What are the videowalls?

Standard screens in the LCD technology can have up to 98” resolution. There are obviously 110’’ matrices, but these are rather demonstration models than standard products for regular sale.

However, what if we want a picture with a bigger diagonal screen measurement? Then we have three options:

1. Large format screening 2. LED arrays 3. LCD videowalls

Outdoor cinema

Each of these technologies has its possibilities and limitations. At first, let’s focus on the large format screening. It is a method, which may work solely in the dark. Price-to-screen size ratio is very favorable and the system is very easy to apply since the whole installation is only to set a projector or a group of projectors in a right place and screen the picture on any (even irregular) surface. The biggest advantage of such a method is an unrivalled screen size. It does not, however, change the fact that projectors themselves are very expensive and they are used only occasionally on various events. Below you can read about the exemplary usage of projectors.

LED

Another way is to use monitors composed of LED arrays. It is a very efficient and increasingly popular technology. It gives very high brightness and because of that it can be used even in very bright places. It is most often used in stadiums and streets, since special versions of arrays are weathertight, i.e. resistant to rain and UV rays. Current LED technology allows to create walls of various shapes and curves. Obviously, this technology has also its disadvantages. Even if LED is associated with ecology and energy savings, it is an energy-intensive way of a content presentation. By installing LED displays in busy streets we need to prepare for their regular cleaning.

All for one and one for all

The last way is the so called videowall, i.e. a wall composed of a few LED screens. It is a technology used indoors, both as an advertising medium and a set of screens in communication centers. Their advantage is undoubtedly a high resolution. All screens adjusted to videowalls display a picture in FullHD. You can easily imagine that a videowall composed of 4 such monitors has 4K resolution. A disadvantage of such a solution is frames that separate the screens. Monitor manufacturers try to reduce this feature by using ultrathin cases (1,8 mm). It is uneconomic to create a set of dozens monitors. However, if we need to generate a 3×4 meter picture which will be visible from a short distance, the videowall will be a better option than LED arrays.

How it works?

There are three most popular ways of creating videowalls. One of them is a DaisyChain method of joining advertising screens. It is a term that describes the ability to connect each screen with a DisplayPort cable. At the beginning of a chain there is a player with Digital Signage software. It is a very easy and relatively cheap solution.

The second way is to use a Video Splitter (most often the HDMI interface). Such a configuration requires connecting a player with a splitter and later connecting every screen to it with a separate cable. It is a method, in which we connect monitors not having a Displayport slot.

The last way is to connect each monitor to the separate player (4 screens, 4 players). These must be special computers working on an adequate software, which synchronizes every device so that the picture is coherent. It is a relatively expensive solution, but at the same time the most advanced, allowing to create walls of complex constructions.

Summary

Videowalls can be in various shapes and sizes. Despite a huge popularity of LED arrays and their unquestionable advantages, the constructions based on LED monitors may be better in many cases. Nevertheless, if you need to create a large format outdoor picture, an LED array will be a perfect choice. Before you make any decision on what to purchase, please contact our specialist who will help you choose the right method. If you wish to learn more or you are interested in a bid for advertising monitors, please fill in the form below.