digital signage / screens

[CapnPugwash]

Looking to set up some screens around the school as displays. Probably power-point presentations initially.

 

Looking through some threads, it looks like my best bet might be TVs and some flavor of USB mini computer?

 

anyone done this recently & have recommendations?

[bclarke]

I am using regular TV's with an Intel Compute Stick running Windows 10 Education with a piece of free software called PresentationPoint and PowerPoint. The free software monitors a network share where the PowerPoint sits and updates the screen when the slideshow is updated.

 

Currently running it on two screens. I would prefer a more pro setup but they cost a fortune.

[dry]

Xibo is fairly popular on these forums. Our digital signage is based on it. It's free and you can add as many clients (screens) as you like. It's server/client, so you'll need a device/VM to act as your server and a device connected to every screen. We use cheap Windows mini PCs connected via HDMI.

[3s-gtech]

We've used Xibo for around 7 years now. Great piece of software - scaleable, pretty easy to set up and stable. We've run the server on Debian and Windows, and used XP and now 7 for the clients.

[MrFrostmaul]

Setup Xibo during the summer and running end points on two old computers connected to screens, works beautiful and haven't had any issues so far.

[CapnPugwash]

I've had a look at XIBO before and that's definitely where we want to go but right now I'm more interested in the basics - the screens themselves. We have some old computers that I could hook up to screens but I really don't want the wires / have to stash PC's about, so something like this looks like a good solution "I am using regular TV's with an Intel Compute Stick running Windows 10 Education"

 

I've read varying reviews on the Intel devices and I guess there are a ton of similar things out there... any opinions on the good / bad? Things to watch out for?

[flyinghaggis]

We used a Chromebox paired up with Signage Live. Seemed to work pretty well but you do need to pay an annual subscription (~ £100 p/a IIRC) for SignageLive (dependent on the number of displays) for their cloud service. To me it seemed more streamlined than going with a WindowsPC based solution though. Edited October 14, 2016 by flyinghaggis

[Mozzy12]

We are just getting our signage in order and are looking at Rise Vision. Its free, no limits on clients, web based setup and will run on low spec machines. You will need a Google account to sign up.

[gshaw]

Compute Stick plus Planet eStream here. If I didn't have eStream then would probably go for the SignageLive route to avoid managing a Windows box (how does Xibo client run on Linux these days?)

 

Compute Stick first gen has its issues, mainly that the built in Wi-Fi is useless and only has 1 USB port so needs a hub to set up really. I don't like using them over Wi-Fi as we play lots of video so bought a USB Ethernet adapter which gets cable tied to the Compute Stick. The newer devices have at least 2 x USB ports, better CPU and I believe sorted the Wi-Fi so definitely go for those if you can.

 

More info on my blog post about these here https://gshaw0.wordpress.com/2015/10/28/intel-compute-stick-digital-signage-on-a-stick/

[antlear]

 

Compute Stick first gen has its issues, mainly that the built in Wi-Fi is useless and only has 1 USB port so needs a hub to set up really. I don't like using them over Wi-Fi as we play lots of video so bought a USB Ethernet adapter which gets cable tied to the Compute Stick. The newer devices have at least 2 x USB ports, better CPU and I believe sorted the Wi-Fi so definitely go for those if you can.

 

 

I generally advice people to go for Intel Nucs. As great as wifi is a wired connection will always be much better for a digital signage system. If you are wanting to use powerpoint have a look at showpoint ShowPoint | Auto-start Digital Signage Presentations you can put the powerpoint on a server and it will run the latest version.

[gshaw]

I generally advice people to go for Intel Nucs. As great as wifi is a wired connection will always be much better for a digital signage system. If you are wanting to use powerpoint have a look at showpoint ShowPoint | Auto-start Digital Signage Presentations you can put the powerpoint on a server and it will run the latest version.

Thing with NUCs is they're not the cheapest things in the world, Compute Stick is more affordable but yes I agree keep them wired if possible.

[pcstru]

We now use Xibo with Android dongles running a client. There is a licence cost for each client but the overall cost is ~£80 per screen and we avoid cabling costs.

[GuyJD]

I have 3 around the school all running off of Intel NUC pc's, normal domestic use Televisions are not rated for always on use and if the manufacturer thinks they have been your warranty will be void, I have 2 Samsung domestic TV's one in a meeting room that hardly gets used and one in the foyer that is always on and I've had nothing but problems with the latter.

I had a 3rd Samsung 24/7 use screen that had been here and on 24/7 since the school was built in 2008, never had an issue with it and only had to replace it recently because it got broken after being hit by a flying object.

[ITGuyNW]

Xibo with the Intel Compute stick (connected to usb hub and wifi dongle as internal is useless)

[ITGURU]

We run a PC with Aten Video Splitters - 8 Port sender connected to the PC cat5e cables to each location with a PC monitor on the end. receiver units can be daisy chained.

[MichelleC]

We've just purchased some standard consumer TV's from @VeryPC_Ross which at the moment are just playing exported videos from PowerPoint directly from a USB stick plugged into each device, but we're looking at purchasing some Brightsign boxes https://www.brightsign.biz I've downloaded their software to have a play about with before we buy.