LED Signs 101: LED sign system components

-Deacon Wardlow

Driver board, LED Tile, Modules, Panels, Quads, etc. If one were to look at all the different titles, they’d be misled into thinking they were different things when they’re all component titles for the same thing; an LED “panel” made up of a matrix of either 8x16, 16x16, or even 32x32 pixels (LED groups) with connectors for power and communications meant for LED Signage. LED components can be confusing and even though the industry has been in existence for decades, the terms are not standardized across the board.

Many manufacturer’s don’t want you to understand the systems. The more complex it seems, the less likely they figure you are to dig deeper and get to understand what they’re really using to produce the product. Here’s a quick tutorial (which will be expanded and expounded upon later):

Power Supplies: Be wary of private-labeled systems. A sign shop doesn’t make it’s own ballasts and power supplies for signs. They reach out to the top manufacturer and get the best product at the best price. It’s possible to specify some particular component tweaks, but the reason they do this is reliability. A main manufacturer who specializes in power supplies builds millions of units (not thousands) and they work to ensure the clients get the best quality. It’s nice to have a private-label, but who stands behind that brand should something happen to the manufacturer of the LED Display?

PCB (Printed Circuit Boards) and LED Panels: A lot of companies are claiming to be “made in the USA” when in fact they buy off-the-shelf product from somewhere in Asia and put it in a cabinet. This is akin to me claiming a paint-by-numbers set I’ve done is my own masterpiece. If the company is not engineering their own solution, they’re handing control over to someone else and they have little/no control over quality and the ability to modify the product to meet consumer demand or to match changes in technology which may offer a better, cheaper alternative technology solution to those able to change with the times.

Controller: The controller is the engine which drives the LED Sign forward. There’s a reason auto manufacturers spend so much money and time on their engines, the engine makes a huge difference. While standard components are somewhat important (i.e. what type of power and connection cables are selected) the controller NEEDS to be something specified and engineered by the manufacturer. The controller is the heart of their Display and it’s important that heart get the maximum number of beats and performs optimally for the lifetime of your system. Make sure the manufacturer you’re dealing with can go over their controller and explain how they engineered a solution specifically for their systems. You can’t go online and find a great solution for LED signage. The solution has to be specifically engineered to the use and controllers (more than anything) need to be product-specific.

Control boards (logic board, receiver cards, etc.) and Control Chips: While this is digging deeper than most people prefer to go, it’s important (again) to make sure the company has sourced the product properly. A year ago, Thailand had some major floods and over 80% of the world’s market were getting hard drives from Thailand. When the source “dried up” from the flood, hard drive levels were at an all time global low and prices were driven up. Several companies ate the loss and others had to increase cost on their systems (causing dealers to lose a lot of sales)/ Without solid sourcing (including a backup source in a different country/location) it’s too easy for a localized event to suddenly cause issues with the ability for a manufacturer to meet market demand. When the 6-8 weeks you were expecting for production on an LED Sign turns into 12+ weeks, nobody will be happy. Proper sourcing avoids these kind of pitfalls.

Software: Is this a component? Most definitely! All too often I see the standard Chinese software on systems “made in the USA.” What the end-user gets is a sub-standard control system, software which is not simple and straightforward to use, and software which DOES NOT meet the market requirements. EVERY LED Signage manufacturer should have a unique solution for their clients. When an end-user comes back to the manufacturer with a special request (i.e. someone who’s display needs to be tied into a scoring system for a sports arena), you’ll find how important it is to have this component sourced through the manufacturer. A request to a “standardized” control system manufacturer in Asia will either never be answered or get the, “We will see” response. LED Sign Manufacturers need to be able to respond to market demand and customer requests and this means software which they can modify as needed.

Don’t accept a mediocre solution at a low price. Fight for the best combination of quality and price possible and always dig deeper. Make sure the system you’re getting is the best possible and unique to the manufacturer of your choice. You don’t always get what you pay for. Make sure what you’re getting is what you expect and the manufacturer can meet your needs.

*Please comment here and/or email me directly with requests at deacon@vantageled.com. Vantage LED has white paper resources and more educational material on the website (http://www.vantageled.com), check out the site periodically as we’re constantly adding new material.

