NovaStar A5s Plus: installing the general-purpose receiving card
Install the NovaStar A5s Plus receiving card: load capacity by bit depth, multi-batch adjustment, dark-line correction and ESD precautions, step by step.
Receiving cards — fixed installation
The A5s Plus is the most widely used small-format general-purpose receiving card in fixed installations, calibrated pixel by pixel with NovaLCT.
The NovaStar A5s Plus equips the vast majority of mid-range fixed LED walls: retail stores, reception halls, light event setups. It is a small-format, economical receiving card that plugs onto the back of the LED module's HUB card and receives the image stream sent by the sending card over Ethernet ports. Its popularity comes from a simple trade-off: enough pixel load for most cabinets on the market, full support for NovaLCT calibration, and a per-card cost that stays manageable on a project with hundreds of modules.
The point installers most often overlook is that maximum load depends on the source's colour depth. At 8 bits, an A5s Plus drives up to 512 × 384 pixels at 60 Hz per PWM circuit; as soon as the source switches to 10 or 12 bits — increasingly common with HDR and fine calibration — the load drops to 256 × 384 pixels at 60 Hz. In other words, moving to 10 bits halves the admissible pixel count per card, potentially doubling the number of cards needed on the same wall if the wiring plan is not recalculated upfront.
This tutorial follows the order of a real job: preparation and electrostatic precautions, calculating the number of cards based on the source, wiring, configuration in NovaLCT, brightness and chrominance calibration, correcting visible lines, then multi-batch adjustment when delivered modules come from different production batches. All figures come from the A5s Plus Receiving Card Specifications V1.4.1 sheet published by NovaStar.
1. What the A5s Plus is for and when to choose it
The A5s Plus is a general-purpose receiving card: it does not drive the LEDs directly, it receives the Ethernet stream from the sending card or a multimedia player, converts it into PWM signals for the module's drivers, and applies the calibration stored in memory. It targets fixed installations where cost-to-quality ratio matters more than advanced features reserved for higher-end cards (multi-format HDR, latest-generation embedded calibration ICs).
Choosing the A5s Plus makes sense whenever the cabinet stays under its load capacity and the project does not require extreme independent RGB gamma or permanent image rotation beyond 90 degrees. For very fine-pitch walls in 12 bits needing a more generous per-card load, a higher-end receiving card is the better fit.
- Retail store or reception hall: fixed P2.5 to P4 wall with occasional calibration.
- Light event production: short-term rental with frequent build and strike.
- Renovation of an existing fleet: like-for-like replacement of end-of-life A5s cards.
- Control-room display: continuous operation with dark-line correction.
Before ordering, always ask the module manufacturer what bit depth its HUB card actually uses. A module advertised as "16-bit" on the LED side may well be driven at 8 bits on the PWM side, which entirely changes the per-card load calculation.
2. Official technical specifications
The table below reproduces the specifications published in the A5s Plus V1.4.1 sheet. Per-PWM-circuit load is the most decisive figure for sizing a project.
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Max. load (8-bit source) | 512 × 384 pixels at 60 Hz per PWM circuit |
| Max. load (10/12-bit source) | 256 × 384 pixels at 60 Hz per PWM circuit |
| RGB data groups | Up to 32 in parallel, or 64 in series expandable to 128 |
| Required software | NovaLCT V5.3.1 or later |
| Calibration | Color Management, 18bit+, pixel-level brightness and chrominance calibration |
| Visual correction | Quick adjustment of dark or bright lines |
| Batch management | Multi-batch adjustment (added in V1.4.0) |
| Latency | Low latency |
| Display | Independent RGB gamma, 90-degree image rotation, 3D |
| Connectors | High-density connectors, reserved pins |
| Compliance | EMC Class B, RoHS |
The 512 × 384 pixel load at 8 bits is never guaranteed at 10/12 bits: if your content source or sending card works in 10 bits (fine calibration, HDR gradients), recount the number of cards using the 256 × 384 figure, or the card will refuse part of the image.
3. Electrostatic precautions before mounting
Like any receiving card, the A5s Plus carries components sensitive to electrostatic discharge. The manufacturer's sheet explicitly restates static protection and installation guidance, added in revision V1.4.1. On a project involving hundreds of cards, a single mishandled discharge can create an intermittent fault that is very hard to diagnose later.
