Programming LED Walls

Programming LED Walls In order to program LedTek walls you need the Nova LCT software, the corresponding firmware for your product series, as well as the RCFGX files. You can access these on our homepage by clicking on the corresponding series on the page “BUY LED WALL” and scrolling down to Downloads.

! Before you start Before connecting your LED wall to a computer after the construction, or before doing anything else, it would be best to first test the connection between controller and LED wall. For that, press the test button on your controller. If all cabinets of your LED wall light up, they are wired correctly and all of them are controlled by the controller. At first it is important that all cabinets are working, thus they switch on and off. ! Important: How many m2 of an LED wall does a data cable control?

A controller can control a varying number of square meters of the wall, depending on the series. The less LEDs are used, the less surface can be controlled. With a P3+BL for example, each data cable, thus each output of the controller, can control a maximum of 10 m2. One controller with four outputs can therefore cover a P3+BL with a maximum area of 40m2m Here you find a listing of our series that shows the square meter maximum that can be controlled by one data cable.

P2+sBL: 4,25m² P3+BL/Pro: 10m²

P4+WH/Pro: 15m²

Ledbrix P5: 15m²

Ledbrix P6,67: 29m²

! Digression: the correct wiring – how does the controller calculate?

During the wiring, keep in mind that only closed areas (rectangles, squares) should be wired. Like this, for example, a wiring in vertical 10m2 sections works well for example with an 8x4,5m P3+BL, while a horizontal wiring would lead to problems for the controller. If the wiring is interrupted in the middle of a section, the controller automatically completes the area into a complete rectangle (see 1

picture, red marking). As in our case with a P3+BL, only a maximum of 10m2 can be served by one data cable, this way of wiring would result in an error message.

Example pictures: wrong wiring

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Example pictures: correct wiring The upper example pictures show a wiring with a controller with four outputs, thus with a maximum of four data cables, like for example the NovaStar VX4 and a P3+BL. In this case there is a maximum of four cables available to cover a wall. As explained above, it is useful to divide the wall into four vertical areas and to wire it as in the example pictures above. Another option would be to use a controller with more outputs that makes it possible to wire the LED wall of our example horizontally as well. The wall has five rows, therefore it could be covered with five cables (one per row). As in our example the 10 m2, which is the maximum the cables can head for, will not be passed, a corresponding controller, like e.g. a VX6, would be another possibility.

Requirements for working with Nova LCT 1. Install the Nova LCT software. Run the entire installation, so that in any case the USB drivers are installed as well.

Furthermore, download the necessary RCFGX files, as well as the firmware from our homepage and unzip them.

Note: The Nova LCT software is only available for Windows.

2. Make sure you have a stable connection between the computer, the sending card or rather the controller (e.g. NovaStar’s VX6s), and the receiving card of the LED cabinets.

Note: In this manual we work with a USB connection.

The firmware update Step 1: Unzip the firmware file. Open the Nova LCT software and log in under “user”  “Advanced User login” (password: admin). Make sure that all devices are connected. After “Control Systems” there needs to appear at least a “1” (with more devices of course a number that is equivalent with that of the devices). If a “0” appears, there is no connection between the computer and the controller. In this case, check the USB connection between the devices. If it is stable, however, there is still a 0, make sure the USB drivers of the program were installed correctly. Sometimes the program needs the be restarted so that the connection gets recognised. If the problem will not be solved by this, install the program once again and make sure that the installation of the USB drivers is completed as well.

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Step 2: Type in the number combination “666888”. Therefore, you do not need to select a text box, but only need to have the program open. A new window opens. Click on “Refresh” and like this, it shows the status of the receiving cards.

If the firmware is identical for all receiving cards, an update is not mandatory. It is important that all cabinets of a LED wall work with the same firmware so that no differences in brightness and colour occur.

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Step 3: If the receiving cards do not have the same status (see above), then run a firmware update.

To do so, click on “Browse” A new window opens in which you can select the firmware. Confirm with “OK”.

Note: The firmware folders now have different names according to series. The folder for P3+BL and P4+WH is now called “MRV210”, P2+BL and the Pro Series are now named “A8s”.

Step 4: Now click on “Update”. Another window opens in which you can select whether all or only particular receiving cards are supposed to be updated. Make the relevant selection and confirm.

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If everything works correctly, the message “successful program updating� is displayed.

