What Is a Colorlight Receiving Card and What Does It Do?
Quick Answer: A Colorlight receiving card is the small board mounted inside each LED cabinet (or on the module’s HUB board) that receives pixel data from the video processor over Ethernet and drives the LED modules. It translates the processor’s signal into the row/column scan signals, brightness values and color data your modules understand.
Every LED wall is built from cabinets, and each cabinet holds at least one receiving card. Without it, the modules stay dark no matter how good the processor is — the same receiving-card math we build into every wall at the LEGIDATECH factory, and the card lineup Unify LED stocks for control-system packages.
The card’s job looks simple — receive, translate, drive — but its capacity, scan support and data-group count decide how many cards your wall needs and how well the image holds up.
Colorlight’s current receiving card family runs from the compact i5A-905 to the fine-pitch flagship i9+. This guide explains each model, the comparison table, and the quantity math integrators ask us about every week.
Colorlight Receiving Card Lineup: The 5 Models You Will Meet
- i5A-905 — the classic compact card for cast-aluminum cabinets and LED color screens. Two 60-pin outputs, 16 groups of RGBR’ data, 137×48mm.
- i5A-F — the dual-mode card: synchronous and asynchronous playback in one board, with onboard storage. Same 143×93mm footprint as the legacy A8 card, designed as a drop-in replacement.
- i6 — the tiny SODIMM card: 32 groups of RGB output, 67.6×35.5mm, built for fine-pitch modules and hot backup.
- i9 — the fine-pitch flagship: 256×1024 pixel capacity, 12-bit processing, HDR10/HLG, 14-bit calibration.
- i9+ — the i9’s broadcast sibling: 10-bit processing with multi-layer and low-grayscale calibration, 16 smart-module support, triple redundancy (loop + card + PSU backup).
Colorlight also sells newer card series — the E series (E80, E120) for cost-driven commercial walls and the 5G series (HC5, RV5000) for fine-pitch and high-end rental — for specific applications. This guide covers the i5A/i series, which is what the vast majority of X Series processor walls ship with.
Colorlight Receiving Card Specification Comparison
| Parameter | i5A-905 | i5A-F | i6 | i9 | i9+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading capacity | 256×256 (col. to 1024) | 256×256 | 256×256 | 256×1024 | 256×1024 |
| Data groups | 16 RGBR’ / 24 RGB | 16 RGBR’ / up to 32 RGB | 32 RGB | 32 parallel + 64 serial | 32 parallel + 64 serial |
| Scan support | static – 1/32 | static – 1/32 | static – 1/32 | up to 128 scan lines | up to 128 scan lines |
| Color depth | 8-bit | 8-bit | 8-bit (65536 gray) | 12-bit + HDR10/HLG | 10-bit + HDR10/HLG |
| Calibration | Brightness + chromaticity | Brightness + chromaticity | Brightness + chromaticity | 14-bit | 14-bit + multi-layer + low-gray |
| Interface | 2× 60-pin HUB | Dual 50-pin HUB | DDR2 SODIMM | DDR2 SODIMM | DDR2 SODIMM |
| Size | 137×48mm | 143×93mm | 67.6×35.5mm | Compact SODIMM | Compact SODIMM |
| Backup | Dual network ports | Dual network ports | Loop + sender backup | Loop + card backup | Loop + card + PSU backup |
| Best for | Standard cabinets | Async/signage walls | Fine-pitch, rental | Fine-pitch fixed & rental | Broadcast-grade walls |
Source: Colorlight official specifications (i5A-905 spec V1.2, i6 spec V1.2, i9 spec V1.4.1, i9+ spec V4.2.2). The i5A-F row is compiled from Colorlight product documentation and distributor data sheets — its dual-mode behavior is vendor-documented; verify the exact firmware version when ordering. Capacity figures assume standard configuration; scan mode and refresh settings can change the practical loading.
How Many Colorlight Receiving Cards Does Your Wall Need?
Step 1: The Pixel Math
Start with the arithmetic, then check the cabinet reality. The math is simple: divide total wall pixels by the card’s capacity.
Worked example: a 10×6m outdoor P3.9 wall (illustrative calculation, not a project record). Cabinet 500×500mm = 128×128 pixels. Total wall pixels = 2560×1536 = 3,932,160. One i6 loads 256×256 = 65,536 pixels, so the theoretical minimum is 3,932,160 ÷ 65,536 ≈ 60 cards.
