01 · Getting Started

Getting Started

TALLY-NODE is a system that wirelessly displays camera tally states. This document covers the basic concept of tally, the components of TALLY-NODE, and a quick start flow for first use.

What Is a Tally System?#

Tally is a system used in studios or live events to tell camera operators or on-air talent “which camera is currently on-air” and “which camera is scheduled to go on-air next.”

Types of Tally States#

State	Meaning	LED color	Operator action
PGM (Program)	Currently on-air	Red	On-air, be careful
PVW (Preview)	Scheduled to go on-air next	Green	My turn soon
OFF	Not on-air	Off (or blue)	Standing by

How TALLY-NODE Works#

TALLY-NODE operation: switcher →Master (TX) →LoRa wireless →Receiver (RX) →LED display flow diagram — Figure 1. The flow of the tally signal traveling wirelessly from the switcher through the Master to the Receiver, where it is shown on the LED.

The Master (transmitter) connects to the switcher, receives tally information, and broadcasts it over LoRa wireless to every Receiver. Each Receiver displays only the tally state that corresponds to its own ID.

Components#

Device Configuration#

Device	Qty	Role	Web UI
Master	1	Switcher connection, LoRa TX, hosts the HTTP server	Yes (port 80)
Receiver	1-20	Camera-mounted, LED display	No

Maximum configuration

A single Master supports up to 20 Receivers. This limit is governed by the license.

Hardware Specs#

Common specs (Master + Receiver)

Display: front OLED (128x64)
Wireless: LoRa (868MHz, built-in antenna)
WiFi: 2.4GHz
Power / charging: USB-C (5V), built-in 18650 battery
Buttons: front button, bottom ON/OFF switch, bottom RESET button
Mounting: bottom 1/4” mount
Firmware version: 3.0.0

Master only

LAN port: W5500 RJ45 (wired internet/switcher network)
Network: Ethernet and WiFi can be used simultaneously

Receiver only

Rear LED: 8x WS2812 + diffuser (PGM red / PVW green / OFF)

Antenna is built-in

The antenna is enclosed in the case, so no separate installation is required. For exterior, button, and connector details, see the Hardware Setup document.

Quick Start Flow#

The overall setup proceeds in the following order.

1
Connect power
2
Connect the Master to the network
Connect to the AP WiFi or plug in an Ethernet cable
3
Open the Web UI
Open the Master IP in a browser (http://192.168.4.1 or DHCP-assigned http://device-ip)
4
Configure switcher integration
See Switcher Integration for details
5
Mount the Receiver + assign ID
See Receiver Operation for details
6
Verify the first tally display

Minimum Operation Check (3-step test)#

Power on the Master: connect USB-C power, the boot logo appears on the OLED
Open the Web UI: open the Master IP in a browser (the IP varies by AP, WiFi, or ETH)
Power on the Receiver: battery or USB-C connected, check the LED display

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