**Note all posts/thoughts/writings are strictly the viewpoint of me and me alone and do not reflect nor speak for Vantage LED’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, etc. unless specifically stated.

How does a Programmable LED Sign help business?

-Deacon Wardlow

Years ago, the SBA (Small Business Administration) released a document demonstrating how LED Signage can help increase business. Some of their numbers were (I feel) a bit overboard, but the overall premise is sound and the returns are definitely there. If you’d like a copy of the SBA report, drop me a line and I’d be happy to provide it (you can still find it various places online). The question remains, how does an LED Sign help business?

When looking at Digital Signage, there are several factors driving businesses to Digital. Newspaper readership is in decline. People watch TV shows off Hulu and Netflix, even radio stations have been taken over by the satellite movement. Traditional advertising dollars are swapping around tremendously and now (more than ever) on-premise advertising is crucial for success..

LED Signage allows businesses to push specials to the public and improve their P/L (profit/loss) statements. When a restaurant isn’t selling as many prime rib specials that night, drop a message on the display to emphasize a prime rib special and the sales will likely increase. Communicating business events and opportunities through and LED Sign gives the business an opportunity to directly communicate with the customers who go by every day. Customers are often looking for something to draw them in, and LED Signage drives people towards business. While specials and promotions are one large component, LED signage gives business more than a place to advertise. LED Signage can also be a form of community outreach.

A lot of people focus hard on the ROI (return on investment) but overlook the ROO (return on objective). LED signage allows businesses to communicate with the public directly. With LED signage you can be an active member in the community through your sign, publishing local notices, community events, PSAs (Public Service Announcements), and more. An LED Display is a big investment for business owners and it’s important they use the system to the fullest to reap the largest return. In order to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by LED Signage, the software has to be easy-to-use.

LED Signage software is getting simpler and the top manufacturers work closely with both dealers and end-users to ensure the software meets the needs of business owners. If you can’t make a great message in under 5 minutes (and send it to the system), the software has already failed you; the easier software is to use, the more the system gets utilized and the more vibrant/alive the content is.

How can a Programmable LED Sign help business? Community outreach, on-premise advertising, direct market push to the customers in your area and the ability to not only promote your Unique Selling Point to customers but also demonstrate your connection to local events/information... this is all achieved with LED Signage where other forms of advertising can’t perform to the same level. WIth the right partner in place, LED Signage can really make the difference between survival and success.

*Please comment here and/or email me directly with requests at deacon@vantageled.com. Vantage LED has white paper resources and more educational material on the website (http://www.vantageled.com), check out the site periodically as we’re constantly adding new material.

**Note all posts/thoughts/writings are strictly the viewpoint of me and me alone and do not reflect nor speak for Vantage LED’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, etc. unless specifically stated.

The Ghost of LED Signage to come...

-Deacon Wardlow

Jacob Marley warned Scrooge if he continued on the path he chose in life, things would not turn out well for those around him (not to mention things going south for Scrooge as well). There are towns in the USA where the ghost of Programmable LED Signs has come and gone. The warning was given and not heeded. Now these towns are becoming LED Sign graveyards with systems which half-work or are completely down. What happened? Short-term gains overcame long-term expectations.

There are a lot of manufacturers who can give you a song and dance and paint a beautiful picture of the future to come, yet the systems fail to deliver over time. The old saying comes to mind, the bitterness of a poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of a low price has faded from memory. A lot of companies are playing a short game, selling a “high quality product” at a premium price with an “economy line” product at a low price. What they hope you don’t notice are the details.

Always dig deeper. Companies should have ONE level of quality. Do you see an iPhone sold with the “economy line” series available? How about any of the game console companies? Reputable companies build their name around their product quality and don’t take chances associating themselves with a “cheap” series. All manufacturers should be able to streamline production to the level where the buyer can get the highest quality at the best price.

Where to dig? I’ve added some hyperlinks to previous blogs and resources to make research a little easier. How can you tell a cheap system from a cost-conscious build? Get the details. What are the frames per second? How is the refresh rate? What color quality does the manufacturer have and how is it achieved? How is the system protected from surges? What is the system warranty on parts? Does the company offer a 3rd-part warranted on-site service option for the lifetime of the parts warranty? What’s under the hood (controlling the display)?

