Solution for Ad-Hoc Teams Meetings in a conference room
Posted by cantstandmyownfeed@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 22 comments
I got a request from our sales people to setup something in our conference rooms where they can walk in, start a meeting from the TV without a laptop or other personal device, and then anyone would be able to join the meeting.
Is Teams Rooms the right direction to go with this?
Any device recommendations or gotchas I need to look out for? This would be a small space, under 10 people usually. What's the end user experience like? There's generally no IT or technical resources available in this location, so I need something pretty idiot proof.
marc1020@reddit
Checkout Conferfly
Rawme9@reddit
Is there a reason you can't just put a small PC attached to the TV that stays logged in or auto-logs in? This is the standard SMB Conference Room setup. Use a yubikey or something for MFA so that the shared account isn't immediately compromised.
cantstandmyownfeed@reddit (OP)
Well, the original request was no laptop or computer required and for it to be running continuously and remote users could just join like they were walking into the room.
I thought about doing an ipad or something like your suggesting, but not a fan of any sort of shared account and then dealing with MFA on a shared account seemed like not idiot proof idea.
ZAFJB@reddit
Hide the PC.
Rawme9@reddit
You said no laptop or personal device - I didn't realize you meant zero computer whatsoever. I'm talking about a mini-PC or stick PC plugged in
KareemPie81@reddit
We have a PC hidden behind a Big tv with nice Logitech conference room atop. We use kiosk mode to only allow teams. If anybody wants a meetings you forward invite to that account, it auto accepts and offers you go. We have everybody in org with voice ID so teams transcriptions work too
Rawme9@reddit
Literally this.
paradox183@reddit
Having a meeting always running isn’t workable. Imagine one of your rando employees just “walking in” on a confidential C-suite meeting. Besides, I don’t know about Teams specifically but Zoom won’t let you run a single meeting instance in perpetuity if it goes idle (I think a meeting ends if it goes 24 hours with only one attendee and no one else joining). Have fun restarting that every Monday morning and babysitting it throughout the week.
We use Zoom Rooms and would definitely recommend going the Teams Rooms route if that is at all equivalent. Does cost more than using a regular account but it’s worth it for the simplicity it provides IMO, while also satisfying security requirements.
AcidBuuurn@reddit
An account on a PC will keep meeting chat logs for anyone to see and a Teams room won't.
Ok-Juggernaut-4698@reddit
YeaLink teams device
pineapplebigshot@reddit
Logitech rally bar + tap controller. Dead simple.
Tyrant082@reddit
Using the same here, works flawless.
slapjimmy@reddit
This is the way
MurrghFromIT@reddit
Teams Rooms are the way to go. I have done this multiple ways depending on budget.
MAXHUB XCore kit + Ankerwork speakers/mics were the most budget friendly.
I have also configured the Teams Room ISO on some old surfaces and made it work that way.
The other suggestions in this thread are great, but they are very costly.
Feel free to PM with any questions.
ExceptionEX@reddit
Well logistically you are going to have to have some user interaction. You will either have to change the meeting option to allow anyone to skip the lobby, or you are going to have to admit the outside invited user to the meeting.
There is no magic walk in join meeting and let anyone join, even if you could it's a bad idea.
witwim@reddit
We have the Yealink A30’s in our small and midsize rooms. Low cost and works great.
mangorhinehart@reddit
You could get away with a Teams Room Basic license as well. i have an A20 using a basic license and it works well enough.
cantstandmyownfeed@reddit (OP)
Teams Premium? How is that assigned? Do you use a shared account?
We have some Premium licenses, but they're just assigned to normal staff.
witwim@reddit
In your M365 Copilot to add a Microsoft teams room it’s different than a user and that is going to be assigned to your hardware in my case. I use the A1 830 but any Microsoft teams room hardware would apply. Whoever you buy your licensing from you, just tell them to add one Teams room premium license. It shows up in your console and you will apply it to the name of that conference room. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/rooms/rooms-deploy
cantstandmyownfeed@reddit (OP)
Gotcha, teams room premium is what I was looking at. Thanks
Just-a-waffle_@reddit
We use Poly X52 bars in most rooms with a TC10 controller, running in teams mode
OCAU07@reddit
We use Yealink MVC840's and they work well but come at a cost