Digital signage is a form of messaging that uses digital screens and banners to convey messages in the form of images, texts, video or streaming media. Because of this versatility, digital signage is seen in diverse areas such as in public spaces, museums, restaurants and corporate buildings. What this means is that digital signage enjoys the versatility that you cannot find in the case of any other type of signage. This has led to its widespread adoption, and it is forecasted to grow into a USD $ 25 Billion market by 2020.
What has made digital signage so prevalent is the relatively small cost compared to other forms of signage? For example, with paper or any other material medium, you write once on it and then discard the medium, but with digital signage being an electronic platform, you edit and change the content unlimited number of time without affecting the medium.
Infinite Number of Advertisements
You can run an unlimited number of Advertisements on the same media without having to worry about changing the display. The attractiveness of digital media is that you can start off with a bare canvas - the template, and digitally alter it to fit in with your purposes. And since most of these solutions are offered on the cloud, all you need is log into your dashboard, select your desired template, and edit the content according to your liking.
To get started with your digital signage system, you need two sets of equipment; the software and hardware; the vendor often bundles the utility software and hardware (if their product requires any). You, on the other hand, choose the monitor that is most appropriate for your objective. Some of the hardware that you can choose include the type of displays from LED, LCD or projectors to the media players (sometimes, your vendor will provide this) and the additional connectors such as HDMI and VGA. You will also need to choose a video splitter that will spread your content across the number of displays that you desire - if this is the route you want to go.
Video Splitters, Cost Effective
The digital signage video splitters are necessary for the proper functioning of cloned content across multiple screens. We are going to explore the diverse types that are available for your use and how to go about using them well. But first off, let's get in with the official technical definition of the video splitter. The splitter takes one signal from a video source and replicates it over multiple monitors or display units. You will need a video splitter to view your content simultaneously across space and time.
There are three main types of video splitters available in the market. Let us explore them a bit further.
- VGA Video Filters - According to eHow, a VGA monitor video splitter is just a device or cable, depending on what you want to call it, which lets you share your video output by taking one signal from one source and replicating it across multiple monitors.
The standard VGA splitter uses coaxial VGA cables to connect a video source to multiple digital monitor feeds. Distance from the source, however, constrains them. This means that the further away the monitors are from the video source, the more the signal degrades and ghosting begins to be an issue.
The average distance at which they start to lose the signal is at a distance of some 30 feet away from the source. However, to combat this signal loss and degradation, some cutting-edge VGA splitters have signal boosters designed to extend their range over longer distances.
- Cat 5 Video Splitters - Category 5, Cat 5, video splitters are different from VGA splitters mainly due to the cable that is used to connect them to the video source. These types of splitters do not use coaxial cabling like their VGA counterparts; instead, they rely on thin Cat 5 cabling for the connections.
These reduce the cabling issues when compared to VGA cables and they can allow the operator to darken all the monitors while they undergo a change of media. They are technically smarter compared to their VGA counterparts.
The main things that separate them from the rest of the pack are the fact that they allow multiple screens to be extended and placed at a distance of 820 feet from the video source, which is a huge 27 times the distance that you get from VGA splitters. Though they can be used under similar circumstances to VGA splitters, these Cat5 splitters can support more monitors at greater distances.
- HDMI Video Splitters - An HDMI splitter, on the other hand, splits the video source into two or more displays. These are ideally for high definition television (HDTV). It divides the signal coming from one HDMI output to between 2 or more outputs while maintaining the fidelity of the signal.
It is an effective way to ensure efficiency of distributing an HDMI signal to several displays without the need to purchase more expensive and duplicative equipment. As currently the signal can be split across at least 16 monitors, so the savings are not only significant, but the resolution of the source media is maintained too.
Selecting the Right Option
In conclusion, you need to consider the above factors carefully before you decide to take the plunge and begin choosing the splitter that will offer you the best value for your digital signage needs. If it's indoors and the monitors are in proximity to each other, then you can safely opt to use the VGA or HDMI splitter as they will get the job done as required.
However, if you need to split the video signal to be used across several monitors which are spread apart in greater distance, then the best solution would be the Cat5 splitter due to its versatility and signal maintenance over great distances. Overall, the strategic use of these splitters can save you plenty of time and money needed to configure each display independently.