The BEST controller for Hover Air X1 drone manual mode - This is it!!

[@4T-Tech]

UPDATED VIDEO: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nl6vc5eja9WGrbM If the instructions in the video are too quick, here they are in written form. Please check the steps carefully as they are all important. - make sure the controller light is solid blue (not flashing) - bluetooth connection is ok to the phone - controller must be in Keyboard mode, slider on front is in K position

[@site_pro]

I put NULL (deactivated) on the button to the right of the star button (instead of the default S). I did this to avoid any unintentional disconnection to the drone by pushing this button by mistake.

[@aerialiskites]

It worked like a charm to map up the 8bitDO. Now all that's left is to see how it works with the Hover! 🤞 Thanks for sharing. 👍🙂

[@4T-Tech]

Hi - thanks for your comment, great to hear you got it mapped up. Hopefully you have success like I did as others have had some issues. Let me know and I'll try to help

[@aerialiskites]

@@4T-Tech 👌 BTW, I got a chance to fly and use the 8bitDO yesterday. Everything worked like a charm! 👍

[@alanbateson9275]

Thanks so much for all this. I've purchased the 8BitDo Micro after watching your video the other night. It arrived today, £17.99 from Amazon. Your instructions are superb and easy to follow. I've programmed the controller and hope to try it out on the Hover Air X1 tomorrow, if it ever stops bloody raining !!👍

[@4T-Tech]

Hi Alan, great, I'm pleased the instructions were easy to follow - and hope the weather gives you a chance to try it out. Yes if you are in the UK as well, I feel your pain with the weather as it's just horrible at the moment

[@Redrockwood]

Congratulations for the clarity of exposure and the supports with truly explanatory images

[@4T-Tech]

Great, thanks for the comment and feedback, I'm pleased it helped you

[@mightyponi]

Thank you

[@4T-Tech]

Hi - glad it was useful!

[@Hapewin]

Great video, perfect explained mapping, works well for me. But to hold my cell phone and the 8bitdo at the same time, is tricky ;-) So I built a folding holder out of 6mm EPP that weighs only 20g and folds around the bottom third of the phone. The 8bitdo is attached to the top with double-sided adhesive tape. It's easy and works wonderfully, both hands on the RC and the live stream on the screen, perfect.

[@4T-Tech]

Hi - thanks for the comment! Yes when I was filming it was a struggle to hold the controller and mobile without dropping one. That's a great idea to make a little holder especially a DIY version. I'm a great fan of making doing a bit of DIY to solve an issue, well done!

[@mr_floydst]

Thanks for this video - it still doesn't work for me, unfortunately. The controller is set up as shown in your video, the 8bitdo app is terminated. Hover App is in controller mode, and when it says "connect RC" it even picks up that I pressed some button on the RC and confirms an RC is connected. However, that's where it ends - I can press any button I like, nothing happens, the drone just sits there. Any ideas what's wrong here?

[@ElectricunicyclesUK]

did you figure it out as I have same problem thx

[@4T-Tech]

Hi - have you any further success? There is a suggestion that when it says "connect RC" it could be already connected to the phone via bluetooth and pressing "connect RC" then disconnects it. I'm going to do another video asap with troubleshooting steps which may help out. Also happy to arrange a video chat with you to see if I can help get it working if you reach out to me via email

[@marcclaire1776]

Unfortunately, same here! I did everything according to instructions... but the drone just stays there. 😔

[@site_pro]

Have you tried using the default keyboard on your phone (not a third-party keyboard apps)? Third-party keyboards apps could cause conflicts between the remote and the drone. In my case it was the Samsung keyboard... problem solved!

[@mr_floydst]

@@site_pro ^this! thanks so much for pointing that out - there indeed was an alternative keyboard installed on my smartphone. exchanging it solved the problem.

[@manfrombkk]

My question is... since the Hover Air X1 has the ability to fly greater distances from you now with settings in the newer firmware updates. What are the range limitation of this 8BitDo controller ?