Note: After the firmware update, it is necessary to re-import the RCFGX files. You find instructions for this in the following text about programming under step 4.

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Programming an LED wall and importing the RCFGX file Step 1: If you are already logged in to the Software, skip this step and start with step 2.

Open the Nova LCT software and log in under “User”  “Advanced User login” (password: admin).

Make sure that all devices are connected. After “Control Systems” there needs to appear at least a “1”. If a “0” appears, there is no connection between the computer and the controller. In this case, make sure that the USB driver of the program is installed properly. Sometimes the program needs the be re-installed so that the connection is recognised. If this does not work either, try to reinstall the software and in any case wait for the end of the installation of the USB driver.

Step 2: In the software you find the point “Screen Configuration”

Click on it to open the screen settings. Now a new window opens: “screen configuration”. Pay attention that under “Current Operation Communication Port” the correct COM connection is selected and then click on “configure screen”. Afterwards click on “Next”.

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Note: The prefix “COM” always indicates a USB connection.

Step 3: A new window opens that includes the three tabs “Sending Card”, “Receiving Card”, and “Screen Connection”. Click on the button “Restore Factory” of the item “Sending Card” to reset the previous settings.

Under “Source Configuration” you can make sure that the right source, e.g. your computer, is selected, and that the resolution and Refresh Rate is set according to the source.

! Digression: verifying the source By making a right click on your desktop, you can select under “screen resolution” what resolution and refresh rate are supposed to be used and how the computer is supposed to work with another screen (the LED wall). This is necessary to make sure that the same settings were selected for PC and 8

sending card. Furthermore, select in this window under “multiple displays” the option “extend these displays”, so that your LED wall works as a second screen, and save these settings.

Step 4: Click on the tab “Receiving Card”. Now select “Load from File”. A new window opens. Now you can select the folder in which your RCFGX files can be found. Select the 0 file. The settings necessary for the Receiving Card are now loaded into the program automatically.

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Now click on “Send to Receiving Card”. The window “Send Parameters to Receiving Card” opens. Set a check mark at “Reset the Starting Coordinate” and afterwards click on “send”. Like this, all cabinets show the same image; a “tile effect” is created. This makes it easier for you to see if all cabinets have the same settings regarding brightness and colour, and if therefore a consistent complete image can be created later on. Check this by e.g. opening a folder on your computer and drag it on the second screen, namely the LED wall, with the mouse. Like this you can make sure that all cabinets work properly. Keep in mind not to carry out the check e.g. with a black screen, as in this case the LEDs do not light up and, therefore, it cannot be said surely whether everything works properly. If problems occur, check if the cables are connected to the cabinets correctly and repeat “Send to Receiving Card”. Save the settings.

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Step 5: Screen Connection. At step 3 you already clicked on “Restore Factory” to reset previous settings. Therefore, in this step you must create a new screen at first. Enter a “1” in the upper right corner and click on “configure”.

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At first, make sure that under “Screen Type” the option “Standard Screen” is selected. Under “Basic Information” you can adjust how many cabinets your LED wall consists of. For this, enter the number of columns of your cabinets under “columns”, and the number of rows under “rows”. In this example we select a 15m2 P3+BL with ten columns and three row of cabinets the same size.

Under “Sending Card Number” select the first sending card, thus the “1”. Furthermore, select under “Ethernet Port No” the first output of the controller, hence the”1” as well.

The following is about the wiring of the cabinets. Under “Receiving Card Size”, enter the width and height of your cabinets. In our case we use big cabinets with the measurements 128 x 256 pixels (width x height). ! Here is a listing of the resolution of our cabinets (in pixels): P2+sBL: 192 x 192px P3+sBL: 128 x 128px, P3+BL/P3+BL Pro: 128 x 256px P4+sWH: 104 x 104px, P4+WH/P4+Wh Pro: 104 x 208px Ledbrix P1.25: 480 x 270px, Ledbrix P1.56: 384 x 216px, Ledbrix P1.87: 320 x 180px, Ledbrix P2.5: 240 x 135px, Ledbrix P4: 160 x 80px, Ledbrix P5: 128 x 64px, Ledbrix P6: 96 x 48px In the previous step you have already chosen the Ethernet Port 1. Now connect the cabinets that you want to connect with the first data cable by holding the mouse pressed down. ! Note: The software’s graphics show the view of the LED wall from the front, i.e. the LED side.

