The short answer
Keep the stream on a laptop. The most reliable option is to plug the laptop into one of the TV's HDMI ports, alongside the Fire TV Stick. Wirelessly, a Windows laptop can mirror to many Fire TV devices with Windows+K after you turn on Display Mirroring on the Fire TV. We do not recommend running the stream in the Fire TV's own Silk browser, because it struggles as the gallery grows.
- Difficulty
- Moderate. Test before the event.
- Runs on
- A laptop in Chrome. The TV or projector is the display.
What you need
- A laptop (Windows for wireless mirroring)
- A Fire TV or Fire TV Stick, or a free HDMI port on the same TV
- A strong Wi-Fi network if mirroring
Before you start
- A laptop (Windows or Mac) with Chrome. Safari and Edge also work, but Chrome is recommended. Close other tabs.
- Your own laptop, not a work-issued one. Company and school laptops often block the screen sharing and sites you need.
- Reliable internet for the laptop: venue Wi-Fi or a phone hotspot. Weak Wi-Fi is the most common reason photos are slow to appear.
- Cell signal for guests if they will text photos. Test both at the venue with Try TacBoard.
- Your gallery open in Live mode. Log in at tacboard.com, open your gallery and click Display Live.
Step by step: Amazon Fire TV
- 1
Easiest: use HDMI
Plug the laptop into a free HDMI port on the TV and select that input. Follow the laptop to TV guide.
- 2
Or turn on Display Mirroring on the Fire TV
On the Fire TV, hold the Home button and choose Mirroring, or open Settings > Display & Sounds > Enable Display Mirroring.
- 3
Connect from Windows
On the laptop press Windows+K and choose the Fire TV. Not every Fire TV model supports this, so test it before the event.
- 4
Open the live stream
Log in at tacboard.com, open your gallery, click Display Live and press F11.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Photos take a long time to appear | The laptop's internet is weak. Move closer to the router or switch to a phone hotspot. |
| The stream stops scrolling at the bottom instead of looping | Change the browser zoom: Ctrl and + or - on Windows, Command and + or - on Mac. Some screen sizes need 110%. |
| The TV shows "No signal" | Select the right HDMI input with the TV remote's Input or Source button. |
| The picture does not fill the screen | Enter full screen in Chrome (F11 on Windows, Control+Command+F on Mac), and set the display to Duplicate or Mirror. |
| The laptop goes to sleep | Plug in the charger and turn off sleep and the screen saver for the event. |
Other displays
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the Silk browser on Fire TV?
We do not recommend it. Streaming-stick browsers do not have the memory for a gallery that grows all night.
Can a Mac mirror to Fire TV?
Not natively. Use HDMI, or an Apple TV with AirPlay.
Can I run the live stream on my phone or iPad?
No. The live stream runs on a laptop browser. Connect the laptop to the TV or projector, by HDMI or by casting or mirroring from the laptop.
Why do photos take a while to appear on the screen?
Almost always a weak Wi-Fi signal on the laptop. Move it closer to the router or switch to a phone hotspot. Guests also need cell signal to text photos.
Do I need Wi-Fi at the venue?
The laptop running the stream needs internet: venue Wi-Fi or a hotspot. Test it at the venue beforehand with Try TacBoard.
Will TacBoard set up the equipment for us?
No. TacBoard does not provide or set up equipment, but most DJs, AV companies and venues can connect a laptop to their screen.
Last reviewed by the TacBoard team.