Overview: USB Connectivity and BYOD mode for Neat Devices

Last updated on August 21, 2024

The USB port on Neat devices offers a range of functionalities, including screen sharing, BYOD mode, and touchback features. With the release of Neat OS 24.4 Firmware, several new capabilities have been introduced to enhance the flexibility and usability of Neat devices.

Key Updates in Neat OS 24.4 Firmware
– USB Connectivity: Includes Manual BYOD Mode and USB Extenders feature.
– BYOD-Only Mode (Beta): Available on selected devices.

A new settings page has been introduced under Neat System Settings -> System -> USB Connectivity, allowing users to toggle between various USB functions such as BYOD modes and Audio over USB (specifically for Neat Bar Pro). Below is an overview of the features supported through the USB port on Neat devices.

1. BYOD mode while running Zoom/Teams as native application:

Neat devices are designed to deliver exceptional experiences through native Zoom Room and Microsoft Teams Room applications. However, there may be instances where users need to join meetings on other platforms that don’t offer platform-level interoperability. For these scenarios, Neat offers the BYOD Mode feature, which enables the use of Neat devices with any platform. This mode leverages Neat’s hardware and firmware capabilities for ad-hoc meetings requiring third-party video services.

Instructions for setting up BYOD Mode are available based on the specific Neat device in your environment:

• Neat Bar + Bar Pro – How to Set up your Neat Bar/Bar Pro for BYOD Mode
• Neat Bar Gen 2 + Neat Board 50 – How to Set up your Bar Gen 2 /Board 50 for BYOD Mode
• Neat Board – How to Set up your Neat Board for BYOD Mode

2. BYOD only mode application (beta feature)

Neat Bar, Neat Bar Gen 2, Neat Bar Pro, and Neat Board 50 can now be configured as dedicated BYOD systems, eliminating the need to install other applications such as Teams or Zoom. This setup allows users to connect their laptops via USB and/or HDMI and use the conferencing software of their choice.

Please note that standard Neat deployment requirements, such as network connectivity for both the main room device and Neat Pad, still apply. However, in this mode, the device will not host or run Microsoft Teams Rooms or Zoom Rooms software. For more details on network requirements, please refer to our Network and Firewall article. 

For detailed setup instructions, refer to the BYOD-only mode (beta) article.

3. Audio over USB (Neat Bar Pro only)

The Neat Bar Pro is designed for larger rooms, which can present acoustic challenges. To address these, Neat supports third-party audio devices to enhance the user experience in such environments.

For setup instructions on configuring Audio over USB for the Neat Bar Pro, refer to Neat Bar Pro Audio over USB.

4. Overview of USB Features per device

Device	BYOD only mode	BYOD Auto Mode	BYOD Manual Mode	Audio over USB	Single Cable BYOD mode Support (DisplayPort)	Third-party Touch screen over USB support	Mouse/Keyboard over USB/ Peripheral Mode	Ethernet /HDMI /USB headsetover USB using Dongle
Neat Bar	✔	✔	✔	✘	✘	✔	✔	✘
Neat Bar Pro	✔	✔	✔	✔	✘	✔	✔	✘
Neat Bar Gen 2	✔	✔	✔	✘	✔	✔	✔	✘
Neat Board	✘	✔	✘	✘	✘	✘	✔	✘
Neat Board 50	✔	✔	✔	✘	✔	✘	✔	✘
Neat Frame	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✔	✔
Neat Pad as scheduler	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✔	✘