Planar DirectLight Ultra – Fiber Upgrade for Input Chassis

Product Overview

The Planar DirectLight Ultra fiber upgrade is an optional connectivity option for the DirectLight Ultra input chassis. It replaces or supplements the standard copper signal path with fiber optic transport, extending the distance between the WallDirector video controller and the input chassis well beyond the limits of CAT6 cabling. This upgrade targets installations where the processing rack and the LED wall are separated by long distances. It preserves the off-board electronics architecture that defines the DirectLight Ultra platform.

Product Description

Planar DirectLight Ultra is an advanced LED video wall platform offering the finest pixel pitches, with MicroLED models at 0.7mm and 0.9mm and a standard-LED model at 1.2mm, for mission-critical and high-resolution applications. The platform uses an off-board electronics design in which a separate input chassis sits in the signal path, receiving data from the WallDirector video controller and distributing it to the LED cabinets. The standard signal connection from the controller to the input chassis uses CAT6 copper cabling, which is simple and cost-effective but limited in reach. This fiber upgrade equips the input chassis to accept a fiber optic link instead, dramatically extending the supported distance between the controller location and the display. Fiber transport is also immune to electromagnetic interference, which is valuable in facilities with heavy electrical infrastructure or where signal runs pass through noisy environments. Integrators specify the fiber upgrade when the equipment room is far from the video wall, when runs exceed the practical limits of copper, or when long-term signal integrity over distance is a priority. Because this is an upgrade to the input chassis, it is ordered alongside a DirectLight Ultra input chassis and the corresponding fiber cabling. The upgrade maintains the platform's processing and alignment capabilities, including Planar ActivAlign self-adjusting alignment technology. Browse the complete DirectLight Ultra ecosystem in our Planar collection. For exact cable type, transceiver, and distance ratings, contact Creation Networks to confirm.

Key Features

• Fiber optic signal transport — Replaces the standard CAT6 copper link to the input chassis with a fiber connection for greatly extended reach.
• Long-distance runs — Supports separation between the WallDirector controller and the LED wall beyond the limits of copper cabling.
• EMI immunity — Fiber transport is unaffected by electromagnetic interference, protecting signal integrity in electrically noisy facilities.
• Input chassis upgrade — Equips the DirectLight Ultra input chassis to accept a fiber link in place of, or in addition to, copper.
• Off-board electronics architecture — Maintains the DirectLight Ultra design that keeps processing electronics off the display surface.

Typical Applications

• Installations with the equipment rack far from the LED wall
• Control rooms and command centers with remote processing
• Facilities with high electromagnetic interference
• Large venues requiring long signal runs to the display

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this upgrade do? It allows the DirectLight Ultra input chassis to use a fiber optic signal link instead of the standard CAT6 copper connection, extending the supported distance from the video controller.

Why use fiber instead of copper? Fiber supports much longer runs and is immune to electromagnetic interference, making it ideal when the equipment room is far from the wall or the environment is electrically noisy.

Is this a standalone product? No. It is an upgrade to a DirectLight Ultra input chassis and is ordered with that chassis and the appropriate fiber cabling.

What cable does it require? The required fiber cable type and supported distance depend on the configuration. Contact Creation Networks to confirm.

Does it change the display's image performance? No. It changes only the signal transport method; the platform's processing and alignment capabilities are unchanged.