MassCasts, clearly explained.
Short answers to the questions schools, venues and offices ask first. Cannot find yours? Email [email protected].
Getting started.
Do I need special signage hardware?
No. The player runs on a standard Fire TV Stick, Android TV box, Android tablet or Raspberry Pi. No proprietary media player is needed.
How do I add a new screen?
Plug a Fire TV Stick into any TV, open the MassCasts player app and type the 6-digit code it shows into Screens, Pair a screen in your dashboard. It takes about a minute.
Which devices are not supported?
Fire TV sticks on Fire OS 5 or 6 (including the 2018 Fire TV Stick 4K), Fire TV Stick 4K Select and other Vega OS devices, and Android 7.1 or older. See screens and hardware.
Do I log in with a separate account?
No. You log in with your existing Mass Coms account, and everything is shared across your organisation.
Everyday use.
Can I update a screen without visiting it?
Yes. Every edit reaches the screen over the air, and you can see each screen's online or offline status from one dashboard.
What happens if the internet goes down?
Screens cache their content and keep playing through network outages, then reconnect by themselves.
Can different screens show different content?
Yes. Each screen has its own playlist or schedule, or you can share one across many screens.
What apps are available?
Weather, visitor welcome, countdowns, QR codes, RSS and news feeds, Instagram, follow-us pages, websites, split screen, videos, live TV and YouTube, stock photos, GIPHY and Pixabay.
Emergency alerts.
How do emergency alerts work on screens?
Declare an incident in Mass Coms and every screen switches to a full-screen alert with your response plan in under a second. Screens running the app sound a siren and read the announcement aloud, in sync across the site, then clear when you stand down.
Can screens show evacuation directions?
Yes. Each screen is mapped to its site, building and floor on your floorplan, so during an evacuation it shows that screen's position, the route to the nearest safe exit and the correct assembly point.
Will the siren play on a browser-only screen?
Browsers block sound until someone interacts with the page, so a browser-based screen needs one tap on "enable emergency sound" during setup. The MassCasts player app does not need this.
Visitors and pricing.
Can screens welcome visitors and staff?
Yes. When someone signs in at the Mass Coms kiosk, the screens you choose greet them by name, with separate templates for visitors and staff, then return to their playlist.
How much does it cost?
£99 per screen per year, with one licence free when you book 3 or more. No Mass Coms subscription is needed. See pricing.
Is there a charge per user?
No. You pay per screen.
Still have a question?
A demo is the quickest way to see how it fits your site.