What are the differences between the Crestron AirMedia AM200 and BenQ InstaShow WDC10?

Both the HDMI and USB-C versions of the InstaShow WDC10 are designed to install right out of the box in less than 10 minutes without IT support. To setup, simply connect the receiver to a projector or display, and place the two InstaShow buttons into the tabletop holder. It is now ready to use. Testing by the publication My Tech Decisions indicated it took only a few minutes to connect and use. This hardware-only approach enables InstaShow to handle both presentation and video content using the InstaShow buttons without any changes or performance impact on the local network.

The basic approach of the Crestron system is to use a notebook app or a current Crestron Digital media system to transmit the presentation over a corporate network to the AirMedia receiver that is connected to the display. Prior to deploying AirMedia products, Crestron recommends assessing the network infrastructure and design to ensure satisfactory performance. For enterprise network installations, Crestron provides a 40-page AirMedia Network Deployment Guide to properly deploy and configure the system on the network.

For example, the Crestron AirMedia requires around 20 network ports that need to be configured, along with the following network bandwidth requirements to enable it to display smooth videos on the system:

• Up to 8.5mb per second for 1080p content at 30 frames per second
• Use quality-of-service features on switches and routers to prioritize AirMedia traffic
• Use high-quality, non-blocking switches and routers with sufficient capability to move unicast streaming traffic from senders to AirMedia devices
• After setup, Crestron recommends testing the commissioned room functionality and re-evaluating the room use cases as time and circumstances permit.

For a visitor to wirelessly present with the InstaShow in a huddle space or meeting room, they simply connect an HDMI or USB-C transmitter button to the notebook. No software is needed to be installed on the visitor’s notebook. The button light will turn green once an encrypted channel is setup (about 10-15 seconds) and the presenter simply taps the lighted button to present. To enable smooth video streaming, the visitor taps the “Mode” button on the side of the transmitter which will then automatically optimize the stream for video and audio playback.

For a visitor to access a Crestron AirMedia 2.0 system, they must first connect their notebook to the specified wireless network. Then the visitor needs to open a web browser and type in the IP address shown on the AirMedia welcome screen. Once connected, they download the appropriate AirMedia software client to their notebook. This process can present a challenge to certain visitors since many organizations “lock down” their notebooks from external third-party software to protect from malware and require IT support and approval for any application to be installed. Running any third party app or .exe file on secure notebooks can be a problem for IT managers who are responsible for security. Once the app is installed, the visitor needs to open the software and log in by typing in the code on the AirMedia welcome screen and click “Connect.” Then the visitor can present their content on the screen.

The InstaShow is a secure system that uses a closed network and advanced 128-bit encryption to ensure that each presentation transmission cannot be captured or recorded by unauthorized external or internal users. This approach does not require any application to be running on the laptop, or any direct connection to the enterprise network. The LAN port on the receiver is for configuration only and does not provide access to the corporate network for InstaShow users. Kenneth Buckler, a Washington D.C. cyber-security expert, did a thorough evaluation of the InstaShow that details how the product minimizes the risk to company networks that can be downloaded from the Caffeine Security website.

The AirMedia 2.0 is a secure system and uses encryption to secure all transmissions from the notebook using the AirMedia software and the receiver to create a secure channel to protect the content from unauthorized viewing or recording. This software is required to run on the presenting notebook to enable the encryption. Also, because the hub is an active network device, its firmware and other security protections must be kept up to date over time to ensure proper protection to the network from vulnerabilities.