Barco Pulse Processing troubleshooting

Common Pulse Processing errors & problems

What techs run into most, and what's usually behind it. The step-by-step fix for your exact unit is in Ask Roadie.

• 4K source looks soft or adds latency on a native WQXGA Pulse projector

  Likely cause: Barco SSP does 4K input-to-output in a single processing pass on the Pulse FPGA, keeping images sharp without added latency; using the full-bandwidth DP1.2 input and letting Pulse do the scaling preserves that benefit.

  Step-by-step fixGet the fix →

• Cannot reach Pulse Prospector / projector web UI for config or calibration

  Likely cause: Prospector is a browser tool served by the projector over the network; a subnet/VLAN mismatch or blocked port is the usual reason it is unreachable.

  Step-by-step fixGet the fix →

• Edge blend seam drifts / double image or bright-dark band appears over time (multi-projector / dome)

  Likely cause: Thermal cycling expands/contracts the optical block and lens mount, so a map aligned cold drifts once hot.

  Step-by-step fixGet the fix →

• Geometric distortion / warp map no longer aligns to the screen

  Likely cause: Warp is computed on the Pulse FPGA; a corrupted map or thermal stress on the engine produces geometric errors.

  Step-by-step fixGet the fix →

• How to update Pulse firmware safely

  Likely cause: Pulse firmware is distributed as per-model field packages; applying the wrong package or interrupting the write can brick the processing board.

  Step-by-step fixGet the fix →

• Need to control a Pulse projector from a show controller (Crestron, QLab, Medialon, etc.)

  Likely cause: The Pulse platform exposes its entire internal API as JSON-RPC 2.0 over port 9090, so any controller that can open a TCP socket can execute, read, or write projector properties.

  Step-by-step fixGet the fix →

• No signal / black screen from an HDMI or DisplayPort source on a Pulse projector

  Likely cause: Pulse inputs refuse to display when the HDCP tier or EDID handshake does not match; forcing a supported HDCP/color mode or pushing a known-good EDID restores the handshake.

  Step-by-step fixGet the fix →

• Projector behaving erratically / want a clean baseline before a show

  Likely cause: A Pulse factory reset clears accumulated config/processing state that can cause erratic behavior, giving a known baseline; backing up first preserves show-critical maps and network config.

  Step-by-step fixGet the fix →

• Shutter (dowser) will not open/close from an external controller

  Likely cause: Pulse renamed shutter control to the optics.shutter.position property; controllers still sending old serial shutter commands get no response, so using the current property path fixes it.

  Step-by-step fixGet the fix →

• Smear / motion blur on fast-moving content

  Likely cause: SRP inserts dark time to reduce persistence-based smear; matching a high input frame rate lets Pulse apply it effectively.

  Step-by-step fixGet the fix →

Not on the list? Describe it your way, or paste the error code off the display. Ask Roadie works the problem with you until it's fixed or you have a clear next move.

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