CommunATICommunATI

For teachers · 2 min read

Connect a display

A display is any screen CommunATI can drive — a classroom television, a projector, a screen in a gym. This covers what hardware you need, how it plugs in, and how to pair it.

1. Apple TV

An Apple TV box connects to the screen over HDMI.

  1. On the Apple TV, open the App Store.
  2. Search for CommunATI and install it.
  3. Open the app. It shows a pairing code straight away.

2. A television running Google TV or Android TV

If the television already runs Google TV or Android TV, you don't need extra hardware.

  1. On the television, open the Play Store.
  2. Search for CommunATI and install it.
  3. Open the app. It shows a pairing code straight away.

Check the box or the television's own settings first — "smart TV" alone isn't enough, it has to be Google TV or Android TV for the app to install. If it isn't either, use the dongle in step 3 below.

3. A projector, or a television with no smart features

Most projectors and older televisions can't install apps. Add a streaming stick — a Google TV or Chromecast dongle:

  1. Plug the dongle into a spare HDMI port on the projector or television.
  2. Plug in its power (usually USB, either from the screen's USB port or the supplied adapter).
  3. Switch the screen's input to that HDMI port.
  4. Get the dongle on Wi-Fi, then open the Play Store on it, install CommunATI, and open the app.

This is usually the cheapest way to turn a projector or an old television into a display.

4. Any screen with a web browser

No app, no dongle. Open /tv/pair in a browser on the screen — a spare laptop, a smart TV's own browser, a mini PC — and it shows a pairing code the same way.

Pairing the display

Every path above ends with a six-character code on the screen. To claim it:

  1. On your own phone or laptop, sign in to Admin.
  2. Open your event and choose Pair a display.
  3. Type the code shown on the screen.

The screen takes over within a few seconds. Codes are short-lived — if one expires, the screen shows a fresh one on its own.

After it's paired

You choose what the screen shows — a game board, a scoreboard, a schedule, a bracket, announcements or a sponsor strip — and you can change it mid-event without touching the screen. One event can drive several displays at once, each showing something different.

If a screen won't connect, see Troubleshooting: display won't pair.

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