NovaStar: How do I configure a NovaLCT Sender Box to use in a Daktronics display?

Topic

  • How to configure a NovaStar NovaLCT-Mars sender box ?
There are three types of configuration files used during the setup process. They are the receiver card configuration file, the LED display configuration file and the system configuration file. 

Environment

  • Product: Nova MCTRL 600, Nova MCTRL 660, NovaStar VX4S, NovaStar brand sender box and receiver  cards
  • Components: NovaLCT Software
  • Control System: Market Standard or Limited Compliance using transmit common/open protocol
This includes but not limited to DVN-4003, Dragon sticks, J Series, JVX, SLD-x200, SLD-x400, U Series, Q Series, QVN, Z Series, NPN-x200, AFN and ZPN.

NovaLCT software is used to retrieve status, configure the display, and run test patterns on the display. 

Supported synchronous controllersSupported video controllers
MCTRL600
MCTRL660
MCTRL4K
MCTRL660 PRO
NovaPro UHD
VX4S-N
VX1000
VX400S
VX6s

Steps

Getting Started

  1. NovaStar: How do I log into and install software to use the NovaLCT-Mars Sender Box?
  2. In the Local Screen Configuration section, there should be at least a 1 next to Control System.  If it shows a zero, make sure the USB cable is connected to the sender box and that the sender box is powered on.  Select System /Reconnect to try and re-establish the serial connection.
Local System Information v5.1.0.png

Load and Backup current System Configuration File

For 1st time configuration, create a backup of the initial configuration before proceeding.   The config can be reloaded if the receiver cards accidentally get overwritten for any reason.  When configuration is successful. The files can be backup again.  NovaStar: How do I backup or save my configuration files?

The System Configuration File (system restore file) the complete setting information of a LED display control system. It can be used to quickly recover a LED display control system from error, or to quickly start a LED display.
  1. Select the Screen Configuration tile.
  2. Select the loaded COM port from the list and select the Configure Screen option and press Next.

comport v5.1.0.png

System Configuration Settings

Click on the Sending Card tab to configure input resolution and redundancy settings.

  1. Press the Refresh button to view the current video input settings.
  2. Select the video input source.  The options are DVI, HDMI, DP or check the Automatic option.
  3. Under Source Configuration, select your source and resolution. This will be set to the size of the incoming content you would like to size for the display. For example, if your display is 1600x1152 on a 3840x2160 signal, you would check the Custom box and enter 1600x1152.  
    1. The selected resolution should match the player's intended output.  When set correctly, the Sending Card and Graphics Output resolutions under Current Display Mode will match.
    2. You can select a standard resolution from the drop-down list or you can check the custom resolution box and enter a custom resolution.
  4. Set the refresh rate to 60Hz and the bit depth at 8-Bit.
Press the Set button followed by Save on the bottom of the page.
Sending card tab v5.1.0.png

Signal Redundancy Setup (optional) - See: NovaStar: How do I configure redundancy for a display using a sender box?


Receiver Card Configuration

The receiving card tab allows you to read and send the receiver configuration (.rcfgx) files of the connected LED panels.  Perform the following steps to save a local copy of the receiver card configuration file. To make this work, the RJ45 cables from the display panels must be connected to the sender box output(s). 

The receiver card configs that are saved on the control systems site (typically by Dak SH) are what we consider the “master file”.  This is the configuration that each panel leaves the factory with. The following steps pull the working card configuration into the software so it can be viewed and saved.  ⚠️Use caution to avoid sending any initial default information out to the receiver card.  

  1. Click on the Receiving Card tab. 
  2. Press the Read from Receiver card button.
  3. Next, press Save to File and browse to a file location to store the receiver card configuration file on the connected computer.  This will store a local copy of the receiver card configuration file.
Receiver card v5.1.0.png

*Note:  The receiver card config file is standard as long as the display sections are standard.  If the display section (mods high x mods wide) changes, then the receiver card config file will be different.  If there are displays that have both standard and custom size sections, then we need to select the particular receiver card instead of sending the config to all cards.  You can choose to send to send to a particular card or sent to all in Send to Hardware tab.
More details: How to load receiver card configurations with Nova LCT

LED display configuration -local screen configuration

This file does not exist at time of install.  Install personnel create this in the NovaLCT based on the display riser that shows the signal paths.  They then send it to the connected display panels, save it to the hardware, and then download it to a file on the control PC.  From there it can be loaded on the backup sender box and kept on hand if the sender box fails and needs replacement. 

The LED display configuration covers information of how receiver cards are put together to construct a LED display. The LED display configuration files can be used for quick construction of a LED display. Refer to the project specific display riser diagram for the signal layout.

  1. Click on the Screen Connection tab. 
  2. Under Screen Type select Standard Screen.
  3. Under Basic Information, enter the number of columns and Rows of LED panels of the intended display.   (cabinets not Mods)
  4. Under Receiving Card Size, enter the Width and Height of each LED panel.
Note: The panel matrix size will be listed on the top left of the display riser.
 screen connection v5.1.0.png

Wiring Diagram

The table provides a front view of the display. 
  1. Start with the first cabinet (the one connected to port 1of the sender box) and drag or click the mouse over the panels to create the signal path.
    1. Another option is select a signal flow from the Quick Connection box and then highlight the desired panels.  It will connect the highlighted panels using the selected flow.
  2. Right-click to remove connections or right-click on the start module to clear the signal path.
  3. If using multiple sender box outputs, select Ethernet Port 2 and then repeat the diagram process for each.
  4. Do the same for the remaining outputs.
screen connection1 v5.1.0.png

Note: Only the primary sender box ports get configured for the screen layout. If redundancy is set up from the previous section it will use the primary configuration.

  1. Click the Send to Hardware button followed by Save button.

  2. Click the Save to File button to save a copy of the screen layout file to the local PC.

See NovaStar: How do I configure screen connection in NovaStar, if display is divided into sections and ports? for screen connection, if display is divided into several sections, and fed by different ports on sending box.                                                                                                  


Final items to check

  1. Verify the Time Zone is correct on NovaStar computer.
  2. Verify windows updates are turned off or scheduled to update at a convenient time. 
  3. Make sure hibernate has been turned off.
    1. Go to Control Panel and choose Power Options.
    2. Click Change plan settings and make sure Put the computer to sleep is set to Never.
    3. Click Change advanced power settings and expand Sleep.
    4. Under Hibernate after, set the setting to Never.
    5. Under Allow hybrid sleep, set setting to Off.
    Hibernate1.jpg

Next Steps:

  1. NovaStar: How do I configure redundancy for a display using a sender box?
  2. NovaStar: How do I configure the Multi-Function Card MFN300?  (if included)
  3. NovaStar: How do I configure the light sensor?  (if included)
  4. NovaStar: How do I backup or save my configuration files? 
  5. NovaStar: Control System Verification

KB ID: DD3242867


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