Which player should I use?
Fire TV Stick, Raspberry Pi, Windows PC or the TV's own browser — how to choose.
SignBlink runs on hardware you can buy almost anywhere. A permanent player turns on with the TV, opens SignBlink by itself and recovers from power cuts. The TV's web browser is a quick way to try it, but someone has to reopen it after the TV is switched off.
| Player | Best for | Cost | Setup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire TV Stick 4K / Google TV | Most businesses. Small, cheap, plays video and sound well | About $30–60 | 5 minutes with the SignBlink TV app |
| Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 | Screens that run all day, every day; very reliable | About $60–100 with power supply and card | 15 minutes, one command |
| Windows mini PC | Big or busy designs, 4K, two TVs from one computer | From about $150 | 5 minutes with the SignBlink app |
| Smart TV web browser | Trying SignBlink, or a temporary screen | Free | 2 minutes, nothing to install |
| Any computer or tablet | Desks, receptions, testing | — | Open a web page |
Our recommendation
Start with a Fire TV Stick 4K (or Fire TV Stick 4K Max) for each TV. It plugs straight into the HDMI port, and the SignBlink TV app keeps it running all day. See Fire TV Stick and Android TV.
Choose a Raspberry Pi if the screen must run for months without anyone touching it, or a Windows mini PC for 4K screens, very busy designs, or two TVs from one box.
What every player needs
- Its own power adapter, plugged into the wall. A TV's USB port often can't power a stick properly, which causes random restarts.
- Internet: a network cable if you can, otherwise good Wi-Fi (5 GHz is best). Once content has downloaded, screens keep playing through internet drops.
- The right TV settings: see Get the TV ready for all-day use.