Elgato just dropped some cool new stuff for their Stream Deck lineup that I think people missed. They released a network dock that lets you connect your existing Stream Deck through ethernet and power over ethernet. It works kind of like their Studio version but for regular Stream Decks.
They also came out with blank white label panels that come in different sizes - 6 buttons, 15 buttons, and 32 buttons. These are meant for people who want to build custom setups or integrate them into their own projects.
I guess they showed these at some trade shows recently but not many people noticed. Has anyone tried these new products yet? The network dock seems pretty useful for people who want a cleaner setup without USB cables running everywhere.
Perfect timing from Elgato. I’ve had a Stream Deck XL in my home studio for two years and cable management is a nightmare. The POE dock would fix that, especially if you’ve got ethernet drops already set up. But I’m worried about latency - USB is instant and I wonder if network adds any delay when hitting buttons. Those custom panels seem aimed at pros, not regular streamers. Makes sense for broadcast studios or production houses wanting Stream Deck controls built into their boards. For me, it all comes down to price since USB works just fine.
Picked up one of these network docks last week - found it buried in Elgato’s announcements. Super easy install if you’ve got POE already, but here’s the thing: most people don’t. Had to upgrade my switch, which cost me another $150. The dock feels solid though, and completely fixed those annoying USB dropouts I kept getting with my MK2. One weird thing - you still need USB for firmware updates, which seems dumb. Perfect for commercial setups, but if you’re just streaming at home, stick with USB unless you’re already running enterprise gear.
I played with the network dock at NAB this year. Latency isn’t a problem - buttons respond just as fast as USB. The real benefits are power delivery and cable management.
We installed several in our broadcast control room last month. One ethernet cable does everything, which is massive when you’ve got multiple Stream Decks spread across operator positions. No more USB hubs or power adapters filling up the racks.
The custom panels are cool but most people won’t use them. We considered integrating them into custom hardware but stuck with standard Stream Decks since operators already know them.
Watch out for one thing - your network switch needs POE+ if you want to daisy chain multiple units. We found out the hard way.
Elgato’s demo covers setup pretty well if you’re thinking about upgrading.
the blank panels are cool but feel like overkill for most people. i’ve been streaming with my mk2 and never missed having ethernet. maybe useful for complex multi-room setups? the poe feature is nice tho - fewer cables is always better. curious about the price difference vs just buying more regular stream decks.
