Split-Flap Boards
Version availability
These instructions describe FiestaBoard v10 (next / beta). The output-plugin setup and Divoom Pixoo 64 support are not available in stable v9. Native Apple TV and Android TV apps are coming soon; use a browser for TV viewing.
FiestaBoard drives Vestaboard split-flap boards: the Flagship, the Note, and Note arrays made of several Notes. Every page lands on the board with the same mechanical clatter as anything else you send it.
Supported Boards
| Board | Grid | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vestaboard Flagship | 22 columns × 6 rows | Black or white housing. Newer Flagships show a heart where older ones show a degree sign. Pick which one yours has in the board's settings. |
| Vestaboard Note | 15 columns × 3 rows | |
| Note array | Several Notes tiled into one canvas | See Note Arrays for wiring up each Note. |
FiestaBoard runs on a separate computer, such as a Raspberry Pi or a home server. Nothing gets installed on the board itself.
Before You Start
You need your board's API key. There are two ways to connect, and you choose one when you set the board up:
| Connection | Best for | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Local API (recommended) | Faster updates and transition animations. Works on your home network. | A Local API key and the board's IP address. How to get them. |
| Cloud API | Running FiestaBoard somewhere other than the board's network. No transition animations. | A Read/Write API key from your Vestaboard account. Cloud API setup. |
Set It Up
- In the setup wizard, pick Vestaboard. If FiestaBoard is already set up, open Displays, click Add a display, and pick Vestaboard.
- In the first-run wizard, choose your connection type and enter your API key, plus the board's IP address for the Local API. Pick your model and housing color, then click Test connection.
- When adding a board from Displays, choose its model first, then open the new board's settings to enter its connection details and test it. This path differs from the first-run wizard.
The board now appears in Displays and in the board selector. Give it an active page, add it to a schedule, or send it a page from the editor.
Tips
- Transitions need the Local API. Set them in the board's settings on its Displays page.
- Your Vestaboard app keeps working. FiestaBoard uses the same official API any developer can use. When the app changes the board, FiestaBoard notices within about a minute (longer on the Cloud API) and puts your page back. To let the app keep the board, turn off Restore automatically in the board's settings. See Saving what another app put on the board.
- Characters the board can't show are left blank, for example accented letters and curly quotes. The page editor highlights them before you send.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | What to check |
|---|---|
| Test connection fails on the Local API | The IP address changed. Reserve a fixed address for the board in your router. |
| The board updates, but with no animation | You're on the Cloud API, or the transition is set to None. |
| Pages are cut off | The page was made for a different shape. Pick this board in the page editor's size picker. |
See the general Troubleshooting guide for more.