Make sure a comparison is apples-to-apples on systems and not, as one friend recently said, “Apples-to-2x4s.” Quality systems with content properly managed will really help communities see the value in the medium. Poorly constructed systems which have high rates of failure and which are hard to manage lead to the nightmare towns with failed systems and towns/cities scrambling to restrict usage as quickly as possible.

Don’t let your choice of investment be short-sighted by a manufacturer with short-term goals. Dig deeper and make sure you’re getting the most for your money.

*Please comment here and/or email me directly with requests at deacon@vantageled.com. Vantage LED has white paper resources and more educational material on the website (http://www.vantageled.com), check out the site periodically as we’re constantly adding new material.

**Note all posts/thoughts/writings are strictly the viewpoint of me and me alone and do not reflect nor speak for Vantage LED’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, etc. unless specifically stated.

The Importance of Good Documentation for LED Signs.

Almost all products you buy will have some sort of operation manual included. The quality and usefulness of this documentation varies greatly between products and manufacturers. Some products require in-depth technical manuals while others just need simple assembly drawings. In my opinion, LED sign documentation falls into the middle. End users and dealers do not want or need an engineering manual unless the project is a highly customized build. But they do need documentation for parts replacement, quick troubleshooting, installation, and software training.

Most commercial LED signs are made for the simple purpose of advertising to the public. Consistant and uninterrupted operation is crucial to this purpose. Component level troubleshooting and customization is the responsibility of the manufacturer’s engineers, not the end user or dealer. Well manufactured LED signs are built for easy parts replacement and quick access to components. The documentation should reflect this concept and be simple, concise and relevant. Information should be well organized and purposeful.

From my experience there are three general types of documentation styles:

In-Depth and Content Heavy
These are the manuals that are written like engineering text books. This type of documentation has its place when done well and used in the right place. Unfortunately they are often overly organized and written for content, not for readability and real world use.  In my opinion, these type of manuals (again...when done well) are best used as a reference for factory technicians or dealers/OEMs who want to have a more direct role in the product, not for most dealers or end users.

Minimalist
Manufactures usually take this approach for one of two reasons. Because they don’t have the resources to produce good manuals, or their product design actually does support a simple operation manual. Many of us have seen examples of this style done right (think swedish furniture, or high tech fruit), but in my opinion this approach is not realistic for LED Signs. These are large outdoor industrialized products that are the face of your organization, not just a high tech gadget.

Best of Both Worlds
This style blends simplicity and purposeful content. The key here is to be able to communicate the most important information quickly to the reader, while still keeping important technical data accessible and documented. When done right, this approach can save time and money on installations, service calls, and general troubleshooting.

The bottom line is to make sure you look for yourself. Ask the manufacturer for the most current documentation and review it with your own eyes. Make sure it’s easy to read, relevant and written to be used, not just for show. A dealer should have the best tools available to support their customers. End users want to make sure the up-time on the sign is maximized and any repairs can be done quickly and effectively. Updated and well written documentation is key to the long term support of an LED sign, and is an important requirement when choosing a manufacturer.

-Scott Hofheins

I hope this post has been informative and helpful. As usual, I welcome ALL constructive comments. Please feel free to comment and add anything I’ve missed, or additional tips you may have regarding this topic. Please visit www.vantageled.com for many other resources, white papers, and of course: Great looking LED Signs!

**All posts/thoughts/writings are strictly the viewpoint of me and me alone and do not reflect nor speak for Vantage LED’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, etc. unless specifically stated.

Which LED Sign manufacturer is the best?

-Deacon Wardlow

Comparing LED Sign manufacturers is difficult. The terms aren’t standard from one manufacturer to another which makes comparison challenging and many are often very tight-lipped about the processes which go into building their systems. Of course I'm going to be heavily biased and say the company I work for (Vantage LED) is at the top of any manufacturer comparison for Programmable LED Signs but as LeVar Burton famously said, “Don’t take my word for it.”  At the end of the day, it's about what you want/need to succeed.

This blog is written with the main goal of educating people on Programmable LED Display and Digital Signage topics and information so they can make an educated choice. Eventually there'll be a niche for every part of the Digital Signage market, filled by various companies making their specializations. The key is knowing which manufacturer will be a resource for your company and not just another source pushing the product.

