Product FAQs

What is the difference between the Podium and Placard series?

• The Podium series is built for outdoor environments, offering up to 3000 nits of brightness and IP56 weatherproofing, making it ideal for open spaces like transit hubs and bus shelters that require durability in direct sunlight. In contrast, the Placard series suits outdoor, semi-outdoor and indoor settings. Within this line, the Placard VP provides up to 2500 nits for areas with direct sunlight, while the Placard VS offers 1500 nits, designed for indoor or shaded spaces where less brightness is sufficient.

How do I install and maintain Praevar displays in harsh weather conditions?

• Praevar outdoor displays, like the Podium and Placard series, are built to handle tough weather conditions. They feature IP56-rated protection against dust and water, impact-resistant glass, and advanced cooling systems to ensure reliable performance. For a successful installation, it’s important to securely mount the display and provide proper ventilation. Regular maintenance, such as cleaning the screen and cooling components, will keep the display running smoothly. To make things easier, Praevar provides detailed Field Installation, Service, and Operations manuals. Always follow these instructions and ensure the setup meets local site requirements, which should be assessed by a qualified engineer. This approach ensures your display performs at its best, no matter the weather.

Do Praevar displays integrate real-time data like weather or news?

• Praevar displays are designed to integrate real-time data, including weather updates, news, and social media feeds, enhancing their suitability for public-facing environments like transportation hubs and retail spaces. They offer versatile connectivity options such as cellular, wired, and wireless Ethernet, and support various operating systems, including Android, Linux, and Windows. This flexibility allows for the integration of a wide range of content management systems (CMS) and programmatic advertising applications, enabling businesses to deliver dynamic and engaging content to their audiences.

What is automatic brightness control, and how does it help?

• Automatic brightness control adjusts the display's brightness based on the surrounding light conditions, ensuring optimal visibility and energy efficiency. This feature reduces power consumption by dimming the screen in low-light environments and brightening it in high-light conditions. It enhances the user experience and extends the lifespan of the display. Praevar’s Podium and Placard series displays are equipped with this feature, ensuring the screen remains clear and readable in various lighting conditions.

How do I set up interactive touch features on Praevar kiosks?

• Praevar Podium products can be equipped with optional PCAP (Projected Capacitive Touch) touch technology, enabling users to interact with content directly on the screen. To set up, use the integrated CMS to configure interactive applications, making it ideal for enhancing customer interaction in public spaces such as retail stores or transit areas.

What energy-saving features do Praevar displays have?

• Praevar displays feature several energy-efficient technologies such as automatic backlight adjustment, dynamic dimming, and adaptive cooling systems. These features help to reduce energy consumption during off-peak hours while maintaining high visibility when needed, in outdoor and semi-outdoor environments.

What should I do if my Praevar display experiences network connectivity issues?

• If your Praevar display experiences network connectivity issues, start from the WAN side of the connection and work your way back to the media player or other integrated device. Praevar displays integrate industry-standard network appliances for cellular or Ethernet connectivity. If the cellular or Ethernet WAN is up, you may be able to remotely reboot the router. If this does not correct the issue, built-in power controls allow you to hard power cycle the player and network devices. If problems persist, contact technical support for further assistance.

Do Praevar display broadcast emergency alerts?

• Yes, Praevar displays are equipped to broadcast real-time emergency alerts and support emergency services. With years of experience deploying equipment in public spaces, including "smart city" kiosks, Praevar offers systems that interrupt regular content to display public safety messages. Additionally, these displays can integrate emergency services call buttons with battery backup and telecommunication failover, ensuring reliability during critical situations.

What tests and validations have been performed on Praevar displays?

• All Praevar displays have gone through rigorous lab testing to meet and be certified to the International Standard: IEC 60529 and NEMA 3R for UL50e. 

• IP56: The rating code is based on the International Standard IEC 60529, it rates the degrees of protection provided against the intrusion of solid objects, accidental contact and water ingress in electronic equipment or the enclosure. The code is broken down to the following:

  1. IP5X is the rating protection against the ingress of foreign solid objects and dust. At level 5, it has protection against solid objects over 1mm in size. Limited protection against dust ingress - no harmful deposits of dust.    

  2. IPX6 is the rating protection against ingress of water. At level 6, it has protection against heavy seas or strong jets of water from all directions.

• NEMA 3R for UL50e

  1. Rain - Protection against rain where there is no accumulation of water within the enclosure and no water ingress at a level higher than the lowest live part

  2. External Icing - Protection against external icing in which the enclosure will not be damaged after a heavy build-up of layer ice (20mm or ¾”) has melted. 

  3.  Outdoor corrosion protection - Protection against outdoor corrosion such as seawater and snow-clearing salt.

  4. Gasket - The gaskets have to withstand temperatures of -30°C (-22°F) and +69° to +70°C (+156° to +158°F) and show no visible signs of deterioration, deformation, melting or cracking of the gasket material.

• These tests and certifications ensure that all Praevar displays are built to withstand dust and strong jets of water, making them resilient in outdoor environments such as streets, plazas, and or open-air retail centres, which translates to longevity and performance even in adverse weather conditions.