Haven’t seen anything for setting up your phone as a controller except to download the app. A few things I’ve learned by trial and error. Put the phone in airplane mode. A little ironic, but I certainly don’t want to be interrupted by calls or wifi push notices. Although I use an older phone without a sim I still get WIFI and need that off. The other annoyance I was having was the status bar showing up over the blackhawk app (time was right over the calibration gear). There is no easy way to turn off the status bar on android so I turned off screen rotation (blackhawk app still displays in landscape). Status bar still displays occasionally, but now it appears on the left side of the screen. Maybe firmware can correct this at some point.
On mine, my Android phone will cut the WiFi automatically when it sees no data is coming from the drone. SOMETIMES and oddly not all the time a popup thing will come up that says “Connected to (drone), no WiFi, tap for options”, and I can tap “Stay Connected” and I get the drone’s feed. OTHER TIMES I am going into my WiFi advanced settings and changing the security settings, not to any one particular thing, but changing from “Device MAC” or “Randomized MAC”, one or the other, then it works.
Sounds like you’re using a different thing though, on Airplane Mode how can you connect to the drone?
I am connected to the drone controller through a USB cable (which I just replaced). The controller connects to the drone through radio that it controlls.
For those who have the Blackhawk 2 Pro from EXO I have downloaded the manual from Hubsan - much more readable than that tiny pamphlet EXO shipped. (same as Hubsan Ace)
At first, and this is my first year in business, I got an Exo Ranger drone. I could not keep that thing in the air, and it currently won’t fly because a motor burnt up. I believe the issue was the Laser avoidance thing, it prevented it from landing and responding to controls to get away from trees and whatnot. Right now I’m flying a Walmart drone,
I love this thing, it flies easy, but, it’s not a 4K camera. But it’s got me more comfortable flying drones in general so I intend soon to fork out the 85$ to fix the motor on my Exo drone and fly that without the stupid laser obstacle avoidance thing on it.
The Walmart drone controller doesn’t have a USB port. The Exo does have it but I haven’t tried using it, and both of these drones work the same with connecting to WiFi. I’ve only been using the phone screen to see the camera, and the physical controller does all the flying.
I don’t see how you can hold that rig and fly the drone. But you have me interested because right now I’m taking A LOT of pictures on the memory card and then blowing them up on a PC screen later to complete the inspection and I want to move towards more efficiency and increase my number of inspections
The base your using for your Ipad looks interesting Roy. Does that fit where the phone was designed to go? If so I’d like to know where to get one, I have a free (gift) Ipad mini around here somewhere.
Here’s a better picture of my current setup with my new cable. The old cable shown would disconnect alot and had bulky connector ends so I had to hog out the case where it plugged in.
Bob, I have a rather unconventional set up that I use. I mount my iPad on a tripod with a 10’ usb cord attached to the controller. To me, this makes the controller less bulky even with a phone attached to it. I can stand and view at the tripod, and move around within’ 10 feet for direct visual contact.
I can either hover the drone while moving the tripod, or bring it back down if I have to reposition the tripod to another side of the house. May be awkward to some, but the tablet attachment was more awkward and just didn’t fit with me.
Roy was right when he said we need a drone category. New technology, lots of variations in equipment, and a host of different difficulties (learning curve). Also new rules being updated. FAA will supposedly require Remote ID broadcast next year. I’ve been assured EXO will make it available when needed. We’ll see.
