NovaStar H2 Video Wall Splicer — Specs, Input Cards, Price & Manual
The NovaStar H2 is a 2U modular video wall splicer built for fine-pitch LED displays. It combines video processing and LED screen control in a single unit — so you don’t need a separate sending device.
The H2 runs on an FPGA hardware architecture. It uses a card-slot design, which means you choose the input and output cards based on your own signal sources and screen size. That makes it flexible for different project requirements.
This page covers everything about the H2: full specifications, available input cards, price, configuration steps, and manual download links.
1.What is Novastar H2?
The NovaStar H2 is a 2U video wall splicer designed for fine-pitch LED displays. It works as a splicing processor that handles both video processing and LED screen control in one unit.
Most setups need a separate video processor and a separate sending device. The H2 combines both. That’s fewer devices in your rack and a simpler signal chain from source to screen.
The H2 is built on a pure hardware FPGA architecture. It uses a modular card-slot design — 9 input slots and 1 output slot. You pick the cards based on your signal sources and screen size. All cards are hot-swappable, so you can change the configuration without powering down the system.
2. NovaStar H2 Price
The NovaStar H2 mainframe is priced at about $483.33 USD on LedInCloud.
But keep in mind — the H2 uses a modular design. The mainframe ships without any cards. To build a working system, you need at least one input card and one sending card. So the final price depends on which cards you choose.
Want to know the exact price for your configuration? Register a free account on LedInCloud – LED Screen Cloud Platform. Once you’re in, you get access to the full price list, real-time stock availability, and a direct quote tool. You can also download NovaStar software, config files, and product documents — all for free.
3. NovaStar H2 Specifications
The H2 is a 2U rackmount unit. It fits in any standard 19-inch rack and weighs 11 kg without cards installed.
3.1 Main Unit Specs
Here are the full specifications for the H2 mainframe:
|
Parameter |
Value |
|
Rack Unit |
2U |
|
Input Card Slots |
4 slots (up to 16 input channels) |
|
Output Card Slots |
1 slot (up to 2 cards) |
|
Max Layers |
32 |
|
Max Pixel Load |
Up to 26,000,000 pixels |
|
Input Latency |
As low as 1 frame |
|
Power Supply |
100–240V~, 50/60Hz, 210W |
|
Operating Temperature |
0°C to 45°C |
|
Dimensions |
482.6 × 529.8 × 88.1 mm |
|
Net Weight |
11 kg (chassis only) |
|
Noise Level |
< 45 dB(A) at 25°C |
|
Certifications |
CCC, CE, FCC, UL, PSE, KC, RCM, CB and more |
3.2 Input Cards
The H2 supports a wide range of input cards. Each card occupies one input slot, and all cards are hot-swappable.
(1) HDMI & DisplayPort
|
Card |
Connectors |
Max Resolution |
|
H_1xHDMI2.1+1xDP1.4 |
1x HDMI 2.1 or 1x DP 1.4 |
8192×4320@30Hz |
|
H_2xDP1.2 |
2x DP 1.2 |
4096×2160@60Hz |
|
H_1xHDMI2.0+1xDP1.2 |
1x HDMI 2.0 or 1x DP 1.2 |
4096×2160@60Hz |
|
H_2xHDMI2.0+2xDP1.2 |
2x HDMI 2.0 + 2x DP 1.2 |
4096×2160@60Hz |
|
H_1xDP1.2 |
1x DP 1.2 |
4096×2160@60Hz |
|
H_2xDP1.1 |
2x DP 1.1 |
3840×2160@30Hz |
|
H_4xDVI |
4x DVI |
2048×1152@60Hz |
|
H_4xHDMI |
4x HDMI 1.3/1.4 |
2048×1152@60Hz |
|
H_2xHDMI2.0 |
2x HDMI 2.0 |
4096×2160@60Hz |
|
H_1xHDMI2.0 |
1x HDMI 2.0 |
4096×2160@60Hz |
(2) SDI
|
Card |
Connectors |
Max Resolution |
|
H_1x12G SDI |
1x 12G-SDI in + 1x loop out |
4096×2160@60Hz |
|
H_4x3G SDI |
4x 3G-SDI |
1920×1080@60Hz |
(3) Fiber, IP & Network
|
Card |
Notes |
|
H_4xfiber |
4x 10G optical ports. Supports input mosaic. Max 4096×2160@30Hz per port. |
|
H_2xRJ45 IP |
Up to 512 IP cameras via RTSP, ONVIF, or GB28181. H.264/H.265 decoding. |
|
H_1xNDI |
Full NDI input over Gigabit Ethernet. Up to 4K×2K@60Hz per card. |
|
H_1xST2110 |
ST 2110 over 25G optical. Primary + backup ports. |
|
H_4xHDBaseT |
