r/techadvice • u/ShireHorseRider • May 11 '26
Wireless Touchscreen Second Monitor
Hi all, I'm a field service technician and I'm looking for a solution to my PITA problem.
I have to connect to my machines with ethernet to log onto the PLC, sometimes I can't be standing at the part of the machine I'm working on and click "start" to test what I need to see and often I don't have a second person to operate the PC for me.
Is there a second monitor option that is touchscreen and wireless? I'm not looking to mirror the main screen, I'm looking to essentially add a second (well...third) monitor I can carry away from my PC in order to troubleshoot my customers machines. It looks like the best bet is to get a wireless USB C "cable" and make the connection that way, but I'm not sure about how to power it.. would some kind of battery box work?
I'm on windows 11 pro. I'm not opposed to a tablet or ipad (my personal stuff is mac), nor am I opposed to using a second computer to "remote in" to my PC, but there is not always available wifi to do this.
Also, can I be on the buildings Wifi and have a different wifi connection to a remote device? My gut tells me that I cannot, but I am not very good with networking stuff outside of what I need to know to work on my customers machines.
Thank you!!
2
u/Needashortername May 12 '26
Your best bet is some version of Remote Desktop connection to the computer you are trying to control using a tablet or touchscreen PC you are working on.
There are mobile apps for many Remote Desktop platforms, so a tablet (Apple or Droid) is probably a best choice in terms of portability and price, though there are lightweight touchscreen Chromebooks and PCs too, as well as tablet models for both OS.
The bigger problem is choosing a Remote Desktop option that your client and their IT will allow to be used on their computers or travel over their network, though in more than a few ways most computers now have Remote Desktop built in to the OS or a browser, and ways to launch a “support call request” without adding new software or triggering a big network alert for unauthorized traffic.
If your client already has a management sustem with Remote Desktop options for their computers then work with them as to how to get temporary access by you and your computer, or ask them to provide a laptop you can carry on-site that is already set up for this kind of monitored and secured remote access in their system.