Support & Help

I'm Harry — I build every NearestPlane by hand. Here are answers to the most common questions, and I'm always a message away.

Quick help
🚀

Setting up for the first time

Connect to WiFi, enter your location, and get tracking in minutes.

Go to setup guide →
🖥️

Change what's on the display

Pick which data shows on each line — flight number, route, speed and more.

Learn how →
📶

WiFi or connection problems

Can't connect? Showing "Scanning..."? Start here.

Troubleshoot →
Getting started

Setting up for the first time

Takes about 5 minutes. You'll need your WiFi password and your rough location.

1

Plug it in

Use any USB-C power source — a phone charger, wall adapter, or USB port. The display will light up and show a WiFi network name like NearestPlane-Setup.

2

Connect your phone or laptop to that WiFi network

It's an open network — no password needed. Once connected, a setup page should open automatically. If it doesn't, open your browser and go to 192.168.4.1.

3

Fill in the setup form

Enter your home WiFi name and password, then your latitude and longitude. You can find your coordinates at latlong.net — just open it on your phone and it'll show you.

4

Press Save & Connect

The device will restart and connect to your WiFi. You might see "Connecting..." for 10–15 seconds. Once connected it will start showing the nearest aircraft straight away.

5

Press the RESET button if the screen freezes after setup

This is completely normal — just press the small RESET button on the side of the board once. It's not a fault.

📄

Full step-by-step setup guide

The setup page on the website has detailed instructions with screenshots: nearestplane.com/setup

Customisation

Changing what's on the display

You can choose exactly which information appears on each line — and you can change it any time.

🔘

How to re-enter setup mode

While the display is running, hold the UP and DOWN buttons at the same time for 3 seconds. They're the two small buttons on the same side as the USB-C port. The screen will count down 3… 2… 1… then restart into the setup page where you can change any setting.

▲ UP + ▼ DOWN hold for 3 seconds

Your display has three lines. Here's what each one shows:

Line 1 BA0283 — always the flight number / callsign
Line 2 LHR→JFK — your choice (scrolls through options)
Line 3 35,000ft · 520kt — your choice (scrolls through options)

In the setup page, scroll to What to Display and tick or untick what you want:

show_flightno
Flight number BA0283

The IATA flight code. Always shown on line 1 — can't be turned off.

show_route
Route LHR→JFK

Origin and destination airports in IATA code format.

show_type
Aircraft type B789

The ICAO aircraft type code — e.g. B789 = Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

show_alt
Altitude 35,000ft+

Current barometric altitude in feet. A + means the aircraft is climbing, − means descending.

show_speed
Ground speed 520kt

Speed over ground in knots.

show_dist
Distance from you 12.4mi

How far the aircraft currently is from your set location.

show_heading
Heading 270°

The direction the aircraft is flying, in degrees. Off by default.

show_bearing
Bearing from you NW

Which direction the aircraft is relative to your location. Off by default.

Flight number, route, aircraft type, altitude, speed, and distance are all on by default. Heading and bearing are off by default — tick them in the setup page to enable them. The display scrolls through whichever ones you have enabled.

Troubleshooting

WiFi & connection problems

Most issues can be fixed in a minute or two.

✕

Device won't connect to my WiFi

NearestPlane only supports 2.4 GHz WiFi — it won't connect to a 5 GHz network. Most routers broadcast both; check your router app or settings for a separate 2.4 GHz network name. Also double-check your password for any special characters.

✕

Screen shows "Scanning…" but no planes appear

This just means there are no commercial aircraft within your search radius right now — it's normal. Planes will appear as they fly near you. If it stays on "Scanning..." for a long time, try increasing your radius in setup mode.

✕

Screen is frozen after setup

Press the small RESET button on the side of the board once. This is completely normal after first setup — the device just needs a quick restart to begin tracking.

✕

Can't get into setup mode

Hold both the UP and DOWN buttons simultaneously for a full 3 seconds — the screen will show a countdown. If you're pressing them one at a time, it won't work. The buttons are on the same side as the USB-C port.

🔧

Remote help available

If your device is online I can send a remote reset or push a fix directly to it. Just WhatsApp me and I'll sort it.

Common questions
How do I update my location? ▾
Hold UP + DOWN for 3 seconds to re-enter setup mode, then scroll to the Location section and update your latitude and longitude. You can find your coordinates at latlong.net.
How do I change my search radius? ▾
Re-enter setup mode (hold UP + DOWN for 3 seconds) and update the Radius field. The default is 15 miles. A larger radius means more planes appear but you'll see aircraft that are further away from you. A smaller radius keeps it tight to your immediate area.
What is night mode? ▾
Night mode automatically blanks the display between two times you set (default: 11pm to 6am), so it doesn't light up your room overnight. Re-enter setup mode and scroll to the Night Mode section to turn it on and set the start and end hours.
Can you reset my device remotely? ▾
Yes — if your device is online I can send a remote reset command or push a firmware update. Just message me and I'll sort it.
What power supply does it need? ▾
Any USB-C power source: a phone charger, USB wall adapter, laptop USB port, or power bank. It needs 5V and draws around 2A at full brightness. Most standard USB-C chargers will work fine.
Why does it only show some airlines? ▾
By default, the device shows commercial airlines only. In setup mode you can also enable military aircraft, helicopters, or general aviation. The device uses ADS-B transponder data — any aircraft that isn't broadcasting won't appear.
How do I find my latitude and longitude? ▾
Go to latlong.net on your phone or computer — it detects your location automatically and shows your coordinates. Enter the numbers exactly as shown during setup.
Can I change my WiFi network later? ▾
Yes — hold UP + DOWN for 3 seconds at any time to re-enter setup mode. You can update the WiFi name and password in the setup form without changing any of your other settings.
What does the device show when no planes are near? ▾
It shows "Scanning..." and continues checking every 30 seconds. As soon as an aircraft enters your radius, it will appear. This is normal — there genuinely may not be any planes overhead right now.
📱

NFC tag on your device

Your NearestPlane has an NFC tag built in. Hold your phone against the side of the device (opposite the logo) and my contact details will pop up automatically — no need to search for this page.

Get in touch
📞

Call me

+44 7429 211546
💬

Text me

+44 7429 211546
✉️

Email

[email protected]