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HodgeHi

By HodgeHi
in AV and Multimedia Related

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HodgeHi

HodgeHi

Posted
Posted

Hello,

 

The Head was approached by a company called life channel. I think they approached him and not the other way around as far as i am aware although i may be wrong. Does anyone out there have this already and if so do you rate it would you rather have gone with a pure digital signage company. Apparently life channel stream content to you that is related to schools i.e. drugs awareness, knife crime etc.

 

If you do have it and rate it what are the benefits. If you don't like the system, why is this?

 

Also anyone out there with a digital signage installation, how is it paid for? Do you buy the system out-right a build your own content or do you pay an annual fee. Life Channel has a 3 year contract attached to it IIRC and it is £5000 per year. I thought that was quite expensive but apparently they do provide the screens. At the moment i am unsure if we keep the hardware after the 3 years.

 

Personally i'm not quite sure about the life channel system and so was wondering if anyone has it who can share their experiences.

 

It would be interesting for another digital signage deal for comparison though.

 

Hope you can help.

 

Thanks.

Dom_

Dom_

Posted
Posted

We have it, fairly rubbish though as we don't even have the sound enabled on our screens...

 

Not sure what the stuff they put on is like as nobody ever watches it, but it's annoying the way the scheduling works, and you can't disable their videos :-@

 

Given the choice I'd probably play with something open source.

  • Thanks 1
jamesfed

jamesfed

Posted
Posted

Naturaly consider the alternatives first, someone mentioned open source - we have used something called Xibo Digital Signage which works on any Windows PC and that already provides a flexible system.

Other alternatives include Sclar and OneLAN (who we use for our Canteen TVs).

  • 4 weeks later...
Viewpoint

Viewpoint

Posted
Posted (edited)
Hello,

 

The Head was approached by a company called life channel. I think they approached him and not the other way around as far as i am aware although i may be wrong. Does anyone out there have this already and if so do you rate it would you rather have gone with a pure digital signage company. Apparently life channel stream content to you that is related to schools i.e. drugs awareness, knife crime etc.

 

If you do have it and rate it what are the benefits. If you don't like the system, why is this?

 

Also anyone out there with a digital signage installation, how is it paid for? Do you buy the system out-right a build your own content or do you pay an annual fee. Life Channel has a 3 year contract attached to it IIRC and it is £5000 per year. I thought that was quite expensive but apparently they do provide the screens. At the moment i am unsure if we keep the hardware after the 3 years.

 

Personally i'm not quite sure about the life channel system and so was wondering if anyone has it who can share their experiences.

 

It would be interesting for another digital signage deal for comparison though.

 

Hope you can help.

 

Thanks.

My experience with dealing with schools is that it's better to spend your time and resources on localised 'content', making it more relevant to the school itself. Think about how you want to use it and how to make best use of the a chosen systems features. Make sure you put practises in place to update info every month at least and use 'tickertape' 'on the wire' editing features which the administrator of the system or 'tasked person' can do instantly via logging in via any ordinary browser on a network computer. All in all Digital Signage Systems help create a very professional view of a school by a viewer and says something about how a schools wishes to be connect with pupils, teachers, parents and visitors. The Onelan Systems we have installed seem to fit the bill in all areas, and are market leaders in the Education Sector.

Edited by Viewpoint
left a bit out!
Mandy

Mandy

Posted
Posted

Give me a call regarding Navaho system - a lot cheaper, easier to use (£895), and more capabilities than other digital signage. Also alot of Edugeek members have it installed and give stunning feedback!! Also NO subscription charges.

 

Give me a call on 01753 881810 to discuss the options + for pricing.

everton4europe

everton4europe

Posted
Posted
I have life channel at one of my schools. the biggest waste of money the head has spent. we have 3 tv's and in the 7 months they have been in have been switched on the grand total of once! And that was when the life channel was testing them!
gpjt

gpjt

Posted
Posted

We have recently installed (according to the company!!) the first 3G Digitial signage system in a school for the UK.

The product is called Mediatile and i'm sure that you have seen them at BETT etc.

We are having some teathing problems, but it was expected being as its a new system. The main plus of it is that it can be programmed from anywhere with internet access.

 

If you have any questions please ask!

p858snake

p858snake

Posted
Posted
The main plus of it is that it can be programmed from anywhere with internet access.
And how often would you need to alter the signage within the school from outside the premises?

I could understand wanting/using it if the signage was in public places like shopping centres, But I see no point when you within a school that has a managed network where you can easily access it from within the site and possibly externally from VPNs/Termanial Server set ups.

gpjt

gpjt

Posted
Posted
And how often would you need to alter the signage within the school from outside the premises?

I could understand wanting/using it if the signage was in public places like shopping centres, But I see no point when you within a school that has a managed network where you can easily access it from within the site and possibly externally from VPNs/Termanial Server set ups.

 

Good point!!! We also have a lot of community use at evening time and also have ideas, to get extra units that can go into partner primary schools in the local area.

dhicks

dhicks

Posted
Posted
We also have a lot of community use at evening time

 

Assuming that a "3G digital signage solution" basically means a digital signage setup that can contact the Internet via 3G, what functionality does your new system have that a PC connected to a screen and with a 3G dongle plugged in doesn't?

 

--

David Hicks

gpjt

gpjt

Posted
Posted

errrrrrr it doesn't!

 

Look, its not me who brought it, just that i work with it. It's not perfect, but it satisfys the SLT's needs!

HMCTech

HMCTech

Posted
Posted
The samsung MagicInfo LCD's I will second to be great quality. No need for having to source a suitable screen, and then suitable software. All built in and the software works well in that you create what you want on the screen. Not just buying a template for you to fill in.
Whitey83

Whitey83

Posted
Posted

We've just had Onelan digital signage installed at a site I look after, 3 screens ran via a VGA over CAT5 box, and thats just takes the onelans's feed.

 

All web based to make any changes, but I have to admit - it isnt the easiest of programs to work with!

SimonV

SimonV

Posted
Posted
The lastest version of MagicInfo, MagicInfo I is much easier to use than earlier verisons and as stated the screens are designed for signage applications, so are suited for running extended hours plus they come with a 3 year warranty for peace of mind, add in the ability to manage the screens (on/off/volume etc) and ease of deployment... just add power and network and you're up and running :D
Soulfish

Soulfish

Posted
Posted
We've just had Onelan digital signage installed at a site I look after, 3 screens ran via a VGA over CAT5 box, and thats just takes the onelans's feed.

 

All web based to make any changes, but I have to admit - it isnt the easiest of programs to work with!

 

Having nothing but problems with our OneLAN box. It's been sent to be repaired 3-4 times in the last 9 months :mad:

Crowmanuk

Crowmanuk

Posted
Posted
After faffing around with image flyer we're now running Xibo and i'm really loving it, just the ability to have any screen I want running the client and I can then use it as a sign is superb, I'm still tinkering with it at the moment, running 16x9 screens and the main reception tv throws it out by an inch or so if I set the pc res on that to 1280x720 so I might swap the box out but from my point of view who has to set everything up its great, network manager thinks its a big improvement and HT likes it better already.
pagelad

pagelad

Posted
Posted

Got my XIBO installation up and running,

 

Im very happy with it for free.. it would be nice to have batch uploads etc of images but what ive got is much better than what i was using before.

 

The RSS feeds are a nice touch.

 

Does anyone know if its possible to add a twitter feed in?

p858snake

p858snake

Posted
Posted
You could add their widget into via html code i would assume (never used xibo before) if not, on the right hand side of the twitter profile there will be a rss feed which is labelled as "RSS feed of 's tweets" which you could add.

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