Novastar LCB2K

NovaStar LCB2K — one standalone player per LCD screen

The LCB2K is a standalone media player for LCD displays, managed remotely from a PC, phone or tablet. It outputs Full HD over HDMI, decodes up to 4K, and carries Wi-Fi, 4G and GPS in a 255 g box.

Specifications

Output: 1 x HDMI, 1920 x 1080 @ 60 Hz, EDID adaptive
Decoding: H.264 and H.265 up to 4K — 1 x 4K, 2 x 1080p, 4 x 720p or 6 x 360p
Connectors: 1 x 3.5 mm stereo audio, 1 x USB 3.0 type-A, 1 x USB type-C, 1 x Fast Ethernet, 1 SIM slot, Wi-Fi, 4G and GPS antennas
Processor: quad-core at 1.3 GHz — 1 GB RAM, 16 GB storage
Network: wired first, then Wi-Fi, then 4G; access point or station mode
Format: 123.0 x 89.0 x 29.5 mm — 255.4 g
Power: DC 12 V, 2 A, 18 W max

NovaStar LCB2K — technical analysis

A point to clarify before proposing it, because it is often mis-sold: this is not an LCD wall controller. The LCB2K has one HDMI output and does neither mosaic nor image splitting. It drives one screen, one only. To build an LCD video wall with splitting, the NovaStar answer is the MG range over IP, or the H series video wall processor.

What it does well is distributed digital signage: one player per screen, content pushed from the cloud, and synchronisation between several units over NTP, GPS or radio so several screens start the same video at the same instant. Note: enabling synchronisation halves decoding capacity, with a one-stream 1080p limit. Its Ethernet connection is Fast Ethernet, not Gigabit.

• Shop-window digital signage — one player per screen, content pushed remotely.
• Retail networks — pharmacies, branches, franchises, centrally managed.
• Sites with no wired network — built-in 4G module and SIM slot.
• Synchronised screens — several units aligned over NTP, GPS or radio.
• Discreet integration — 255 g, mounts behind the screen.

• Not an LCD wall controller — one HDMI output, one screen, no mosaic or image splitting.
• Fast Ethernet — no Gigabit on this reference: consider it if content is heavy.
• Synchronisation — when enabled it halves decoding capacity.
• Storage — only 16 GB: size the media library accordingly.
• Thermal range — not published by NovaStar: check before fitting in a sunlit window.