TrueNorth Network Setup
NORTHSTAR SHOW SYSTEMS
TrueNorth Network Setup
Network architecture and router configuration
v1.0 — May 2026
TrueNorth Network Setup
TrueNorth is the isolated 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network that connects the Helm server to all Polaris field nodes. This document covers the network architecture, router configuration, and fallback options.
Network architecture
| Component | IP Address | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Helm (Intel mini PC) | 10.0.0.1 (static, wired NIC) | Central server running HelmOS + Cuemaster |
| Travel router | 10.0.0.1 (gateway) | Broadcasts TRUENORTH SSID, provides DHCP |
| Polaris nodes | 10.0.0.10 – 10.0.0.250 (DHCP) | Field nodes (audio, video, GPIO, mixed) |
| Operator iPad | DHCP on TRUENORTH | Runs Cuemaster in Safari at http://10.0.0.1:3000 |
Travel router configuration (preferred)
Use an external travel router (GL.iNet, TP-Link, or similar) configured as an access point:
- SSID:TRUENORTH
- Band:2.4 GHz only (required for ESP32-based Polaris nodes)
- Security:WPA2-PSK
- Subnet:10.0.0.0/24
- DHCP range:10.0.0.10 – 10.0.0.250
- Gateway:10.0.0.1
- Internet uplink:Disconnected. TrueNorth is a closed network with no internet access.
Helm static IP (Windows)
Set the static IP on the Helm’s wired NIC using PowerShell (run as Administrator):
Verify with:
Firewall rule
Open port 3000 for HelmOS on Private and Domain profiles only (not Public):
Windows Mobile Hotspot (fallback)
If no travel router is available, Windows Mobile Hotspot can broadcast TrueNorth:
- SSID: TRUENORTH
- Band: 2.4 GHz
- Limitation:Forces 192.168.137.x subnet. All IP references in nodes.json must be updated to match.
- Limitation:Helm’s hotspot NIC IP is fixed at 192.168.137.1.
The travel router is strongly preferred because it keeps the 10.0.0.0/24 addressing consistent across all venues.
No internet access
TrueNorth must not have an internet uplink. The system has no CDN-loaded fonts, no analytics, no telemetry, and no auto-update mechanism. All software and firmware are deployed locally.