[@4T-Tech]

Hi - thanks for this interestiing question. The controller is bluetooth which has a limit of around 10m, but this is the distance of the controller to the phone it's paired with.The phone then communicates via private WIFI to the drone itself - WIFI range is approx 100m outdoors which is beyond the range of the drone which is 30m distance from the user. So the controller itself won't be a limiting factor unless it's out of range of the phone.

[@somekatontheinternet]

Great video - put a lot of work into this for the HOVERAir X1 users - even a write up in the comments - might have to get me one these x1 things and a controller -

[@4T-Tech]

Hi there, thanks so much - I'm actually soon releasing another video with more information coming soon too!

[@Marvin-fn7ks]

Nice job .thanks for posting

[@mizanglerchannel5945]

There are many models from 8BitDo on the market now. Do you think the models that come with a joystick can also be connected to a hover? For example, the SN30 Pro model from 8BitDo.

[@4T-Tech]

Hi - this is a great question. Looking into these, only controllers that have a Keyboard mode will work with the Hover. This SN30 Pro doesn't have a Keyboard mode that I can see. Best, Tim

[@19ab59]

Hi, thanks for this explanation but I can't get it to work. Must be doing something wrong here. Tried it a couple of times. Bluetooth is connected and keys are stored as in your vid

[@4T-Tech]

Hi - so I tried again tonight to try and figure out what might be going wrong. Perhaps check the following: - make sure the controller light is solid blue (not flashing) - bluetooth connection is ok to the phone - controller must be in Keyboard mode, slider on front is in K position - 8bitDo app is not loaded (quit) - Hover app is loaded and in manual mode - Hover manual mode is in RC mode (shows picture of vertical controller and not virtual joystick) Even if the buttons are not mapped, straight out of the box in default mapping, the controller should be able to move the drone, albeit not in the direction you would expect but still should move

[@19ab59]

Hi Tim, thanks for your explanation. It sounds a lot clearer to me now. I'll give it a try today and let you know. Greetz Ab@@4T-Tech

[@19ab59]

Hi Tim, it works thanks for your help 👍@@4T-Tech

[@4T-Tech]

Hi - that's so great news! thanks for letting me know it works for you. If you don't mind me asking, which was the step that got it to work? It might help others who might get stuck on the same thing. 😀 Best, Tim

[@19ab59]

Hi Tim, to be honset I'm not completely sure 🤔I think it was because I thought I had to choose RC in stead of virtual keyboard. To me the 8bitdo controler was a rc and not a keyboard. Another question Tim, can you make a sheet where you explain which letter does what with the X1? For example: G turns left, L rotates right etc. @@4T-Tech

[@TravelMaximizer]

Nice Video Tim. Although I do not have that very cool drone, I do own the 8 Bit Duo remote. I use it on some game emulators on my laptop. I have all the Nintendo, Sega. Gensis games in a small file with an emulator and play the games with this nice portable controller. Great for playing games on a plane! Maybe one day I will have this drone too.

[@4T-Tech]

Hi there! That's so cool to hear that the controller works with game emulators on laptops. I never even thought about that. I did try with the Nintento Switch and it worked on there, but playing retro games on a laptop with the controller sounds like fun. I'll try that one day!

[@jennybichsel-yj7cc]

Thank you for the information and the mappings! Is it possible to film in vertical mode when "manual mode" is selected?

[@4T-Tech]

Hello Jenny, I did a bit of research and the vertical mode only works in the non-manual modes, not manual. Currently that is, maybe will change in firmware update...

[@19ab59]

You mention "hit save" but there is no save as far as I cab see. Only the sync option. My phone says it is connected but the X1 doesn't respond. I've tried different configs as you showed.

[@4T-Tech]

Hi there, sorry yes I said "save" and meant to save via the Sync to Device button which saves to the controller, there is no other save button.

[@Craig-xw7ff]

Yes, I'm having the same issue. 😞

[@19ab59]

my controler works, did you read the other comments from Tim below?@@Craig-xw7ff

[@PhilTParker]

Thank you…the help only went so far. I was able only to solve the inability to move left. No matter what I did, I wasn’t able to add a mapping control to allow the unit to move upwards. Has anyone else seen this? I was able to make it move up by switching over to the virtual controls…but this mini controller isn’t able somehow to have the “move up” command added. I will have to dig deeper into it. Upload the newest bios, etc….please if anyone has had the full ability to move upwards with this mini controller, please post here.

