NovaStar Taurus T6: Deploying a DOOH Network with Redundant Uplinks

A digital-out-of-home network cannot tolerate downtime: every screen has to stay reachable, keep playing its campaign, and report its status without a technician driving out to the site. The NovaStar Taurus T6 was designed around that operational constraint rather than around a one-off storefront display.

Unlike an entry-level player limited to a single wired connection, the T6 carries four Gigabit Ethernet outputs arranged as two main links and two backup links, a built-in Wi-Fi module running as both access point and station, and a slot for an optional 4G module. That network architecture makes it a natural fit for isolated street furniture, roadside advertising totems, or retail chain storefronts where wired connectivity is not always guaranteed.

This tutorial covers only the hardware and its fleet operation: physical installation, redundant network wiring, Wi-Fi/4G failover, scheduled playback and monitoring several screens remotely. Configuring the player from a smartphone through the ViPlex Handy mobile app is covered in a dedicated tutorial and is not repeated here. Every figure quoted comes from the official Taurus T6 specification sheet, revision V1.7.0 dated June 18, 2021.

1. Where the T6 fits in a DOOH network strategy

The Taurus T6 stands apart from the entry-level Taurus T3, aimed at small standalone installs, through a higher pixel budget and, more importantly, its network and hardware redundancy mechanisms. Where the T3 suits a single sign managed on an as-needed basis, the T6 targets operators running a network of dozens or hundreds of advertising screens spread across a territory.

Its loading capacity reaches 1,300,000 pixels, with a maximum width of 4096 pixels and a maximum height of 1920 pixels. That ceiling comfortably covers an advertising totem, a storefront screen, or a connected lamp-post display, without targeting large studio or event-stage walls.

The player runs in synchronous mode whenever an HDMI source is connected on the input, and in asynchronous mode when it plays back its own locally stored content: the latter matches typical DOOH operation, where a solution prepared in advance is published once and then looped without a PC permanently attached.

• Urban advertising totem playing a scheduled playlist with no on-site PC.
• Retail chain storefront managed remotely from a regional head office.
• Connected lamp-post or street-corner display, running on 4G where no wired network exists.
• Vehicle-mounted panel automatically switching between Wi-Fi and 4G depending on availability.

On street furniture without guaranteed wired access, always plan for an optional 4G module: the T6 ships without one, and it must be purchased and installed separately.

2. Official Taurus T6 specifications

The table below reproduces the figures published in the V1.7.0 specification sheet. They drive how content is sized, which power supply is required, and where the unit can physically sit inside the furniture or display housing.

The IP20 rating requires a weatherproof outdoor enclosure for any street-furniture install: the T6 itself offers no water protection.

3. Checking the hardware on receipt

Before rolling out to a site, verify the box contents: the T6 unit, two omnidirectional Wi-Fi antennas, two IPex-to-SMA extension cables, and the quick start guide. A 4G module, if the project calls for one, must be ordered separately since it is not included by default.

Given its light 212.7 g weight and compact 168.0 × 139.8 × 24.7 mm footprint, the T6 fits easily inside street-furniture housing or behind a storefront screen, provided the antennas are routed outside any metal enclosure so radio reception isn't degraded.

• T6 unit, two Wi-Fi antennas and IPex/SMA extension cables checked on arrival.
• 4G module ordered separately if the site lacks a reliable wired connection.
• DC 5-12 V power supply matched to the player's 18 W maximum draw.
• FAT32-formatted USB drive prepared as a backup playback path.
• VNNOX account or cluster software set up ahead of time for fleet monitoring.

4. Redundant network wiring and video hookup

The T6 offers four Gigabit Ethernet outputs, split by default between two main ports and two backup ports. This Ethernet port redundancy mechanism increases transmission reliability: if a main link fails, the corresponding backup link takes over without interrupting playback on the connected receiving cards.

