NovaStar H5 Video Wall Splicer: Up to 78 Million Pixels in One Unit
Novastar H5 video wall splicer is a professional device designed for small and medium-sized stage lighting, projection and sound systems, which can realize the splicing and distribution of multi-channel signals.
This product adopts high-quality Novastar electronic components and has stable and reliable signal processing capabilities, providing excellent technical support for various performances and activities.
1. Introduction to Novastar H5
The NovaStar H5 is a video wall splicer built for fine-pitch LED screens. It can run as a pure splicing processor, or as an all-in-one unit that handles both video processing and display control.
The chassis takes up to 10 input cards and 3 output cards, all hot-swappable. Loading capacity depends on which sending card is installed, ranging from 31.2 million pixels up to 78 million at full configuration. We cover how to pick the right one later in this guide.
NovaStar built the H5 around a modular FPGA architecture, so cards can be mixed and matched depending on what a project needs. That’s part of why it shows up across such a wide range of setups: stage rentals, exhibitions, control rooms, broadcast studios, anywhere the input mix isn’t fixed from one job to the next.
Control happens through a web page, so there’s no dedicated software to install. The unit also pushes firmware updates the same way, straight from a browser.
2. Specifications
These numbers come from the official spec sheet for the H5 video wall splicer. One thing to flag before you scan the table: max loading capacity isn’t a single fixed number. It changes depending on which sending card is installed, anywhere from 31.2 million pixels up to 78 million.
| Item | H5 |
| Rack Unit | 5U |
| Max. Input Cards | 10 |
| Max. Input Channels | 40 |
| Max. Output Cards | 3 |
| Max. Output Channels | 12 |
| Max. Layers | 48 |
| Power Module | H_800W, max. 800W |
| Power Connector | 100–240V~, 50/60Hz, 10A–5A |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 45°C |
| Operating Humidity | 0% to 80% RH, non-condensing |
| Storage Temperature | –10°C to +60°C |
| Net Weight | 17 kg (chassis) |
| Gross Weight | 21.3 kg (chassis) |
| Noise Level | Under 45 dB(A) at 25°C |
| Dimensions | 482.6 mm × 532.8 mm × 228.2 mm |
| Packing Box | 780 mm × 615 mm × 345 mm |
Max. loading capacity by sending card:
| Sending Card | Max. Pixels |
| H_16xRJ45+2xfiber | 31.2 million |
| H_20xRJ45 | 39 million |
| H_4xfiber | 62.4 million |
| H_4xfiber (enhanced) | 78 million |
3. Features
The H5 is a modular system, and what it can do depends largely on how it’s configured. Here’s what stands out.
(1) Four LED 4K Sending Cards
The H5 comes with four sending card options. The H_20xRJ45 loads up to 39 million pixels over standard Ethernet. The H_16xRJ45+2xfiber adds two OPT backup ports and loads 31.2 million pixels. For longer distances, the H_4xfiber card jumps to 62.4 million pixels and runs in independent, copy, or backup mode. And the H_4xfiber sending card (enhanced) tops out at 78 million pixels with eight OPT ports built in, four primary and four for backup.
(2) Flexible Configurations on a Single Card
One sending card slot isn’t locked to one resolution. You can run 4x 2K×1K@60Hz, 2x 4K×1K@60Hz, 2x 4K×2K@60Hz, or push it to 1x 4K×2K@120Hz and 8K×4K@30Hz from the same slot. So the same card works across different screen sizes without swapping hardware.
(3) Online Monitoring for All Cards
The H5 tracks the status of every input and output card in real time. Fan speed, temperature, voltage, running status, all of it shows up on the web page. If something’s off, the unit flags it before it becomes a problem on screen.
(4) Hot-Swap for All Input and Output Cards
Cards are hot-swappable on both the input and output side. Pull one out, slot in a replacement, and the rest of the system keeps running. No shutdown needed, no interruption to the other channels.
(5) Up to 512 IP Camera Inputs on One Card
The H_2xRJ45 IP input card takes up to 512 IP camera feeds and supports input mosaic, so multiple camera angles sit on one screen without extra hardware in between. Protocols include RTSP, GB28181, and ONVIF, with H.264 and H.265 decoding built in.
(6) Auto HDCP Decryption
HDCP-encrypted sources get decrypted automatically. There’s no extra box to wire in, and no manual steps before the signal reaches the screen. It just works.
(7) HDR and 10-Bit Processing
The H5 handles HDR10 and HLG content along with 10-bit color input and processing. For color-critical applications like broadcast, live events, or branded retail displays, this keeps the image looking the way it was graded instead of flat on the wall. Latency can also be dialed down to as low as one frame from input source to receiving card.
(8) Multi-Screen Management
Each screen connected to the H5 runs its own output resolution. Output mosaic keeps everything synced across connectors, so large images spanning multiple panels play without tearing or frame loss. Irregular screen shapes are supported too, curved walls and non-standard layouts included.