[@4T-Tech]

Hi Phil, if you can post your letter mappings in the comment, then I could see if I I can figure out why your up mapping isn't working for you?

[@PhilTParker]

@@4T-Tech For the minus sign button, I have G+K. For the plus button, I have i+M. For the X botton, I have upper case i, and for the B button I have G set. For good measure I bound both L and L2 to uppercase i, and for R2 and R, both bound to G. None of those options are allowing the unit to move either fully or partially up “the column” as it were. If I can just figure out how to cause it to move upwards, I will then have full manual control. All other commands that I have bound for various functions of movement, even including gimbal control work. I am so close here…thank you for any help you are able to provide. If there is a way I can send a screenshot to you, I would like to do that…

[@4T-Tech]

@@PhilTParker Hi Phil, thanks for the mappings. In my tests, it doesn't like button being mapped to two keys at the same time. So if I understand correctly you have G+K (descend and gimbal up) mapped to minus button, and I+M (ascend and gimbal down) on the + button. Try only having G mapped to minus button and I (ascend) mapped to + button and move the K + M onto another buton, and remove the bindings to ascend/decend from other butons so it's only on one button at a time otherwise it's getting confused. If you can list what keys you'd like the Hover Actions on eg: Minus - Ascend + buton - Descend I could do a mapping screenshot for you and upload it somewhere. I don't think screenshots can be attached to comments - perhaps send me an email (address in about channel) and I can help you from there?

[@site_pro]

Have you tried to switch your phone to the default keyboard (not a third-party keyboard)?

[@HongKong.Shenzhen.]

Thanks

[@4T-Tech]

Hii - you are most welcome!

[@Superbin1000]

Y si desde el control se puede acelerar y frenar un poco ? Muchas gracias

[@4T-Tech]

Gracias por ver el vídeo. Lamentablemente este Hover Air X1 solo tiene una velocidad por lo que no es posible cambiar las velocidades desde el controlador

[@flo_i]

Hi, thanks a lot for this video! One question: Do you know whether it is possible to use the 8Bitdo Micro with the Hover app on iOS? 8Bitdo's website says the controller is only compatible with Android. Your video appears to show the controller's configuration on iOS and then the actual use of the controller on Android, if I'm not mistaken. Thanks for any insights you have on this!

[@4T-Tech]

Hi thanks for the question. Sure, I have it working fine with IOS (in the video I used an iPhone 15 Pro) with the Hover App in K (keyboard mode). What they mean on the website is that there are 3 modes: A for Android native S for Switch and K for Keyboard. For controlling the Hover it needs to be in K mode which works fine for Hover App on IOS. It wont't work natively in games etc in IOS though which is what they are referring to. If you just want it to control the Hover, it'll be fine.

[@flo_i]

@@4T-Tech Gotcha, thanks a lot!

[@davidwebber8028]

I have Microsoft Swiftkey enabled on phone. Could this be blocking the 8BitDo letter signals?

[@4T-Tech]

Hi there - yes, I have heard from others that a 3rd party keyboard software will not send the correct keys as it has different signals. I suggest disabling that keyboard and using the default UK keyboard when using the controller. Best wishes, Tim

[@davidwebber8028]

@@4T-Tech installed the Google keyboard and now works perfectly! Wow it is so nice a controller!!

[@4T-Tech]

@@davidwebber8028 Hi David! That's great news, pleased that you resolved the issue. Yes, it's really sweet controller, I like it too

[@jannarkiewicz633]

I have a check list of future toys and in an urban area, drones are... Too many ways for them to go bad. Lots of other tech to play with.

[@4T-Tech]

Hi - yes indeed unfortunately, urban areas and drones don't go together.

[@P.A.Borodovsky]

Hi, after setting up the joystick of the letters E does not work for me, the drone flies in all directions, and the "forward" for which the "e" is responsible does not fly, why can it be so?

