Start With What the Wall Must Do
A wall that suits a lobby does not suit a control room. Write down the answers to these before you ask for a quote:
- What will it show? Brand content, live data, video conferencing or a control-room mosaic of many sources.
- Who looks at it, and from how far? The nearest and farthest viewing distances decide the pixel pitch; see the LED vs LCD and pixel pitch guide for the worked rules of thumb.
- Indoors or outdoors? Outdoor walls need weather-rated, high-brightness cabinets. Check the IP rating on the datasheet; the rating system is defined in IEC 60529.
- How long will it run each day? Long hours affect cooling, power and maintenance.
- Is the shape standard? Flat, curved, a column or an irregular shape point to LED.
LED Wall or LCD Wall: The Quick Decision
An LCD video wall is tiled panels with a thin bezel; an LED video wall is joined cabinets with no bezel. The full comparison is in the pixel pitch guide. In short:
| Factor | LCD video wall | LED video wall |
|---|---|---|
| Image seam | A thin bezel line between panels | No bezel; seamless |
| Best for | Smaller walls viewed from a moderate distance, reception areas, control rooms | Large, bright or seamless walls, outdoor use, curved or unusual shapes |
| Cost pattern | Often lower to start | Often higher to start; see the cost factors page |
| Service access | Panels replaced individually, usually from the front or the back | Modules or cabinets replaced from the front or the rear, depending on the design |
The Steps of a Typical Installation
A typical project follows these steps. The scope and order for your site are set at the survey and written into the quote.
- Site survey and viewing-distance check. Measure the wall position, the viewing distances, the available height and width and the route for cables.
- Structure or frame. A mounting frame or wall that can carry the weight, with the service access the design needs.
- Power and data cabling. Power circuits sized for the wall, and data runs from the controller to the screen.
- Cabinets or panels. Mounting and aligning the cabinets or panels into one flat canvas.
- Controller and processor set-up. Connecting sources and configuring the controller, scaling and inputs.
- Alignment and calibration. Balancing brightness and colour across cabinets or panels.
- Handover with the content system. Showing your team how to change content and what to do when something fails.
The Parts That Are Easy to Overlook
Most delays and problems come from the building, not the screen. Check these with the supplier early.
- Structure and weight. Ask for the wall weight and how the wall or frame carries it. Do not assume a partition wall can hold it.
- Power. Ask how many circuits the wall needs and where the distribution board is.
- Heat and ventilation. A large wall gives off heat; check airflow behind and around it, or the cooling plan for a sealed enclosure.
- Service access. Decide whether modules are replaced from the front or from behind, and leave room for it.
- Cabling routes. Plan the route for power and data and for any controller or equipment cabinet.
- Outdoor needs. Check brightness, the IP rating and any approval the building owner or authority requires for an outdoor screen. Confirm these yourself; they depend on the site.
Controller, Sources and Content
The controller turns your sources into one picture across the wall. Ask:
- Which sources will connect, such as computers, cameras, media players or a video conferencing system, and through which inputs?
- Will the content be prepared at the wall's native resolution and aspect ratio? A mismatch causes stretched or cropped images.
- Who updates the content, and with what software? Plan this with the digital signage side; see digital signage and video walls.
- What happens when a source or the controller fails? Ask for a backup source or a simple fallback.
Plan Maintenance Before You Buy
A video wall drifts in colour and brightness over time, and modules can fail. Before you buy, ask what maintenance is available, whether it covers a wall that was installed by someone else, how replacement parts are sourced and quoted, and how calibration is repeated after a module is replaced. A maintenance contract keeps a wall consistent and catches faults early. Visit frequency, scope and cost are set out in the contract.
Questions to Ask a Video Wall Supplier
Put these to each supplier and get the answers in writing.
- What is in the written scope? Structure, power, cabling, cabinets, controller, calibration and handover, and what is excluded.
- What pixel pitch, and why? The answer should refer to your viewing distances.
- What are the weight, power and cooling needs? In numbers, so the building can be checked.
- How is the wall serviced? From the front or the rear, and what space that needs.
- What is the warranty? On modules or panels, power supplies and the controller, and for how long.
- Who supplies replacement parts? And how long can they be supplied for this model?
- Is maintenance available? Including for a wall installed by someone else, after an inspection.
- What will the test and handover include? A test with your real content and training for your team.
How Quicknet Approaches Video Walls
Quicknet Computers is vendor-neutral: it works with the major LED and display brands available in the UAE, recommends by project, and does not claim dealer status for any brand. It installs and maintains LED and LCD video walls in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain and takes Dubai projects on a project basis. The survey is free and prices are given in a written quote. See LED screens and video walls in Abu Dhabi, outdoor LED screens, indoor LED displays and LED screens for events.
Sources
Link checked 10 November 2026. Last reviewed 10 November 2026. This page is general planning advice; the design is confirmed at a site survey.