It's frightening, you're out there pushing to get the jobs and a lot of sign shops have heavy costs they need to meet. LED Displays can be a lifesaver for sign businesses as they're such a quick turnkey product which has the potential of giving end-users more versatility than ever to reach out to their target customers and community. Unfortunately a lot of unscrupulous companies sell bad LED Displays and unwitting sign companies buy them; many companies are primarily looking at the dollar signs and buying into the line, "It's like TVs, they're all the same really..." A few months or a year later, the sign company seriously regrets the choice. Any profit quickly goes away to service work which has to be written-off to avoid potential unhappy customers, lawsuits and other issues. The biggest hit is to the brand (both the customers’ and the sign company's reputation) which has taken so long to build.  Both businesses watch as the brand quickly goes down the drain and a reputation which has taken a long time to build up is quickly ruined.

You've got to dig deep. There are once great companies who built in the USA and now they're going to China. They won't openly state where the systems are coming from, they'll still claim they build in the USA, which is sometimes partly true, and will hide the fact they’re exporting work and importing product. There's nothing wrong with using a balanced global supply chain, but manufacturers need to be open about where they get what they have and who's really designing, engineering, programming and quality-checking the product line.

At the end of the day, don’t be tricked by magic numbers, slippery geek speak or misdirection. Make sure you’re getting straight answers to straight questions. The more you know, the more you can be sure the manufacturer you choose is the partner who’ll help you succeed. A successful, supportive partner will make the difference between losing bids and winning them. That supportive, winning partner is going to be the best manufacturer for your business.

*Please comment here and/or email me directly with requests at deacon@vantageled.com. Vantage LED has white paper resources and more educational material on the website (http://www.vantageled.com), check out the site periodically as we’re constantly adding new material.

**Note all posts/thoughts/writings are strictly the viewpoint of me and me alone and do not reflect nor speak for Vantage LED’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, etc. unless specifically stated.

The Value of a Warranty

Warranties have been used as a sales tool for a very long time. Unfortunately, they have often been abused as an easy way to add ‘perceived value’ to the product and close a sale. It is a tempting practice - to be able to add so much value by just adding “10 year warranty” to the quote. However, this “free” add-on is NOT cost free by any means. In some cases, it is as worthless as the paper it’s written on and can cost end-users and dealers wasted time and money.

How do you tell a real warranty from a worthless one? Some things to check into:

Warranty Length
The current standard is 5 years. Do extra research on any company offering warranties in the double digits, and avoid anyone offering less than 5 years on their standard product. Personally, I’m not a fan of “value line” product (see my previous post ), but this usually carries a shorter warranty, usually 1-2 years. However, I don’t think the cheaper cost is worth the risk. A sign is your identification to the world, it should always look great!

Warranty Coverage
Do not assume that a warranty covers everything. Most standard warranties cover the replacement and repair of parts. This does not include any labor to physically install them into your sign. Some end users like this and some don’t, so it is usually provided as an add-on. Either way, you should know specifically what the warranty covers and does not cover before making a purchase.

Warranty Security
Is the warranty underwritten by a third party? Deacon had a great post about this in July. This is a very important factor to consider for both standard and on-site labor warranties. A warranty is only as good as the company that offers it. Underwritten warranties are a kind of “warranty insurance” that make sure existing warranties stay in effect through their lifetime.

Health of the Company
Does the company have what it takes to fully support you after the sale? Will they be there to support the warranty in 5 years? When you invest in a sign manufacturer you want to know they are profitable and will be available long term. Do your research; look for pictures, references, testimonials and resources (white papers, documentation).  

Visit the Factory
One of the best things you can do is to visit the factory directly. This helps you get a good idea of how much capacity they have and how much support they can provide. Some manufactures are very open about giving factory tours (we love doing this at Vantage LED), so take the opportunity if possible. Use your own eyes to determine if they can support you long term. Make sure they can show you their abilities, not just tell you how great they are.

Remember that the warranty does not always reflect the quality of a product or company. A good 5 year warranty should be standard with any LED sign, but the manufacturer should be able to back up this warranty with a quality product, support, and good documentation.

- Scott Hofheins

I hope this post has been informative and helpful. As usual, I welcome ALL constructive comments. Please feel free to comment and add anything I’ve missed, or additional tips you may have regarding this topic. Please visit www.vantageled.com for many other resources, white papers, and of course: Great looking LED Signs!

