Frequently Asked Questions

Compatible Displays

The Message Board Controllers work with displays made by Adaptive Micro Systems. Display devices have manufacturer-specific communication protocols. The Message Board Controllers use a subset of the protocol that is common to many AMS display models.

Model MBC-1.5

Beta-Brite Classic

The Beta-Brite Classic is the current version of the display for which the MBC-1.5 was designed. This display is compatible with the MBC-1.5.

Beta-Brite Prism

The Beta-Brite Prism originally shipped with only a USB interface which is not compatible with the MBC-1.5. Newer versions of the Beta-Brite Prism include an RS-232 serial interface.

Minor firmware adjustments to the MBC-1.5 were required to support the RS-232 enabled Beta-Brite Prism. The devices are compatible as of MBC-1.5 firmware version 1.54.

Alpha PPD

Many of the displays in the Alpha product line are compatible the MBC-1.5. We have successfully tested the desktop display, model PPD. Other displays in the Alpha series are likely to be compatible but we have not has the opportunity to test the MBC-1.5 with all of them.

Model MBC-1

Beta-Brite Classic

The Beta-Brite Classic is a newer version of the original Beta-Brite. This display is compatible with the MBC-1.

Beta-Brite Prism

The Beta-Brite Prism was released after the MBC-1 was manufactured. The Beta-Brite Prism is not compatible with the MBC-1.

Alpha PPD

The Alpha PPD uses a similar protocol to the Beta-Brite. We cannot guarantee with the MBC-1. We recommend using the MBC-1.5 with this display.