This pixel protocol was designed by World Semi in China. WS2801 offers many of the benefits the WS28xx series is famous for, plus the addition of a clock line to allow refresh rates to be much higher. The control circuit comes in a SOP14 package, allowing for more flexibility with LED choice.
PixLite Support
Are you looking for WS2801 pixel drivers that work with Art-Net or sACN? All PixLite Mk1, Mk2, and Mk3 products support WS2801 as an available Pixel IC type, so get in touch with us to find out how the lighting specialists at Advatek can support you in your pixel lighting project.
Technical Specifications
| Clock Type | Clocked |
| Color Resolution | 8 bits |
| Physical Package | SOP14 |
| RGB | Yes |
| RGBW | See WS2814 |
| Output Pixel Voltage | 5V |
| PWM Rate | 2500Hz |
| Suitable Camera | Up to 84fps, see Refresh Rate and PWM Rate |
| Redundant Data Line | No |
WS2801 Advantages
- Presence of a clock allows for faster refresh rates
- High PWM rate allows for filming these pixels with cameras up to 84fps
WS2801 Disadvantages
- Only 8 bits of data for each color makes dimming curves less smooth
- Limited to 5V, causing short cable lengths
- No redundancy in data