Join via your Computer
Formally known as ‘Lifesize Connect’ the updated ‘Lifesize Connect Plus – join via your computer’ feature is now included in a group of features for Lifesize Cloud Rooms which unlock greater adaptability and compatibility in customer meeting rooms. The ‘join via your computer’ feature, also commonly referred to as “BYOD” or “Bring Your Own Device”, allows users to access the Lifesize Icon 300/500/700 system camera, microphone, speaker(s), and main system display in the meeting room for use with third-party applications running on their computer.
There are two variations of the ‘join via your computer’ feature:
- Presentation port – Supported on Icon 300/500/700 systems with Microsoft Windows computers
- Display 2 port – Supported on Icon 500/700 systems with Windows or macOS computers
Lifesize Connect Plus ‘join via your computer’ is only supported on Lifesize Icon 300/500/700 systems equipped with either Phone HD or a third-party room control solution.
Where possible, it is recommended to use the Display 2 port configuration (see below) for new installations. This eliminates the potential for disruption due to wireless network connectivity or the processing load on the user’s own device.
Cabling and Technical Requirements (Presentation port)
Lifesize Connect in the Presentation port configuration leverages only a single cable connection from the Lifesize Icon system presentation input to the user’s computer, in conjunction with the Lifesize Connect App installed and running on the user’s Windows computer.
- HDMI cable
- Lifesize Connect App
The HDMI cable connection is required for sharing the user’s PC desktop on the main meeting room display and speaker(s). The HDMI cable also has a secondary purpose, which is to pass a unique pairing code from the Lifesize system to the Lifesize Connect App running on the user’s Windows computer. This automatically establishes a peer-to-peer connection across the network and sends the camera and microphone to the user’s computer.
The pairing code is passed via the EDID (Extended Display Identification Data) message exchange on the HDMI connection. AV integrators or installers should be aware of this to avoid breaking the automatic pairing process. Some third-party HDMI extenders, switchers, or scalers may modify the EDID information and compromise the automatic pairing mechanism. Should the automatic pairing fail, users can establish the connection manually by entering the on-screen pairing code into their Lifesize Connect App.
Please note that Lifesize does not recommend using a wireless presentation solution as an alternative to a direct HDMI cable connection. Doing so may cause issues with A/V synchronization, show degraded image quality, and compromise the automatic pairing mechanism used by the ‘join via your computer’ presentation port configuration.
Windows administrators can choose to download and pre-install the Lifesize Connect App onto user machines or allow users to download and install locally. The latest Lifesize Connect App version is available for download via the Lifesize Admin Console under Account Settings > Downloads, or from https://getconnect.lifesize.com/latest.
Video quality and audio/video synchronization when using Lifesize Connect (Presentation port)
When in use, the Lifesize Icon room system sends both the camera image and local microphone audio to the user’s Windows machine wirelessly via the network and is presented as virtual webcam and microphone peripherals. It is therefore at the mercy of the network in terms of routing, connectivity, and stability in transit. Poor WiFi or 4G signals, restricted throughputs, or high latency conditions can impact the video image and audio quality received on the user’s machine. Some computers may initially exhibit poor A/V (audio/video) synchronization when using the Lifesize Connect App. This can often be correlated with high loading of the CPU and GPU by other applications. In most cases, the A/V synchronization resolves itself after a short period of use or when the high-load condition is cleared.
Single or dual display deployments (Presentation port)
Single or Dual display installations require the following cable connections:
- Direct HDMI cable connection from the computer to the presentation input of the Lifesize Icon system
- HDMI cable connection(s) from the Lifesize Icon system display outputs to the meeting room display(s)
Cabling and Technical Requirements (Display 2 port)
The Display 2 port configuration requires two cables to be connected from the Lifesize Icon 500/700 system to the user’s computer:
- HDMI cable
- USB cable
The HDMI cable connection is required for sharing the user’s PC desktop on the main meeting room display. The USB cable connection provides access to the room system camera, microphone, and speaker(s) via a Lifesize HDMI capture device or one of the supported third-party HDMI to USB capture devices.
Lifesize recommends using the Lifesize HDMI capture device, part code 1000-0000-0970 for all installations, however the following third-party alternatives are also supported.
- StarTech UVCHDCAP
- AVerMedia ExtremeCap UVC – BU110
- ClearOne COLLABORATE DataPoint HD
- Elgato Cam Link 4K
Customers and A/V installers should use high quality passive USB 3.0 cables up to 15ft (4.5m) or passive HDMI cable lengths up to 30ft (9m). If longer cable runs are needed, third-party active cable or extender solutions may be required.
Please note that Lifesize does not recommend using a wireless presentation solution as an alternative to a direct HDMI cable connection between the user’s computer and the Lifesize Icon presentation input port. Doing so may cause issues with A/V synchronization and degraded image quality.
Single display deployments – Display 2 port
Single display installations require the following cable connections:
- Direct HDMI cable connection from the computer to the presentation input of the Lifesize Icon system
- An HDMI cable connection from the Lifesize Icon 500/700 display 2 output to the input of the Lifesize or third-party HDMI to USB capture device
- A USB connection from the applicable HDMI to USB capture device to the user’s computer
- An HDMI cable connection from the Lifesize Icon 500/700 display 1 output to the meeting room display
Dual display deployments – Display 2 port
Dual display configurations require the addition of a 4K 1×2 HDMI splitter-scaler. The output of the Lifesize Icon 500/700 display 2 port connects to the input of the HDMI splitter. The splitter outputs are then connected to the second meeting room display and the input of the HDMI to USB capture device.
The Lifesize verified third-party 4K HDMI splitter-scaler devices are:
- StarTech ST122HD20S
- Orei UHDS-102A
Both devices offer a scaling function which allows pass through of the 4K signal while also scaling the second HDMI output down to 1080p. It is recommended to set the scaler switch to ON for the output connected to the Lifesize or third-party HDMI to USB capture device.
Single cable configuration – Display 2 port
It is possible for some computers to support both the USB and HDMI connections that are required by Lifesize Connect when using Display 2 port configuration. This is done with a single USB-C cable using a multi-port adaptor. Lifesize has verified the following third-party multi-port adaptors:
- StarTech CDP2HDUACPW
- IO Gear GUC3C3H
Note: Should you attempt to use a peripheral that is not recommended or verified for use with Lifesize Connect, you do so at your own discretion. Lifesize will not be held at fault or accept liability for issues that may occur as a direct or indirect result of using unverified components or configurations.