Troubleshooting LED Sign Blackout and Network Issues: Why LED Signs Stop Playing Messages

Table of Contents

1. LED Sign Blackout: Check the Access Point (AP) Network
2. HDMI Reversion: Ensuring Proper Video Source Settings
3. Brightness Sensor Issue: Adjusting Brightness Levels
4. Additional Support

1. LED Sign Blackout: Check the Access Point (AP) Network

When your LED sign screen goes black, the first step is to verify if the Access Point (AP) network is available and functioning correctly.

How to Check Using a Phone

1. Connect to the AP Network:

   • Open your phone’s Wi-Fi settings.
   • Look for a network name starting with AP0000#####.
   • Select this network to connect.

2. Verify Connection:

   • Ensure your phone successfully connects to the AP network.
   • Refer to our Mobile Connection Guide for detailed instructions on how to connect to the AP network.

How to Check Using a Laptop

1. Position Your Laptop:

   • Bring your laptop within 50 feet of the LED sign to ensure a strong signal.

2. Connect to the AP Network:

   • Open your laptop’s Network Settings.
   • Search for the Wi-Fi network that starts with AP0000#####.
   • Select and connect to this network.

3. Verify Connection:

   • Ensure your laptop successfully connects to the AP network.
   • Follow our Laptop Connection Guide for detailed instructions on how to connect to the AP network.

Next Steps if AP Network is Unavailable

• Replace the Controller:
  • If you cannot connect to the AP network using either device, proceed to replace the controller of your LED sign.
  • Contact our support team for a replacement and further assistance.

2. HDMI Reversion: Ensuring Proper Video Source Settings

Sometimes, a blackout occurs because the sign reverts to HDMI input. Follow these steps to correct the video source settings:

1. Access Viplex Express:
   • Open the Viplex Express software on your connected device.
2. Navigate to Terminal Control:
   • Go to Terminal Control > Check Video Source.
3. Select Manual Mode:
   • Choose Manual and then select Internal Source as the video source type.
4. Apply Settings:
   • Click Apply to save the changes.
5. Schedule Internal Source:
   • Set a daily schedule for the internal source to ensure consistent display settings.

3. Brightness Sensor Issue: Adjusting Brightness Levels

A blackout might be caused by incorrect brightness settings or time zone configurations. Here’s how to address these potential issues:

1. Check Brightness Levels:
   • Verify if the brightness level is set too low, causing the screen to appear black.
2. Review Brightness Schedules:
   • Ensure that the brightness schedules are correctly configured to match your operational hours.
3. Verify Time Zone Settings:
   • Incorrect time zone settings can trigger the sign’s sleep or blackout mode.
   • Adjust the time zone in the Viplex Express software to reflect your local time accurately.

Additional Support

If you’ve followed the above steps and your LED sign is still experiencing blackout issues, please reach out to our support team for further assistance:

• Email: support@ledsigncity.com
• Phone: 866-343-4011

To troubleshoot blackouts tied to technical and hardware issues, follow the LED Sign Display Outage guide

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