An RCFGX file is the configuration a NovaStar receiving card needs to drive one specific cabinet design: module information, data groups, driver-IC parameters, refresh rate and GCLK frequency, saved from NovaLCT.
What an RCFGX file contains
A receiving card does not know what kind of panel it is plugged into until it is configured. The RCFGX file is that configuration. NovaStar documentation lists its contents as the LED module information, cabinet data groups, driver-IC parameters, refresh rate and GCLK frequency — everything the card needs to drive one specific cabinet design correctly.
Because the file is written for one exact module layout and driver IC, an RCFGX is not interchangeable between different panel designs, even when the cabinets look similar from the outside.
Why the file matters
The driver-IC parameters inside the configuration decide the image quality your panel can reach. NovaStar is explicit about what wrong parameters produce: cross-panel coupling, upper and lower ghost images, color blocks, low-gray color shift and flickering.
That is why the safe source for an RCFGX is the company that built the panel — they tuned the file against the physical module. Keeping a backup of the working file for every cabinet type in your wall costs nothing and saves a service call later.
Where RCFGX files come from
- Your LED screen manufacturer — the normal source. The file ships with the screen or is sent on request.
- Saved from a working wall — NovaLCT can read the configuration back from a running receiving card and save it to a file. Do this before touching a working system.
- Rebuilt in NovaLCT — a technician can create the configuration from scratch using the module’s specifications. This is the fallback when the original file is lost.
How to load an RCFGX file
- Open NovaLCT and log in to the controller.
- Go to Screen Configuration > Receiving Card and load the file.
- Send it to the receiving card. The panel should display correctly at this point.
- Save the configuration to the hardware so it persists after power-off.
If you are replacing a failed card, load the same file that ran on the old card before you judge the new card’s picture — an unconfigured card is not a faulty card.
RCFGX, SCR and NCP — which file is which
| File | Scope | What it stores | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| .rcfgx | One cabinet type | Module info, data groups, driver-IC parameters, refresh, GCLK | This page |
| .scr | The whole screen | How cabinets assemble into a wall: positions, port mapping, wiring order | SCR file guide |
| .ncp | One cabinet type | The RCFGX plus firmware and factory calibration, packaged by NovaStar | NCP file guide |
Replacing a receiving card?
Almost every receiving-card replacement problem traces back to files, not hardware: the right RCFGX for the cabinet, and on newer systems the right NCP. Our receiving-card product pages document, model by model, which configuration files you need to save before swapping a card and which cards are direct replacements for which.
Replacing a receiving card? Every card we list documents its replacement logic — which files to save first and which models are direct swaps.
Related resources
RCFGX file FAQ
Short answers on NovaStar receiving-card configuration files.
What is an RCFGX file?
An RCFGX file is a NovaStar receiving-card configuration saved from NovaLCT. It stores how one cabinet is built and driven: LED module information, cabinet data groups, driver-IC parameters, refresh rate and GCLK frequency.
What is the difference between .rcfg and .rcfgx?
They carry the same kind of receiving-card configuration data. The .rcfg extension is the earlier format; current NovaLCT versions save .rcfgx. NovaStar documentation refers to them together as the configuration file.
Where do I get the correct RCFGX file for my screen?
From your LED screen manufacturer. The configuration is written for one exact module and cabinet design. A file made for a different panel will drive your modules with the wrong parameters.
Can I use a generic RCFGX file downloaded from the internet?
It is risky. NovaStar notes that wrong driver-IC parameters cause ghosting, color blocks, low-gray color shift and flicker. If you cannot get the original file, the reliable path is to have the configuration rebuilt for your exact module — not to guess with a downloaded one.
How do I load an RCFGX file to a receiving card?
In NovaLCT: Screen Configuration > Receiving Card, load the file, send it to the receiving card, then save it to the hardware so the settings survive a power cycle.
Is an RCFGX file the same as an NCP file?
No. The RCFGX is one component inside an NCP. The NCP cabinet package adds the receiving-card firmware and factory image-quality data on top of the configuration. See our NCP file guide.