74HC138 Scan/Decode Chip
The 74HC138 is an LED display row/scan decode chip recognized by NovaStar's control system. This page covers what it does, datasheet, and which NovaStar receiving cards and firmware support it.
NovaStar support
| Scan/Decode Chip | 74HC138 |
| Chip type | Row/scan decode (multiplexed scan addressing) |
NovaStar receiving cards & firmware that support the 74HC138 scan/decode chip
The 74HC138 is a row/scan decode chip, not a pixel driver IC — it handles the panel's multiplexed scan addressing. Each NovaStar receiving-card firmware version bundles support for a specific group of pixel driver ICs and a specific group of decode/scan chips. Your panel needs a compatible chip from both groups, so flash the version that lists the 74HC138 below and your panel's driver IC.
⚠️ Don't upgrade unless you have a reason to. Receiving-card firmware is not like a controller update that adds features — a higher number just means a different driver-IC group. If your screen works, leave it alone; only re-flash to match a different driver IC.
A card name joined with “/” (e.g. DH7516-S / 7512-S / 7508-S) is a single NovaStar firmware family: those models share one firmware package, so the versions shown for that row are different firmware lines for the same card — not one firmware per model.
| Receiving card | Supported firmware |
|---|---|
| A10s Plus-N | |
| A5s Plus | |
| A5s Plus-N | |
| A7s Plus | |
| A8s Pro | |
| A8s-N | |
| DH3208 | DP3364S |
| DH7512 | |
| DH7516 | |
| DH7516-S / 7512-S / 7508-S | |
| MRV208-N | |
| MRV412 | V4.9.0.0 |
| MRV412-N / MRV416-N | |
| MRV416 | |
| NV3210 / NV7508 / NV7512 / NV7516 | |
| TCC80 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 74HC138 chip?
The 74HC138 is a row/scan decode chip used on LED display modules. It is not a pixel driver IC — instead of setting pixel grayscale, it handles the panel's multiplexed scan addressing (selecting which row group is lit). A scan LED panel uses a decode/scan chip like this together with a pixel driver IC.
Does NovaStar support the 74HC138?
Yes — the 74HC138 is in NovaStar's recognized decode/scan-chip library. Because a firmware version supports a specific group of driver ICs paired with a specific group of decode chips, exact support depends on your receiving card and firmware version. Upload your config to our RCFGX viewer to confirm, or call 321-747-3220.
How do I find out which driver IC and decode chip my LED panel uses?
Open your receiving card configuration file (.rcfgx) — it records both the pixel driver IC and the scan/decode chip plus the firmware version. Our free online RCFGX viewer reads this for you without installing NovaLCT.