Before any handling, wear an anti-static wrist strap connected to a reliable ground, work on an ESD mat if mounting in a workshop, and keep the cards in their anti-static bags until they are inserted into the module. Avoid handling the card by the high-density connector pins.
- Anti-static wrist strap worn and checked before every mounting session.
- Cards stored in anti-static bags until the last moment.
- Dry work area, moderate relative humidity to limit static build-up.
- Handle the card by its edges, never by the connectors.
An A5s Plus that works fine at commissioning but shows intermittent dead pixels weeks later is a classic symptom of electrostatic discharge during mounting, not necessarily a manufacturing defect.
4. Calculating the number of cards by bit depth
Sizing always starts with the total wall resolution in pixels, then the colour depth actually used by the image processing chain. For a strictly 8-bit source, divide the total resolution by 512 × 384 to get the theoretical number of cards required; for a 10 or 12-bit source, divide by 256 × 384, twice as many cards for the same surface.
This calculation must be done before ordering hardware, not during mounting. A project that switches midway from an 8-bit source to a 10-bit HDR feed can end up short of receiving cards, blocking commissioning until the shortfall is delivered.
- Record the total wall resolution, width then height.
- Confirm with the integrator the actual bit depth processed by the sending card.
- Divide by 512 × 384 (8-bit) or 256 × 384 (10/12-bit) to get the number of cards.
- Add a margin of spare cards for maintenance, especially on older batches.
Document the load calculation in the installation file with the date and specification sheet revision used: this avoids disputes if a later software change alters the bit depth used by the source.
5. Physical mounting and wiring
The A5s Plus mounts onto the back of the LED module's HUB card via its high-density connector. Daisy-chain wiring links the cards according to the diagram set by the module manufacturer, with a maximum of 32 parallel RGB groups or 64 in series, the latter expandable to 128 depending on the topology chosen.
Follow the wiring order shown on the integrator's plan: a swapped card order does not always produce an immediately visible error, but it greatly complicates later calibration since every card must match its actual position in NovaLCT.
- Check the alignment of the high-density connector before clicking the card in place.
- Follow the daisy-chain wiring order defined on the integrator's plan.
- Check the card's mechanical fixing on the module's mounting points.
- Record each card's physical position to ease later diagnostics.
6. Configuration in NovaLCT
Configuring the A5s Plus requires NovaLCT version 5.3.1 or later: an older version does not correctly recognise the functions added in recent firmware revisions, particularly multi-batch adjustment. Once the sending card is connected, the software automatically detects the receiving cards present on each port.
The first step is writing the screen configuration (resolution, scan direction, number of cards per port), then checking that each A5s Plus responds correctly with its serial number and expected position in the chain. Any missing or misplaced card must be corrected before starting calibration.
- Update NovaLCT to version 5.3.1 or later before any work.
- Auto-detect the receiving cards connected on each port.
- Write the screen configuration provided by the module manufacturer.
- Confirm that logical and physical positions of each card match.
7. Brightness and chrominance calibration
The A5s Plus supports pixel-level calibration with Color Management and 18bit+ processing, evening out brightness and hue between modules from different production batches. The standard procedure measures every pixel with a calibration camera, then writes the correction coefficients directly into the receiving card's memory.
On a new wall built from modules of a single batch, this calibration is quick because pixel-to-pixel differences are small. On a mixed wall, with modules from different batches or replacement cards fitted later, brightness differences can be visible to the eye before calibration, especially on flat colour fields.
| Function | Scope | Software |
|---|---|---|
| Brightness/chrominance calibration | Per pixel | NovaLCT + calibration camera |
| Color Management | Overall hue management | NovaLCT V5.3.1+ |
| Quick line adjustment | Localised dark or bright lines | NovaLCT |
| Multi-batch adjustment | Homogenisation across module batches | NovaLCT V5.3.1+ (V1.4.0 feature) |
Always recalibrate after any module replacement during maintenance, even a single one: an isolated new card in an older wall almost always creates a visible mismatch without re-adjusted coefficients.
8. Correcting dark or bright lines
The quick dark or bright line adjustment targets a common LED wall defect: a row of pixels visibly darker or brighter than its neighbours, usually caused by a resistance variation on the scan circuit or a localised soldering defect. Rather than recalibrating the whole module, this function locally adjusts the affected line in NovaLCT.
