the tv to show the website.


Also a good idea... except when I say intranet here folks just think I'm saying the word internet wrong. Imagine the most technologically immature company you can. Sharepoint is a similar issue. I tried to bring up the idea of setting up a company wiki about half a year ago and they almost burned me at the stake.
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Best solution

August 9, 2013 9:23:37 AM

Have you considered setting up a micro PC or thin-client computer that wouldn't really be phased as much from the dirty environment? It doesn't need to be high-performance if it's just displaying things, and you can set up VNC or some other remote desktop program to be able to remotely control what is displayed without having to actually go back and work on that computer directly.
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August 9, 2013 3:19:53 PM

choucove said:
Have you considered setting up a micro PC or thin-client computer that wouldn't really be phased as much from the dirty environment? It doesn't need to be high-performance if it's just displaying things, and you can set up VNC or some other remote desktop program to be able to remotely control what is displayed without having to actually go back and work on that computer directly.


Yea - this is my "plan B" if we don't come up with an idea. I'll see if I can piece together something out of old parts and a way to keep it clean. Put it all in a small case and off we go. Thanks for the idea. :) 
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August 9, 2013 3:49:22 PM

I'm not familiar personally with many of the industrial computers, but I've heard Logic Supply mentioned before for this kind of scenario. You might have a look at their offerings.

http://www.logicsupply.com/categories/fanless_computers

If not that, take a look at an HP T610 thin client. While not technically made for "dirty" environments, these are very cheap basic systems with no moving parts that can be easily replaced if needed for very little cost. There's several available on eBay for as little as $150 so take a look, and if you wanna give it a shot and try that out it's a very cheap way of testing if this will work for your needs.
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