Set up a Raspberry Pi or Smart TV

Display Technology runs in any modern web browser, so a $40 Raspberry Pi, a Smart TV, an Amazon Fire Stick, or a spare PC will all do the job. Here's how to set up the most common options end-to-end.

1. 1

   Pick your hardware

   Display Technology runs in a regular web browser, so almost anything modern works. The three most common choices:
   
   • Raspberry Pi 4 (~$40–60) — cheapest, silent, perfect for kiosk mode.
   • Smart TV with built-in browser (recent LG, Samsung, Sony) — zero extra hardware.
   • Amazon Fire TV Stick (~$30) — install the Silk or Firefox app from the appstore.
   
   Also fine: a Mini-PC / NUC, an old laptop or desktop, or any Android TV box. Whatever you have on the shelf is probably good enough.
2. 2

   Connect the device to your TV

   Plug the device's HDMI output into the TV or monitor, then connect power. For a Raspberry Pi or PC, also plug in a keyboard for the initial setup — you can remove it once the display is running.
   
   Turn the TV on and switch the input to the right HDMI port. You should see the device's boot screen.
3. 3

   Get the device on the internet

   Connect to your network. Either option works, but Ethernet is strongly recommended for any always-on display — it survives router reboots, brief outages, and Wi-Fi range issues.
   
   If Wi-Fi is your only option, place the device within solid signal range of the router and test that pages load smoothly before walking away.
4. 4

   Open a modern browser

   Launch Chrome, Chromium, Firefox, Edge, or Safari — whatever is already on the device.
   
   Aim for something updated within the last two years. Older or stripped-down browsers (early Smart TV builds, basic e-readers) often miss the JavaScript features the app needs.
5. 5

   Go to the launch URL

   In the address bar, type:
   
   https://www.displaytechnology.tv/new-version/signin.php
   
   Sign in with your account, then click the orange Launch Display card. The device is now showing your content.
6. 6

   Set kiosk / fullscreen mode (optional but recommended)

   Kiosk mode hides the browser UI and auto-launches at boot. Pick the section that matches your device:
   
   Raspberry Pi:
   sudo apt install chromium-browser
   Edit ~/.config/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart and add a line:
   @chromium-browser --kiosk --noerrdialogs --disable-infobars https://www.displaytechnology.tv/new-version/signin.php
   
   Smart TV: bookmark the URL on the home screen. Some sets have a Web Browser Auto-Launch option in the app settings.
   
   Windows / Mac PC: create a shortcut to Chrome with the flag --kiosk <URL> and drop it into your Startup folder (Win) or Login Items (Mac).
   
   Fire TV Stick: install Fully Kiosk Browser from the appstore and set it as the default app.
7. 7

   Disable screen-saver and sleep

   A black screen at 2 a.m. is the most common support call. Turn off every power-saving feature on the device:
   
   • TV: turn off Eco / Standby / Auto-Off in the picture and power menus.
   • Raspberry Pi: edit /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf and set xserver-command=X -s 0 dpms.
   • Windows / Mac: Power settings → Never sleep, Display always on.
   • Fire TV / Android TV: Settings → Display & Sounds → Display sleep → Never.
   
8. 8

   Reboot and verify

   Power-cycle the device. It should boot straight into the fullscreen Display Technology page and start playing your content within a minute.
   
   In your dashboard sidebar, open Active Displays. The device should show a green dot and the time of its last check-in. If you don't see it, see the tips below.