It is important to note that there are two ways to set up the frame and associated slideshow, offline mode and online mode.

Offline mode you can setup the frame and upload the videos by drag and drop or FTP.

Online mode uses the free tier of the Yodeck service, so you are able to upload and create intricate slide shows and even add widgets like clocks or even live streams….gasp!

OFFLINE Mode Setup

You will need internet connection for the initial setup but once complete your frame will run with no need for maintenance or internet connection for upkeep.

STEP 1 – Preparing the SD card

Download latest Raspberry Pi OS – HERE

Use Etcher or equivalent to flash image to SD card (32GB for this example)

Place two files in the root directory of the card…

Create a blank text document and add in the details below..

country=gb

update_config=1

ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant

network={

scan_ssid=1

ssid=“INPUTYOURSSID”

psk=“INPUTYOURPASSWORD”

}

Rename the file “wpa_supplicant.conf” ensuring you remove the .txt file association. This file will configure the network settings.

Create another blank text document and simply rename it to “ssh” this enables you to SSH into your Raspberry Pi.

STEP 2 (A) – Using a screen with no HDMI input

There will be some variation in process and success of this section depending on the screen used, for this example the screen was 3.5inch RPi Display 480×320 Pixel XPT2046)

If you are using a 3.5” or equivalent screen without HDMI (XPT2046 for example) follow the STEP 2 (B).

With the Raspberry Pi connect to the screen using the GPIO ports, place the SD card in and connect the USB power. – (You will not see any activity on the screen as the correct display drivers need to be installed).

Discover the IP address assigned to your Raspberry Pi, you can log into your router or use an app such as ‘Fing’

Once discovered use Terminal (MacOS) or equivalent to SSH into your Pi

$ ssh pi@xx.xx.xx.xx

(default password “raspberry”)

$ sudo apt-get update

$ sudo raspi-config

Make the following amends

7 – Advanced Options

A1 – Expand Filesystem

5 – Interfacing Options

P4 – SPI – Enable

Finish

Display Drivers – Method 1

Download the Waveshare driver – HERE

Move the ZIP to the Pi using Cyberduck or equivalent, place it in the path /home/pi

Back in Terminal

$ tar xvf LCD-show-180331.tar

$ cd LCD-show/

$ sudo ./LCD35-show

Display Drivers – Method 2 (FBCP Framebuffer Copy)

$ sudo apt-get install cmake

$ git clone https://github.com/juj/fbcp-ili9341.git

$ cd fbcp-ili9341

$ mkdir build

$ cd build

$ cmake -DSPI_BUS_CLOCK_DIVISOR=20 -DSTATISTICS=0 -DWAVESHARE35B_ILI9486=ON ..

$ make -j

$ sudo ./fbcp-ili9341

^c

$ crontab -e

At the end, add the line

@reboot sudo /home/pi/fbcp-ili9341/build/fbcp-ili9341 &

$ sudo nano /boot/config.txt

add the lines (changing the resolution settings if needed)

hdmi_group=2

hdmi_mode=87

hdmi_cvt=480 320 60 1 0 0 0

hdmi_force_hotplug=1

STEP 2 (B) – Using a screen with HDMI input

If you are using a 3.5” or equivalent screen with HDMI follow the steps below.

With the Raspberry Pi connect to the screen using a micro HDMI to HDMI cable, and a micro USB to Micro USB connected to the Pi and screen* (or power the screen via the GPIO if supported), place the SD card in and connect the USB power.

Discover the IP address assigned to your Raspberry Pi, you can log into your router or use an app such as ‘Fing’

Once discovered use Terminal (MacOS) or equivalent to SSH into your Pi

$ ssh pi@xx.xx.xx.xx

(default password “raspberry”)

$ sudo apt-get update

$ sudo raspi-config

Make the following amends

7 – Advanced Options

A1 – Expand Filesystem

STEP 3 – Displaying the Video

Method 1 – Using OMXPlayer

Use Cyberduck or equivalent to upload the video file you want to play (ensuring that you set the resolution to the resolution of the screen you are using i.e. 480 x 320 and in the correct formatting i.e. landscape or portrait, using Adobe Premiere Pro or similar).

Place the video in your desired directory, for this example /home/pi/Videos

The video will be played using the built in OMXPlayer

For it to run and display the video on start up the following needs to be added to Crontab (using rc.local has mixed results)

$ crontab -e

At the end, add the line

@reboot omxplayer -p -o local /home/pi/Videos/YOURVIDEOTITLE.mp4 –loop –aspect-mode fill

Exit and save the changes

$ sudo reboo

Method 2 – Using Pi Video Looper (USB Reader) (works best using the HDMI output)

$ sudo apt-get update

$ sudo apt-get install -y git

$ git clone https://github.com/adafruit/pi_video_looper.git

$ cd pi_video_looper

$ sudo ./install.sh

ONLINE Mode using Yodeck

You will need internet connection for the initial setup and for period connection to the internet should you wish to update.