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In the picture you can see that in our example the first two rows were connected with a data cable.

In order to add a second cable, select under “Ethernet Port No” the “2” and continue with the second cable.

Once all settings are made, click on “Send to HW”. A window opens. Confirm with “OK”. Not until the settings are made the cabinets result in an overall picture. Without this step, each cabinet still shows the same image, and a tile effect is created.

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After everything is set, save your selection. Before detaching the USB cable or similar, click on “save� and save your settings. Without saving your data, your settings could get lost when switching off the device. ! Good to know: cabinets of varying sizes In our example earlier we explained which settings you have to make when your screen consists of cabinets of the same size. However, it is also possible to connect cabinets of varying size. We would like to show you two possibilities how to install a 15 m2 P3-wall consisting of modules differing in size.

Example 1: 20 big and 20 small cabinets

In this first case we selected 20 big and 20 small P3-cabinets. Hence, this makes four instead of three rows: two rows of big cabinets and two rows of small cabinets.

You can start the cabling according to our first example: by connecting the first two rows with the first cable by holding the mouse pressed down. Once you have connected the desired cabinets with 14

the first cable, you can change to Ethernet Port 2, then click on the first cabinet of the third row, thus the first of the small modules. Change the solution at “Receiving Card Size� to 128x128px. Continue with the wiring as usual by clicking on the first cabinet of the row, holding the mouse pressed and pull the wiring over the two lower rows.

Make sure to save your settings before closing the program.

Example 2: 25 big and 10 small cabinets This second case shows that usually cabinets of varying size can be connected in one row. On the last picture you can see that the first two rows consist of 10 big cabinets each, while the last two rows consist of five big and ten small cabinets. Here we once again have four rows and ten columns.

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Start with the wiring as usual, by connecting the first two rows with the first cable. When you are finished with the first cable, change to Ethernet Port 2 before starting the next cable in the third row.

Begin with pulling the cable to the last big cabinet. Now click on the first small cabinet (the sixth cabinet from the right in the third row) and change the resolution to 128x128px under “Receiving Card Size�.

Note: the small cabinets start here

Now you can continue the wiring process.

Remember to only wire the first five cabinets (from the left) in the bottom row. The last five are the 16

five big modules that are already wired. Do not get confused by the display of the program at this point.

When you click on “Send to HW” now, the question “Do you want to leave the reveicing card position blank automatically?“ opens.

Confirm this. Now a changed display opens: here the redundant cabinets, that have so far been shown by the program, are left blank:

Do not forget to save your settings here, and close the software before cutting any connections.

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Operating an LED wall with a backup line If you are sure that you want to operate your LED wall with an additional backup line, firstly follow the steps of the above instructions concerning the programming of an LED wall. Once the LED walls works perfectly, the backup will be set up. ! Important: At first, program the wall without having the back-up lines connected to the controller.

The controller needs to be configurated beforehand so that a backup-line can be used. If you connect the cables before that, the device does not know whether this is a primary or a backup-line.

Step 1: Once you have programmed the primary wiring of your wall and have followed all important steps in the window “screen connection”, change to the tab “Sending Card”.

Step 2: in this window you find the tab “Redundancy”. On the right, click on “Add” to get back to the backup-line.

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Step 3: Now the window “Redundancy Settings” opens. Here you select which Backup-line must secure which primary cable. In this example, cable 1 (plugged into Port 1) is to be secured by cable 3 (Port 3). Thus, type in a 1 at “Serial Number of Primary Sending Card” and “Serial Number of Primary Port”. At “Serial Number of Backup Sending Card”, type in a 1 as well, as this is the same sending card. Whereas at “Serial Number of Backup Port”, type in a 3 to determine that cable 1 should be secured by Port 3, that will later be plugged into cable 3.

Now click on “Add”. Now you can add the next cable by proceeding as just demonstrated, in order to set that your cable 2 (plugged into Port 2) is to be secured by cable 4 (Port 4). Confirm once again with “Add”.

You can see in the old window that your settings are listed under “Primary” and “Backup”.

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Now click on “Close” so that the window “Redundancy Settings” closes.

Step 4: Now click on “Send”. A window with the message “set redundancy information successfully” opens. Save your settings.

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