How Robotic Mower Installation Works: Wired and Wire-Free

Installing a robotic lawn mower means doing three things: placing the charging station, defining where the mower is allowed to go, and testing the result. With a wired mower you define the area by laying a boundary wire around the lawn. With a wire-free mower you map a virtual boundary in an app, and some models also need an antenna with a clear view of the sky.

Last reviewed: October 2026. The details on this page come from manufacturer manuals and support pages, linked under Sources. Always follow the manual for your own model.

The three kinds of installation

Boundary wire: a wire is pegged down or buried around the edge of the lawn and around obstacles. This takes the most labor.
Satellite positioning with a local antenna: no wire, but an antenna or reference station has to be mounted where it can see the sky.
Network positioning or cameras: no wire and no antenna to mount. Setup is done almost entirely in the app.

Step 1: Plan the layout

Husqvarna’s instructions start with a sketch of the yard that marks every obstacle and tricky spot, then the best positions for the charging station and the wires. The same planning helps with any brand. Note slopes, narrow passages, flowerbeds, trees, pools, and anything the mower should stay away from.

Step 2: Place the charging station

The charging station goes on level ground near a power outlet, with open lawn in front of it so the mower can dock. Each model has its own clearance requirements, so check the manual.

Husqvarna advises against fixing the station to the ground until all the wires are installed and you have confirmed that the installation works. That advice saves rework if the station has to move.

Step 3: Lay the boundary wire (wired mowers)

The boundary wire starts and ends behind the charging station and runs around the whole work area. There are two ways to fix it in place:

Pegging: the wire is stapled to the surface and the grass grows over it. Husqvarna’s manual recommends this if you expect to adjust the layout.
Burying: the wire goes into a shallow slit in the ground. The manual recommends this if you dethatch or aerate the lawn. Husqvarna gives a depth of 1 to 20 cm, which is about half an inch to 8 inches.

The wire has to sit at a set distance from the edge, and the distance depends on what is on the other side. For the Automower 435X AWD, for example, the figures are 35 cm (14 in) from a wall, 30 cm (12 in) from a flowerbed, and 10 cm (4 in) from paving that is level with the lawn. Husqvarna packs a ruler in the box for measuring this.

Obstacles in the middle of the lawn get their own loop of wire, which Husqvarna calls an island.

Step 4: Lay the guide wire (wired mowers)

A guide wire runs from the charging station out across the lawn and joins the boundary wire. It helps the mower find its way home and reach remote parts of the yard. On most Automower models it has to run straight for at least 2 meters (6.5 ft) in front of the station and stay at least 30 cm (12 in) away from the boundary wire. Once it is connected, the guide wire is calibrated and you confirm that the mower can follow it back to the station.

Plan of a lawn showing the boundary wire set back from a wall, a flowerbed, and paving, with a guide wire and an island around a tree — Example layout. The distances shown are for the Automower 435X AWD, so use the figures in your own manual.

Wire-free installation

A wire-free mower skips steps 3 and 4. The work moves to two other jobs.

Antenna placement. Segway’s manual for its Navimow i-series calls choosing the antenna location one of the most important steps in setup. The sky directly above the antenna has to be clear of trees and roofs. When no spot at ground level works, makers such as Greenworks offer extension kits for mounting the antenna on a roof. Some newer mowers need no local antenna at all: Segway says its Network RTK models connect through the app wherever that coverage is available.

Mapping. You create the boundary in the app, usually by steering the mower around the edge of the lawn. Some models use a camera to follow the lawn edge and map it with less steering. Areas to avoid are added to the map the same way.

Segway says most owners can install a Navimow without outside help.

Test before you trust it

Watch the first full mowing run from start to finish
Check that the mower docks cleanly from more than one direction
Watch every narrow passage and every obstacle
Adjust the wire or the map where the mower gets stuck or strays

How long installation takes

A wire-free setup is commonly described as taking one to two hours. A wired installation on a simple lawn is an afternoon of work, and longer if the wire is buried or the yard has many obstacles.

What a professional installer does

A professional does the same steps with better tools. Husqvarna’s standard professional installation includes a walk-through of the property, placing the charging station, fully burying the boundary and guide wires, or mapping the yard and mounting the reference station for a wire-free mower, then firmware updates, app pairing, and a tutorial. See what installers charge for prices.

Common installation mistakes

Laying the wire too close to walls, beds, or drop-offs
Putting the charging station on a slope or in a cramped corner
Mounting an antenna under trees or roof overhangs
Burying the wire before testing the layout
Skipping the first supervised run

Frequently asked questions

Can I install a robotic lawn mower myself?

Yes. Wired mowers come with or support a self-installation kit, and wire-free mowers are designed to be set up through an app.

How deep should boundary wire be buried?

Husqvarna gives a range of 1 to 20 cm, about half an inch to 8 inches. Check the manual for your own model.

Is it better to peg or bury the wire?

Pegging is easier to adjust. Burying protects the wire if you dethatch or aerate. The two can be combined on the same lawn.

Do all wire-free mowers need an antenna?

No. Some need an antenna or reference station with a clear view of the sky. Others use network positioning or cameras and have nothing to mount.

Related guides

Sources

Home Robotics Services is an independent reference site. It is not affiliated with any manufacturer, dealer, or installer named on this page.