[@4T-Tech]

Hello - the follow up video kzbin.info/www/bejne/nl6vc5eja9WGrbM might help further, but make sure that a letter is not duplicated on another button or not mapped otherwise it won't work at all. If you can list your mappings in a comment I might be able to help more

[@site_pro]

Have you tried using the default keyboard on your phone (not a third-party keyboard apps)? Third-party keyboard could cause conflicts between the remote and the drone.

[@P.A.Borodovsky]

@@site_pro yes, in stock E - forward - left on Crosspiece, it’s doesn’t work too, but controller works ok

[@MsGpetey]

Thank you for the video and great information

[@4T-Tech]

Hiiii! Thanks so much 😀

[@davidwebber8028]

I followed all the instructions. The only button that works is the N for record start/stop. I'm wondering if the new firmware updates and Hover X app update has broken all this? Or new mappings needed?

[@4T-Tech]

Hi - I hope you have found the solution for this, I think based on your other comment?

[@davidwebber8028]

@@4T-Tech yes. Install Google keyboard instead of Microsoft SwiftKey

[@picszics]

Thank you for the video, but with mine, the gimbal down does not Work. Tried everything. It works with virtual key on the phone but not with the remote.

[@4T-Tech]

Hi - thanks for the comment. The gimbal up/down should be on the larger ZL/ZR triggers at the top of the controller. But I'll check in a few days and get back to you - both directions were working for me but I'll confirm and post an update comment and let you know.

[@4T-Tech]

Hi - just checked now, and can confirm for me the gimbal down is on ZR (large triggers) and gimbal up on ZL. Gimbal Down is keyboard letter M and left at defaults. Keep it pressed in as the gimbal takes a while to actually go down.

[@site_pro]

Have you tried using the default keyboard on your phone (not a third-party keyboard apps)? Third-party keyboard could cause conflicts between the remote and the drone.

[@Craig-xw7ff]

Quick ? here... I was able to successfully connect it to Bluetooth and I mapped the buttons, but that's as far as I've gotten. The Hover app was not very helpful here; it reads, "Short-press the Power button, then long-press the Shoot button." *Power* button on what? And what in the name of Davy Jones' locker is the *Shoot* button?

[@Craig-xw7ff]

Ok I learned that the *Power* button is on the drone itself, and the *Shoot* button is the one on the 8BitDo controller that was mapped to record video. I can't figure out how to get the blue LED on the controller to operate steady rather than blink.

[@Craig-xw7ff]

Please disregard...looks like I've gotten everything functional. 🙂

[@4T-Tech]

Hi Craig, great to hear you now have it working!

[@Craig-xw7ff]

@@4T-Tech Thank you -- I'm glad I got it working as well!!! 😀

[@BeyondTheHorizonxx]

I'm guessing if I buy a zero 2 remote off amazon I can program it how I like? For me the vertical layout seems better as I'm not used to any other drones

[@4T-Tech]

Hi Billy, as far as I know, the Zero 2 is not programmable unlike the Micro in this video. However, th Zero 2 is the same as the original now discontinued official controller which works in vertical mode like you want. The buttons are fixed and match the ones that are shown in the app on the RC controller page. Hope this helps.

[@BeyondTheHorizonxx]

@4T-Tech I'm not sure about if it can be programmed, hopefully I'll find out tomorrow and if its not I will send it back and get a micro, I will let you know

[@4T-Tech]

@@BeyondTheHorizonxxHi - I'll be interested to know if it can be programmed or not. I'm pretty sure it can't but I might be wrong of course. I had a Zero and it wasn't possible, but maybe the Zero 2 is okay. At least the Micro has the option - so the default out of the box mapping works vertically, - but gives the option for tweaking the buttons if needed.

[@BeyondTheHorizonxx]

@4T-Tech I couldn't program it so I now assume you can't

[@cinematic-travels]

@@BeyondTheHorizonxxHi Billy, thanks for confirming it's not possible, I thought that might me. As far as I know, only the Micro is programmable. Are you going to stick with the Zero 2 and use it vertically or swap to the Micro?

