No Video Output or a Black Signal from the UltraNEXUS-HD

If the output is black or has no signal, here are some things to examine. This article applies to UltraNEXUS-HD, UltraNEXUS-HD X2, X5, Flex, Cast, and Blade servers.

Issues that can cause the UltraNEXUS-HD to have no output include problems with files or schedule playback, the unit is not powered on or running, or issues with how the output is being monitored.

UltraNEXUS-HD RUNNING?

VIDEO OR SLIDESHOW PLAYING?

SCHEDULE RUNNING?

  • Check the Schedule Button in the lower left of the Control Panel
    • If the Schedule button is green and says "Stop Schedule," the schedule is active and running.
    • If it is red and says "Start Schedule," the schedule is not running.
      • You'll want to click it to start the schedule, and it will wait to start playing at the next scheduled event.

WILL IT PLAY A FILE?

BLACK SIGNAL VIDEO?

  • Make sure the playing file has video and is not a file that is just a black video.
  • Play the video file in the WinLGX software preview monitor to see if the video is black in the video file itself.
    1. In WinLGX, open the Storage Manager window (Tools/Storage Manager).
    2. Find the video file and right-click it to open the menu on the right side.
    3. Select View, and the preview monitor should open and begin playing the file.

SWITCHED CORRECTLY?

  • If Using an External Video Switch:
    • If you are using an external switch and it's switched to another input on that switch, check to see that that input is working and has a video signal.
    • If the UltraNEXUS-HD is playing a file, make sure it is switched to the correct output.

MONITORED CORRECTLY?

  • Check how you are monitoring the video output.
  • There are generally two ways to view the video output of the UltraNEXUS-HD – using the cable return or from a directly connected monitor.
  • Cable Return
    • Suppose you watch the video after it goes out to your cable channel and comes back from the cable channel. That is too long of a signal path to diagnose the UltraNEXUS-HD because it's going through all the cables and other devices downstream from the UltraNEXUS-HD, and one or more of those cables or devices could be the culprit introducing the issue.
  • Direct Monitor
    • SDI Output
      • If using the SDI output of the UltraNEXUS-HD, you'll need to connect the output directly to an SDI monitor.
      • Or you can use an SDI to HDMI converter and connect that to an HDMI monitor to see if the video is present directly out of the UltraNEXUS-HD's SDI output.
      • Or you can use an SDI to ANALOG converter and connect that to an analog/composite monitor to see if the video shows there.
    • CVBS Output
      • If using the CVBS composite output of the UltraNEXUS-HD, you should be able to connect that directly to a composite monitor to check the video output.
      • If there is no video from the CVBS composite output:
        • Check the output settings in the web interface, System Settings page under the System tab
          • See the "Setting the Output Resolution of the UltraNEXUS-HD" tutorial.
          • There will be no composite output if the output is set to 720p.

NOTE: An UltraNEXUS-HD Cast or Flex does not have CVBS composite output capability.

  • Suppose the video is present when watching from a direct monitor. In that case, the UltraNEXUS-HD unit is working correctly, and the problem is with the cables or devices downstream from the UltraNEXUS-HD.
  • If the video is not present when watching directly from a monitor, then do a loop connection test (see instructions below).

Loop SDI Out to SDI In Test

  • You can test by connecting a single video cable to the UltraNEXUS-HD's SDI output and the other end to the UltraNEXUS-HD's SDI input, then checking the signal it sees.
  • You can see what kind of signal it's sensing in two ways:
    • From the front panel: Press the up arrow until it displays, "SDI IN:"
    • From the web interface Dashboard page: Lower right corner area.
    • "Unlocked" means it doesn't sense any signal.
  • If the looped signal says "unlocked," the unit may need to be repaired or replaced.
    • Contact LEIGHTRONIX support.