Yes. You can set the static network information through Xandadeck. You can also set it through the SD Card configuration file. You can edit this configuration file through your PC and an SD card reader. See our Xandadeck Manual Configuration Guide for more info.

For our Xandabox, all Network Settings can be configured when you place your order, so it works great as soon as you plug it in!

Yes. You can set the WiFi network name and key through Xandadeck. You can also set it using the configuration file on the SD Card and Xandadeck will try to connect. You can edit this configuration file through your PC and an SD card reader. See our Xandadeck Manual Configuration Guide for more info.

Three WiFi modes are supported:

• “Disabled” deactivates support for wireless networking. (coming really soon, for now just unplug the WiFi USB adapter)
• “Find Any Open Network” scans the available wireless networks and connects to the open (unencrypted, without a passphrase or key) with the strongest signal reception.
• “No Encryption” connects to the specified open (unencrypted, without a passphrase or key) wireless network.
• “WPA Encryption” connects to the specified wireless network, encrypted using WPA or WPA2, with the specified passphrase or key (PSK).
• “WEP Encryption” connects to the specified wireless network, encrypted using WEP (64 or 128 bits), with the specified passphrase or key.
• “EAP Encryption”  connects to the specified wireless network, with the specific username and password.

To configure the WiFi connectivity, the wireless network adapter (or dongle) must be available and connected to the Player. If there is no adapter present, no configuration whatsoever takes place. Also, the Player tries to overcome any configuration errors, so it may automatically select between WPA and WEP in order to connect to the network.

For our Xandabox, all Network Settings can be configured when you place your order, so it works great as soon as you plug it in!

IMPORTANT: Keep in mind that WiFi is not as fast or reliable as a wired connection. So, if you have an option between WiFi and wired Ethernet, we recommend using Ethernet.

Yes! You can set the HTTP Proxy and Username/Password through Xandadeck. You can also set it through the configuration file on the SD Card. You can edit this configuration file through your PC and an SD card reader. See our Xandadeck Manual Configuration Guide for more info.

For our Xandabox, all Network Settings can be configured when you place your order, so it works great as soon as you plug it in!

It is perfectly possible to connect the RPi directly to RCA.

To get the composite output, you need a special cable (https://www.adafruit.com/product/2881) – this is not a “hard to find” cable, in the sense that you can probably find something like that locally or from one of your suppliers. You just need to test it first and ensure that it works as properly. Even if the connectors are correct, the cable that you find may not work correctly (polarities on the plug may be different).

We have the “hdmi_force_hotplug” directive set to active by default since 99% of cases use HDMI. 

So, the last thing you need to do in order to make this work is to follow these steps:

1. Log into the Xandadeck portal.
2. Go to “Monitors” and click edit on the Monitor that you want connect 
3. Go to the “Advanced” tab
4. Enable the “Allow Raspberry config.txt Override” toggle button
5. In the “Raspberry config.txt Override Directives” text area, you will have to insert the following:
   hdmi_force_hotplug=0
6. Click “Save”.

Yes you can.

First, make sure that you have written the Xandadeck SD card image onto an SD card.

Then, do the following steps, in the exact order specified:

1. Power off your Pi.
2. Put the SD card into your PC and open the file called:   config.txt
3. Delete all content and paste only the following:
   
   bootcode_delay=3
   disable_overscan=1
   gpu_mem_1024=128
   gpu_mem_256=64
   gpu_mem_512=128
   hdmi_force_hotplug=0
   initramfs Xandadeck_initramfs.img 0x01000000
   
4. Log into Xandadeck portal.
5. Go to “Monitors” and edit the Monitor in question
6. Go to “Advanced” tab
7. Enable the “Allow Raspberry config.txt Override” toggle button
8. In the “Raspberry config.txt Override Directives” textarea, you will have to insert the following:
   
   hdmi_force_hotplug=0
   
9. Click “Save”.
10. Boot your Raspberry Pi and proceed with registering it in your account.

You should now see output on the composite port of your Pi.

Yes. We have already deployed production-grade LED billboards using Xandadeck.

This way, customers have a great way to manage their content on really weird resolutions, while using the same system for both normal Digital Signage screens and LED billboards.

Here is more tech info. Or contact us for more details.

