USB vs USB-C: Which Connection Solution for a Meeting Room?

USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, docking stations… In a modern meeting room, connectivity can quickly become complex. Yet the goal remains simple: allowing every user to connect their computer and immediately access the display, camera, microphones and video conferencing system. So, which solution should you choose?

USB-A and USB-C: What’s the Difference?

Before comparing their performance, one important distinction needs to be made: USB-A and USB-C primarily refer to connector types.

USB-A is the connector that has been widely used on computers and peripherals for many years. USB-C is newer, more compact and reversible. Depending on the equipment and supported standards, it can also carry significantly more data and combine several functions through a single connection.

This evolution has profoundly changed the way connectivity is designed for a professional meeting room or video conferencing system.

USB-A: A Connection Standard That Remains Widely Used

Introduced on consumer computers in the late 1990s, USB-A gradually became a standard connector for a wide variety of peripherals:

  • keyboards and mice;
  • cameras;
  • microphones;
  • audio interfaces;
  • network adapters;
  • touchscreens;
  • control systems;
  • audio and video capture devices.

Performance has improved considerably across the different generations of the USB standard.

Data Transfer Speeds Have Increased Significantly

  • USB 2.0: up to 480 Mbps;
  • USB 3.0 / USB 3.1 Gen 1: up to 5 Gbps;
  • USB 3.2: up to 20 Gbps depending on the configuration.

In a professional audiovisual installation, USB-A still offers one major advantage: its extensive compatibility with existing peripherals.

Cameras, audio systems, control interfaces and video conferencing equipment still frequently rely on USB-A connections or dedicated USB links.

This is why the gradual disappearance of USB-A ports from some laptops does not mean that the connector is disappearing from professional AV installations.

USB-C: One Cable for Multiple Functions

The main advantage of USB-C goes far beyond its reversible design.

With compatible computers and equipment, a USB-C connection can simultaneously carry:

  • data;
  • video;
  • audio;
  • a network connection;
  • power for the computer.

With USB4 and protocols such as Thunderbolt, available data transfer speeds can also be significantly higher than those offered by previous USB generations.

For meeting room users, the concept is particularly appealing: arrive with a laptop, connect a single cable and immediately access all the equipment in the room.

The display, camera, microphones, speakers and network can potentially all become accessible through this single connection.

This is precisely the kind of simplicity we aim for when designing our meeting room and video conferencing solutions.

Why Can USB-C Cause Problems in a Meeting Room?

On paper, connecting an entire meeting room through a single USB-C cable seems like the ideal solution.

In practice, a professional installation requires a few precautions.

Cable Length Is a Key Factor

The higher the required data rates, the more important the quality and specifications of the cable become.

There is therefore no universal maximum length that applies to every USB-C cable. It depends on several factors, including:

  • the USB standard being used;
  • the required data rate;
  • the video resolution;
  • the amount of power being delivered;
  • whether the cable is passive or active;
  • the connected equipment.

A short USB-C connection between a laptop and a docking station will generally work very well.

However, attempting to carry all signals directly from a large meeting table to a display, camera or technical rack located several metres away can introduce additional constraints.

This is where the overall system design becomes particularly important.

How Should You Connect a Meeting Room Using USB-C?

For a permanent installation, there are two main approaches.

Solution 1: USB-C and a Docking Station

The first approach is to use a docking station installed close to the user’s connection point.

The computer is then connected to the docking station using a relatively short USB-C cable.

The docking station distributes the different signals to the room’s equipment:

  • HDMI or another video connection to the display or projector;
  • USB to the camera;
  • USB or network connectivity to the audio system;
  • Ethernet connectivity;
  • power delivery to the computer when supported by the configuration.

The user therefore retains the main advantage of USB-C: only one cable needs to be connected to the computer.

The technical complexity remains hidden, integrated beneath the table, within the furniture or inside the audiovisual rack.

Solution 2: Separate the Different Signals

In some configurations, using separate connections remains a particularly reliable solution.

For example, the installation may include:

  • a dedicated HDMI connection for video;
  • a dedicated USB connection for the camera and microphones;
  • a separate power supply;
  • and, where appropriate, a separate network connection.

This architecture avoids routing every function through a single connection.

It can be particularly relevant for larger meeting rooms, permanent installations or environments where stability is more important than minimising the number of cables.

The choice therefore depends less on choosing between an “old” and a “new” technology and more on the actual requirements and uses of the meeting room.