The H5 also stores up to 2,000 presets with fade and cut transitions, switching between them in under 60ms.
(9) Web Control
Control runs through a browser over a 1000M/100M adaptive network. Multiple users can log in at the same time, monitor inputs and outputs, and push firmware updates without dedicated software. The Ark platform also adds pad-device control for on-site management.
4. Input and Output Cards
The H5 supports more than 30 card types across input and output slots. Below are the ones that come up most often.
4.1 Input Cards
| Card | Max. Resolution | Key Specs |
| H_4xHDMI | 3840×1080@60Hz | 4 connectors, HDMI 1.3/1.4 |
| H_2xHDMI2.0 | 4096×2160@60Hz | 2 connectors, both usable at once |
| H_1xHDMI2.1+1xDP1.4 | 8192×4320@30Hz | One connector active at a time |
| H_1xDP1.2 | 4096×2160@60Hz | Backward compatible with DP 1.1 |
| H_4x3G SDI | 1920×1080@60Hz | De-interlacing supported |
| H_1x12G SDI | 4096×2160@60Hz | Loop-out port included |
| H_4xDVI | 3840×1080@60Hz | Single or dual link mode |
| H_4xVGA | 1920×1200@60Hz | — |
| H_2xRJ45 IP | Up to 512 IP cameras | RTSP, ONVIF, GB28181 |
| H_1xNDI | 4096×2160@60Hz | Full NDI decoding |
| H_1xST2110 | 4096×2160@60Hz | 25G fiber, broadcast IP |
4.2 Output Cards
| Card | Max. Resolution | Notes |
| H_4xDVI output | 4096×2160@30Hz | Single or dual link |
| H_4xHDMI output | 4096×2160@30Hz | Supports 90° rotation |
| H_1xHDMI2.0 output | 8192×1080@60Hz | Second port mirrors first |
| H_4x3G SDI output | 1920×1080@60Hz | Level A format only |
| H_1x12G SDI output | 4096×2160@60Hz | Copy port included |
| H_4xHDBaseT output | 3840×2160@30Hz | Up to 100m over Cat6 |
5. Advanced Operation
The H5 has a few advanced features worth knowing before your first setup. Here’s a quick walkthrough of the ones that come up most often.
5.1 Input Source Grouping
In the programming interface, click the group on the left side, enter the group name. Here we use “demo” as an example, select input signals that you want to put in the same group, click “add”, and click “OK”.
Then you can see we’ve got a new demo group on the left, click the menu button on the right to edit the group name or upgroup it.
More details, you can watch this operation video:
5.2 Preset
It preset in the “programming” interface. Select preset in the preset list, click the blue switch button on the right to switch the selected preset, or directly drag the preset to the screen area to realize the preset switching, the preset waiting defaults to the straight cut mode in “Settings” interface, “Other” menu.
The preset switching effects can be set to fit in and fade out, and the duration can be modified as well.
Back to the Programming-Preset interface, click the menu button on the right to rename, copy or delete the current preset.
More details, you can watch this operation video:
5.3 EDID Management
In a “Settings” interface, click “EDID Management” to configure the input and output resolution, click the input or output tab to view the resolution of the input and output interfaces. TICK the check box in front of the interface whose resolution needs to be set. You can choose a preset resolution or customize the resolution. The frame rate can also be customized, then click “Apply” to finish the “EDID management” setting.
More details, you can watch this operation video:
5.4 OSD Image
In the “Programming” interface, click “OSD”.
Select OSD image tab, take enable picture OSD, then click “Upload”. Select a picture that needs to be used as the OSD, click “Open” to finish the OSD image upload. The uploaded picture can be cropped by dragging the picture border, click “OK” to finish the crop setting.
X and Y respectively, represent the horizontal start of the image, start position and vertical start position. Width and height are the Width and height up the osd image. After setting the related attributes of the OSD image. Click “apply” to finish the OSD image setting.
More details, you can watch this operation video:
5.5 How to Set Backup Between Two H series Splicer?
Step 1: Configure the screen with the primary H series splicer and make sure the display is fine.
Step 2: Then click Save to File on NovaLCT screen connection page shown as Figure 1 and save screen connection file.
Login in H series splicer web control page and export configuration file on Settings/Backup Management.
Step 3: For the backup H series splicer, screen Ethernet cable connection must be reversed and corresponded with the primary H series splicer. For example, backup H series splicer output slave card 1 port 1 corresponds to primary output slave card 1 port 1 and backup H series splicer output slave card 1 port 2 corresponds to primary output slave card 1 port 2 etc.
Step 4: Load the primary H series splicer screen connection file to backup splicer with NovaLCT and import primary H series splicer configuration file into backup splicer with web control page.
Step 5: Connect primary and backup H series splicer separately. Select Enable Genlock and Enable device backup on Settings/Others.