Up to 1920×1080@60Hz over Cat5e/Cat6. Max 100m transmission distance. |
(4) Other
|
Card |
Notes |
|
H_2xCVBS+2xVGA |
VGA up to 1920×1200@60Hz. CVBS supports PAL and NTSC. |
|
H_4xVGA |
4x VGA, up to 1920×1200@60Hz each. |
|
H_2xAudio+2xAudio Out |
Phoenix connector balanced audio I/O. 48kHz sampling rate. |
|
H_STD I/O |
RS422/RS485/RS232, I/O triggers, relay outputs and IR control. |
3.3 Output Cards & Sending Cards
The H2 has one dedicated output slot. There are four LED sending cards available:
|
Card |
Ports |
Max Pixel Load |
|
H_20xRJ45 |
20x RJ45 |
13,000,000 pixels |
|
H_16xRJ45+2xFiber |
16x RJ45 + 2x OPT |
10,400,000 pixels |
|
H_4xFiber |
4x 10G OPT |
20,800,000 pixels |
|
H_4xFiber (Enhanced) |
8x 10G OPT |
26,000,000 pixels |
The H_20xRJ45 and H_16xRJ45+2xFiber cards each occupy two slots. The H_4xFiber cards occupy one slot. So if you go with an RJ45-based sending card, it takes up both output slots.
4. Key Features & Functionalities
The H2 is more than just a signal router. Here’s what it actually does.
✔ FPGA Hardware Architecture
The H2 runs on a pure hardware FPGA system. There’s no software processing in the signal chain — everything is handled at the hardware level. That’s why the latency stays as low as 1 frame, and the system stays stable even after running for long periods.
✔ Modular & Hot-Swappable Design
All input and output cards are hot-swappable. You can add, remove, or swap cards without powering down the system. This is useful for live events or control room environments where downtime isn’t an option.
✔ Multi-Layer Display
Each input card slot supports up to 16 layers in single-link mode. All layers support cross-connector output — meaning a single layer can span across multiple output connectors without reducing the total layer count. The H2 supports up to 32 layers in total.
✔ Up to 2,000 Presets
You can save up to 2,000 presets on the H2. Switching between presets takes less than 60ms, and both cut and fade transitions are supported. You can also group presets and schedule them for automatic playback — useful for exhibitions, monitoring centers, and retail displays.
✔ Multi-Screen Management
The H2 handles multiple screens from a single unit. Each screen can have its own output resolution. You can freeze, lock, or adjust brightness on individual screens independently. Preset groups let you switch content across multiple screens at the same time with one click.
✔ OSD & Background Settings
The H2 supports four types of OSD: static text, dynamic scrolling text, time display, and weather display. Each screen manages its own OSD independently. Background images don’t take up layer resources, and the max BKG image size is 64K × 64K pixels.
✔ HDR & 10-bit Processing
The H2 supports HDR10 and HLG input processing, along with 10-bit video throughout the signal chain. Color adjustments — brightness, contrast, saturation, hue, and gamma — are available at both the output connector level and the screen level.
✔ Backup & Redundancy
The H2 supports three levels of backup: between devices, between input sources, and between sending cards. For fiber sending cards, OPT ports can be set to backup mode so the signal automatically switches if the primary path fails.
✔ Web-Based Control
Control runs entirely through a browser. No software installation needed. You access the H2’s web interface from any device — Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, or Linux. Multiple users can connect and operate at the same time. The web interface also handles firmware updates, so you don’t need a separate tool for that.
✔ Central Control Integration
For installations that use a central control system, the H2 supports RS232 serial control via the COM port. It also works with OpenAPI and SNMP protocols, so it can integrate with third-party management platforms.
5. H2 vs. Other NovaStar Models (H5, H9, H15)
Not sure which H series model fits your project? Here’s a quick comparison.
