One of the key components of any digital signage setup is hardware, and it’s worth spending some time understanding how it works and what you’ll need. This article will help you with all of that, including how much it will cost and where you can buy it from. The hardware includes displays, media players, cabling, and mounts.
Display Options:
There are a variety of display options available when starting your business. The type of display you choose will depend on several factors, including a budget, screen size, and intended audience. There are three primary display types: LCD panels, LED screens, and projection displays. LCD panels are more affordable than other displays but offer limited viewing angles. LED screens have higher brightness and color fidelity than LCD panels but require more power to run. Projection displays have the widest viewing angles and can be either front- or rear-projected. Media Players: A media player is an important component in any digital signage setup as it allows content to play without needing any other hardware or software like a computer or laptop.
Cables & Mounts:
Cables and mounts are important for ensuring that your displays are properly set up. A good cable will have a high-quality protective jacket, with a nice strength rating, and should be less than 5m in length. Cables also come in different types: HDMI cables are typically used for HD displays, while VGA is more common among lower-resolution screens. Mounts can be used on walls or ceilings so that you can hang your displays from the wall or ceiling. Make sure you get a mount with a weight rating that’s strong enough to support your display! Right-click an empty space on your desktop and click Create new text document. Name it Hardware Guide and then copy this text into the blank document. Once you’re done, rename it something else like My Digital Signage Hardware Guide. Save it as a .txt file, upload it to a cloud storage service such as Dropbox or Google Drive, and then link to it in your blog post about hardware for digital signage.
Media Players:
A media player is the central component of any digital signage system. It’s what handles all of the hard work so your displays can show beautiful content. To get started, you’ll need a media player that’s compatible with your displays and how you want to display them. For example, if you want to use static images, then a computer is perfect. If you want interactive content on your displays, then a tablet might be better suited for what you need. Whatever device you choose, make sure it’s one that will handle displaying the type of content you’re going to show on your screens. Some features to look out for are compatibility with operating systems such as Windows or macOS, power options (AC/DC), scalability options (single or multi-display), input-output connections (HDMI, VGA), and network connectivity. The cost of a media player will depend on the quality and features available; however, expect prices to range from $350 – $600.
Where to Buy Display Equipment:
There are a few different places where you can buy display equipment. Here are some of the best options:
- The first place is directly from the manufacturer, like Samsung and Sony.
- The second place would be from Amazon.
- The third place would be from your nearest electronics store, such as Best Buy or Walmart. Most major cities have one, so it’s easy to find one nearby!
What Do You Need?
- So what exactly do you need in order to set up digital signage? Well, there are a lot of components that go into this decision. Some key components include displays, media players, cabling, and mounts. Displays are often called ‘signs’.
- They should be the high definition with a wide viewing angle, meaning they should look good from every angle. Media Players come with software installed on them to show images/video on your screen. They also provide sound via an internal speaker or through an external audio system that needs its own speakers (these will typically cost more).
- If you’re going for simplicity, then our recommendation is to buy pre-made kits online – these kits usually come with all the necessary hardware including mount brackets and cables.
