When the RTC powers on for the first time (or after a factory reset), a getting-started wizard guides you through pairing with your WVC base station. No app or phone is needed.
Getting Started Wizard
The wizard appears automatically when the RTC is not paired with a base station.
Step 1: Welcome
A welcome screen with the LF Audio logo greets you with "Let's get you connected" and the prompt "Tap to begin." Tap the screen or turn the encoder to continue.
Step 2: Before We Connect
An information screen reminds you to make sure your LF Audio device is powered on and nearby, and that its firmware is up to date. Tap the screen, press the encoder, or turn the encoder to continue.
Step 3: Put Your Device in Pairing Mode
An illustration of the WVC base station's rear panel shows you where the Reset button is located (on the left side). Press the button on your base station three times, until the front light flashes, then tap the screen to start pairing.
The triple press is non-destructive: your base station keeps its existing settings and any other paired controllers, so there is nothing to choose and nothing to lose. The RTC simply joins whatever is already there.
While the WVC is in pairing mode, its front-panel light flashes to indicate it is broadcasting. The RTC can only detect the WVC during this flashing-light window: an idle WVC is not visible. If the light stops flashing before the RTC connects, press the button three times again to put the WVC back into pairing mode.
Once you complete this step, the RTC begins searching for the base station. When pairing completes, a "Connected!" success screen appears for a few seconds and the RTC restarts. After the restart, it connects directly to the base station and the main volume display appears.
The RTC always shows a list of every LF Audio device it finds in pairing mode, so you choose which one to connect to. Alongside a WVC base station, the RTC can also pair with an SSA analyzer, a WTH temperature hub, or a High Precision Voltmeter (firmware 4.4.1, 4.6.0, and 4.8.0 respectively). The views on the main screen follow whichever device you paired with: a base station adds the volume, temperature, and audio analysis views, while a High Precision Voltmeter turns the RTC into a read-only voltage gauge that shows the meter's live per-channel voltages (2 channels on a High Precision Voltmeter, 4 on the PRO), each as a large number over a trend graph.
If the wizard does not find the WVC within about 30 seconds, the RTC stays on the Pairing screen and you can long-press to open the menu and either retry, swipe back to a previous wizard step, or perform a factory reset. There is no hard time-out: the RTC will keep scanning until you connect, cancel, or power off.
Choosing which device to connect to
When the RTC begins searching, it lists every LF Audio device it finds, one per row. Each row names the device and shows a signal-strength indicator, so you can tell units apart when more than one is nearby. Turn the encoder or tap to highlight the one you want, then press the encoder or tap it again to select it and connect. If the device you expected is not listed, make sure it is powered on and in pairing mode (its light flashing) so it can appear.
What to Expect After Pairing
After the restart, the RTC connects directly to the base station:
- Connecting: the screen shows "Connecting" while the wireless link is established
- Connected: the main volume display appears, and you're ready to go
On subsequent power-ups, the RTC skips the wizard and connects automatically.
How to confirm pairing is complete
You know pairing has finished when the main Volume view appears with live data:
- A volume percentage (or dB reading) is visible in the center
- A voltage reading is shown
- On a WVC-PRO base, the temperature reading is also live
- Rotating the encoder changes the volume; the change is reflected on the screen immediately
If any of these are missing or show dashes, the RTC has paired but data is not yet flowing. Wait 5 to 10 seconds for the first telemetry packet; if it still doesn't appear, the link may have dropped after pairing. See Troubleshooting.
Connection Screens
During the connection process, the RTC shows different status messages:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pairing | Searching for a base station while in pairing mode (during first-time setup or after factory reset) |
| Connecting | Establishing the wireless link to a known base station |
| Connecting ("Signal lost / Reconnecting to base station...") | Lost connection. Automatically trying to reconnect |
Automatic Reconnection
If the RTC loses its connection to the base station (for example, if the base station is powered off and back on), it will automatically attempt to reconnect. You will see a "Connecting" status with a "Signal lost / Reconnecting to base station" message during this process.
The RTC also includes an automatic channel scanner that finds the best wireless channel for communication. If no data has been received from the base station for about 15 seconds, the scanner activates and sweeps every available channel to find the base station again. A full sweep typically takes another 5 to 10 seconds, so the worst-case recovery is on the order of 15 to 25 seconds. Once the link is re-established, the main display returns automatically.
Pairing a New Base Station
If you replace your base station or need to pair with a different unit, use Forget Base to clear the stored pairing:
- Long-press the screen or encoder button to open the menu
- Select Advanced
- Select Forget Base
- Select Confirm Forget
- The RTC will restart and the getting started wizard will appear again, ready to pair with a new base station
Your colors, display preferences, units, and saved WiFi networks are all kept.
Use Factory Reset instead only if you also want to clear your display preferences and color theme, for example before selling the unit. See Menus and Settings for the full comparison.
Encrypted Communication
The RTC supports encrypted wireless communication with the base station. When encryption is enabled, the two devices negotiate unique encryption keys during the pairing process. You can verify the encryption status in the System Info screen.
If pairing fails or the RTC cannot find the base station, make sure the base station is powered on and within wireless range. Moving the RTC closer to the base station can help during initial pairing.