It takes about two minutes. Once it’s on, the panes show live subway service and look after themselves.
Connect the cable to the port on the back and plug it into the wall. Any USB phone charger works if you need a spare.
After a few seconds the front pane blinks blue. That means it’s ready to set up.
Scan the Wi-Fi code on the card with your phone’s camera, or open your phone’s Wi-Fi settings and pick PaneLED-Setup. It has no password.
A setup page opens on its own after a few seconds.
No page? Open your browser and go to 192.168.4.1
In the Wi-Fi section at the top, pick your network, type its password and tap Connect. Keep the page open until it says Connected.
The page has more settings further down. You only need the Wi-Fi part, so leave the rest as it is.
Once it says Connected you’re done, and you don’t need to open the link it shows. Your phone goes back to your usual Wi-Fi by itself, and the panes light up within a minute.
PaneLED remembers your Wi-Fi from now on, even after it’s unplugged.
Each pane behind the front one carries a group of subway lines, lit in their own colour. This is how it comes set up; Graham can change the look for you.
Steady, in the line’s colourRunning normally. Planned weekend work looks the same.
Red and breathingDelays, suspensions or other trouble on those lines.
Everything dimNight mode, from 11 pm to 7 am.
The front pane
Warm whiteAll good.
Blinking blueWaiting to be set up. Start at step 2.
Dim amber, other panes darkOnline but nothing to show yet. If it lasts more than a few minutes, text Graham.
Amber pulsing, lines litThe subway feed is running late. It catches up by itself.
That network only exists while the front pane blinks blue. If it isn’t blinking, unplug PaneLED, wait ten seconds and plug it back in. If it was set up somewhere before, the blinking starts about 30 seconds after you plug it in.
Stand in the same room while you set it up.
Stay on PaneLED-Setup and go to 192.168.4.1 in your browser. If your phone says the network has no internet, choose to stay connected. That’s normal for this step.
Give it two minutes. If the front pane is breathing a dim amber after that, PaneLED is on your Wi-Fi but can’t get its picture yet. Text Graham and he’ll check his end.
Nothing to do. PaneLED keeps trying and picks up again by itself when your Wi-Fi is back.
Unplug PaneLED, wait ten seconds and plug it back in. When it can’t join the Wi-Fi it knows, the front pane starts blinking blue after about 30 seconds. Then start again from step 2.
PaneLED can’t get past Wi-Fi that asks you to sign in on a web page (hotels, dorms, some buildings) or work and school networks that need a username. It needs an ordinary home network with a password.
Blow dust off the panes rather than wiping it: a dry cloth charges the acrylic and pulls in more dust. If a pane needs cleaning, use a drop of dish soap in water on a microfiber cloth, then blot it dry. Never use alcohol, glass cleaner or acetone: they cloud acrylic and crack its cut edges.
PaneLED checks in with Graham’s PaneLED server over an encrypted connection to find out what to show. It has no camera or microphone.