Set up your VELA

Seven steps, about five minutes.

  1. Charge

    Plug in USB-C. Plugging in also wakes the display.

  2. Wake it

    Hold the BOOT button for about 2 seconds, until the screen refreshes. One quick tap will not wake it — that is deliberate, so it does not wake in a bag.

  3. Get the app

    The free VELA app for iPhone and Android. No account needed.

  4. Connect

    Open the app and tap Set up a VELA. It finds your display over Bluetooth.

  5. Pair

    The first time, the app asks you to pair. On VELA, hold UP and DOWN together for 3 seconds until it shows a 6-digit code, then type that code into the app. Only paired phones can change your VELA — anyone else nearby just sees its name.

  6. Join WiFi

    Pick your network in the app. 2.4 GHz only — VELA does not use 5 GHz. Home and office networks are both remembered, so you can move it between them.

  7. Choose a mode

    Tolls, buses, fuel, weather, flights, clock, calendar, medication and water reminders, and more. Change it any time from the app or the buttons on the device.

The app

The buttons on the device

UP/DOWN switch mode BOOT confirm

That is the same hint VELA prints along the bottom of its own menu. The menu closes by itself after 8 seconds. Two more gestures: hold UP and DOWN together for 3 seconds to pair a phone, or keep holding for 10 seconds and then press UP to forget every paired phone.

If something is not working

The screen is blank and nothing happens

Hold BOOT for a full 2 seconds — a short press is ignored on purpose. If it still does nothing, plug in USB-C, which wakes it and charges it at the same time.

The app cannot find my VELA

On battery, VELA sleeps between updates and cannot be found over Bluetooth until it wakes. Wake it first, then search again. On Android, check that Location permission is granted — the operating system requires it for Bluetooth scanning.

It will not join my WiFi

VELA uses 2.4 GHz only. If your router presents one network name for both bands, most will still work; if it does not connect, try a 2.4 GHz-only guest network. Check the password carefully — the app reports a wrong password as such.

A data mode shows dashes

That means it has not fetched yet. Data modes need WiFi; give it a few minutes after setup, or switch modes and back to force a refresh.

The app asks me to pair again

VELA no longer recognises this phone — it was unpaired, or every phone was forgotten on the device. Wake VELA, hold UP and DOWN together for 3 seconds, and type the new code into the app.

Adding a second phone

Each phone pairs the same way: hold UP and DOWN for 3 seconds on VELA and type the code into that phone's app. Up to 4 phones can be paired. VELA talks to one phone at a time, so close the app on the other phone first. The other phones are told a new phone was paired, and can remove it if that was not you.

I lost my phone, or got a new one

Hold UP and DOWN together for 10 seconds, then press UP to confirm. VELA forgets every paired phone but keeps its WiFi and settings. Then pair your new phone.

The screen says "Hold UP + DOWN for 3 s to pair a phone"

A phone that is not paired tried to change your VELA — usually an app older than 1.5.21. Update the VELA app, then pair.

I want to start over

The app can do a soft reset (clears settings) or a factory reset (clears everything, including WiFi and paired phones). Both are in Settings and need a paired phone. The only button gesture is forgetting paired phones, which keeps your settings and WiFi — so nothing gets wiped by accident.

Still stuck?

Email info@techcon-solution.com with your device's serial number — it is on the Devices screen in the app — and we will help.