jsand42

DVD player for public kiosk

Hi, I need a recommendation for a relatively inexpensive DVD player for a public library. Patrons will use this to watch job training materials and other DVDs in our collection. It will be connected to a little TV/VCR combo, so composite video and analog audio is all that is necessary. My only other real requirement is that all playback controls be available on the front of the unit - we don't want to have to give out the remote control to patrons. Ideally the model would be available on Amazon or Full Compass. Thanks.

Leo Kerr

Re: DVD player for public kiosk

a big limiter here is going to be the requirement that all functions be available on the front panel. I'm not sure how many, if any, have the arrow keys and "enter" on the front (though for many menus, the "play" will double-duty as "enter.")

On the other hand, a used/e-Bay Pioneer DVD-V7400 is a bulletproof tank of a player. And if you're handy with a soldering iron, you can build a wired remote for it fairly easily that provides access to whatever buttons you want on it.

At work, we've got over a hundred of 'em, some of them with ~15,000 hours on them.

(An advantage of a DIY remote is not only can you put the buttons you want on, you can also fabricate it into a block of wood that's screwed down to the cart/table that the player and monitor are on, too.)

Leo Kerr

Leo Kerr

Re: DVD player for public kiosk

a big limiter here is going to be the requirement that all functions be available on the front panel. I'm not sure how many, if any, have the arrow keys and "enter" on the front (though for many menus, the "play" will double-duty as "enter.")

On the other hand, a used/e-Bay Pioneer DVD-V7400 is a bulletproof tank of a player. And if you're handy with a soldering iron, you can build a wired remote for it fairly easily that provides access to whatever buttons you want on it.

At work, we've got over a hundred of 'em, some of them with ~15,000 hours on them.

(An advantage of a DIY remote is not only can you put the buttons you want on, you can also fabricate it into a block of wood that's screwed down to the cart/table that the player and monitor are on, too.)

Leo Kerr

Leo Kerr

Re: DVD player for public kiosk

okay, I tried to do this before, let's see if it works this time.

A difficulty is that many discs have menus, and menus require the arrow keys; that functionality on the front panel is going to be difficult to find.

What, after a longer time, I was going to suggest, was trying to find a used Pioneer DVD-V7400 industrial player. With the port on the back, some diodes, buttons, and a soldering iron, you can build your own hard-wired remote, which you can screw down to the table with the player.

The 7400's were built like tanks; we've over 100 at work, some with more than 15,000 hours of run-time on them, still going strong.

Try to find one used; Pioneer has the manuals and advanced manuals on-line.

Leo

LanceJ

Re: DVD player for public kiosk

Here ya go: Pioneer DV-300, $70.

I can't stand those players with just play/pause/stop - useless!! Don't like being paranoid about losing/breaking remotes.

Leo Kerr

Re: DVD player for public kiosk

Remarkable. And even affordable. How bizarre is that?