NovaStar H5
NovaStar H5: HDMI/DP cards, optical outputs and power supplies
What to check on H5 cards, SFP+ modules and power supplies before specifying simultaneous inputs, fiber transport and backup.
Model and version
Check compatibility by card part number, not just the H5 name. The functions below apply to the named cards in the H Series V1.15.0 manual and H5 V1.17.0 specifications. They do not imply that every card is installed or included in a booking.
Prepare the check
This set is configured around an additional power supply, 3 HDMI 4K / DP 1.2 input cards, 3 output cards with 16 RJ45 ports and 6 multimode 10G SFP+ modules. Before booking, confirm part numbers, versions, location and availability for the date. Connector count alone does not establish the number of independent signals.
Operating questions
Can a card with HDMI and DisplayPort accept two simultaneous sources?
The H_1xHDMI2.0+1xDP1.2 uses only one connector at a time. In Device, open the card and select HDMI or DP in Connector Settings. Connecting two cables does not create two independent inputs. Do not apply this limit to other H Series cards without identifying their part numbers: different modules are available.
Compare the physical card reference with Basic Information and check the selected source resolution and status in Connector Status. If there is no signal, check the connector selection and source output format first, then try a known-good cable. This card does not accept interlaced input. Do not switch connectors during a live output without coordinating the transition.
Do the two optical outputs add capacity to the sixteen RJ45 ports?
On the H_16xRJ45+2xfiber, OPT 1 copies Ethernet 1–8 data and OPT 2 copies Ethernet 9–16. Fiber carries those groups; it does not add sixteen more independent ports. If only half the wall is missing over fiber, compare the assigned group, OPT connection and converter ports before changing the entire map.
The path needs a compatible fiber converter before reaching the cabinets over Ethernet; the specifications recommend the CVT series. H_4xfiber is a different card with its own modes: do not apply its Independent, Copy or Backup options to the H_16xRJ45+2xfiber. Capacity also depends on frame rate, bit depth, version and receiving cards; do not size a system from connector count alone.
Can any 10G SFP+ and an extra power supply provide an automatic backup?
A module fitting the cage or carrying a 10G label is not enough. Check the card, module part numbers, fiber type, wavelength and converter at both ends against the system documentation. The 6 multimode modules in this configuration do not establish compatibility with a single-mode path. If part numbers do not confirm a compatible pair, resolve that before setup without promising a transmission distance.
An additional power supply may be a spare; it does not establish that a second PSU is installed and powered or that the electrical path has backup. Verify the PSU model, installation and planned supplies before describing redundancy. Treat power, signal and configuration backup separately. Schedule failover checks outside the event; do not disconnect supplies during the show to test them.
Symptom and next check
| Symptom | Check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| HDMI connected, no input signal | Card reference and Connector Settings | Select the correct input and check its format. |
| One fiber group is missing | OPT 1: RJ45 1–8; OPT 2: RJ45 9–16 | Follow the group to the compatible converter. |
| Unconfirmed backup or distance | PSU, modules, fiber and equipment at both ends | Resolve compatibility before committing the system. |
Manufacturer documentation
Manual: connections and mapping, pp. 1–9; layers and Live/Pre-Edit, pp. 13–18 and 74; cards, pp. 77–78; configuration backup, pp. 102–103. Specifications: HDMI/DP card, p. 16; 16-RJ45 card, p. 33.