Mavic 2 Pro connection to lightning port

[lakemichmav2]

Hi all. I work at a company with a Mavic 2 Pro that's been used successfully in the past. We don't currently have any certified pilots. We have one guy who's flown it a few times, but his Samsung A32 is no longer supported by the DJI Go 4 app. I'm trying to step up with my iPhone XS Max, but we no longer have the cable to connect the controller to the Lightning port.

I'm trying to figure out what type of port this is, on the upper left side of the controller (it's upside down in this pic). Around the corner from the homing button. I've read a couple times that it's a micro USB, but that seems wrong. It's rectangular, not trapezoidal. Could I either buy someone's adapter from whatever this is to the Lightning port or find an above-bar one used? TIA

 

[waynorth]

It is a micro-USB port, but it is a better idea to connect the phone to the larger USB-A port on the lower back side of the controller (the opposite side of the antennas). It is considered more stable, the small micro-USB port is a weak point and can easily be broken. You need a USB-A to Lighting cable to connect your phone to the controller.
For charging you need to use the micro-USB port, but be careful when connecting,

 

[lakemichmav2]

Oh, I'd assumed the ports' intended uses were the other way around! Thank you so much. Was just able to connect my phone to the controller and to the drone successfully. Now they just need recharged lol

 

[offtheback]

Oh, I'd assumed the ports' intended uses were the other way around! Thank you so much. Was just able to connect my phone to the controller and to the drone successfully. Now they just need recharged lol

For charging plug in a micro USB cable to a USB cable and tape the micro USB end to the controller so you don't have to keeping unplugging it to avoid damage.

 

[Not A Speck Of Cereal]

The DJI docs will have you use the upper micro USB port just like you first assumed. But these forums are full of people who did that and after some amount of use, had a non-working remote (because the micro USB port connections to the internal electronics are not robust).

I connect my iPhone/iPad to the lower type-A USB port via a short cable (you can get on Amazon) and only use the micro USB port for charging (as the others mentioned).

Chris

 

[lakemichmav2]

For charging plug in a micro USB cable to a USB cable and tape the micro USB end to the controller so you don't have to keeping unplugging it to avoid damage.

Sounds like a fascinating way to design a drone controller: charging port so bad, the charger needs taped on to avoid damage. But thank you, noted!

 

[Yorkshire_Pud]

Sounds like a fascinating way to design a drone controller: charging port so bad, the charger needs taped on to avoid damage. But thank you, noted!

You just need to be careful that you correctly orientate the plug when charging. The orignal controller to phone cables have surrounds and handing such that the fit in only one orientation.
The socket is actually a micro USB type A socket and the problem with charging arises because the normally used charging cable has a micro USB type B plug which people attempt to fit upside down and then force home.

 

[Felix le Chat]

The DJI docs will have you use the upper micro USB port just like you first assumed. But these forums are full of people who did that and after some amount of use, had a non-working remote (because the micro USB port connections to the internal electronics are not robust).

I connect my iPhone/iPad to the lower type-A USB port via a short cable (you can get on Amazon) and only use the micro USB port for charging (as the others mentioned).

Chris

Or... you could use the OEM charging brick that came with the drone which is the correct microUSB type A.

 

[Not A Speck Of Cereal]

Or... you could use the OEM charging brick that came with the drone which is the correct microUSB type A.

The comment was "I connect my iPhone/iPad to the lower type-A USB port via a short cable (you can get on Amazon) and only use the micro USB port for charging (as the others mentioned)."

The cable recommendation from AZ is for the lower Type-A port, used for connecting to your device for running DJI GO4, not charging. Yes, use what you already have for the charging port.

Chris

 

[Fizzbang]

This is as much about the history of USB as it is about the controller.
The USB type communication connection was created with a USB type A for the Host (Computer) and USB type B for the client device to be attached via a socket/port.
This was fine for computer to printer or scanner connection, but soon people wanted to put USB TYPE B connectors on Cameras; Controllers; Phones and other small devices. The USB TYPE B socket and plug was simply too big.

The upshot was the creation of the USB MICRO.
USB MICRO A and USB MICRO B, with an additional ability to charge your small device via its USB MICRO B connection port.
Never charging via the standard TYPE A port which was not created for charging devices.
Also note there is a deliberate feature of the USB MICRO system. You can plug a USB MICRO B plug into a USB MICRO A port, but the connection is handed.
Clearly at the time the controller was created a USB MICRO A connector was placed on the side of the controller, for the controller to act as Host when connected to a phone or ipad client device for comunication purposes.

How do you charge the controller? Where is the USB MICRO B socket?
Well as stated above there is a feature of the USB MICRO system in that you can plug a USB MICRO B plug into a USB MICRO A port, but the connection is handed.
It is the side port; the USB MICRO A that should be used to charge the controller.
If looking at the display side of the controller, you must use the flat side of the plug to the bottom with the bevelled or curved upper side. Failure to use the correct orientation may result in breaking the MICRO A port.
The sideport is also used when connecting as a client device to a PC when using drone software such as Assistant 2.

The standard USB type A port can be used to communicate with other devices such as an ipad or phone in a Host to client fashion.

 

[offtheback]

Sounds like a fascinating way to design a drone controller: charging port so bad, the charger needs taped on to avoid damage. But thank you, noted!

Duct tape plays an important role in my life.It can in yours too.A lack of mechanical skills is required

 

[anotherlab]

My Mavic 2 Pro stuff is the last remaining hardware that I use that uses some version of the USB Micro connector. I won't buy anything these days that doesn't use USB-C.