So you want your own screen somewhere in your department? We can help with that! Here are some starting points when thinking about a digital signage screen.
Cost
The total cost of the system can be as little as $1600 all the way up to $6000 or more, depending on factors such as what equipment you already have, the size of the display you want and where it’s being installed. Here’s a breakdown by category to give you an idea as to how much you’ll need to spend:
| Item | Price Range | Notes |
| Professional Display | $800-1400 | We highly recommend getting a professional display (instead of a commercial-grade TV) |
| Computer | $0-1000 | Please note you MUST use a computer supplied by ITS Hardware Services.
Minimum specs (as of July, 2022) are:
Often departments have an extra computer lying around that meets these specs somewhere in their office. ITS Hardware Services offers small form factor computers that are great as DSS players. They’re easy to install and powerful enough for our needs. |
| Display Mount | $50-250 | Used to mount the TV (and possibly other peripherals) to the wall |
| Software | $500 | License to use the digital signage software. This is an annual fee. |
| Electrical Outlets | $0-600 | You may not need any additional outlets, or you may need up to two (one for TV, one for the PC) |
| Network Drop | $0-$400 | You’ll need a network connection for the PC to reach our server. We do not support wireless connections. |
| Installation | $0-$1000 | You may need to get a department like the Science Technology Centre to mount/install the TV and PC. |
After these initial upfront costs, there is an annual maintenance fee of $500 per year. This fee covers the following:
– Software support by us, and by the manufacturer
– Software upgrades, whenever they are released by the manufacturer
– Preliminary hardware support
– System training, if someone new is involved with the DSS
– Server licensing and maintenance costs
Do you want to share content with others?
Your screen can either be set up as a stand-alone system, or as part of the group of screens we have across campus. There are benefits to each method.
| Private Systems | Public Systems |
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As a standalone system, you’re responsible for all the content on your screen. If you join our group, you’ll be able to reach a much larger audience with your messages!
Generally, we suggest being part of the public system, it means a wider variety of content on your screen, and content that is refreshed more often. Both of these factors attract attention to the screens and reduce content repetition.
Who’s going to create the content?
Someone in your department is going to need to be responsible for creating, posting and managing the content that gets displayed on your screens.
I want to get started!
Great! Simply contact us so we can get the ball rolling!