| Product Model | NovaStar H2 | NovaStar H5 | NovaStar H9 | NovaStar H9 Enhanced | NovaStar H15 | NovaStar H15 Enhanced | NovaStar H20 |
| Maximum Number of Input Channels | 16 | 40 | 60 | 60 | 120 | 120 | 160 |
| Maximum Number of Output Channels (Video Output Card) | 8 | 12 | 20 | 40 | 40 | 64 | 80 |
| Maximum LED Output Points (Network Port Output Card) | 26 million (40 network ports) | 39 million (60 network ports) | 65 million (100 network ports) | 65 million (100 network ports) | 130 million (200 network ports) | 208 million (320 network ports) | 260 million (400 network ports) |
| Maximum LED Output Points (4 Optical Output Card Connected to Photoelectric Converter) | 41.6 million (64 network ports) | 62.4 million (96 network ports) | 104 million (160 network ports) | 208 million (320 network ports) | 208 million (320 network ports) | 332.8 million (512 network ports) | 416 million (640 network ports) |
| Number of Layers | 16 layers per output board | 16 layers per output board | 16 layers per output board | 16 layers per output board | 16 layers per output board | 10 layers per output board | 16 layers per output board |
| Pre-Monitoring/Replay Support (Optional Pre-Monitoring Card Required) | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| HDR,3D | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Power Backup | × | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ |
The H2 is the entry-level model in the H series. It works well for small to mid-size fixed installations. If your project needs more input channels or a higher pixel load, the H5 or H9 would be a better fit.
6. Quick Start Guides
Here’s a simplified setup process for the NovaStar H2.
6.1 Screen Configuration
Step 1: Access Configuration
Start by entering the Configuration section to initiate the screen configuration.
Step 2: Create New Screen
Click New Screen at the top to open a window where you can add a new screen. Adjust the number of rows and columns based on your setup, then confirm by clicking OK.
Step 3: Assign Outputs
Drag and drop an output connector from the left panel into the screen editing area to finalize the screen configuration.
Setp 4: Finalize in NovaLCT
Log in to NovaLCT, navigate to Screen Configuration > Screen Connection, and set up the Ethernet ports, screen, and cabinet connections accordingly.
Notes:
The Sending Card Numbers correspond to the installed H_16xRJ45+2xFiber Sending Cards’ sequence on the device’s rear panel.
The Ethernet Port No. refers to the Ethernet port on the sending card.
6.2 Programming Preset
Step 1: Saving Presets
Complete layer settings in Programming.
Click Save Preset at the bottom, name it, and confirm.
Step 2: Loading Presets
Select Preset in Programming.
Choose a saved preset and load it by clicking the arrow next to the name.
6.3 Setting Input and Output Resolutions
Step 1: Click EDlD Management.
Step 2: Click the Input or Output tab, and select one or multiple connectors.
Step 3: Set the EDlD parameters.
Step 4: Click Apply.
7. Software, Manual & Datasheet Downloads
Here are the official documents for the NovaStar H2:
✔ NovaStar H2 User Manual — Full setup and operation guide for the H2 and H series
✔ NovaStar H2 Specification — Complete specifications in PDF format
✔ NovaStar H2 Firmware — Latest firmware for the H2
For NovaStar control software like NovaLCT and Kompass, head over to our NovaStar Software page. You’ll find the latest versions there, all free to download.
8. FAQs
Does the NovaStar H2 need a separate sending card?
Yes. The H2 mainframe ships without any cards installed. You need at least one input card and one sending card to build a complete system. The sending card is required because it outputs data directly to the LED screen.
Can the NovaStar H2 work without NovaLCT?
For normal operation, yes. The H2 includes a built-in web interface that can be accessed through a standard web browser. However, initial screen configuration and setups using the H_4xFiber sending card require NovaLCT V5.4.8 or later.
How many input cards can the H2 install at the same time?
The H2 supports up to 4 input cards. Each input card provides up to 4 input channels, allowing a maximum of 16 input channels in a fully configured system.
What is the maximum pixel load of the NovaStar H2?
The maximum loading capacity depends on the installed sending card. When equipped with the H_4xFiber (Enhanced) sending card, the H2 supports up to 26,000,000 pixels.
Does the NovaStar H2 support IP camera input?
Yes. When using the H_2xRJ45 IP input card, the H2 supports up to 512 IP camera inputs. It is compatible with RTSP, ONVIF, and GB28181 protocols and supports H.264 and H.265 video decoding.
Can I hot-swap cards on the NovaStar H2 without powering off?
Yes. All input cards and output cards for the H2 are hot-swappable, allowing installation or replacement while the system remains powered on.
What sending card should I choose for the NovaStar H2?
The best option depends on your screen size and transmission requirements. The H_20xRJ45 card is suitable for most medium-sized LED displays and supports up to 13 million pixels. Fiber sending cards are better for long-distance transmission. For the highest loading capacity of up to 26 million pixels, choose the H_4xFiber (Enhanced) sending card.
9. Conclusion
The NovaStar H2 is a solid choice for fine-pitch LED display installations. It combines video processing and LED screen control in one unit, and the modular card design means you only pay for what you actually need.
If you’re ready to get a price or want to download the manual and software, register a free account on LedInCloud to get started.