Raspberry Pi Forums

Hi Folks,

I Hope I have posted to the correct group?
I have just discovered the Raspberry Pi and was wondering if there is a way to have:

1. Pi computer
2. With Multiple screens maybe 5 - 10 ( Is there a limitation of screens on 1 Pi PCB )
3. On each screen a different image or video

Is this possible and if so what is the best way to do this and what Hardware/Software do I need?
I would be so excited if this is a possibility.

Thanks a Million.
Ritchie

For multiple screens you will need multiple RPi's 5 - 10

Ritchievalens wrote:Hi Folks,

I Hope I have posted to the correct group?
I have just discovered the Raspberry Pi and was wondering if there is a way to have:

1. Pi computer
2. With Multiple screens maybe 5 - 10 ( Is there a limitation of screens on 1 Pi PCB )
3. On each screen a different image or video

Is this possible and if so what is the best way to do this and what Hardware/Software do I need?
I would be so excited if this is a possibility.

Thanks a Million.
Ritchie

It is not easy to have multi-screens connected to a Raspberry Pi Single Board Computer.

Probably easier to use a single Raspberry Pi model Zero or A+ connected to each Screen and set up a Main Server to deliver the content.

The VGA666 interface has 18 colour lines so they could in theory be repurposed to drive anything from one monitor through to 18 with reducing colour depth and possibly decreasing frame rates due to having to assemble a single frame buffer as a composite of all the others -

1 x 18-bit colour
2 x 9-bit colour
3 x 6-bit colour
6 x 3-bit colour
18 x 1-bit monochrome

6 x 3-bit should be acceptable for static signage type displays. I have been meaning to try it but haven't found the time to do so. One would only need a single monitor and some frame buffer filling code to test how good or poor the quality is.

That's a rather specific use case. For general purpose use it's one monitor per Pi.

Hi Folks
Thank you for the amazing fast responses in my first post.
I will need to digest what people have suggested, and the pit falls.

Is it best to use Raspian?
Or shall I load another OS on?
If so what?
I am getting a Pi on Saturday, so I will at least get 2 working, which I hope will be straight forward.

Would it be easier to attempt this in Hardware or Software?
Hardware, maybe a video splitter or software, as in ( I have no clue )

Sorry for all the questions, but I need to know at least what direction to aim towards.

Thanks
Ritchie

Hi Fruitoftheloom
Do you have any more info that you could show me please referring to " Setting up a Main Server to Deliver Content "
Thanks

fruitoftheloom wrote:

Ritchievalens wrote:Hi Folks,

I Hope I have posted to the correct group?
I have just discovered the Raspberry Pi and was wondering if there is a way to have:

1. Pi computer
2. With Multiple screens maybe 5 - 10 ( Is there a limitation of screens on 1 Pi PCB )
3. On each screen a different image or video

Is this possible and if so what is the best way to do this and what Hardware/Software do I need?
I would be so excited if this is a possibility.

Thanks a Million.
Ritchie

It is not easy to have multi-screens connected to a Raspberry Pi Single Board Computer.

Probably easier to use a single Raspberry Pi model Zero or A+ connected to each Screen and set up a Main Server to deliver the content.

Ritchievalens wrote:Hi Fruitoftheloom
Do you have any more info that you could show me please referring to " Setting up a Main Server to Deliver Content "
Thanks

fruitoftheloom wrote:

Ritchievalens wrote:Hi Folks,

I Hope I have posted to the correct group?
I have just discovered the Raspberry Pi and was wondering if there is a way to have:

1. Pi computer
2. With Multiple screens maybe 5 - 10 ( Is there a limitation of screens on 1 Pi PCB )
3. On each screen a different image or video

Is this possible and if so what is the best way to do this and what Hardware/Software do I need?
I would be so excited if this is a possibility.

Thanks a Million.
Ritchie

It is not easy to have multi-screens connected to a Raspberry Pi Single Board Computer.

Probably easier to use a single Raspberry Pi model Zero or A+ connected to each Screen and set up a Main Server to deliver the content.

