Looking through the “Packages and Systems” that Microsoft showcases on their website, it’s easy to see how expensive their recommended solutions can be. Just the cameras can run from $800 upwards, with some of the more “complete” looking solutions pushing into five figures. Whatever that is in GBP, it’s a lot - numbers that big tend to stay big.
I wanted something that not only served its purpose but looked the part too, and worked reliably. I didn’t want to be troubleshooting and fixing things every time someone had a meeting to join - so that was my first requirement.
The second requirement was cost. I didn’t want to drop tens of thousands of pounds on what is essentially a computer running a conference app with a webcam. Imagine spending £10,000 on a laptop just to run Teams or Zoom - that’s my thinking.
The third and final requirement was aesthetics. It didn’t need to be gold-plated, but it had to look smart. If a client saw it, I didn’t want them knowing any different - we’re reliable, and we want as much value as possible for what we spend, just like they do.
The Hardware
After carefully picking up components from various marketplaces and Amazon, here’s what I put together:
Dell Micro 3050 (i5 7500T, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) – ~£170 (Amazon)
Sony Bravia 49″ 4K TV – ~£180 (Facebook Marketplace)
Logitech Brio 100 Webcam – ~£30 (Amazon)
Logitech Tap (or any secondary display) – ~£100 (eBay)
This setup was methodically chosen to balance cost, performance, and aesthetics - e.g., selecting a slim TV that could sit close to the wall without the need for wall mounting.
Step 1: Creating the Room in Microsoft 365
In the Microsoft 365 Admin Centre, navigate to:
Exchange Admin > Recipients > Resources
Click "+ Add new room resource"
Fill out the "New Resource Mailbox" wizard:
Give your room a name (e.g. Meeting Space)
Assign an appropriate email address
Configure booking preferences and capacity
Step 2: Assigning a Licence
In the Microsoft 365 Admin Centre, go to:
Settings > Billing
Click "Add more products"
Search for "Microsoft Teams Rooms Basic" (free licence)
Assign to the licence:
Go to Users > Active Users
Find your "Meeting Space" user
Open the "Licences and apps" tab
Select the Microsoft Teams Room licence and save changes
Set up a password:
In the user's profile, click "Reset Password"
Uncheck "Automatically create a password"
Set a secure password
Step 3: Hardware Setup
Connect the TV to the PC via HDMI
Connect the Logitech Webcam to a USB 2.0 port
Use a wireless keyboard and mouse for convenience
Use s wired Ethernet connection for stability (WiFi works if needed)
Step 4: Configuring the PC
Log into the Dell 3050 using your Microsoft 365 account
Install Windows Updated (if needed)
Create a local user account
Name it "Teams"
Temporarily set it as an administrator
Switch to the "Teams" account and download the Microsoft Teams Room app:
Microsoft Teams Room app (Windows Store)
Set up a Windows Hello PIN for convenience
Configure Teams Room XML settings:
Log out of the local Teams account, and back into your Microsoft 365 Administrator account, and open a blank Notepad document
Enter the following XML:
<SkypeSettings>
<UserAccount>
<SkypeSignInAddress>[email protected]</SkypeSignInAddress>
<ExchangeAddress>[email protected]</ExchangeAddress>
<Password>YourSecurePassword</Password>
</UserAccount>
</SkypeSettings>
Save it to:
C:\Users\Teams\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.SkypeRoomSystem_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalStateChange the Teams user back to a Standard account (not an Administrator)
Step 5: Final Setup
Power everything off and connect the second display (if using one)
Power everything back on and log into the Teams account
Done! You now have a Microsoft Teams Room setup for just over £450.
Troubleshooting
If the interactive Teams interface appears on the TV instead of the secondary display, go to Windows Settings and ensure the TV is not set as the Primary Display.
This setup balances cost, reliability, and aesthetics, proving that you don't need to break the bank for a professional-looking Teams Room solution.