Megapixel HELIOS
Megapixel HELIOS: inputs, mapping and troubleshooting
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Purpose and covered variant
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HELIOS is a processing platform for compatible LED displays. It helps organize a canvas, configure color and monitor distribution to the tiles. LED data output requires the corresponding receiving and distribution system.
This guide uses HELIOS Standard as its reference. Identify the variant, input cards, transceivers, switch and exact tile revision before sizing or connecting a system.
Inputs, distribution and control
- Modular inputs
- The platform offers slots for HDMI and DisplayPort, four SFP positions for 12G-SDI or 10G ST 2110, and a 100G QSFP option. Available slots do not establish which cards or transceivers are installed in a unit.
- LED distribution
- HELIOS Standard provides up to eight 10G fiber outputs. The guide distinguishes HELIOS Junior, with 1G copper outputs: do not apply Standard output capacities to that variant.
- Control
- The interface is hosted on HELIOS and opens in a browser through the LAN connector. Read the IP address on the front display; the computer must be on the same network.
System requirements
Tiles and receiving cards compatible with the installed release; check the official list by model and revision rather than brand alone. The release notes include products from several manufacturers.
Distribution, transceivers and cabling appropriate to the exact system, a video source supported by the installed input, and a control computer. The project must also define synchronization and redundancy.
Basic preparation
- Record the variant, cards, tiles and HELIOS, receiver and switch versions. Save a configuration copy before making changes.
- Connect the computer to LAN, read the front IP address and check addressing and subnet. Open that IP in a browser; use authorized credentials if access is protected.
- Under Input, select the actual input and verify the source format and metadata: frame rate, bit depth, range and color. A visible picture does not establish that all these parameters match.
- Under Mapping, select the tiles, choose the topology matching the physical cabling and enter rows and columns. Check placement and orientation with a pattern before showing content.
- Check input, individual port, switch and processor capacity separately. Include frame rate, bit depth and stream count; validate redundancy using the configuration planned for the event.
Three technical questions
The interface opens, but the display has no content. Where should I start?
Under Input, first confirm the selected input. Black means no link; yellow means link without video; orange indicates errors; blue means a valid link and video. Green means a stable signal with metadata overridden in the interface: verify that the override is intentional.
If the input is valid, compare a processor video pattern with a tile internal pattern. These test different sections of the path. Then check tile detection and mapping; a working LAN interface does not confirm the entire video path.
Can I add the ports together to support any resolution?
No. Adding links does not remove processor or input limits. HDMI/DisplayPort calculations include active image and blanking, frame rate, bit depth and color format. The official calculator states that DSC is unsupported.
The published overall limit is 2,124,000,000 active pixels per second. Port loading depends on the mode, and additional streams also consume capacity. Connector count is not a guaranteed tile count.
Do two paths guarantee an invisible failover?
That depends on the mode and the failure being covered. Cable, switch and processor redundancy protect different components. In a multi-processor configuration, a Stack shares settings and should be planned before mapping.
The documentation distinguishes Failover, with a stated 1–2 second interruption, from Seamless. Seamless requires the same content and synchronization across sources and processors. An input link may still be a single point of failure: check the entire route.
Checks by symptom
| Symptom | Check | What it distinguishes |
|---|---|---|
| Interface does not open | LAN, front IP address and computer subnet. | Control access before investigating content. |
| Repeated or displaced image | Physical topology, selected tiles, rows and columns in Mapping. | Tile detection versus canvas placement. |
| Only one source fails | Selected input, format and metadata; compare with a known compatible source. | Input issues versus LED distribution. |
| Failure after adding streams or redundancy | Recalculate loading for each section and mode; check versions. | Capacity changes versus physical faults. |
Limits and precautions
Use HELIOS in a dry environment at 10–40 °C and keep front and rear ventilation clear. The guide specifies 100–240 V AC, 50/60 Hz; check the actual unit label and manual when sizing the supply.
Processor, receiver and switch versions form a system. Do not update or factory-reset as the first response to a black display; preserve settings and verify compatibility before planning changes.
Processor low latency imposes cabling and mapping conditions; it differs from tile low latency. Confirm the documented topology and measure the complete path before making camera timing commitments.
Official documentation
- HELIOS platform and modular inputs
- Official quickstart: installation, patterns and variants
- Control networking and interface access
- Input selection and metadata
- Tile mapping
- System capacity and low latency
- HDMI and DisplayPort input calculations
- Redundancy modes and Stack
- HELIOS and receiver release notes
- Support, releases and compatibility
Accessed October 22, 2026. The quickstart is dated 2024-10-18; support articles and release notes define later conditions. Always verify the installed release.