That is a very open ended question, lots of alternatives.

One such is Plex Media Server & Client

https://www.element14.com/community/com ... berry-pi-3

http://www.rasplex.com

hippy wrote:The VGA666 interface has 18 colour lines so they could in theory be repurposed to drive anything from one monitor through to 18 with reducing colour depth and possibly decreasing frame rates due to having to assemble a single frame buffer as a composite of all the others -

1 x 18-bit colour
2 x 9-bit colour
3 x 6-bit colour
6 x 3-bit colour
18 x 1-bit monochrome

Have you overlooked that each monitor requires HSYNC and VSYNC in addition to the RGBs? Yes all the monitors could be fed from a single pair of HSYNC and VSYNC signals if they had enough strength but, as Gert mentioned in the manual on github, even driving one monitor is a compromise between keeping within the limit on a GPIO and getting enough sync signal voltage into the 75 ohm load of a monitor.

drgeoff wrote:Have you overlooked that each monitor requires HSYNC and VSYNC in addition to the RGBs?

I was expecting to have to buffer HSYNC and VSYNC.

But you did drive me to re-read the docs and I rediscovered it can go all the way up to VGA888 which is better for 2 screens, provides for 4 x 6-bit and 8 x 3-bit is better than 6 x 3-bit.

Hi Folks

So in simple language, what is the best way forward?
Let say the Max will be 10 screens.
Is there any reliable Media server Software?

I have received the Pi in 2 days ago, and not 100% sure the best way forward.

Is it best to have an intelligent screens from 1 - 10 or a simple dumb terminal, with basic video capability?
Or shall I just get 10 Raspberry Pi 3's?

Any simple advice would be appreciated.

Thanks again.

Get 8 to 9 Raspberry Zeros and 2 to 1 RPi3. Have a look at Raspberry presents SW.

aBUGSworstnightmare wrote:Get 8 to 9 Raspberry Zeros and 2 to 1 RPi3. Have a look at Raspberry presents SW.

Pi Presents: https://github.com/KenT2/pipresents-next
Pi Wall: http://piwall.co.uk/

Your use case is a little unclear.

Do you want all displays to show the same video at the same time? Or can each display be doing something different?

Either way though, a Pi for each display is the best option. Either have the video stored on each Pi/SD card, or get Pi's to look at a server for the video.

Hence my pair of URLs.

PiPresents is the each RPi being a discrete server with the content on the SDCard or a USB stick.

PiWall is the central server directing the other displays over the network.

In both cases one RPi per TV/Monitor and possibly another as central controller (for PiWall) are required.

Hi Folks

Thanks for responding.
I will download and try what has been suggested.

Basically what I would like is to have 1 Pi as a Master and 10 - 15 Pi's showing a different image or video on each screen.

1. Is the Pi up to it, because when I tried to listen to Audio through Bluetooth it was stuttering?
2. Is that a limitation of Bluetooth, would WiFi be better?

I fed a Video through HDMI to my big monitor and it kept freezing and locking up.
I have the latest Raspian.

Am I missing something, that you guys can see?

Thanks again
Ritchie

Jamesh Thanks

I would like each screen to display a different Video or Photo.

Which would you do?
1. Look for Data on another Pi SD card or Server?

Thanks

jamesh wrote:Your use case is a little unclear.

Do you want all displays to show the same video at the same time? Or can each display be doing something different?

Either way though, a Pi for each display is the best option. Either have the video stored on each Pi/SD card, or get Pi's to look at a server for the video.

If videos need to be regularly updated, use a server. If they will only be changed infrequently, put them on the SD card. and save the server setup hassle.

Use Wifi. Bluetooth has limited bandwidth and range. Won't be good enough for video, perhaps good enough for a control channel.

Ritchievalens wrote: Basically what I would like is to have 1 Pi as a Master and 10 - 15 Pi's showing a different image or video on each screen.

PiWall does that.

Thanks Guys
I will try as much as I can and if I have any questions I will ask.
I appreciate all of your advice so far

Ritchie