NovaStar LED Indicator States Explained: How to Read Device SignalsHow to Identify Novastar Status Indicators
This guide provides step-by-step instructions on interpreting status indicators for Nova M3 system components. Understanding these indicators is crucial for troubleshooting and ensuring proper system operation.
1. How to Interpret Receiving Card Indicators
Each receiving card has two indicators: red (power) and green (status).
🔹 Power Indicator (Red)
Status Meaning On Power supply is normal Off No power supply
🔹 Status Indicator (Green)
Status Meaning Action Required On Working normally, signal comes from master channel None Flashing at 1 Hz (once per second) Working normally; signal comes from redundancy channel None On for 0.5s, then quick flashing for 0.5s Working normally; signal comes from redundancy channel None Flashing at 7 Hz (once every 0.15s) Authorization expired Check authorization status Flashing at 0.2 Hz (once every 5s) Data connection failure (RJ45 Ethernet cable connection failure) Check Ethernet connection Flashing 3 times, then off for 0.5s Working in boot mode (firmware update failed) Reboot system or reflash firmware
2. How to Interpret Sending Unit Indicators (MSD300)
Each MSD300 has two indicators: red (power/MCU status) and green (FPGA status).
🔹 Power Indicator (Red)
Status Meaning On Power supply working normally Off Power supply not working Flashing (20Hz) Authorization expired (green indicator should be off)
🔹 FPGA Indicator (Green)
Status Meaning On FPGA working normally Flashing at 2.98 Hz (each 0.3s) FPGA working normally Quick flashing at 23.8 Hz (each 42ms) Showing the booting image Slow flashing at 0.37 Hz (each 2.7s) No DVI input; no image output to the screen Off FPGA not working or authorization expired
3. How to Interpret Sending Unit Indicators (MCTRL500)
Each MCTRL500 has three indicators: red (power/MCU), green (FPGA), and DVI.
🔹 Power Indicator (Red)
Status Meaning On Power supply working normally Off No power supply Flashing (20Hz) Authorization expired
🔹 FPGA Indicator (Green)
Status Meaning On FPGA working normally Flashing at 2.98 Hz (each 0.3s) FPGA working normally Off FPGA not working or authorization expired
🔹 DVI Indicator
Status Meaning On DVI input is good Off No DVI input
4. How to Interpret Monitor Card MON300 Indicators
Each monitor card has two indicators: power and FPGA.
🔹 Power Indicator
Status Meaning On Power supply is normal Off No power supply
🔹 FPGA Indicator
Status Meaning On FPGA working normally Flashing at 0.74 Hz (each 1.3s) The FPGA is not working normally
5. How to Interpret Function Card MFN300 Indicators
Each function card has two indicators: power and FPGA.
🔹 Power Indicator
Status Meaning On Power supply is normal Off No power supply
🔹 FPGA Indicator
Status Meaning On Function card working normally; can be accessed through RJ45 or serial port Flashing at 0.74 Hz (each 1.3s) Function card not working normally Flashing at 0.37 Hz (each 2.7s) Function card working normally; can only be accessed through serial port (RJ45 port connected or connection not good) Flashing at 2.98 Hz (each 0.34s) Firmware loading failed
6. How to Interpret EO Convertor CVT310/320 Indicators
Each EO convertor has four indicators: Power, Fiber Connection, Ethernet Connection, and Data Transmission.
🔹 Power Indicator
Status Meaning On Power supply is normal Off No power supply
🔹 Fiber Connection Indicator
Status Meaning On Fiber connection is good Off Fiber not connected
🔹 Ethernet Connection Indicator
Status Meaning On Ethernet cable connection is good Off Ethernet cable not connected
🔹 Data Transmission Indicator
Status Meaning Flashing at 2 Hz (each 0.5s) Data transmission between two EO convertors is normal Off No data transmitted
Troubleshooting Checklist
- Check power indicators first - Always verify power supply before troubleshooting other indicators
- Check physical connections - Verify all cables (RJ45, DVI, fiber) are properly connected
- Check authorization status - Authorization expiration often causes green indicator issues
- Firmware issues - If boot mode is active (flashing 3 times), firmware may need reinstallation
- Redundancy channels - If green indicator flashes at 1 Hz, system is using redundancy channel
💡 Pro Tip: When troubleshooting, start with the most basic indicators (power) before moving to more complex status indicators.
Status indicators tell you whether a panel is healthy. They cannot tell you whether it is the right panel for the room. Where operators view the wall from two to four metres, as in a control room or broadcast gallery, pixel pitch matters more than brightness. Our fine pitch LED display range covers the sub-2mm panels used in those close-viewing installations.
This knowledge base article provides a comprehensive guide to interpreting Nova M3 status indicators. For more detailed information, refer to the official Nova M3 documentation on www.novastar.tech.
