Wire-free mowers skip the most tedious part of the old installs, burying a perimeter wire. Setup still takes an afternoon to get right. These steps apply to most 2026 models; follow your mower's app where it differs.
1. Place the charging dock
- On level ground at the edge of the lawn, within reach of an outdoor outlet.
- With room to approach straight on: most docks need several feet of clear lawn in front.
- Away from sprinkler heads and downspouts.
2. Set up positioning
Network RTK models (Navimow X4, i110 in covered areas, LUBA 3 3000/5000): confirm coverage in the app. You may not need an antenna at all.
Antenna models: mount the antenna where it sees the most open sky, as high as the instructions allow, away from walls and trees. Use the app's signal check before committing to a spot.
LiDAR-only models (YUKA mini 2, A3 AWD Pro, LUBA 3 1500): no antenna. They map using their surroundings.
3. Map the lawn
- Clear toys, hoses and branches.
- Drive the mower around the edge with the app's remote control, or use auto-mapping if your model has it.
- Keep the first pass slightly inside hard edges like walls and pools, then fine-tune the boundary in the app.
- Draw no-go zones around beds, play sets, tree bases and anything you don't want touched.
- Connect separate lawn areas with channels the mower can follow.
4. Set the schedule and height
Start with the cutting height high, then lower it over a few sessions. Short, frequent sessions work better than one long one: clippings stay small and disappear into the lawn. Many owners run the mower in the evening, after kids and pets are inside.
5. Turn on security
Set a PIN, enable lift and theft alerts, and confirm GPS tracking works if your mower has 4G.
6. Winter storage
- Clean the deck and blades, and charge the battery to the level your manual recommends.
- Store the mower indoors somewhere cool and dry.
- Unplug the dock or bring it in if your manual advises it.
- Check for firmware updates before spring.