Welcome to TelemetryTV! Follow this guide to get up and running with our powerful digital signage platform. This page covers the basics of getting started, from choosing the right hardware to creating and managing your first playlist.

TelemetryTV uses hardware and software that can be used for digital menus and creating designs with animations across multiple TVs. To get started, you'll need a display (any TV), a compatible device, and your TelemetryTV account.

Sign up with an account here first.

Product Tour

Before diving in, we recommend watching the Product Tour video, which provides an overview of the basics:

This checklist serves as a step-by-step guide to help new users become proficient in using TelemetryTV. Follow the list in sequential order, and you'll soon become a TelemetryTV expert.

1. Select and Buy a Device
2. Pairing or Provisioning Devices
3. Using Playlists
4. Uploading Media
5. Adding Content to a Playlist
6. Managing and Monitoring Your Devices

Selecting A Device

The first step in your TelemetryTV journey is selecting the right device to power your digital signage.

TelemetryOS (Recommended)

Pros:

• Purpose-built for digital signage.
• Preloaded on hardware for seamless deployment.
• Optimized for performance, security, and stability.
• Supports advanced features like RS232, GPIO, and offline playback.
• Optimized for digital signage and come ready to pair or provision out of the box.

Cons:

• Requires purchasing dedicated hardware if not using BYOD.

Android

Pros:

• Cost-effective solution for entry-level setups.
• Widely available hardware.

Cons:

• Limited advanced feature support compared to TelemetryOS.

Progressive Web App (PWA)

• For running signage on any modern browser.
• Best for temporary or lightweight deployments.

Other Compatible Platforms

• Windows: Great for organizations already using Windows devices and a familiar operating system for IT administrators. Has a higher cost for hardware and licensing and is not optimized for digital signage performance.
  ChromeOS: Ideal for users with existing ChromeOS devices.
• Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): Install TelemetryOS on Raspberry Pi or compatible Intel-based devices for flexibility.

Recommendation: Choose TelemetryOS for the best performance, security, and long-term support.

Pairing or Provisioning a Device

Provisioning (Recommended for Scale)

Provisioning allows you to preconfigure devices for deployment at scale. Ideal for enterprise users managing multiple devices.

1. Learn how to provision your devices here.

Pairing (For Quick Setup or Testing)

Pairing is the fastest way to connect a single device to TelemetryTV. Perfect for testing or quick results.

1. Learn how to pair your device with a code here.
2. Learn how to pair your device with a QR code here.

Although you may not have your physical devices yet, you can simulate the pairing process using our browser media player. Please note that the browser player is intended for testing purposes and is not recommended for long-term use.

Follow these steps:

• Watch our Devices Video: Familiarize yourself with the Devices page by watching our informative video.
• Open a Browser Window: Launch a new browser window and navigate to player.telemetrytv.com.
• Pair the Browser Player: From the TelemetryTV Devices page, pair the browser player with your TelemetryTV account using the provided six-digit pairing code. The device is then displayed in your list of devices.
• Assign the Playlist: From the tab on the right, assign the playlist to the newly paired browser player.

You should now observe your playlist playing in the browser window.

Using Playlists

Playlists are the foundation of your content strategy. They determine what is shown on your screens and when.

Playlist Interface

Organize your created content into playlists, which serve as collections of media, apps, and Canva designs. Playlists determine the sequence, schedule and duration of content playback.

• Devices: Assign playlists to specific devices, ensuring that the desired content is displayed on each screen.
• Overrides: Apply overrides to playlists or devices to modify their behavior temporarily, enabling you to display specific content or make real-time changes when needed.
• Navigation: Access the playlist interface from the left menu in the TelemetryTV dashboard.
• Components:
  • Zones: Divide the screen into sections to display multiple content items simultaneously.
  • Timeline: Organize and schedule content for playback.
  • Apps & Media: Add dynamic apps, uploaded media, or custom WebApps to playlists.

Playlists serve as the central hub for adding, organizing, and scheduling your created content. Think of a playlist as a TV channel, where you curate your programming, arrange it in the desired order, and broadcast it to your screens.

To get started:

• Watch our Playlists Video: Gain insight into the functionality of playlists by watching our informative video.
• Create Your First Playlist: On separate pages within the playlist, add one App and one Media File.

• Watch our Playlist Zones Video: Learn about the Playlist Zones functionality.
• Add another page to your playlist and utilize the Playlist Zones function to create engaging configurations.

For detailed information on managing playlists.

Uploading Media

Your media repository serves as your reservoir for storing and managing your uploaded custom images and videos. These media files can be utilized to create content or directly added to playlists.

Upload and manage various media files, such as images, videos, and documents, to incorporate into your displays.

Steps to Upload Media:

1. Navigate to the Media Library from the left menu.
2. Click the Upload Media button.
3. Drag and drop files or browse to upload images, videos, or documents.
4. Organize your media with folders and tags for easy access.

Compatible file types include images (JPG, PNG), videos (MP4, MOV), and more. For optimal playback, ensure your media files meet TelemetryTV’s recommended specifications.

Follow these steps:

• Watch our Media Video: Learn how to effectively use the media repository by watching our tutorial.
• Upload Your First Piece of Media: Begin by uploading your chosen image or video to the media repository.
• Check out our guide: Discover our guide to creating impressive digital signage content here.

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Optimizing Media

Before uploading, optimize your images and videos to suit your screens. Large files may affect the performance of certain devices.

Adding Content to a Playlist

• Apps: Create interactive applications to display specific content and functionality on your screens.
• Webapps: Create custom devops-driven applications based on HTML and JavaScript and leverage a powerful Software Development Kit (SDK) to control and interact with devices, hardware and sensors.

The TelemetryTV App library offers a wide range of continuously expanding and pre-designed visuals. Apps are designed to facilitate the creation of stunning digital signage within a matter of minutes, even if you have no prior design experience. They are optimized to deliver excellent performance on various devices.

To get started:

• Watch our Apps Video: Gain a better understanding of how Apps work by watching our video below.
• Set up your first app: Explore our library of versatile and functional apps.

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Recommended Apps

We recommend starting with the Notice App, Calendar App, or Weather App.

Managing and Monitoring Your Devices

Now, let's delve into the key features of each component, providing you with a comprehensive understanding of their functionalities.

TelemetryTV provides robust tools to manage and monitor your devices at scale.

• Device Health: View real-time statuses of connected devices.
• Logs: Access device activity logs for troubleshooting.
• Group Management: Organize devices into groups for easy content assignment.

By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to creating impactful digital signage with TelemetryTV.