# 128x64 P2.5 outdoor panel won't work with Adafruit Triple Matrix Bonnet, any ideas?

**URL:** <https://rpi-rgb-led-matrix.discourse.group/t/128x64-p2-5-outdoor-panel-wont-work-with-adafruit-triple-matrix-bonnet-any-ideas/1181>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [February 3, 2026, 12:00pm UTC](https://rpi-rgb-led-matrix.discourse.group/t/128x64-p2-5-outdoor-panel-wont-work-with-adafruit-triple-matrix-bonnet-any-ideas/1181 "2026-02-03T12:00:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rlchard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/439d5e/32.png) [@rlchard](https://rpi-rgb-led-matrix.discourse.group/u/rlchard)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 12:00pm UTC](https://rpi-rgb-led-matrix.discourse.group/t/128x64-p2-5-outdoor-panel-wont-work-with-adafruit-triple-matrix-bonnet-any-ideas/1181/1 "2026-02-03T12:00:46Z")

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Going slightly mad here. I’ve got 6 Chinese 128x64 P2.5 outdoor panels that I cannot get working with an Adafruit Triple LED Matrix Bonnet on a Pi 4.

Panel specs from the label: MS-P2.5-251101, scan rate 1/16, FM6373D driver IC. The label also says “2C” - two chained panels interally?

I’ve tried every combination of row-addr-type, multiplexing modes, parallel settings, and GPIO mappings I can think of. Fresh Pi OS install, verified power with a multimeter, tried all three ports on the bonnet, three different bonnets. Nothing but a black screen.

When I had six of these same panels connected across two chains initially, I saw a red and blue rectangle appear on the very last panel in the chain on Port 2 after running

`sudo ./demo --led-rows=64 --led-cols=128 --led-chain=3 --led-parallel=2 --led-gpio-mapping=regular --led-brightness=50 --led-slowdown-gpio=4 -D 0`

That’s the only sign of life I’ve ever seen. No idea what to make of that..

Has anyone got FM6373D panels or similar 1/16 scan outdoor 128x64s working ? Thanks so much

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**Author:** ![board707](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc79bd/32.png) [@board707](https://rpi-rgb-led-matrix.discourse.group/u/board707)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 2:35pm UTC](https://rpi-rgb-led-matrix.discourse.group/t/128x64-p2-5-outdoor-panel-wont-work-with-adafruit-triple-matrix-bonnet-any-ideas/1181/2 "2026-02-03T14:35:39Z")

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> [@rlchard](#):
>
> FM6373D driver IC

This chip is not supported, the panel can’t be used with the library

> [@rlchard](#):
>
> Has anyone got FM6373D panels or similar 1/16 scan outdoor 128x64s working ?

The problem is not that the panel is 128x64 1\16 scan, but in the 6373 chip.

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**Author:** ![rlchard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/439d5e/32.png) [@rlchard](https://rpi-rgb-led-matrix.discourse.group/u/rlchard)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 4:24pm UTC](https://rpi-rgb-led-matrix.discourse.group/t/128x64-p2-5-outdoor-panel-wont-work-with-adafruit-triple-matrix-bonnet-any-ideas/1181/3 "2026-02-03T16:24:50Z")

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Thanks for your reply. I saw it on this list which is linked from the main rgb gh page and thought it might be compatible as a result - [Led\_drivers · board707/DMD\_STM32 Wiki · GitHub](https://github.com/board707/DMD_STM32/wiki/Led_drivers)

I fear I’ve gone too far down a rabbit hole trying to get this specific set up to work. Might you have a recommendation on how I might proceed? Hoping to be setting this up as a dynamic and interactive round timer for my gym.

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**Author:** ![board707](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc79bd/32.png) [@board707](https://rpi-rgb-led-matrix.discourse.group/u/board707)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 8:05pm UTC](https://rpi-rgb-led-matrix.discourse.group/t/128x64-p2-5-outdoor-panel-wont-work-with-adafruit-triple-matrix-bonnet-any-ideas/1181/4 "2026-02-03T20:05:17Z")

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> [@rlchard](#):
>
> I saw it on this list

It marked as “Special”. You can see in the table legend that chips marked this label are compatible with DMD\_STM32 library only.

> [@rlchard](#):
>
> Might you have a recommendation on how I might proceed?

The only option at the time is use a RP2040 arduino board with the DMD\_STM32 library.

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**Author:** ![marcmerlin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/rpi-rgb-led-matrix.discourse.group/marcmerlin/32/40_2.png) [@marcmerlin](https://rpi-rgb-led-matrix.discourse.group/u/marcmerlin)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 3:47am UTC](https://rpi-rgb-led-matrix.discourse.group/t/128x64-p2-5-outdoor-panel-wont-work-with-adafruit-triple-matrix-bonnet-any-ideas/1181/5 "2026-02-04T03:47:18Z")

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you already have the answer and you already bought them, but please understand those panels and chips work all the time. You simply cannot buy random panels without caring what chips they use, and expect them to work. It would be nice if things worked that way, but they do not for RGBPanels, sadly.