How to Identify Novastar Status Indicators
This guide provides step-by-step instructions on interpreting status indicators for Nova M3 system components. Understanding these indicators is crucial for troubleshooting and ensuring proper system operation.
1. How to Interpret Receiving Card Indicators
Each receiving card has two indicators: red (power) and green (status).
🔹 Power Indicator (Red)
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| On | Power supply is normal |
| Off | No power supply |
🔹 Status Indicator (Green)
| Status | Meaning | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| On | Working normally, signal comes from master channel | None |
| Flashing at 1 Hz (once per second) | Working normally; signal comes from redundancy channel | None |
| On for 0.5s, then quick flashing for 0.5s | Working normally; signal comes from redundancy channel | None |
| Flashing at 7 Hz (once every 0.15s) | Authorization expired | Check authorization status |
| Flashing at 0.2 Hz (once every 5s) | Data connection failure (RJ45 Ethernet cable connection failure) | Check Ethernet connection |
| Flashing 3 times, then off for 0.5s | Working in boot mode (firmware update failed) | Reboot system or reflash firmware |
2. How to Interpret Sending Unit Indicators (MSD300)
Each MSD300 has two indicators: red (power/MCU status) and green (FPGA status).
🔹 Power Indicator (Red)
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| On | Power supply working normally |
| Off | Power supply not working |
| Flashing (20Hz) | Authorization expired (green indicator should be off) |
🔹 FPGA Indicator (Green)
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| On | FPGA working normally |
| Flashing at 2.98 Hz (each 0.3s) | FPGA working normally |
| Quick flashing at 23.8 Hz (each 42ms) | Showing the booting image |
| Slow flashing at 0.37 Hz (each 2.7s) | No DVI input; no image output to the screen |
| Off | FPGA not working or authorization expired |
3. How to Interpret Sending Unit Indicators (MCTRL500)
Each MCTRL500 has three indicators: red (power/MCU), green (FPGA), and DVI.
🔹 Power Indicator (Red)
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| On | Power supply working normally |
| Off | No power supply |
| Flashing (20Hz) | Authorization expired |
🔹 FPGA Indicator (Green)
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| On | FPGA working normally |
| Flashing at 2.98 Hz (each 0.3s) | FPGA working normally |
| Off | FPGA not working or authorization expired |
🔹 DVI Indicator
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| On | DVI input is good |
| Off | No DVI input |
4. How to Interpret Monitor Card MON300 Indicators
Each monitor card has two indicators: power and FPGA.
🔹 Power Indicator
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| On | Power supply is normal |
| Off | No power supply |
🔹 FPGA Indicator
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| On | FPGA working normally |
| Flashing at 0.74 Hz (each 1.3s) | The FPGA is not working normally |
5. How to Interpret Function Card MFN300 Indicators
Each function card has two indicators: power and FPGA.
🔹 Power Indicator
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| On | Power supply is normal |
| Off | No power supply |
🔹 FPGA Indicator
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| On | Function card working normally; can be accessed through RJ45 or serial port |
| Flashing at 0.74 Hz (each 1.3s) | Function card not working normally |
| Flashing at 0.37 Hz (each 2.7s) | Function card working normally; can only be accessed through serial port (RJ45 port connected or connection not good) |
| Flashing at 2.98 Hz (each 0.34s) | Firmware loading failed |
6. How to Interpret EO Convertor CVT310/320 Indicators
Each EO convertor has four indicators: Power, Fiber Connection, Ethernet Connection, and Data Transmission.
🔹 Power Indicator
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| On | Power supply is normal |
| Off | No power supply |
🔹 Fiber Connection Indicator
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| On | Fiber connection is good |
| Off | Fiber not connected |
🔹 Ethernet Connection Indicator
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| On | Ethernet cable connection is good |
| Off | Ethernet cable not connected |
🔹 Data Transmission Indicator
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Flashing at 2 Hz (each 0.5s) | Data transmission between two EO convertors is normal |
| Off | No data transmitted |
Troubleshooting Checklist
- Check power indicators first - Always verify power supply before troubleshooting other indicators
- Check physical connections - Verify all cables (RJ45, DVI, fiber) are properly connected
- Check authorization status - Authorization expiration often causes green indicator issues
- Firmware issues - If boot mode is active (flashing 3 times), firmware may need reinstallation
- Redundancy channels - If green indicator flashes at 1 Hz, system is using redundancy channel
💡 Pro Tip: When troubleshooting, start with the most basic indicators (power) before moving to more complex status indicators.
Status indicators tell you whether a panel is healthy. They cannot tell you whether it is the right panel for the room. Where operators view the wall from two to four metres, as in a control room or broadcast gallery, pixel pitch matters more than brightness. Our fine pitch LED display range covers the sub-2mm panels used in those close-viewing installations.
[…] is also worth making sure your integrator can read the diagnostic indicators on the hardware. Our NovaStar status indicator guide covers how to read power, FPGA and DVI indicators so a fault can be identified before it becomes an […]