H Series Api - Novastar

The Novastar H Series represents a line of high-performance LED display controllers capable of processing 4K and 8K video signals. While the devices are equipped with a local Graphical User Interface (GUI) and a tablet-based control app (NovaLCT), professional AV integration often requires direct machine-to-machine communication.

The H Series API allows third-party developers and system integrators to embed the processor’s functionality into broader workflows—such as automated broadcasting workflows, building management systems (BMS), or simplified touch panel interfaces—without operator intervention.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of LED display technology, the ability to interface directly with hardware has shifted from a luxury to a necessity. As display systems grow more complex—spanning stadiums, broadcast studios, and fine-pitch corporate lobbies—the demand for automation, remote monitoring, and third-party integration has surged. NovaStar, a dominant force in LED control systems, addresses this need through the H Series API. Designed for their flagship H Series receiving cards, this API represents a critical evolution: moving from manual, front-panel configuration to software-defined, automated display management.

At its core, the H Series API is a communication protocol that allows external software applications to communicate directly with NovaStar’s H Series receiving cards over a network (typically TCP/IP). Unlike traditional systems that rely solely on a dedicated controller or a PC-based application like SmartLCT, the API exposes a set of programmable endpoints. These endpoints allow developers to query status, adjust parameters, and execute diagnostic routines. novastar h series api

The H Series cards themselves are intelligent slave devices. Through the API, a master system (e.g., a show control PC, a building management system, or a Python script) can send structured commands—often in JSON or binary protocol format—to read temperature sensors, monitor voltage levels, adjust gamma curves, or apply coefficients for specific LED modules. The API operates at a low enough level to affect hardware states but is abstracted enough to prevent catastrophic damage (critical parameters like voltage thresholds are typically read-only or require authentication).

Direct control over the LED driver’s brightness without touching the source signal.

Method: set:brightness

  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "method": "display/brightness",
  "params": 
    "token": "session_token_abc123",
    "value": 65
  ,
  "id": 3

(Range: 0 to 100)

Novastar occasionally updates command sets. Drivers should check the firmware version upon connection to ensure the command codes being sent are supported by the specific hardware revision.

If you have an 8K source driving multiple H9 units, you must crop the source. The Novastar H Series represents a line of

Method: set:cropping

  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "method": "input/crop",
  "params": 
    "token": "session_token_abc123",
    "x": 1920,
    "y": 0,
    "width": 1920,
    "height": 1080
  ,
  "id": 6

Report Date: October 26, 2023 Subject: Novastar H Series (H5/H7/H9) Communication Protocol & API Capabilities Target Audience: Software Developers, System Integrators, Control Room Engineers

CMD: 0x01
Request: AA AA AA 02 01 03 BB BB BB
Response: AA AA AA 02 81 83 BB BB BB (where 0x81 = command + 0x80) In the rapidly evolving landscape of LED display