NovaStar H5
NovaStar H5: LED mapping, layers and configuration backup
Keep cabinet mapping separate from video composition on an H5, prepare edits before taking them to the screen and save the system configuration.
Model and version
The H5 is modular: the path to the LED wall depends on the installed cards. This guide follows H Series V1.15.0 and distinguishes LED sending cards from video outputs that require an external sender. Menus can vary with firmware; confirm the version and configuration before making changes.
Prepare the check
Use the control network to reach the IP shown on the front panel and check that the computer has compatible addressing. In Device, identify the cards, versions and input status. Keep the starting configuration and wiring plan; if the system is in use, arrange a test window for mapping or output changes.
Operating questions
Why is the video composition correct but the cabinets repeat or reorder the image?
Configuration → New Screen assigns outputs to a logical screen; it does not replace the physical cabinet data path. With H_16xRJ45+2xfiber or H_20xRJ45, first check output resolution and frame rate in Settings → EDID Management → Output. Then assign the correct cards and click Save. A gray output is already assigned and cannot be reused.
These sending cards also require screen configuration in NovaLCT. In Screen Configuration, compare Sending Card and Screen Connection with the receiving cards, pixel dimensions and first cabinet on each port. Follow the wiring with a numbered grid: if the error starts at a cabinet boundary, correct the mapping rather than resizing the layer. Do not send unknown receiving-card configurations to fix a simple data-path error.
How do I prepare a composition without showing every move during the event?
In Programming, select the correct screen and drag a source from Input Signal to create a layer. W and H set its size; X and Y position its top-left corner. If part of the image is missing, also check which layer is in front. Detecting an input in Device does not mean it has been placed in the composition.
Live displays edits immediately. Turn Live off to prepare changes and use Pre-Edit when it is time to take them to the screen. Confirm the selected screen before applying: this changes the event output. Matrix mode does not support Live/Pre-Edit. If the image remains black or frozen, check FTB and FRZ in Programming before rebuilding the map.
Is saving a preset enough to restore the entire H5?
Save Preset stores the layer layout or matrix output. For a copy of device parameters, use Settings → Backup Management → Export Configuration File. Import covers screen, color, EDID, layers, BKG, OSD, presets and preset playback; an individual preset does not replace that file.
Also retain the receiving-card configuration and LED data path for the installation. Having an exported file does not prove that a backup route is configured or switches correctly. Before importing into an operating system, verify cards, version and target screen; test recovery outside the show and keep the previous configuration available for rollback.
Symptom and next check
| Symptom | Check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Image repeats at cabinet boundaries | Output assignment and Screen Connection | Compare physical wiring before changing layers. |
| Edits do not reach the screen | Live, Pre-Edit and selected screen | Apply only when the composition is ready. |
| Preset cannot restore the system | Configuration file and LED mapping | Check recovery during a test window. |
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.
Related guides
NovaStar H5: HDMI/DP cards, optical outputs and power supplies