Help, I’m stuck with this. Those following the saga will know that I bought a Mavic Mini from PMB to replace the Mini 2SE lost to seagull attack, and that this came with a faulty RC unit that would not hold a charge. So, using money refunded as a goodwill gesture by PMB, I bought a secondhand RC on eBay. This charges up without any problems, and I am assuming that it is working perfectly.
But I can’t pair it to the drone. The drone is paired to it’s RC at the factory, and there needs to be a pairing procedure carried out in DJIly if it has to be paired with a new RC. As confirmed by the manual, and promted by DJI Fly, you turn the RC and the drone on, and press the on/off button on the RC for 4 seconds to put it into pairing mode, indicated by beeping and the leds ‘counting up’. You then power up the drone, and similarly hold the on/off for 4 seconds to put it into pairing mode, indicated by a bleep. You hold the 2 devices within 1.5m of each other, and the DJI Fly screen shows a 60-second countdown timer and states that the devices are pairing. So far so good.
But I’ve done this several times now, and the thing simply times out repeatedly. Drone battery and RC are both fully charged, and I’m at my wit’s end; can’t find any procedure beyond this pairing method, which doesn’t work.
I’ll be grateful for any ideas; I’m ‘fairly’ certain, like 95%, that I have the correct RC, identical to the previous RC that wouldn’t hold a battery charge. And I’ve tried the procedure both with and without the micro SD card in the aircraft. If the problem might be that the RC’s firmware is not updated, there is no indication of this in DJI Fly.
Have you tried pairing it through the app rather than holding the power button down till it bleeps on the controller, just a stab in the dark heres a video,
I’ll try both those methods, Kirky, but not this evening; if The Squeeze has to listen to any more beeping she’s gonna kill me with extreme death! I’ll have a go tomorrow, got a nurse appointment midday and going to town after that, so it’ll be the evening; I’ll keep you posted! ‘Through the app’ is what I think I have been doing.
Ok
As said was just a stab in the dark, I did have a google about ( I’m not familiar with that controller ) or drone but some have had many issues with the lead( connector ) from the controller to the phone etc etc but again I’m not sure,
Hopefully you’ll get it sorted & or someone who knows more than me can maybe point you in the right direction & fingers crossed you get it sorted
If all else fails I’m going into town Thursday and will take it into the model shop where there’s a guy who knows this sort of stuff, see if that sheds any light on things. I appreciate your effort, though; thank you!
I haven’t tried it without the iPhone in the loop yet, and there is also apparently the possibility of connecting the drone to the RC with an m-usb to m-usb cable, starting them both up, and pressing the power buttons. If the drone & RC pair successfully by your method, will they remain paired when there is an iPhone to consider as well or will the process just time out, which is my current problem…
Failing that, the only recourse as far as I can see is to return it to DJI for repair, and decide when they quote for the job if it is worth the bother when I could have a suitable iPhone and a brand new fully-warrantied Neo would cost me £167.
But I’d rather the Mavic Mini if it is practicable; longer battery runtimes, and control interface better than a phone screen, and better wind resistance. On the plus side the Neo has features I’d like, especially ‘follow me’ and onboard data storage (I’m quite adept at losing m-SD cards).
Two questions. Why do you have DJI in your banner?
Question two. Why have you brought the iPhone into the discussion, when you have not confirmed if you have tried the suggested “correct” way to bind the drone to the RC?
As PingSpike says, the DJI logo on my moniker is none of my doing; I have no connection with the company other than as a customer.
I have tried the suggested ‘correct’ way as in the manual, which is why I brought the phone into the discussion. I can get the timer up on the DJI Fly screen and have done repeatedly, with the drone and the RC both in pairing mode, but it simply times out and tells me to try again.
I’ve tried simply turning on the drone and the RC and pressing the power button on each for 4 seconds; the RC makes the beeping noise and the drone flashes rapid green after it makes a bleep same as the above procedure, but they do not pair; the beeps and flashing would continue all night if I let them. I’m guessing there is some sort of beep and noise from the drone to tell me that they have paired; I don’t know because I’ve never heard it!
I’ve also tried doing the same thing with the RC and drone connected by m-usb cable; same result.
Can’t think of anything else to try now. I think there are several possibilities:-
I’ve bought the wrong replacement RC. I have model MR1SS5, but have learned that DJI make a lot of stuff that looks the same so don’t necessarily trust that this is correct for my drone.
The replacement RC is faulty.
The drone has developed a mystery fault that prevents it pairing to the RC. It was flying perfectly with the old RC, at least for the short time before the battery in that died totally and could not be charge.
There is no way that I can absolulely state that either the RC or the drone are functioning correctly, as testing requires them to be paired, back to square 1.
I am stupid and have missed something basic altogether. This, again, cannot be discounted with 100% certainty.
The only way I think I can be certain that all the above possibilities can be discounted is to send the drone and the RC to DJI for repair. This would establish with certainty that one or other, or both is /are faulty and will not pair, and a repair will cure that problem, at a cost and taking more time in which I cannot fly my drone.
The question is, is it worth the money and bother, and the answer is, I don’t know until I’ve had a quote. I cannot guarantee that the RC is faulty so cannot return it to the eBay seller, who will claim that it is fully working and may be able to prove it with a drone in his posession, at which point it would be my word against his.
Kirky has just posted to say that I have the correct RC for my Mavic Mini drone. I think the next move is a DJI repair, and if that’s going to be expensive, I’ll buy a new Neo next payday. I don’t think I’m a suitable person to not have the re-assurance of a warranty from a brand new item if I buy another drone!
Yup, looks like an American market RC which won’t pair with a UK market drone because the frequency’s different, Kennenth. Bought on the Bay of e from a UK source, in Redhill, Surrey, which is what caught me out! I will try to recover the money from eBay arguing that the goods were not as advertised and not in full working order (in the UK) as claimed.
I know, and it’s very much appreciated, guys & ladyguys. This is an amazing and supportive community that I am delighted to be part of.
A very kind member has PM-ed me with a very generous offer on a Mini 2, which I am taking up. This is within my somewhat limited impoverished pensioner (cue tragic violins and image of Johnster huddled over a single candle for warmth in fingerless mitts) budgie. This is a better drone than the Mavic; Occusync & 4K video, zoom lens (sort of), and better than the late Mr Drone RIP Mini 2SE by 1,3K video. Let’s hope that’s an end to my problems!