That number is a floor, not the answer. Three checks follow in every real project:
- Cabinet grid check — cards live inside cabinets. If the cabinet grid is 20×12 cabinets, you need one card per cabinet minimum, whatever the division says.
- Scan and data-group check — a 1/8-scan module with 32 data groups may cap a card’s real load below the 256×256 nominal figure. High-refresh and high-scan modes trade capacity for performance.
- Spares — standard practice is 2–4 spare cards per project, plus one spare per rental case.
If you send us the wall size, pixel pitch and scan mode, we calculate the exact card count as part of the control package quote.
Which Colorlight Receiving Card Should You Choose?
| Your wall | Recommended card | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Standard outdoor/indoor wall, P2.5–P10, standard cabinets | i5A-905 | Proven compact card, cheapest per cabinet, 1/32 scan covers most modules |
| Signage wall that must survive signal loss | i5A-F | Onboard storage switches to async playback when the sync signal drops |
| Fine-pitch P1.2–P2, rental or fixed | i6 | 32 RGB groups in a tiny SODIMM form factor, hot backup |
| High-end fine pitch with HDR content | i9 | 256×1024 capacity, 12-bit, 14-bit calibration, 128 scan lines |
| Broadcast, XR, long-life fixed installs | i9+ | Triple redundancy, multi-layer calibration, 16 smart modules |
The i9 vs i9+ decision deserves one extra line, because it confuses buyers: the i9 processes 12-bit color; the i9+ processes 10-bit but adds multi-layer and low-grayscale calibration plus PSU redundancy. On paper the i9 wins on bit depth; in practice the i9+ is the card for installations where a dark cabinet is not acceptable. Full details in our i9+ page.
Want the pairing-level verdicts — i5A-905 vs i6, i9 vs i9+, when each card wins? See the Colorlight receiving card comparison.
When Each Colorlight Receiving Card Is the Wrong Choice
- Skip the i5A-905 for P1.8 and finer pitches — its 1/32 scan ceiling and HUB form factor are not built for high-scan fine-pitch modules.
- Skip the i6 on very tall walls where one card per 256×256 zone multiplies into a large card count — the i9’s 256×1024 capacity cuts the count to a quarter.
- Skip the i9 if the wall’s HDR pipeline is occasional and the real requirement is zero dark cabinets during events — the i9+ adds multi-layer calibration and PSU redundancy the i9 does not carry.
- Skip the i9+ for standard P2.5–P10 walls where the extra redundancy hardware buys nothing the i5A-905 cannot deliver.
- Skip the i5A-F when the wall has a permanent live signal and onboard async storage is a feature that will stay unused.
Receiving Card Wiring: HUB Boards, Ethernet Ports and Backup Loops
Every card has two RJ45 ports, and they are not “in” and “out” in a fixed direction — the card auto-detects the signal direction, which is why you can cable left-to-right or right-to-left. Data flows processor → port 1 → card → card → card, one daisy chain per processor port.
Three Colorlight Wiring Rules From Our Install Teams
- Cat5e minimum, Cat6 preferred. Colorlight’s official specifications list ≤140m per hop on UTP and ≤170m on Cat6. Longer runs need fiber converters — fiber distance is effectively unlimited for these cards.
- Mind the port budget. Per Colorlight’s specifications, one Gigabit port carries about 650,000 pixels at 8bit@60Hz. If a chain of cards on one port exceeds that, the port silently drops refresh or shows artifacts.
- Use the loop. Wiring the last card back to the processor creates a backup ring. i6/i9/i9+ support loop redundancy and dual-sender backup — the wall keeps playing even if one cable is cut mid-event.
LEDVISION Setup for Colorlight Receiving Cards
Cards are configured through the same LEDVISION software as the processor:
- Detect — Screen Control → Detect Receivers: the software lists every card per port, with firmware version and runtime. A missing card here is a cable or power problem, not software.
- Load parameters — send the cabinet .rcfg parameter file to the cards. This tells each card the module scan mode, data groups and refresh settings.
- Map the chain — draw the physical connection order in the mapping window, or use auto-routing for standard chains.
- Save to receiver — write parameters into card memory so the wall survives power cycles without a PC.
Firmware updates follow the same path: batch upgrade from LEDVISION takes a few minutes for a hundred cards.
Common Colorlight Receiving Card Problems
Problem: One cabinet stays black after power-up
Check the card’s power indicator first, then the data cable into the HUB board, then whether the parameter file was saved to the card (not just sent). A card that shows in Detect but drives nothing usually has the wrong module parameters loaded.