**All posts/thoughts/writings are strictly the viewpoint of me and me alone and do not reflect nor speak for Vantage LED’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, etc. unless specifically stated.

LED Manufacturer "Value Line" Options vs High Quality Standard

There are many approaches that LED sign manufacturers take when offering product. Some companies have different levels of quality and associated price for their product, others offer fewer options focusing on providing their best product to everyone. I would like to offer my insight into these different approaches. 

The "Value Line"

There will always be a market for low-end products with a rock bottom price. Manufacturers who offer these “value line” products are trying to expand market share and exposure. These types of LED signs typically use less sophisticated hardware (usually an embedded ARM controller) and tend to be built using lower quality components sourced from inexpensive overseas suppliers.

They usually come with a shorter warranty period (typically 1-2 years), and less long term support and parts availability. The software can be different from the manufacturer’s standard package and sometimes developed by the overseas supplier directly.

Of course the big benefit for the value line product is the affordability. Many organizations who would normally not be able to get an LED sign, now have the option to do so. Unfortunately the low price also comes with a higher risk of spending extra time and money on service calls and poorly designed hardware and software. The performance of these signs can often leave customers disappointed that the actual product doesn’t look as good as the manufacturer’s brochure. Over time, the market share gained by the manufacturer turns into a host of unhappy customers and no positive referrals.  

The High Quality Standard Approach

The other approach is to offer only the best product to everyone by providing a high quality product for a fair price. Balancing price and quality into a standard product can be a difficult thing to do for any manufacturer, but some do it very well. In this industry you get what you pay for, as long as you do your research first.This is important to remember because some suppliers will charge a high price for a perceived high quality product, but delivering a standard or value line product instead.

Higher quality signs use better components. This includes using a more powerful controller like an IPC (industrial PC) and internal video components that provide a higher refresh rate, frame rate, and pixel resolution. The LED driver components are better and have a longer lifetime. These are usually sourced from local or high end overseas suppliers.

The warranty should be at least 5 years on a standard product, and some manufacturers offer labor warranties as well. In this economy, a good warranty should be underwritten by a third party to make sure the warranty and parts are always available regardless of the manufacturers status.

Personally, I like the High Quality Standard approach. If you do something well, focus on it and do it well. The lure of expanding profits and market share have distracted many manufacturers, causing the product quality (and often profits) to suffer in the long run. This is bad for the customer and the industry in general. As I noted earlier, the key is to supply a quality product for a fair price. Do your research, and make sure you really get what you pay for.

An LED sign is a big investment and it should reflect the quality and pride of everyone involved, from the component suppliers to the manufacturer to the dealer and finally to the local business or organization using the sign every day.

- Scott Hofheins

I hope this post has been informative and helpful. As usual, I welcome ALL constructive comments. Please feel free to comment and add anything I’ve missed, or additional tips you may have regarding this topic. Please visit www.vantageled.com for many other resources, white papers, and of course: Great looking LED Signs!

**All posts/thoughts/writings are strictly the viewpoint of me and me alone and do not reflect nor speak for Vantage LED’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, etc. unless specifically stated.

The Future's so bright: Issues with "bright" LEDs for EMCs

-Deacon Wardlow
NITs, Lumens, Flux, Foot Candles*, however light output is tested you have to be sure the reported measurement is giving you the complete story. The output on your EMC (Electronic Message Center) may not be what you think it is. Overdriving LEDs still occurs in the industry because people believe brighter is better. When you look at the brightness rating on a system, be sure you get what you’re paying for.

The practice of overdriving LEDs has been around as long as LEDs themselves. An LED has a given rating for performance. Go under the rating for an LED and you’ll have mid to fair performance. At optimal rated driving (current passed through the LED) an LED will shine its brightest for the longest measure of time before it depreciates below useful levels. When someone overdrives the LED, they cause more current to flow through the LED.

LEDs work via PWM (pulse width modulation). The faster an LED pulses, the brighter it appears. The slower the pulse, the dimmer the LED appears. By increasing current to the LED, it’s overdriven and made to appear/test at higher levels than normal.