Step 6: Use a genlock signal generator output the genlock signal to the primary and backup H series splicer separately or loop mode.
Step 7: Connect the primary and backup H series splicer with NovaLCT and set the splicer as primary and backup separately.
Tips:
1. The video source into two H series splicer must be synchronous.
2. The physical screen connection of the two H series must be reversed and corresponded which means the primary output slave card 1 port 1 corresponded to the backup output slave card 1 port 1,output slave card 1 port 2 corresponded to the backup output slave card 1 port 2 etc.
6. H5 vs H2 vs H9: Which One Fits Your Project
The NovaStar H series runs from the compact H2 up through the H20. Most buyers end up choosing between three: H2, H5, and H9.
| Features | H2 | H5 | H9 |
Rack Unit | 2U | 5U | 9U |
Max. Loading Capacity (H_20xRJ45) | 26 million pixels | 39 million pixels | 65 million pixels |
Max. Loading Capacity (enhanced fiber card) | 52 million pixels | 78 million pixels | 130–260 million pixels |
Max. Input Cards | 4 | 10 | 15 |
Max. Output Cards | 2 | 3 | 5–10 |
Max. Layers | 32 | 48 | 80–160 |
H2 fits where rack space is tight. Conference rooms, small retail walls, anywhere four input sources is enough. It’s also the lightest of the three, which helps for rental and touring gear.
H5 steps up mainly on inputs. Ten cards instead of four means more room to mix sources, camera feeds, slides, broadcast content, all on one wall. Most mid-size venues and stage rentals land here.
H9 is for projects the H5 can’t cover. More rack units, more input cards, and a loading capacity that more than doubles the H5’s ceiling. Command centers and large broadcast studios tend to need this.
Need something bigger than even the H9? NovaStar’s H15 and H20 go up to 520 million pixels. We cover those separately in our NovaStar H Series guide.
One note across all three: none of them cascade. If one H5 can’t load your screen, the fix isn’t stacking two H5 units, it’s moving up to the H9.
7. NovaStar H5 Price
A bare H5 chassis starts around $1,066.7. But it’s not what most projects actually end up paying.
Here’s why. The base price covers the frame only, no sending card, no packing box, no shipping included. Add a sending card, and the total changes a lot depending on which one you pick. A project running the H_20xRJ45 card stays close to that base number. Add the H_4xfiber sending card (enhanced), the one that gets the H5 to its full 78 million pixels, and the cost climbs well past the starting figure, since that card alone runs more complex hardware than the basic RJ45 option.
The most reliable way to get an actual number is to run your project specs through our LED Screen Cloud Platform. Pick the H5 under Video Processor, enter how many units you need, and the calculator builds a quote based on your real configuration, not a generic starting price.
If you’d rather talk it through first, our team can also walk you through which sending card actually fits your project. Contact LedInCloud and we’ll help you figure out the real cost before you commit to anything.
8. NovaStar H5 Manual, Software, and Specs Download
Everything you need to set up and run the H5 video wall splicer is free to download in LedInCloud, no purchase required.
If you’re looking for resources beyond the H5, our NovaStar Software page covers the full product line, receiving cards, other H series models, and NovaStar’s broader software suite.
9. FAQ about H5 NovaStar
What's Genlock, and does the H5 support it?
Genlock synchronizes multiple video sources at the frame level to provide seamless switching between primary and backup systems. The NovaStar H5 supports Genlock through the H_control card, which includes a dedicated GENLOCK port compatible with both bi-level and tri-level sync signals. For a single H5, Genlock is generally unnecessary, but it becomes important when redundant systems are deployed.
What's the difference between the four H5 sending cards?
The main difference is loading capacity and output configuration. The H_20xRJ45 card supports up to 39 million pixels with RJ45 outputs only. The H_16xRJ45+2xFiber card supports 31.2 million pixels while adding fiber backup ports. The H_4xFiber card increases capacity to 62.4 million pixels, and the H_4xFiber (Enhanced) version reaches the H5's maximum loading capacity of 78 million pixels with built-in fiber redundancy.
Can the H5 cascade with another H series unit?
No. H series video wall splicers cannot be cascaded to combine their processing capacity. Multiple H series units can operate on the same network and be managed independently, but they cannot function as a single larger processor. If one H5 cannot meet your project requirements, the H9 is the recommended upgrade.
Does the H5 support odd-shaped or angled LED screens?
Yes. The H5 supports irregular rectangle mosaic, making it suitable for curved LED walls, angled installations, and other non-standard display layouts without the shape limitations found on some conventional processors.
What are the tradeoffs of using the H5 instead of a standard processor?
The H5 provides significantly higher processing capacity, allowing large LED displays to be managed by a single system instead of multiple processors. This simplifies installation, configuration, and maintenance. The tradeoff is physical size and weight. The chassis weighs approximately 17 kg before expansion cards are installed, making it less practical for smaller projects that do not require its high capacity.