Digital Billboard Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are LEDs?
2. What is “Pixel Pitch” and how is it used?
3. What product sizes are available?
4. Do you do Custom Work?
5. How are DCI Digital Displays produced?
6. What is the “life-time” of a DCI Digital Display?
7. Do DCI Digital Displays offer any protection from outside elements, suchas vandalism or severe weather?
8. What is the weight of an LED Display?
9. Will the price of Digital Displays be reuced in the future?
10. What options do I have to monitor my Digital Display?
11.Why use such a high brightness as the standard?
12. What are my Warranty options?
13. What Service Options are available after my purchase of a Digital Display?
14. How is my DCI Digital Display programmed?
15. What file types can I display on my Digital Display?
16. What software training does DCI provide?
17. Does DCI provide any financing options?
18. Where can I go to learn more?
What are LEDs?
LEDs, simply stated are Light Emitting Diodes. They are an inexpensive, vivid, and enduring alternative to older incandescent light bulbs. DCI Digital Displays last 100,000 hours or longer depending on usage. An LED Display typically uses 90% less power than its incandescent equivalent.
What is “Pixel Pitch” and how is it used?
The distance from center to center of adjacent pixel clusters is called pixel pitch. It is measured in millimeters. DCI manufactures a 16mm pitch model, 19mm pitch model and a 23mm pitch model as our common sizes. Other custom sizes are available. An easy way to understand the sizes is to consider the number of LEDs per square foot. Our 16mm boards contain 1442 LEDs per square foot, while our 19mm boards contain 1024 LEDs per square foot, and our 23mm boards contain 720 LEDs per square foot.
The more LEDs there are per square foot, the more precise and vivid the image and the tighter the resolution is. An easy way to remember is the larger the display and lower the pixel pitch, the better the image quality.
What product sizes are available?
Standard DCI Digital Display Sizes for Billboards are 10mm, 16mm, 19mm, and 21 mm. These sizes are optimal for showing advertisement graphics on the Digital Billboards
Do you do Custom Work?
Yes, Datatronic Control, Inc. prides itself on being able to meet the customer’s exact requirements.
How are DCI Digital Displays produced?
DCI Digital Displays are first designed by our expert team of engineers. Then, all necessary components used in the design of the display are then customized to meet the customer’s requirements. Following the customization of the components, the production process begins. After the digital display is manufactured, a rigorous 135 point inspection is performed testing the display. Finally the DCI Digital Display is cleared for installation and shipment.
All DCI Digital Displays are manufactured at our Rowlett, Tx headquarters. DCI Digital Displays are built using the finest of American steel and only the best components go into our displays. DCI also develops and maintains all the software used to run the displays.
What is the “life-time” of a DCI Digital Display?
The LEDs used in DCI Digital Displays are have a life-time of least 100,000 hours. And because of how they are designed, they do not burn out, they will just dim over time.
Do DCI Digital Displays offer any protection from outside elements, suchas vandalism or severe weather?
DCI hermetically seals the LED. This unusual protection helps seal the components from the elements to improve the durability the board.
DCI displays require no face covers, which allows for a brighter, crisper images. Module face covers reduce brightness and can hold heat against the panel face, against the diodes at twice the normal rate. In the rare cause that there is damage, it is usually only affecting one module. Because of this design, it is very rare to have the entire sign damage. Repairs are then just focused on the individual modules that were damaged.
Back-up parts kits are available for customers as an option. This option significantly reduces the amount of time a digital display is offline should repairs be required.
What is the weight of an LED Display?
On average a DCI 14′ x 48′ Digital Display will weigh about 7,000 – 10,000lbs.
If the billboard structure is well designed, built, and maintained, then a Digital Display should be able to be added with minimal trouble. The structure should always be checked by professional before installing a Digital Display on it.
Will the price of Digital Displays be reuced in the future?
As with most electronic commodities the price of digital displays has been reduced over time, they are much less costly than they were 10 years ago. This reduction in cost is because LEDs are much less expensive than they were 10 years ago. The reason for that is because they are used in a much broader range of products now and manufacturing technology has improved over the years.
The Digital displays have shown vast increase popularity in these past few years. With the reduced costs and high demand, now is one of the best times to acquire a Digital Display. Owners of DCI Digital Displays report a marked improvement in their businesses and in glowing comments about the display.
Why would you want to wait another year or two to try to save a penny when you could be increasing your money today? Purchasing a quality display insures longevity; you get what you pay for.
What options do I have to monitor my Digital Display?
Two ways to keep track of your Digital Displays are: live web cam, automated diagnostics.
• Web Cam: Web cams provide you with a real time view of the sign 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Automated Diagnostics: monitors the each LED board in real time to identify any issues or problems with them. Problems can then be resolved in a timely manner.
Why use such a high brightness as the standard?
DCI uses a base outdoor brightness of 16,000+ nits for product longevity. No one uses 16,000+ nits for operation, even in daylight hours. The inherent nature of LEDs is that they dim with age. A diode with a higher initial nit rating will stay bright and usable longer (especially when operated with the power saving features included in DCI signs). Display units use different diode specs for different applications. A 5,000 nit diode is a borderline indoor or low application outdoor. If the outdoor sign is designed with lower rated diode brightness, the years of service are compromised. DCI displays are designed to provide a maximum period of service with enough brightness to clearly present the media intended. The investment is too great for half life displays with a short amount of time.
What are my Warranty options?
DCI Digital Displays all come with a 5 year warranty as a standard. DCI’s warranty covers all DCI electronic components. Extended warranty options are available after the standard 5-year warranty, call for more details.
What Service Options are available after my purchase of a Digital Display?
Throughout the process you will have unlimited access to support from DCI. Included in this support is training on how to operate your sign and timely repairs to your sign. In addition, the DCI Technical Call Center will be available to answer any questions that may arise.
How is my DCI Digital Display programmed?
By using a PC provided with DCI Digital Displays, DCIDesktop® software is able to program your display with messages, images, animations, and video. All forms of the DCI supported media can be sent to your display by internet, direct, or wireless connection. The wireless and internet features allow you to control your display effortlessly without having to go out to it to program.
What file types can I display on my Digital Display?
Image Files: JPG, GIF, BMP, WMF, EMF, ICO
Video Files: AVI, MPG , MPEG, WMV, WMA, VOB, ASF, and SWF (flash)
Text Files: TXT, XLS, XLSX
What software training does DCI provide?
With the purchase of any of DCI Digital Displays, you receive free in-house training on how to operate DCIDesktop® software. DCI has specially trained personnel standing by to help you with any training or questions you might have. A DCIDesktop® Training CD is also included with each purchase.
Does DCI provide any financing options?
There are a number of options available for customers of DCI. DCI has financial specialists on call to help you get the best financing available.
Where can I go to learn more?
If you like what you have heard and would like some more information on how to move forward in acquiring a Digital Display for your location, just give DCI a call. Call (800) 527-1229 for more information.