Installing the Vector Vario

The Vector Vario must be attached only to the base of the left riser, on the inner side, and must not interfere with the speed bar system.

In flight, the Vector Vario should be aligned with the axis of flight. A deviation of ±20° is tolerated without affecting its performance.

The GPS uses an active ceramic antenna located at the top of the device to optimize reception in flight. On the ground, point the Vector Vario upward for a faster fix.

  • Proper installation of the Vector Vario should be part of your pre-flight checklist, to ensure it does not obstruct any part of the paraglider.

  • Right after takeoff, the Vario may not be perfectly aligned. Wait until you are comfortably settled in your harness, away from terrain and in stable air, before repositioning it (by hand or with your elbow). In the meantime, the climb rate indication remains functional even if the Vario is not properly aligned.

  • After takeoff, the Vector Vario requires a few turns to allow its algorithm to fully adapt, especially for wind detection. This initialization phase is very quick and usually takes less than one minute.
  • Arm position varies from pilot to pilot. If the arms are held very close to the risers, they can disturb the airflow and distort the measurements and calculations of the Vector Vario.
  • The Vector Vario incorporates a magnetometer in its measurements. The usual distance between the vario and the flight electronics on the cockpit is generally sufficient. However, certain devices (notably UHF/VHF transmitters) placed too close to the vario, especially when handled by hand, can interfere with its measurements and calculations. Similarly, the presence of strong magnets on the brake handles, if too close, can produce the same effect.

  • If the elastic tension is low (e.g. with thin risers), cross the elastic loop before locking it.

  • In an open harness, extend your legs forward to help visualize the flight axis and properly align the Vector Vario.

Starting and configuring the Vector Vario

This short video shows how to connect the Vector Vario to a smartphone and configure it using the Vector Vario Configurator. For more detailed guidance, refer to the Configurator’s help section. Since many options are available, we recommend enabling them gradually for easier familiarization.

  • Do not pair the Vector Vario via your phone’s operating system — the connection must be made through the Configurator.

  • The connection is only compatible with Chromium-based browsers (such as Chrome, Edge, Brave, …). Note: Firefox is not supported.

  • Make sure to disconnect the Configurator before connecting to a flight app (and vice versa). 
  • We recommend installing the Configurator as a web app on your phone, so it remains accessible even without a network connection.
  • If you use the Release & Rise or Netto features, we advise setting up a second configuration without them, so you can disable them in flight if needed (double click).
  • If you have created multiple glider profiles, make sure to check which profile is selected before takeoff (triple click).
  • Once the Vector Vario is powered on, wait for GPS lock (green LED blinking, usually within one minute), then wait an additional 30 seconds before takeoff to ensure the IGC recording will be valid (FAI CIVL).