Three Extra Screens for a Rugged Laptop

This is a neat solution for adding graphical output power to a rugged laptop (or indeed commercial grade laptop).  Utilizing the high speed of USB-3, the AGS-MCCD-3USB gives any modern rugged laptop an extra three 17″ HD displays in a rugged aluminum chassis. You can carry the laptop in one hand and the AGS-MCCD-3USB in the other like a briefcase. Within moments you are up and running with a four screen command and control system.  Compatible with all the major rugged portable brands: Panasonic Toughbook CF31, Dell e6420 and Getac b300 or VT100 all of which feature USB3 ports and enough processing power to make it all work properly.  The extra displays can operate as a single screen (albeit with ‘bars’ between screens) or as three additional displays, each with their own content.  The mouse moves between them entirely naturally under Windows 7.

5760 x 1080 Workspace

The complete three screen display weighs in at about 10lbs, and measures 17.1″ x 11.5″ x 5.7″.   An IP65 version with mil-spec connectors and ‘multi-touch’ touch screens are available to special order.  The three displays are all HD resolution, which means between them, they display 5760 x 1080.

Rugged Portable Video Test

In tests on a Getac b300 rugged portable, it was possible to play three HD videos simultaneously without any noticeable frame drop issues. This wasn’t the case when I tried it on a USB2 port – but even that was perfectly usable for general ‘office’ type use.  I was surprised that a rugged portable could drive three screens through a single USB-3 port, but is really works well!

These systems are also available with 3 x DVI inputs, 3 x VGA, or three Displayport connectors – but really the USB3 solution works so well, I’m not sure I would bother most of the time.  Get more information about the three screen display here: AGS-MCCD-3USB

Nine display rugged portable workstation

When two sets of AGS-MCCD-3USB’s are stacked on the AGS-MCCS-3U a nine-display portable package is possible.  Now portable means different things to different people…  The Macbook Air crowd will not be interested, but if you need a command and control center that is fast to set up this is a neat solution.  The whole thing fits into two manageable shipping cases – Pelican, Zero, Zarges etc

USB3 maximum cable length

A customer recently asked us how long a cable we can use to operate the three screen USB driven display.  We tested it with 18′ of cable and it worked fine.  I took a look at the USB3 specification and it does not directly define maximum cable length, rather the voltage drop maximum.  They provide this table of wire gauge v voltage drop to give guidance on the maximum runs.

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