Setup Guide

Flight Tracker Mach 2 sets itself up over its own Wi-Fi network — no app, no cable, no computer. Plug the display into power. The LED matrix shows WIFI SETUP · JOIN WIFI and a network name like FTLED-2A9B (the last four characters are unique to your display).

1. On your phone, open Wi-Fi settings and join the FTLED-XXXX network shown on the panel. It has no password.
2. A FlightTrackerLED setup page opens by itself within a few seconds. If it doesn't, stay on that network and open http://192.168.4.1 in your browser.

1. The page lists the 2.4 GHz networks the display can see. Tap yours, or Scan again.
2. Enter your Wi-Fi password and tap Connect. Watch the panel: CONNECTING, then WIFI OK.
3. Tap Done. The hotspot closes and the display restarts on your Wi-Fi.

Your password travels only between your phone and the display over its own hotspot. It is never sent to FlightTrackerLED servers.

Once online, the display registers itself and shows ENTER CODE with a short code on two lines (like ABCD-EFGH / JKMN), alternating with the portal address. Everything after this lives in the owner portal at settings.flighttrackerled.com, from any device, anywhere.

1. Reconnect your phone to your own Wi-Fi and open settings.flighttrackerled.com.
2. Choose Enter the code from my display, type the code as ABCD-EFGH-JKMN and your email. We create your account (or email a one-tap sign-in link if you already have one) and link the display — it appears under My displays.
3. Within about half a minute the panel switches to live flights. Then set your location: type your ZIP code or drag the pin on the map, and size the coverage circle to the sky you care about.

You don't need this to start. Overhead scanning and following a specific flight (once it's airborne) — live position, altitude, and speed — are included free with every Mach 2. A personal FlightAware AeroAPI key unlocks the extras: pre-departure schedule and status (estimated departure, delays, taxiing) for true gate-to-gate tracking, and the Departure Board.

1. Create a key at flightaware.com/aeroapi/signup/personal (the Personal tier; check their current pricing and monthly included credit).
2. In the portal, open the FlightAware API key card and paste it in.
3. We verify the key with FlightAware before saving, store it securely per box, and only ever show the last 4 characters again.

The app selector at the top of the portal switches your display live — no reboot, it changes in front of you.

Overhead Scanner (the default) — live planes over your coverage area, with each one's route, altitude, speed, and airline.

Specific Flight Tracking

1. Enter a flight number in the Flight tracking card — airline style like UA970 or ICAO style like UAL970, either works.
2. The display follows it live — position, altitude, speed, time remaining. After landing it shows Landed, then returns to overhead scanning on its own about 20 minutes after arrival; clearing the field switches back anytime.

Departure Board — pick the app, enter an airport code such as ORD or JFK, and choose a refresh interval. Snow and ambient scenes live in the same selector.

• Brightness — dial it to match your room, night-stand dim to daylight bright.
• Flight display time & scroll speed — how long each plane holds when several are overhead (it always finishes scrolling first), and how fast the details move.
• Overhead flight filters — only show planes by altitude, speed, or direction of travel (the compass picker — "only northbound traffic" is two clicks). Leave blank for everything.
• Detail fields — choose which facts scroll for each plane: airline, aircraft, callsign, route, altitude, speed, and more.

Curious before your box arrives? Try every control in the live demo.

Your Mach 2 receives free OTA updates automatically — new features ship straight to your display over Wi-Fi.

• Don't see FTLED-XXXX in your phone's Wi-Fi list? Stand near the display and refresh the list — the hotspot broadcasts only while the panel shows JOIN WIFI. If the panel shows PLUG IN USB-C, use the USB path in Step 1.
• Setup page didn't open by itself? Stay on the FTLED network and open http://192.168.4.1 in your browser. If your phone keeps jumping back to cellular, turn mobile data off for a minute.
• Panel says CHANGE WIFI? It can't reach the Wi-Fi it knows (new router or password). Join its hotspot and pick the network again — it keeps retrying on its own and stays linked to your account.
• Lost the code, or it says invalid? Unplug the display and plug it back in — a fresh code appears after every restart. Codes are single-use and tied to your display.
• USB setup: device not showing up? Use Chrome or Edge on desktop with a USB data cable. Try a different cable or USB port.
• USB setup: "Firmware did not answer"? Unplug, wait a few seconds, replug, click Connect again.
• No flights showing? Widen the coverage circle on the portal map — and check the flight filters aren't set tighter than you meant (Clear resets any of them).
• Specific flight not found? Confirm the flight is active today — UA970 or UAL970 both work. Without a linked FlightAware key, tracking starts once the aircraft is airborne.
• Departure Board is blank? Check the airport code, your linked FlightAware key, and the refresh interval.
• Worried about API usage? Increase the refresh interval, reduce displayed flights, and check FlightAware's My AeroAPI usage page.
• Settings not reaching the box? Changes apply within seconds when the display is online — the portal shows a live online/offline dot for your box.
• Need to start over? Join the display's hotspot and pick a network again — the new one replaces the old. Over USB, Clear WiFi on the classic setup page resets network settings.
• Still stuck? Contact us — we respond quickly.