The hardware a dispensary menu board actually needs

DubMenu runs in a web browser, so the hardware question has a short answer: any TV that can open a website. This guide covers what works, what to buy if you are starting from zero, and how to keep the board readable from across the room.

What works

  • Smart TVs with a built-in browser (Samsung Tizen, LG webOS, Android TV, Google TV, Roku TV).
  • Any TV plus an inexpensive streaming stick: Fire TV Stick, Chromecast with Google TV, or Onn. A stick costs $20 to $50 and turns a dumb TV into a board.
  • A tablet, laptop, or mini PC plugged into a display. Anything with a current browser works.

There is no proprietary player to buy and nothing to install. The TV opens tv.dubmenu.com, shows a pairing code, and your phone does the rest.

If you are buying a screen

Buy on size and brightness, not on smart features, because a $30 stick covers the software side. A 43-inch 4K TV is the common counter choice; 50 to 55 inches reads better on a wall behind the register. Commercial-rated panels run longer hours, but plenty of shops run consumer TVs for years without issues. Put the money into a panel bright enough for your floor lighting.

  • Counter board: 32 to 43 inches, eye level.
  • Wall board behind the register: 50 to 55 inches minimum.
  • Window-facing board: highest brightness you can get, light theme recommended.

Readability rules of thumb

Customers read a board from six to fifteen feet away. DubMenu’s three text-size settings exist for exactly this: pick the size where a customer at your counter can read a product name without stepping closer. Fewer products per screen beats smaller text. If the catalog is long, let auto-scroll page through it instead of shrinking type to fit.

Running more than one screen

One DubMenu location supports up to four displays. Each screen pairs with its own code and can show the same menu or its own. A common layout: flower and vapes on the wall board, edibles and concentrates on the counter board. Every screen updates from the same phone.

Questions

Do I need a 4K TV?

No. 1080p is fine for text at counter distance. 4K helps product photos on larger wall boards.

Does the TV need to stay online?

Yes. The board is a live web page, so the TV needs Wi-Fi or ethernet. Any normal retail connection is enough.

Can I use the TV I already own?

Almost always yes. If it has a browser, open tv.dubmenu.com. If it does not, add a $20 to $50 streaming stick.

Keep reading

Try it on your own TV

Open the live demo board, or start the 30-day free trial and pair your first screen in under a minute. $99 per month per location after the trial.