The HDMI 1.3 input is used for synchronous mode, when the player relays a live video feed rather than its internal content. In that mode, content can be automatically scaled to fit the screen, provided the source width stays between 64 and 2048 pixels; zooming only enlarges the image, it never shrinks it. The HDMI 1.3 output allows looping the signal to a reference monitor.

The SWITCH button on the front panel toggles physically between the two modes: staying on selects synchronous mode, off selects asynchronous mode. On a typical DOOH deployment, scheduled campaign playback almost always runs in asynchronous mode, from content stored in the 28 GB of available memory.

• Connect the two main Ethernet ports to the production network, keeping both backup ports for automatic failover.
• Flip the SWITCH button according to the chosen mode: on for a live HDMI feed, off for a local playlist.
• Keep the HDMI source width between 64 and 2048 pixels for correct automatic scaling.
• Use the two USB 2.0 ports formatted as FAT32 as a fallback import path if the network is briefly unavailable.

For a large fleet, always wire both backup ports even on a site that looks stable: Ethernet redundancy costs nothing at install time and saves a truck roll after a switch failure.

5. Wi-Fi, 4G and network priority

The T6 carries a permanent Wi-Fi module able to run as an access point, as a station, or in both modes at once. In access-point mode, a mobile device can connect directly to the player's hotspot, whose default SSID pairs the prefix "AP" with the last eight characters of the serial number, with a default password that must be changed at commissioning.

In station mode, the T6 and management terminals join an existing router's Wi-Fi network on site, which suits an indoor deployment that already has a local network. The combined access-point-plus-station mode lets a technician reach the T6 directly while still bridging Internet access through it, useful for local servicing without cutting the player off from the monitoring network.

For its Internet connection, the T6 automatically picks the best available path following a priority order across wired network, Wi-Fi station and 4G, which stabilizes connectivity on sites where wired quality is inconsistent. Since the 4G module isn't included by default, it should be added as an option wherever a site has neither reliable Ethernet nor usable Wi-Fi.

• Change the default Wi-Fi access-point password as soon as the unit is commissioned.
• Reserve Wi-Fi station mode for sites that already have a stable local network.
• Add an optional 4G module on isolated street furniture with no wired network.
• Let the T6 manage the wired/Wi-Fi/4G priority automatically rather than forcing a single mode.

The T6 ships without a 4G module: confirm it's on the order before installing an isolated site, otherwise the player will depend on Wi-Fi or wired connectivity alone.

6. Solutions, playlists and scheduled playback

Asynchronous mode is the core of DOOH operation: a playback solution prepared on a management terminal — PC, tablet or phone — is published to the T6, which then loops it from internal storage without needing a permanent connection. The 8-core 1.5 GHz processor and hardware H.265 4K decoding allow high-definition advertising videos to run without noticeable playback lag.

The player supports a wide range of common image, audio and video formats used in digital advertising, which simplifies reusing content already produced for other channels without systematic conversion. A built-in brightness sensor further enables automatic or scheduled brightness adjustment based on time of day, an important point for the readability of an outdoor panel exposed to direct sunlight.

Scheduled playback relies on time-slot planning per playlist, with terminal authentication and playback verification acting as security measures to prevent unauthorized content from being pushed onto the screen network.

• Prepare playback solutions ahead of time on a PC, tablet or mobile terminal before publishing to the fleet.
• Use hardware H.265 4K decoding for high-definition video campaigns without overloading the processor.
• Schedule brightness adjustment through the built-in sensor to match sunlight exposure hours.
• Enable terminal authentication and playback verification to secure content distribution across the fleet.

7. Remote monitoring and cluster management

Beyond a single screen, the T6 is built for cluster operation: bulk solution publishing, centralized status checks and network monitoring from a cloud-based remote management platform, allowing an operator to oversee a fleet spread across several cities without routine site visits.

The CLOUD indicator on the front panel reports connection status at a glance: solid on when the player is connected to the Internet, flashing every two seconds when it is additionally connected to the cloud monitoring platform. That simple visual cue speeds up diagnostics during a preventive maintenance round across a set of sites.

