Smartcontroller; some pointers.

[Former Member]

Now that Ive sold almost a dozen of them, and have logged a good many hours with the Smartcontroller I have made some observations. Not all flights have been pleasant, but its a cute little device.

Your Smartcontroller is your "everything" once you start your drone. It serves as both your controller and display device. I have owned a Phantom 4 Pro + with an integrated display since they first came out, and for me, the ritual is very similar.

1. Always start with a fully charge battery.
2. Keep a spare power bank just in case you forgot to charge your SC and it starts running low.
3. Make sure all error messages are gone before you take off.
4. During a flight, if the SC screen freezes, but you are still connected to the drone, press the RTH button immediately and bring it back.
5. If the controller shuts down entirely during a flight, restart it as soon as you can and try to regain control of the aircraft.
6. If your video lags, start a RTH and possibly your lag will decrease as you get closer to home.
7. If you are experiencing multiple error messages during a flight, best to land it and see what the problems are.
8. Dont let your SC get too hot. I would not use it in the direct sunlight, even though you can still see the display.
9. Get a screen protector for it. If it gets scratched, youre going to have to send it in for a new screen. Wont be cheap.
10. If you dare, you can use liquid glass and see how it comes out. Try it on a small corner to see if you can do it evenly.
11. Use the lanyard! The last thing you want to do is drop the SC. The lanyard also relieves some of the pressure on your hands.
12. Keep it out of the rain. It is water resistant but not waterproof.
13. Dont run with it around your neck.
14. Dont try to bend over and place the drone on the ground with it around your neck. Also, dont bend down anywhere near the drone if the props are spinning.
15. If youre just starting to use Litchi with the SC, take baby steps until you are sure all systems are go. The SC and Litchi app for it are both pretty new.
16. It never hurts to have your OEM controller paired as a second device with a display connected, just in case the SC is having a bad day. Redundancy is important especially if you already have a spare OEM controller.
17. Try not to do updates to the SC with the drone turned on. Sometimes updates fail, and your drone will be sitting there powered on needlessly.
18. Try to avoid putting a beer on the screen while your flying. It will leave a ring. (JOKING)

This is my short list. Please feel free to add anything you think is important.

 

[ff22]

Now that Ive sold almost a dozen of them, and have logged a good many hours with the Smartcontroller I have made some observations. Not all flights have been pleasant, but its a cute little device.

Your Smartcontroller is your "everything" once you start your drone. It serves as both your controller and display device. I have owned a Phantom 4 Pro + with an integrated display since they first came out, and for me, the ritual is very similar.

1. Always start with a fully charge battery.
2. Keep a spare power bank just in case you forgot to charge your SC and it starts running low.
3. Make sure all error messages are gone before you take off.
4. During a flight, if the SC screen freezes, but you are still connected to the drone, press the RTH button immediately and bring it back.
5. If the controller shuts down entirely during a flight, restart it as soon as you can and try to regain control of the aircraft.
6. If your video lags, start a RTH and possibly your lag will decrease as you get closer to home.
7. If you are experiencing multiple error messages during a flight, best to land it and see what the problems are.
8. Dont let your SC get too hot. I would not use it in the direct sunlight, even though you can still see the display.
9. Get a screen protector for it. If it gets scratched, youre going to have to send it in for a new screen. Wont be cheap.
10. If you dare, you can use liquid glass and see how it comes out. Try it on a small corner to see if you can do it evenly.
11. Use the lanyard! The last thing you want to so is drop the SC. The lanyard also relieves some of the pressure on your hands.
12. Keep it out of the rain. It is water resistant but not waterproof.
13. Dont run with it around your neck.
14. Dont try to bend over and place the drone on the ground with it around your neck. Also, dont bend down anywhere near the drone if the props are spinning.
15. If youre just starting to use Litchi with the SC, take baby steps until you are sure all systems are go. The SC and Litchi app for it are both pretty new.
16. It never hurts to have your OEM controller paired as a second device with a display connected, just in case the SC is having a bad day.
17. Try not to do updates to the SC with the drone turned on. Sometimes updates fail, and your drone will be sitting there powered on needlessly.
18. Try to avoid putting a beer on teh screen while your flying. It will leave a ring. (JOKING)

This is my short list. Please feel free to add anything you think is important.