[@JoeSmithNBCPalmSpringsToday]

Will this work with the 8bigdo zero 2?

[@4T-Tech]

Hi - yes should work fine on Zero 2 but held vertically - the original official controller (now discontinued) was a branded Zero 2 as can be seen here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmXJfaWMi6mYiNk . So this Micro controller can be used horizontally, but the Zero 2 needs to be held vertically

[@adelanteplayaproductions]

Someone please let me know where I can purchase

[@4T-Tech]

Hi - I've put buy links in the video description - it's available direct from 8BitDo manufacturer or from Amazon.

[@stuartcox4739]

Hi, I bought one of these to try but whenever I connect the controller to my phone and then open the Hover app and select RC controller then connect it disconnects the controller? It's like I can't have both connected at the same time. Any ideas? thanks Update: I have sussed it out, I was trying to 'connect to RC controller' from the drone when my phone was already connected to the RC

[@4T-Tech]

Hi thanks so much for the update as I was scratching my head what the problem was. That is useful to know as I have always connected from the phone first also. This may help others having the same issue, thanks again

[@driewiel]

Does it or the app have gyro mode?

[@4T-Tech]

Hi - thanks for the question - no I don't think the Hover has any gyro sensors at all - only can stablize in one direction.

[@driewiel]

@@4T-TechA lot of cheap drones you can control in gyro mode by tilting the phone forward backward left right. So I wonder if that wouldn't be easier than virtual sticks. Of course what makes the Hover Air X1 so special is that it is so quick to launch. If you have to connect to a phone and controller your basically back to square one. Might just as well use a normal drone. I myself much prefer follow-me over optical tracking. I can put the drone in view and watch what it is doing. When programmed correctly that is. Not many are. If it only follows from behind it better have good prop guards and be crash resistant like this Hover Air X1.

[@driewiel]

@@4T-Tech And follow-me is kind of my specialty. I have to see one single drone reviewers who understand how it can and should work. Not that I'm against optical tracking. It's great for shots close up. But from larger distance it is not better than follow-me.

[@4T-Tech]

@@driewiel Hi - actually that's a good question - I will try out so see if does actually work when tilting with the phone - I haven't tried that out, so will give that a go and report back. To be honest, I'm not sure the difference between optical tracking / follow me or how the Hover does it's follow mode. It does require when a launching to see the user it's following so I guess it does some sort of face / human tracking. It does have it's plastic cage all around it so is the props are guarded which is just as well as there is no object avoidance. It will crash into anything in it's path so can only be used when there is no objects around. Although somehow it managed to find it's way round some large rocks when I tried on holiday, but that might have been some good luck.

[@driewiel]

@@4T-TechThe Hover Air X1 is all optical tracking and recognition. It doesn't even have GPS so no follow-me either. I do believe it has obstacle avoidance to some degree. To make everything work you need a huge amount of programming. Follow-me you can have on the cheapest GPS drone. It's only a couple lines in the app. Unfortunately very few got it right. I may post a video about follow-me. Like I said, it's pretty much my thing. But this Hover Air X1 does a great job with optical tracking. You see, you can have a fantastic drone with incredible cameras, but in the end it is all about how often you can fly. That sounds easy. But trust me, if you are on a bike trip 120 km a day, you are not going to spend an hour on a shot. You don't bother and ride on. The reason why people cycling around the world never use DJI's active-track. You have to stop and stop and stop again to use the touchscreen, ride back when it loses you....after a couple times people forget about the feature. The shots you do get look amateurish with the drone flying left right all over the place. So DJI thought it was a good idea to give it that auto-360 tracking. As a result people now crash it constantly. I've seen them use it next to a busy road and just by pure chance it didn't fly through someone's windscreen.

[@markr041]

Not available now. Next...

[@4T-Tech]

Hi - it appears to be available at these links, in green rather than blue: shop.8bitdo.com/products/8bitdo-micro-bluetooth-gamepad www.amazon.co.uk/8Bitdo-Bluetooth-Pocket-sized-Controller-Raspberry/dp/B0CDG2HKBF/

[@markr041]

@@4T-Tech Thanks.