> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.themeatstick.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.themeatstick.com/v-core-set/v-core/set-up.md).

# Set it up

The MeatStick V Core Set is the simplest, lowest-price way into the V Series ecosystem. One V Series Stick, one stackable charger, three colored ID rings. No WiFi, no smart base — just the Stick paired directly to your phone over Bluetooth.

## What it's for

* **Entry buyers** — first wireless meat thermometer, want V Series accuracy without paying for the WiFi/ambient features they don't need yet
* **Existing V Forge / V Prime / V Duo owners** — adding a second (or third, or fourth) Stick to their rig. Same MeatStick App, same Hub manages every Stick, no duplicate smart hardware to buy

## What's in the box

See

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[What's in the box](/v-core-set/v-core/whats-in-the-box.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

## First-time setup

1. **Plug in the stackable charger** with the included USB-C cable
2. **Place the Stick on the charger** — let it charge for about an hour before first use
3. **Download the MeatStick App** for iOS or Android
4. **Pair the Stick** through the app's "Add device" flow
5. **Assign a color ring** — slip one of the included silicone rings onto the Stick's handle and pick the matching color in the app. (This matters most once you're running more than one Stick.)
6. **Insert the Stick into your meat** up to the line on the steel shaft, set your cook in the app, you're done

## Keep your phone close — the V Core Set is phone-direct

The V Core Set doesn't ship with a Smart Base or WiFi Hub. Your phone is the receiver, talking directly to the Stick over Bluetooth. **Keep your phone within about 6 feet of your Stick during a cook — closer is better.**

When your Stick is enclosed inside a grill, oven, smoker, or sous vide bath, the cooking environment weakens the Bluetooth signal. Sealed smoker walls, water (sous vide), and metal vessels (sous vide in a metal pot, deep frying) make it worse. Without a Base or Hub to extend the signal, you don't have a WiFi fallback — so the phone needs to stay near the cooker.

If you want to leave the yard or monitor from another room, you'd step up to one of the V Series Sets with a built-in WiFi receiver — [V Prime](/v-prime-set/v-prime/whats-in-the-box.md), [V Duo](/v-duo-set/v-duo/whats-in-the-box.md), or [V Forge](/v-forge-set/v-forge.md).

> **First-charge note:** New Sticks ship in a low-voltage protection state. Lifting a brand-new Stick off the charger before its first charge will look like nothing is happening — that's normal. After \~10 seconds on a powered charger, the protection state clears.

## When V Core isn't enough

V Core is built for cooks where you don't need ambient temperature monitoring. If your cooks need pit/oven temperature too:

* **Want simpler setup with built-in ambient?** → [V Prime Set](/v-prime-set/v-prime/whats-in-the-box.md)
* **Doing long smoker cooks where pit-temp accuracy matters?** → [V Forge Set](/v-forge-set/v-forge.md) (wired ambient probe at grate)
* **Want at-a-glance temp on a built-in display?** → [V Duo Set](/v-duo-set/v-duo/whats-in-the-box.md) (LCD on the base, two Sticks)