What kind of luck have you had with Liquid Glass? How durable is it really? Are there brands or just one version?

 

[old man mavic]

from what you are saying Rob it seems that the smart controller can be pretty dumb sometimes which is a shame because it is supposed to be a step forwards if it was less problematic and cheaper then i might invest in one

 

[Former Member]

What kind of luck have you had with Liquid Glass? How durable is it really? Are there brands or just one version?

There is the one major brand, and I have used it on other devices but not the Smartcontroller. It might void the warranty, but if your warranty is expired, and you want something a little more permanent than a plastic shield, LP might be an alternative.

 

[Former Member]

from what you are saying Rob it seems that the smart controller can be pretty dumb sometimes which is a shame because it is supposed to be a step forwards if it was less problematic and cheaper then i might invest in one

@old man mavic I have the perfect answer for you. Get @Porky to buy one, then just borrow his. I dont think he will part with his 7.85 CS, but its worth a try. You could always ask him subliminally on his "Christmas" thread, and maybe you will have one under the tree on December 26. lol

 

[old man mavic]

i suppose the investment for me would be if the time it takes for me to set up my controller fit the screen and pair it,became an issue but as it stands time is something i have have plenty of now i am retired,so i cant justify the expense at the moment but maybe things will change one day

 

[Former Member]

i suppose the investment for me would be if the time it takes for me to set up my controller fit the screen and pair it,became an issue but as it stands time is something i have have plenty of now i am retired,so i cant justify the expense at the moment but maybe things will change one day

If you have something that works for you, no need to upgrade. I prefer my S9+ with OEM controller, but thats a whole other thread.

 

[ff22]

from what you are saying Rob it seems that the smart controller can be pretty dumb sometimes which is a shame because it is supposed to be a step forwards if it was less problematic and cheaper then i might invest in one

It really is not dumb.

Rob, who is very helpful, really strongly dislikes the Smart Controller (it is too small, it only serves the Mavic 2 series, it does not run Apple OS, etc) and makes no bones about posting a stream of condemnation. Much of the above list is commonsense and applies to any controller like using the regular controller and your cellphone in the rain or heat. Or running with scissors, ahem with any controller and an ipad with a noose, ahem, lanyard around your neck. I also strongly advise not leaning over a shredding machine or props with a tie on (no, no personal experience but ...)

There are plenty of people who seem to find it quite an acceptable, although, pricey, piece of equipment and a dream to setup in seconds and fly.

Now back to our regularly scheduled infomercial. (g)

 

[Former Member]

Here are some other Smartcontroller related threads, some of which I have contributed to:

Here we go again. Smartcontroller availability is waning.

When the Mavic first came out, DJI was in short supply, but released it anyway. Payment was sent, months passed, and I still didnt have my Mavic. Now with the Smartcontroller, it's deja vu all over again. At least this time, DJI is not taking peoples money for preorders, and not sending product...

mavicpilots.com

Smartcontroller: To buy or not to buy. That is the question.

Ok, so we already have a poll of the level of satisfaction of people who bought a Smartcontroller, but who of you have not? Why not? Simple poll.

mavicpilots.com

Livestreaming; choices are now limited

I have thousands of flights and have used FB livestream for a long time. Something changed, and I think it must be how DJI Go interacts with Facebook, and also Youtube. Now, I cant livestream to either social media, and Im just wondering what other options we now have to livestream? DJI Go 4...

mavicpilots.com

DJI smart controller; my opinion

Anyone able to Livestream from their SC?

mavicpilots.com

Smart controller poll

Those are my reasons why I like ("like" is too emotional), well, appreciate it. I am not alone. Well I love mine. Yes there will be a better one at some point. Today there is only one device that does what the SC can do. There is no other device that is ALL-in-one for the Mavic 2. That is...

mavicpilots.com

Using a Spark, Mavic Pro, and an M2Z. An observation.

I was out having fun today, and brought out 3 drones to fly, shooting some Dukes of Hazzard get together stuff. I brought 3 drones because its always good to have a backup drone if its something important you're shooting. Fist up was the Spark, and I used it first because it's the noisiest, and...

mavicpilots.com

What can a controller do that an SC cant?

