> 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-prime-set/v-prime/smart-base.md).

# Your V Smart Base

The V Smart Base is the base that comes with the **V Prime Set**. It charges your Stick, extends Bluetooth range, and bridges your cook to WiFi so you can watch it from anywhere. This page covers everything specific to the Smart Base — power, charging, lights, sounds, and placement.

## Turning it on

There are a few ways to wake the Smart Base:

1. Press and hold the button for 1 second, then release.
2. Remove the Stick from the base.
3. Plug the base in to charge.

## Charging the base

* **Plug it in** with the included USB-C cable. Make sure the connection is secure and the outlet is live.
* The LED **flashes green** while the base is charging, and turns **solid green** once it's full.
* A full base runs for **about 14 hours** on its built-in battery — no wall outlet needed during the cook.
* The LED cycles through whatever the base is doing — so if it's charging *and* on WiFi, you'll see blue, then green.

> The Smart Base is **not** dishwasher safe. Wipe it with a damp cloth only. (Your Stick *is* dishwasher safe — the base is not.)

## What the lights mean

| LED color | What it means                                      |
| --------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| Blue      | Connected to WiFi                                  |
| White     | Working as an Xtender™ (extending Bluetooth range) |
| Green     | Charging the battery (Stick or base)               |
| Red       | Low battery / warning                              |

A couple of button behaviors to know:

* **Hold the button 5+ seconds, then release** → puts the base in **pairing mode** (lets the app connect to change settings or run firmware updates). LED shows a **fast white/blue flash**.
* **Mechanical reset button** → hard-reboots the base. A successful reboot cycles **red → green → blue → white**.

## What the sounds mean

| Sound                          | What it means                                                                     |
| ------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Long beep                      | A cook was added                                                                  |
| 3 quick beeps                  | Your early-warning temperature was reached                                        |
| Continuous beeping             | The target temperature was hit                                                    |
| 2 beeps every 3 seconds        | Ambient temperature is too high or too low for your alert settings                |
| 4 beeps every 3 seconds        | Ambient and/or internal temps are too high (or about to be) — check on your Stick |
| 2 short beeps every 10 seconds | The base lost connection with the Stick                                           |
| 1 short beep every 10 seconds  | The Stick's battery is low                                                        |

To stop the sound, just press the button.

## Placing it for the best signal

The Smart Base has a powerful antenna located **beneath the MeatStick logo**, so where you put it matters:

* **Keep the base within about 6 feet of your Stick — closer is better.** When the Stick is inside a smoker, grill, or oven, the metal walls weaken the Bluetooth signal, so the rated range on the box is for ideal line-of-sight, not real cooking.
* **Face the base toward your router** or the area where you'll be monitoring.
* **Keep metal objects** (tongs, spatulas, foil) away from the base — they can interfere.

Once the base has a solid signal from the Stick, it streams the data over WiFi, so you can leave the yard from there. The short Stick-to-base distance is what keeps the connection rock-solid. More on this in [Range and connection drops](/troubleshooting/troubleshooting/range-and-connection-drops.md).