Keeping the Faith ? Advantages of Outdoor Digital Signage for Churches

Modern churches are continually looking for new ways to attract larger congregations and to ensure the local community are aware of coming events in the church calendar.

Traditionally, churches have relayed on static notice-boards, posters and even bill boards to get their message across but now, thanks to the growth of outdoor digital signage, this task has become easier.

Many churches, and for that matter, synagogues, temples and mosques, are installing outdoor digital signage outside their religious buildings to communicate with their congregation – as well as spreading the message of God.

Outdoor displays have great advantages over other mediums for this sort of task. An outdoor digital signage screen cab scheduled to relay content at specific times – so when the congregation is arriving for service, messages about future events can be relayed, yet, when there is no service the device can be used to spread religious messages or encourage other members of the local community to join.

Churches are not profitable organisations so any expenditure on an outdoor digital signage device needs to be kept to a minimum; while financial savings can be made with the use of outdoor screens by doing away with the need to get signs and advertisements printed and erected – further savings can be made in the selection of outdoor digital signage hardware.

Many outdoor digital signage systems are installed using waterproof or outdoor TVs, which seems an obvious choice, after-all no outdoor screen can survive without being protected from the weather, yet, outdoor screens are highly expensive and are often out of the budgetary range of most churches.

But there is a far cheaper and just as efficient method if implementing outdoor digital signage – ideal for churches, schools or other public locations.

LCD Enclosures

An LCD enclosure is, on the outset, a simple metal LCD cabinet; however, the beauty of the LCD enclosure is that it can house any type of flat panel LCD or plasma display and keep it completely protected from the weather.

Not only are LCD enclosures weatherproof but the interior of the enclosures contain temperature control modules such as cooling fans, heaters and even air conditioning (for extremely hot weather locations) to ensure that the LCD screen is continually operating in the perfect environment – despite what the ambient conditions are.

LCD enclosures are being implemented outside churches and other religious buildings up and down the country – enabling all the advantages of outdoor digital signage without the expense.

Richard N Williams is a technical author and a specialist in the digital signage industry helping to develop outdoor digital signage and protection for plasmas. Please visit us for more information about LCD Enclosures or other digital signage solutions.

Keeping Your Digital Signage Protected

The protection of digital signage and advertising systems is often overlooked by keeping them protected screens and running under conditions that are suitable for LCD, is important for you to optimize the cost of their implemented in the first place.

outdoor digital signage developers often turn to securing their digital signage systems from theft and vandalism while preventing rain and other weather elements damaging the screen, some installers within digital advertising eye to the same protection.

But even LCD of trade (and plasma) TV screens are manufactured with the terms of a retail park or shop in mind that most TVs are designed and constructed for the home entertainment market.

The digital display (DS) is not only located in areas that differ from the operating conditions of a room at the front, but the DS screens are left on much longer ( sometimes 24 hours a day).

Protection for digital signage screens must do several things:
First, it must prevent the penetration of all hostile elements. Obviously in outdoor digital signage, this means preventing rainwater damage to the screen, but with interior applications while time can not be other elements concern perhaps.

The dust is common in some areas and too filers block and isolate the digital display. Keep dust from the screen will go a long way to extend the life of the LCD or plasma.

The temperature is another consideration, especially when the DS screen is left on constantly. Ensure that adequate air flow is constantly transferring heat away form the screen is important in the prevention of hotspots to grow. It is also important to prevent damage from direct sunlight, which can also burn the screen.

LCD enclosures are a cost effective solution for the protection of DS systems in both indoor and outdoor environments as cooling and insulation is necessary may be included within the LCD enclosure providing the perfect environment for any standard DS screen to operate.


Richard N Williams is a technical author and a specialist in the digital advertising industry helping to develop outdoor digital signage enclosures. Please visit us for more information on an LCD enclosure