Chapter 05

Launch countdown mode

Countdown mode turns the panel into a launch board: upcoming missions with compact time-to-NET headers when wall time is known.

Selecting the mode

Set the base display preference to launch countdown from the on-device UI or the USB control plane. Fresh devices default to countdown until you choose idle clock.

Where the cards come from

Live fetch — after the sign is on home Wi‑Fi with outbound HTTPS.
Inject — push a short list from the portal or USB when offline.
Demo seed — optional sample cards for first setup; not automatic. Seeded cards are labeled DEMO so they are not mistaken for a real NET.

Which launch sites

Live fetch filters Launch Library by location IDs (settinglaunch.location_ids). The product default is Cape Canaveral / Kennedy Space Center: 12,27. Empty means worldwide (All locations). SoftAP Launches offers a checkbox multi-select of known sites; USB:settings set launch.location_ids 12,27 thensettings save. Common IDs: 12=CCSFS, 27=KSC, 11=VAFB, 143=Starbase.

Sharing time with the idle clock

When countdown is the base preference and idle-clock rotation is enabled, the sign can dwell on the clock for part of each shared cycle while launches are far from NET. That is today’s playlist — not a free-form effect editor. SeePlaylist and scene timing.