You'll likely get less range out of the SC. For normal RC on FCC mode transmission power is ~400mW, for the SC it is ~350mW. For CE mode it is ~100mW and 70mW respectively.

mavicpilots.com

no video feed

Anyone else having this problem,, I've been having it since the latest update, restarting the sc and it comes back, intermittent problem, sometimes it does it sometimes it don't, https://forum.dji.com/thread-188779-1-1.html

mavicpilots.com

Smart remote not taking updates

Tried to update my smart controller it shuts off 3 times during update. If I stay in the room and hit the power button when it beeps for shut down it will finish the update. I called DjI four different times I've tried everything and they said to send it back that there's something wrong with...

mavicpilots.com

 

[Former Member]

Rob is very helpful

Thank you for that!

 

[old man mavic]

a lot of the time people will rubbish something based on their own use of something if they get a good one,they will praise it ,a bad one,
not reccomend it,that is the same with any product.

if the controller does what you want then thats ok its up to individual taste, and opinion,i for instance cannot fault my android tablet has never crashed is great for my UAV but to hear some posters on here only apple products are any good for DJI UAVs go figure

 

[Former Member]

a lot of the time people will rubbish something based on their own use of something if they get a good one,they will praise it ,a bad one,
not reccomend it,that is the same with any product.

if the controller does what you want then thats ok its up to individual taste, and opinion,i for instance cannot fault my android tablet has never crashed is great for my UAV but to hear some posters on here only apple products are any good for DJI UAVs go figure

It goes back to the 2 camps, Apple and Android. I find it funny and interesting how two completely different operating systems can have such wide appeal on the same drone. It seems like you have Apple people and Android people, and never the twain shall meet.

 

[Porky]

It goes back to the 2 camps, Apple and Android. I find it funny and interesting how two completely different operating systems can have such wide appeal on the same drone. It seems like you have Apple people and Android people, and never the twain shall meet.

I’ve always been a Apple user until I got my CS, to be honest I really can’t see any difference between them personally apart from having a nice monitor now?

 

[Porky]

@old man mavic I have the perfect answer for you. Get @Porky to buy one, then just borrow his. I dont think he will part with his 7.85 CS, but its worth a try. You could always ask him subliminally on his "Christmas" thread, and maybe you will have one under the tree on December 26. lol

Yeah right...?? rob just out of curiosity, what’s the battery life on a SC compared to the standard controller? The only reason I ask, the SC also has to power the screen. My CS battery also last many hours so I just wanted to compare both on power consumption.

 

[AnzacJack]

I have always been using a combination of android and apple and cant really say that one has been better than the other. I have always used devices at the upper end of the market though, and always diligent with my procedures so maybe that is why, or I’ve just been lucky.

 

[AnzacJack]

I’m also a little surprised that you have logged many hours with the smart controller as you keep seeming to point out that you don’t use it and you prefer to stick to your galaxy s9+.

 

[old man mavic]

the problem with any device that is used with the go4 app is people do not realise just how much of the operating system in the device the app is using to fly the drone.and the fact that you need a certain system to work well, most problems happen because the device is overwhelmed by the app and it crashes you really need to have a dedicated tablet for everything to be stable, and then disable all the apps that are not needed, this applies to android and ios devices

 

[Bakeneko]

Thanks for the advice. I installed a protective glass screen from day one. I would not have bought the SC if it had any association with Apple/iOS. I'm glad DJI made a sensible decision.

 

[Former Member]

I’m also a little surprised that you have logged many hours with the smart controller as you keep seeming to point out that you don’t use it and you prefer to stick to your galaxy s9+.

I buy sell and trade DJI products for a living. I fly multiple times every day. When someone sends me their drone with SC, I have no choice but to use it to test their drone. I also test all the used SCs that I sell.

 

[Former Member]

Thanks for the advice. I installed a protective glass screen from day one. I would not have bought the SC if it had any association with Apple/iOS. I'm glad DJI made a sensible decision.

Good idea. You know what they say about an ounce of prevention...