This correction is applied after the general calibration, never before, since it refines an already broadly even result rather than compensating for an uncalibrated wall. It is particularly useful in corrective maintenance, avoiding a full recalibration for a localised defect.
- Identify the affected line visually or by measurement.
- Open the quick line adjustment tool in NovaLCT.
- Gradually adjust the line's coefficient until the defect disappears.
- Check the result on a white test pattern and on real video content.
9. Multi-batch adjustment for mixed modules
Multi-batch adjustment, introduced in firmware version V1.4.0, addresses a recurring issue on projects spread over time: modules delivered across several orders often come from different production batches, with slight brightness or hue differences that persist even after standard calibration, notably when batches use LEDs from different supplier bins.
This function groups cards by batch in NovaLCT and applies a dedicated correction factor to each group, on top of pixel-level calibration. It is particularly relevant when extending an existing wall, when new modules must blend visually into an already installed fleet.
- Identify production batches from serial numbers or delivery notes.
- Group the corresponding cards in NovaLCT's multi-batch adjustment tool.
- Apply the per-batch correction factor on top of pixel-level calibration.
- Check final uniformity on a multi-level grey test pattern.
Multi-batch adjustment does not replace pixel-level calibration: it is a complementary adjustment. On an uncalibrated wall, it is not enough to mask the differences between modules.
10. Troubleshooting common faults
Most A5s Plus issues come down to exceeded load, electrostatic discharge during mounting, or an outdated NovaLCT version that does not recognise recent functions. The table below lists the checks to run before any hardware return.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Black or cut-off screen area | Load exceeded for the bit depth used | Recalculate the number of cards using 256×384 if the source is 10/12-bit |
| Intermittent dead pixels | Electrostatic discharge during mounting | Check the ESD protocol, replace the card if the fault persists |
| Multi-batch functions missing | NovaLCT version older than V5.3.1 | Update NovaLCT to the latest available version |
| Visibly darker line | Localised scan or soldering defect | Use the quick line adjustment tool in NovaLCT |
| Hue mismatch between wall areas | Modules from different production batches | Apply multi-batch adjustment after pixel-level calibration |
Commissioning procedure
Prepare the workstation and ESD protections
Put on the anti-static wrist strap, prepare the ESD mat and keep A5s Plus cards in anti-static bags until mounting.
Calculate the number of cards required
Record the wall resolution and the source's bit depth, then divide by 512×384 at 8 bits or 256×384 at 10/12 bits.
Mount the cards on the modules
Click each card onto the HUB card's high-density connector, following the wiring order set by the integrator.
Configure the screen in NovaLCT
Update NovaLCT to version 5.3.1 or later, detect the cards, then write the screen configuration provided by the module manufacturer.
Calibrate brightness and chrominance
Run pixel-level calibration with the calibration camera and write the correction coefficients into the cards' memory.
Correct localised defects
Adjust localised dark or bright lines with NovaLCT's quick line adjustment tool.
Apply multi-batch adjustment if needed
Group the cards by production batch and apply the dedicated correction factor to even out the wall.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum load of an A5s Plus at 8 bits?
512 × 384 pixels at 60 Hz per PWM circuit with an 8-bit source, according to the A5s Plus Receiving Card Specifications V1.4.1 sheet.
And with a 10 or 12-bit source?
The load drops to 256 × 384 pixels at 60 Hz per PWM circuit, half of the 8-bit figure, potentially doubling the number of cards required.
Which NovaLCT version is required?
NovaLCT V5.3.1 or later is required to use all A5s Plus functions, including multi-batch adjustment added in V1.4.0.
What is multi-batch adjustment for?
It evens out brightness and hue between cards from different production batches, on top of pixel-level calibration, useful notably when extending an existing wall.
How do you fix a visibly darker line?
Use NovaLCT's quick dark/bright line adjustment tool, after the general wall calibration, without recalibrating the whole surface.
What precautions should be taken during mounting?
Follow the electrostatic protection guidance (wrist strap, ESD bags) restated in the V1.4.1 sheet, to avoid intermittent dead-pixel faults.
Official documentation
Related tutorials
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