For an operator running dozens of screens, cluster monitoring groups players by geographic zone, shows connection status in one view, and raises an alert as soon as a screen drops off the network, cutting the response time compared with checking each site individually.

• Group T6 units by geographic zone or by client inside the cloud monitoring platform.
• Watch the front-panel CLOUD indicator for a quick check without any management tool.
• Set up disconnection alerts to act before a playback outage rather than after it.
• Publish the same campaign to a whole cluster in a single operation instead of screen by screen.

For a fleet larger than ten screens, structure cluster monitoring from the initial rollout: reorganizing it afterwards means reclassifying every player one by one.

8. Physical installation on street furniture and storefronts

The T6's compact form factor makes it easy to fit behind a storefront screen or inside a street-furniture cabinet, but its connectors need to stay reachable for maintenance: Ethernet, USB and antenna connectors should not be buried under permanent wiring that is hard to unplug.

The supplied omnidirectional Wi-Fi antennas connect through the IPex-to-SMA extension cables, which lets the antenna be routed out of a metal enclosure that would otherwise significantly attenuate the signal. On a closed metal totem, plan a dedicated cable pass-through to place the antenna outside or in an unshielded area.

The operating temperature range, -20°C to +60°C, covers most European outdoor installation climates, provided the furniture's own housing supplies the weatherproofing the player's IP20 rating does not.

• Keep Ethernet, USB and antenna connectors reachable for servicing without a full teardown.
• Route Wi-Fi antennas outside the cabinet's metal shielding using the supplied extension cables.
• Check enclosure ventilation to respect the -20°C to +60°C operating range.
• Add a weatherproof outer enclosure, since the T6 itself is only rated IP20.

9. T6 or T3: choosing based on fleet size

The Taurus T3 remains a sound choice for a single screen or a small one-off deployment, but the T6 earns its keep as soon as a project spans several sites, demands playback continuity, or faces uncertain connectivity requiring failover across networks. Four-port Ethernet redundancy and an optional 4G module are the deciding factors on a structured DOOH project.

Reserve the T6 for projects where screen downtime has a real commercial cost: its network redundancy only pays off if fleet monitoring actually exploits playback continuity.

10. Troubleshooting common fleet issues

Most issues seen on a Taurus T6 fleet come down to network connectivity, an incorrectly selected playback mode via the SWITCH button, or an HDMI source outside the automatic scaling range. The table below lists the priority checks before scheduling a site visit.

Deployment steps

1. Check the delivered hardware

   Verify the T6 unit, Wi-Fi antennas and IPex/SMA extension cables, and order an optional 4G module separately if the site needs one.

2. Install the player in its housing

   Mount the T6 keeping Ethernet, USB and antenna connectors reachable, and route the antennas outside any metal shielding.

3. Wire the redundant network

   Connect the two main Ethernet ports to the network and keep both backup ports available for automatic failover.

4. Configure wireless connectivity

   Pick the Wi-Fi mode suited to the site, change the access point's default password, and enable the optional 4G module if needed.

5. Select the playback mode

   Set the SWITCH button according to the chosen mode, synchronous for a live HDMI feed or asynchronous for a local playlist.

6. Publish a scheduled playback solution

   Prepare the playlist on a management terminal, publish it to the T6, and set up automatic brightness scheduling if needed.

7. Add the screen to fleet monitoring

   Register the T6 in the cloud cluster platform, group it by geographic zone, and check the front-panel CLOUD indicator.

Frequently asked questions

Downloads

• Taurus T6 specification sheet (V1.7.0, PDF) — pdf
• ViPlex Handy user manual — pdf
• Official NovaStar download page — page

Related tutorials

• ViPlex Handy: mobile control app
• VNNOX Standard: cloud monitoring platform
• MCTRL4K: flagship fixed-installation controller
• Screen configuration with NovaLCT

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