The Xandabox (based on Raspberry Pi) automatically detects on start-up the “preferred” resolution of the connected monitor (usually, its native resolution). Sometimes, the resolution might not be detected properly. This might happen if you power up your Playbox without a screen connected, or if after a power failure the Playbox starts before the screen has the time to power up and report properly. In this case, the standard VGA resolution of 640×480 is used.

Try rebooting your Playbox, it might be just fine. Also, you can follow this guide here to select the desired resolution of your player automatically on boot.

For Advanced, Custom and 4K resolutions we strongly recommend reading this article first.

Yes you can. But be careful!

First, you have to use an active adapter. That is, an adapter that converts the digital signal of HDMI to an analog signal of VGA.

Second, your HDMI-VGA adapter needs to be externally powered. We have conducted tests with several HDMI-to-VGA adapters. Adapters that are not powered by some other power source besides the HDMI port, behave erratically on the Xandabox (or Raspberry Pi). They either don’t work at all, or work for a while and then go on and off constantly. This is because the HDMI port on the Raspberry Pi does not provide enough power to the adapter. Adapters that are externally powered work fine.

For example, this adapter type does not work properly, but powered adapters have been tested and work. If you are having trouble, try powering the adapter on its own PSU and not from the Xandabox (or Raspberry Pi) or the TV set. Note that we have not tested this type of hardware thoroughly and we do not have any recommendations.

If you have a Xandabox (or a Raspberry Pi), then probably your Player thinks your monitor does not support audio. Sound is sent to the analog mini-jack instead.

First, make sure that you check the following:

• Your monitor does support sound. PC monitors do not support sound, while TV almost always support sound.
• If you use an HDMI-to-DVI adapter or cable, then you cannot get sound. DVI does not allow audio signals to go though. You should be able to use the analog mini-jack to get audio.
• Make sure your TV is not muted, and that the volume is on high.
• If you have a second HDMI cable, try replacing it. Some very cheap HDMI cables do not work properly.

If you are sure your monitor supports audio and it is not automatically detected, do the following to force audio to go through the HDMI cable:

• Go to “Monitors“
• Go to the details of the monitor with the issue
• Click on the tab “Advanced“
• Activate “overwrite raspberry configuration“
• In the “raspberry configuration file” field, enter ONE the following lines (one should work) :

hdmi_drive=2

hdmi_force_edid_audio=1

• Click the “Save” button. After a while, your Raspberry will reboot.

If the above does not work (any of the two lines suggested), try getting another HDMI cable.

Let’s see some pros and cons.

TV Sets

Pros

• TVs come in large sizes. It is relatively cheap to get a 32″-55″ sized TV set.
• Almost all TVs have HDMI inputs, so it is easy to connect them to a Xandabox (or any other type of player).
• TVs also have speakers, so you can also use audio.

Cons

• TVs (up to 24″) are generally more expensive than computer monitors.
• TVs cannot be powered off simply by deactivating the display port (HDMI/VGA/DVI port).
• Some TVs (e.g. LG) cannot be powered off at all, even via HDMI-CEC. So, you cannot power them off easily. See the HDMI-CEC vendor compatibility matrix.
• TVs have remotes. In case you want to leave them unattended, you must deactivate the remote receiver, or a prankster might use a remote to fool around.

Computer Monitors

Pros

• Computer monitors are cheap, cheaper than TV sets, especially below the 24″ size range.
• Most units tend to be lighter than TV sets.
• There are no remotes, so it is not easy for someone to play around with the monitor.
• All computer monitors support power on/off.
  

Cons

• Computer monitors generally do not have speakers.
• Computer monitors larger than 24″ are usually more expensive than TV sets. And more rare. It is difficult to find a computer monitor larger than 32″, and if you do, it is insanely expensive.
• Not all computer monitors have HDMI inputs. So, you might need a HDMI-to-DVI adapter to connect a Xandabox to them. (VGA-only monitors are now rare, so let’s skip them)

Conclusion

If you have a new installation, then we suggest:

• Computer monitors, if you need up to 24″ in size (with or without speakers, depending on your needs)
• TV sets, if you need panels larger than 24″, but make sure that the vendors supports Power On/Off via HDMI-CEC. See the HDMI-CEC vendor compatibility matrix.