Problem: Cabinet shows wrong colors or ghosting
In most cases it is a scan-mode or data-group mismatch between the loaded .rcfg and the physical module. Re-load the correct cabinet parameters and re-save.
Problem: Wall flickers when content moves fast
Overloaded port chain. Count pixels per port and split the chain, or move a cabinet to a spare processor port.
Problem: Card not detected at all
Test with a short known-good cable. Then check power (DC 3.3–5.5V on these cards — a 12V supply will damage them) and the card’s signal indicator: flashing = data flowing.
Colorlight vs NovaStar Receiving Cards: Can You Mix Them?
No. A Colorlight processor drives Colorlight cards, and a NovaStar processor drives NovaStar cards — the protocols are closed. Mixing them in one wall means the wall will not light correctly, and software configuration cannot bridge the protocol difference.
The practical question is which ecosystem to standardize on. For most LED screen manufacturers the answer is “both, by project” — Colorlight dominates the rental and mid-market fixed segment, NovaStar the broadcast and ultra-high-end segment. See NovaStar receiving card comparison (MRV vs DH vs AT) for the other side of the coin.
Colorlight Receiving Card Downloads & Official Specifications
The comparison table above is our own quick-reference summary. For the authoritative documents, download the i5A-905 / i6 / i9 / i9+ specification sheets and the LEDVISION installer from Colorlight’s official download center. Before ordering the i5A-F, request the latest firmware revision documentation from your supplier — its dual-mode behavior is firmware-dependent. Every card package we ship includes the matching cabinet parameter file (.rcfg) pre-loaded.
Free download: our engineers compiled this comparison into a one-page Colorlight X Series & receiving card spec quick-reference (PDF) — the same sheet we use to pre-check cabinet grids before quoting.
Frequently Asked Questions About Colorlight Receiving Cards
What is the difference between a sending card and a receiving card?
The sending device (processor or sending card) converts the video signal into pixel data and pushes it over Ethernet. The receiving card, mounted in the cabinet, converts that data back into the signals driving the LED modules. One sending device feeds many receiving cards.
How do I configure my LED wall?
Connect the processor to the cards, install LEDVISION, detect senders and receivers, load the cabinet parameter file, map the connection order, then save parameters to the cards. That sequence is the full flow — detect, load, map, save.
Can I use one receiving card for two cabinets?
It depends on the pixel count and cabling. A card loading 256×256 can cover two 128×128 cabinets on one chain only if the scan and data-group math works out — but almost every manufacturer installs one card per cabinet. Sharing cards complicates maintenance for little savings.
What happens if a receiving card fails?
The cabinets behind the failure point in the chain go dark. With loop redundancy (i6/i9/i9+), data reroutes the other way around the ring and the wall keeps playing. Replace the card, re-send parameters, done — no recalibration needed because calibration data follows the module.
Do receiving cards need firmware updates?
Yes, when you add a new module type or the processor family updates. Batch upgrade takes minutes in LEDVISION.
How long do receiving cards last?
In our service records, cards are among the most reliable parts of the system — 5+ years is typical. In our service records, failures are typically physical (water ingress, power surge, mechanical damage), not component aging.
Are Colorlight receiving cards compatible with old sending devices?
The i5A series was built for the iT7/iQ7-era senders and still works with current processors. If you are modernizing an old wall, keep the cards and replace only the processor.
What about the classic Colorlight 5A-75E and 5A-75B cards?
The 5A series are HUB75-integrated cards from the earlier generation: the 5A-75E loads up to 256×1024 pixels with 16 HUB75 ports, the 5A-75B up to 192×1024 with 8 HUB75 ports. Both remain common in cost-sensitive fixed installs. For new projects, the i5A/i series adds newer scan modes, SODIMM options and calibration depth — ask us which generation your module vendor specifies.
What is the price difference between i6 and i9?
The i9 costs more per card than the i6 because of the larger FPGA load, 12-bit pipeline and 14-bit calibration. On fine-pitch walls the i9’s higher capacity often means fewer cards in total, which narrows the system-level gap. Request a package quote with your cabinet grid for the real per-project number.
Conclusion: The Right Card Is the One Matched to Your Modules
Pick the Colorlight receiving card from your module spec first — scan mode and data groups decide the fit — then from capacity and redundancy needs. Standard walls run i5A-905; fine pitch runs i6 or i9; anything that cannot afford a dark cabinet runs i9+. Send us your cabinet grid and module type, and we will return the card count, model recommendation and a complete control package quote.
