How to set up the Neat Bar, from unboxing to a working test. It's a USB device: plug it into a laptop or room PC and it shows up as a camera, microphone and speaker in any meeting app.
Before you start: check the box
- Neat Bar
- HDMI cable (2 m)
- Ethernet cable (3 m)
- Power cord (3 m)
- Mount adapter, wall mount, screen mount, table stand and snap-on mount
- VESA screws and spacers
- 2 mm and 5 mm hex wrenches
What you need
- Ports on the Bar: Ports: Ethernet, 2 × HDMI-out, HDMI-in, USB-C (BYOD/USB passthrough); Wireless: WiFi, Bluetooth.
- For USB mode: a laptop or room PC with a free USB port that matches the included cable. Plug directly into the computer rather than through a hub where possible.
- Power: Built-in power supply, 100-240V; in call 10-11W.
Bar at a glance
- Camera: 4056×3040 (12 MP) capture, 120° horizontal FOV
- Microphones: 5 mics in end-fire array + 3 sensor mics
Step by step
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Pick the position. Center the camera on the main display, just above or below the screen, at roughly seated eye level so people look at the camera when they look at the screen. Supported mounting: Table stand, wall mount, screen mount and snap-on mount included. See Bar mounting and placement.
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Connect power and cables. Connect the power cord. Then connect the cables your setup needs (Ports: Ethernet, 2 × HDMI-out, HDMI-in, USB-C (BYOD/USB passthrough)). Use the cables in the box first; long runs may need the manufacturer's extender.
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Pair a phone (optional). Put it in Bluetooth pairing mode (see the quick start guide for the button) and pick it on your phone. Bluetooth is for calls from a phone or tablet; for meetings on a computer, USB is more reliable.
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Set up USB mode. Connect the Bar to the computer by USB. In Teams, Zoom or Meet, open the device settings and select the Bar as the camera, microphone and speaker.
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Update the firmware. Neat devices are preconfigured to update automatically: once connected they check the Stable channel and install available software, unless automatic updates are turned off. See Updating the firmware below.
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Run a test call. Join a test meeting, check framing from every seat, speak from the far end of the table, and have the remote side confirm they hear you clearly with no echo.
Updating the firmware
Neat devices are preconfigured to update automatically: once connected they check the Stable channel and install available software, unless automatic updates are turned off. Neat recommends managing upgrades through Neat Pulse or automatic updates. Neat strongly discourages manual updating without Pulse.
Tools:
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Neat Pulse: cloud management platform incl. automatic, scheduled, delayed and manual software updates
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Don't unplug power or USB while an update runs.
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Close Teams, Zoom and other apps that use the device before updating it from a computer.
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Update one room first, test a call, then roll out to the rest.
Manual and documentation
Neat's product page for the Bar: documentation and downloads. Check it for exact port diagrams and admin settings for your firmware version; more guides are on the Neat support site.
If something doesn't work
Start with Bar troubleshooting. Want it done for you? We plan rooms and ship them ready to install. Get a quote.
More Bar guides
- Bar buyer's guide: specs and price
- Bar: troubleshooting
- Bar: mounting and placement
- Bar: Teams, Zoom and Google Meet
- Bar: what room size it covers
- Bar: price and total room cost
- Bar: full specs
- Bar: alternatives compared
- Bar: accessories
- Bar: factory reset
- All Neat video bars compared
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