Yodeck requires a connection to the internet at least every 30 days to keep running, it is able to run offline but will start to show warnings the closer it gets to being 30 days offline and will fail to display the content f not connected at this stage.

STEP 1 – Preparing the SD card

Download latest Yodeck Raspberry Pi build – HERE

Use Etcher or equivalent to flash image to SD card (32GB)

Once flashed, in the root directory look for..

SETTINGS.TXT – (This configures the network settings)

Alter the following lines only

[WIFI]

ssid = INPUTYOURSSID

key = INPUTYOURPASSWORD

Whilst you are waiting for the Pi to connect to the internet and download the latest updates, (this may take 5-10 mins) visit Yodeck.com and sign up (note that one screen is free but there are paid plans available for multiple)

STEP 2 (A) – Using a screen with no HDMI input

(There will be some variation in process and success of this section depending on the screen used, for this example the screen was 3.5inch RPi Display 480×320 Pixel XPT2046)

If you are using a 3.5” or equivalent screen without HDMI (XPT2046 for example) follow the steps below.

With the Raspberry Pi connect to the screen using the GPIO ports, place the SD card in and connect the USB power.

(You will not see any activity on the screen as the correct display drivers need to be installed).

For the initial setup you will need to connect the Pi to a screen via HDMI

Once the software has been updated a Registration code will be displayed

Once signed up and logged in, go to the ‘Monitors’ tab on the left-hand menu.

Click +Add Monitor

Enter a name for your screen

Enter the Registration code

Click on the ‘Advanced’ tab and select ‘Security’

Enter a password of your choice in the ‘Remote Support Password’ box

Click ‘Allow SSH on the LAN’

Save and Push to the Player by clicking the button

Discover the IP address assigned to your RaspberryPi, you can log into your router or use an app such as ‘Fing’.

You can also find the local IP address in the ’Status’ tab in the Monitor section on the Yodeck control page.

Once discovered use Terminal (MacOS) or equivalent to SSH into your Pi

v$ ssh user@xx.xx.xx.xx

(password “YOURPASSWORD”)

$ sudo apt-get update

$ sudo raspi-config

Make the following amends

5 – Interfacing Options

P4 – SPI – Enable

Finish

Back in Terminal

$ sudo apt-get install cmake

$ sudo apt install git

$ git clone https://github.com/juj/fbcp-ili9341.git

$ cd fbcp-ili9341

$ mkdir build

$ cd build

$ cmake -DSPI_BUS_CLOCK_DIVISOR=20 -DSTATISTICS=0 -DWAVESHARE35B_ILI9486=ON ..

$ make -j

$ sudo ./fbcp-ili9341

^c

sudo nano /etc/rc.local

and before the exit 0 add this line

sudo /home/pi/fbcp-ili9341/build/fbcp-ili9341 &

NOTE: Currently once rebooted it should continue to display on the tft screen via the GPIO header but occasional it will fail to load the display drivers correctly, should that be the case, simply ssh into the Pi and re-run the following commands.

$ cd fbcp-ili9341

$ cd build

$ sudo ./fbcp-ili9341

Yodeck support are aware and are looking into including this in the future is possible

STEP 2 (B) – Using a screen with HDMI input

If you are using a 3.5” or equivalent screen with HDMI follow the steps below.

With the Raspberry Pi connect to the screen using a micro HDMI to HDMI cable, and a micro USB to Micro USB connected to the Pi and screen* (or power the screen via the GPIO if supported), place the SD card in and connect the USB power.

Once the software has been updated a Registration code will be displayed

Once signed up and logged in, go to the ‘Monitors’ tab on the left hand menu.

Click +Add Monitor

Enter a name for your screen

Enter the Registration code

STEP 3 – Using Yodeck

Yodeck enables you to create and schedule content for your screens effortlessly from the web, using your computer or smartphone.

You can upload videos and images along with using widgets, it is also capable of displaying live websites or live YouTube streams.

It is free for one screen but does have payment options for multiple screens, it makes it easy to rotate the display and create custom layouts that can show multiple assets at any time.

The best process is to upload media (image or video) and create a Playlist, then place this Playlist on a Layout that suits the screen, being sure that all the content fits and does become cropped. You can then set this Layout as your default screen display should you wish, or use the calendar scheduler to create timing for displays etc.