-
I want to thank all the members that have upgraded your accounts. I truly appreciate your support of the site monetarily. Supporting the site keeps this site up and running as a lot of work daily goes on behind the scenes. Click to Support Signs101 ...
LED Board Digital Sign Supplier
- Thread starter nolanola
- Start date
DL Signs
Never go against the family
Wow... I haven't seen one of those styles in a hot minute, they're pretty obsolete.
Personally, I'd sell them on a digital menu board that uses an actual monitor. Easier to set up, operate, cheaper, easier to read, more versatile... If they fail or get damaged they'll be easier to fix/ replace than that style.
Cheapest setup is go buy a monitor or tv, mount it, connect it to a laptop or computer they probably already have on site. They can easily change the screen, add animations, images, video, anything they want, or just display prices like that. Any media player will work, or use digital menu board software, some offer free versions with templates for various business types. With the software they can even have the menu automatically switch to say happy hour prices at a select time daily, use part of the screen to advertise upcoming events or specials. As plain or fancy as you want to go. Use the right font and you can even simulate that one. Plus they can select any size monitor or tv that fits wherever they want, add decorative frame to match the decor... They'll last for years. Have a restaurant I put them in probably 8 years ago, been through two different owners, and the're still using them. One owner even came back to me to make templates for them.
Personally, I'd sell them on a digital menu board that uses an actual monitor. Easier to set up, operate, cheaper, easier to read, more versatile... If they fail or get damaged they'll be easier to fix/ replace than that style.
Cheapest setup is go buy a monitor or tv, mount it, connect it to a laptop or computer they probably already have on site. They can easily change the screen, add animations, images, video, anything they want, or just display prices like that. Any media player will work, or use digital menu board software, some offer free versions with templates for various business types. With the software they can even have the menu automatically switch to say happy hour prices at a select time daily, use part of the screen to advertise upcoming events or specials. As plain or fancy as you want to go. Use the right font and you can even simulate that one. Plus they can select any size monitor or tv that fits wherever they want, add decorative frame to match the decor... They'll last for years. Have a restaurant I put them in probably 8 years ago, been through two different owners, and the're still using them. One owner even came back to me to make templates for them.
nolanola
New Member
Thank you!
What type of screen should we use? How to source unbranded screens with small bezel?
DL Signs
Never go against the family
There are display companies that sell complete packages and components, Displays2go, FastSigns, an a ton of others, but they're pretty hefty priced for a small business.
Since it's just being used as a display, cheapest is just get a TV with the size that'll work. Some have very thin bezels, there's even ones with no bezels (price higher). You can cover the branding with your own frame, or cover the branding with vinyl if it's a big deal. You don't need a fancy 4k, or even a smart tv either, just a reliable 1080 one with a USB. Only need the computer to create and put files on a flash drive, use the TV's remote to set it up, and you're done. You can put a ton of different files on the flash drive, just pick the one you want with the tv remote you want to display, or a slideshow. When you create the menu, if you mount the TV vertically, easiest is to just rotate the file in whatever you use to make it, so it'll show the right way full screen. You can use just about anything to create the menu items, it's just an image at 1080 size. They will play videos and animations too.
This is a simple version of how I've done the budget ones. Usually run an extension cord for the USB so it's more convenient to grab the flash drive when you want to update files, you can make your own frame, or full enclosure for the tv if you want.... TV's make it affordable for anyone since they already have built in media players. Ones I've done, you can put files in folders you want to display if you want to do a slideshow, and it'll stick to what's in the folder only.
Since it's just being used as a display, cheapest is just get a TV with the size that'll work. Some have very thin bezels, there's even ones with no bezels (price higher). You can cover the branding with your own frame, or cover the branding with vinyl if it's a big deal. You don't need a fancy 4k, or even a smart tv either, just a reliable 1080 one with a USB. Only need the computer to create and put files on a flash drive, use the TV's remote to set it up, and you're done. You can put a ton of different files on the flash drive, just pick the one you want with the tv remote you want to display, or a slideshow. When you create the menu, if you mount the TV vertically, easiest is to just rotate the file in whatever you use to make it, so it'll show the right way full screen. You can use just about anything to create the menu items, it's just an image at 1080 size. They will play videos and animations too.
This is a simple version of how I've done the budget ones. Usually run an extension cord for the USB so it's more convenient to grab the flash drive when you want to update files, you can make your own frame, or full enclosure for the tv if you want.... TV's make it affordable for anyone since they already have built in media players. Ones I've done, you can put files in folders you want to display if you want to do a slideshow, and it'll stick to what's in the folder only.
JBurton
Signtologist
IDK about just getting a new tv with a usb and calling it a day. My living room has a big ole LG, and when it's left idle, it starts playing some fireworks animation. Without doing research on the particular model, you may end up with a frustrated customer. I'd look for something inline with a 'digital picture frame', it's software will definitely allow long hold images without timing out.
DL, what brand tv did you have luck with?
Another note, make sure to cover the IR receiver, otherwise some patron may find it funny to bring in their vizio remote and back out of the slideshow and see what else is on this old USB stick, look, a folder labeled homework...
DL, what brand tv did you have luck with?
Another note, make sure to cover the IR receiver, otherwise some patron may find it funny to bring in their vizio remote and back out of the slideshow and see what else is on this old USB stick, look, a folder labeled homework...
Texas_Signmaker
Very Active Signmaker
My phone has an IR blaster built in. I like muting loud TVs in public
DL Signs
Never go against the family
We've installed the systems they use in chain restaurants, the prices are insane, and most you're locked into using their software and controllers, subscription of course. This is an economical way for a small lower profit business like a bar to get into something better than chalk boards or letter boards without breaking the bank.
You are right though, it takes a little research to find the right one for the application, not endorsing Vizio (should have pointed that out), just that it's not overly complicated.
Digital picture frame, if you can find one large enough, is the best way to go. Biggest ones I ever found were in the 25"-ish range (maybe you can find larger ones today? haven't looked in a while), if that's big enough it's a good way to go, but unless you're viewing pretty close up, it's not very big.
Best for this is in my opinion is Samsung. They have a line of commercial TV's, not a lot more money than a regular TV, and made for stuff like this. Different size options (up to 82"), some have very small bezels, many are wall mount only, anti-glare screens, 3yr warranty is the norm for them. Some of the newer ones you can set up a PIN to access each one (if you're running multiple displays and only want to access/ change content or input on just one, and to keep them secure). They're great for business lobby's, menu boards in restaurants & bars, corporate meeting rooms for presentations, all at a pretty fair price.
JBurton
Signtologist
I didn't know they still made phones with that! Or are you still rocking an S5?
Texas_Signmaker
Very Active Signmaker
Oneplus 12. My favorite thing is it charges from 0 to 100% in about 30 mins.
JBurton
Signtologist
So you got a 13?
About the only thing I use my phone for these days aside from, ya know, phone calls, is waze. Aside from that, the phone lasts 2 days.