More current = more/brighter pulses = brighter LEDs. Unfortunately more current = more heat = faster degradation of the LED = shorter lifespan for the LED sign. Here’s a short example of the Overdrive factor and how much the lifespan of an LED is reduced:

While a manufacturer may claim higher brightness, be wary on how they obtain that brightness. If in doubt, ask them to name the manufacturer of the LED and go direct to the LED manufacturer to check brightness capability claims. A reputable manufacturer should be able to show proof the LEDs are all within rated ranges and not being overdriven and they should have no qualms with you verifying the information yourself. Don’t let claims of high brightness on an EMC blind you to the truth.

*For a deeper description of the abbreviations and terms, please check the online EMC glossary here.If you like it, please drop a thank you email to me (and the team at Vantage LED) for the info! Also read about NIT Values and Measurements here.

**Always feel free to comment here and/or email me directly with requests at deacon@vantageled.com. Vantage LED has white paper resources and more educational material on the website (http://www.vantageled.com), please check it out when you have a moment.

***Note all posts/thoughts/writings are strictly the viewpoint of me and me alone and do not reflect nor speak for Vantage LED’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, etc. unless specifically stated.

What is the Best Service Access Design for LED Signs?

Virtually every piece of electronic equipment has to be serviced or the internal components accessed at one time or another. This could be as simple as removing the battery cover, or as complex as taking apart a laptop to replace major components. In either situation the manufacturer must design a way for the consumer to access and service the equipment.

LED signs are no different, but have the added factor of being installed outdoors on a structure not easily accessed without a bucket truck or large ladder. To minimize safety risks and long term services costs it is imperative that LED manufacturers have a well designed access to service internal parts.

Some do this well, while others see serviceability as an afterthought, focusing more on volume sales than long term operation. Some advertise that the product is so good it will never need service. This is a nice idea, but not realistic at all. All electronic devices will need to be serviced or maintained at some point during their lifetime; the key is to find a manufacture with the lowest failure rate and who provides the best access design to save time and money on service calls.


So what is the best access design? Well there are four general approaches that most manufacturers use. I've summarized them below, starting with my least favorite:



Front Access Faces
This is a relatively new approach where the entire sign face hinges open to reveal the components. This design has initially appealed to many customers and manufacturers trying to find an innovative solution for service and repair. There is a right way to do this, but there are common issues when done incorrectly including water entry and door size limitations. There are additional issues concerning safety in the design. Some overseas manufacturers have used sub-par materials for the hinges, causing the entire face to dismount during service calls, endangering the safety of the service crew. This type of system done correctly has its place but it must be well designed and engineered, typically adding a substantial cost to the overall price of the LED sign.

Front Access Doors

This solution is similar to the access face approach, but uses smaller doors over multiple sections of a sign. This is often done when the signs are built using pre-fabricated sections pieced together at the factory during production. This approach has worked well for some, but also has drawbacks including restricted air flow inside the sign from the isolation of the sections. In my opinion this option is better than the entire face access, but still falls short for a good overall solution.

 Rear Access Doors
This approach uses multiple doors on the back of each sign to access the internal components and is a common design for many digital billboards and large format signs. This approach should only be used in these specific types of situations, with enough space behind the sign for a service “catwalk”. Otherwise, service is next to impossible using a bucket truck between back to back installations.  

Front Access LED Panels
In my opinion, this is the best overall solution. This approach lets you remove individual led modules (panels) to access the components. Early designs used screws to remove each module, but a small number of major manufacturers (like Vantage LED) currently use a latch system allowing a quick half turn to release each module, saving time and avoiding dropped screws. I have personally experienced virtually all of the other approaches and feel this is the best overall solution for most sign applications.




I come from a service background and know the frustration of poor access design all to well. The hassle and associated costs to service these signs can make a once exciting addition to a business become a dreaded symbol of frustration and wasted time. Don't forget this important factor when looking for a quality LED sign supplier and make sure they are in it for the long run.


I hope this post has been informative and helpful. As usual, I welcome ALL constructive comments. Please feel free to comment and add anything I’ve missed, or additional tips you may have regarding this topic. Please visit www.vantageled.com for many other resources, white papers, and of course: Great looking LED Signs!

**All posts/thoughts/writings are strictly the viewpoint of me and me alone and do not reflect nor speak for Vantage LED’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, etc. unless specifically stated.