Hello, this is my first post. I am embarrassed to say that I am brand new to Quadcopters or any other kind of copter. I also may have been scammed. I bought three folding mini copters online for very little money. When I opened them up, the first thing I noticed was that I need to use my cell phone to help fly the copter, and that this required that I buy software from a Chinese company that will charge me $50 per month. I would like to fly the copters, but I don't want to pay a monthly fee for using the software. Is there any low cost software available that I can use to fly the copters? I am a 76 year old veteran. Thank you!
Software needed
- Thread starter Monte2
- Start date
davidhk129
Well-Known Member
I am a Chinese, and I am embarrassed to admit that some of the English "translations" provided by some ( not all ) Chinese manufacturers are atrocious. Useless, at best.
That said, without being able to read the instruction you received, I cannot be sure whether you misunderstood or just simply garbage instruction.
If you can take screenshots of the instruction and post them back here, it will help.
Meanwhile, a little "drone 101" :
A drone usually comes with a controller which is used to fly the drone.
However, there are drones that require a phone in stead of a controller to fly the drone. But that is not common.
I am assuming the drones (copters) you received are camera drones. That will require a phone to connect to the drone's camera so that when the drone flies, the camera will transmit what it sees instantly back to the phone. You will then see what the drone sees at the same time.
In order to do that, you will need to download a particular app ( software) to the phone.
The app is used to connect the drone's camera to the phone by way of wifi connection. Without such app, you won't see what the drone sees.
The controller does the flying. You do NOT need the app to fly the drone. You just don't get to see what the drone sees.
The user manual ( instruction) will tell you how to download the app. The app is FREE.
That's all I can help without reading the instruction you received.
That said, without being able to read the instruction you received, I cannot be sure whether you misunderstood or just simply garbage instruction.
If you can take screenshots of the instruction and post them back here, it will help.
Meanwhile, a little "drone 101" :
A drone usually comes with a controller which is used to fly the drone.
However, there are drones that require a phone in stead of a controller to fly the drone. But that is not common.
I am assuming the drones (copters) you received are camera drones. That will require a phone to connect to the drone's camera so that when the drone flies, the camera will transmit what it sees instantly back to the phone. You will then see what the drone sees at the same time.
In order to do that, you will need to download a particular app ( software) to the phone.
The app is used to connect the drone's camera to the phone by way of wifi connection. Without such app, you won't see what the drone sees.
The controller does the flying. You do NOT need the app to fly the drone. You just don't get to see what the drone sees.
The user manual ( instruction) will tell you how to download the app. The app is FREE.
That's all I can help without reading the instruction you received.
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Davidhk129, I am going to put the English and Chinese versions of the APP instructions on this post (if it works). Thank you for your help! I think it's humorous that the photo of the camera screen shows a very high mountain. I doubt if there is any wifi up there. I can't even get wifi in my back yard! To be more clear, the product is called a Fold Drone and it uses a controller and the cell phone. It seems that the APP is free, but after installation, I would be charged $50 USD per month for use of the app. Is that what you understand, too? Thanks again!
davidhk129
Well-Known Member
RE : it's humorous that the photo of the camera screen shows a very high mountain.
No, The "mountain" screen you saw is just a generic screen. Just like an opening screen you see when you first turn on the computer. It is NOT an image taken from the drone's camera. Your camera has yet to be connected to your phone.
I'll show you how to connect your drone's camera with your phone by way of WiFi.
RE : APP is free, but after installation, I would be charged $50 USD per month for use of the app
There is NO WAY you have to pay to use the app. The app is free, absolutely.
Can you post a screenshot of that "$50 usage fee" text?
RE: How to connect your phone with the drone's camera
(You have a "Connection Details" instruction provided. Why didn't you follow it?)
Anyway, here are the generic procedures .........
1. Turn on the drone
2. Turn on the phone
3. ( step-by-step may be slightly different, depending on which kind of phone you have. But the basic procedures are generic.)
On the phone, go to Settings > go to WiFi > wait for WiFi.Cam app to show up on screen > click it> it will indicate successful connection. It may also say Internet is disconnected. Ignore that message. It is normal > exit Settings.
On the phone, swipe to locate WiFi,cam app> click to select it > click Start to open it.
If connection is successful, whatever the camera sees will be shown on your phone.
No, The "mountain" screen you saw is just a generic screen. Just like an opening screen you see when you first turn on the computer. It is NOT an image taken from the drone's camera. Your camera has yet to be connected to your phone.
I'll show you how to connect your drone's camera with your phone by way of WiFi.
RE : APP is free, but after installation, I would be charged $50 USD per month for use of the app
There is NO WAY you have to pay to use the app. The app is free, absolutely.
Can you post a screenshot of that "$50 usage fee" text?
RE: How to connect your phone with the drone's camera
(You have a "Connection Details" instruction provided. Why didn't you follow it?)
Anyway, here are the generic procedures .........
1. Turn on the drone
2. Turn on the phone
3. ( step-by-step may be slightly different, depending on which kind of phone you have. But the basic procedures are generic.)
On the phone, go to Settings > go to WiFi > wait for WiFi.Cam app to show up on screen > click it> it will indicate successful connection. It may also say Internet is disconnected. Ignore that message. It is normal > exit Settings.
On the phone, swipe to locate WiFi,cam app> click to select it > click Start to open it.
If connection is successful, whatever the camera sees will be shown on your phone.
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Hello Again,
I scanned the square barcode, and it took me to the play store. It seems that all the apps are designed for the iPhone. I use an Android. I will continue to look for the screen that informed me of the $50/month software charge, but it was a couple months ago when I saw it and complained to the drone manufacturer. So, if there is an Android App, I haven't found it since my first try, and all the app descriptions are in Chinese characters, which I am unable to read.
I scanned the square barcode, and it took me to the play store. It seems that all the apps are designed for the iPhone. I use an Android. I will continue to look for the screen that informed me of the $50/month software charge, but it was a couple months ago when I saw it and complained to the drone manufacturer. So, if there is an Android App, I haven't found it since my first try, and all the app descriptions are in Chinese characters, which I am unable to read.
davidhk129
Well-Known Member
I used my Android phone, wen to Google Play Store for WiFi-Cam app.
It does not say the app is for iphone only, and nothing about $50 usage fee per month.
Don't use the barcode. If you have already installed the app, uninstall it.
Use your phone, go directly to the Play Store and search for WiFi-Cam and install it again.
It does not say the app is for iphone only, and nothing about $50 usage fee per month.
Don't use the barcode. If you have already installed the app, uninstall it.
Use your phone, go directly to the Play Store and search for WiFi-Cam and install it again.
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That is the same app that appears on my phone. I went to the installed app and it does ask for credit card info and at the bottom, it says there is a $50 per month fee after a 7 day trial period. I will do what you say and see if I still get that charge. Thank you very much for your help!
davidhk129
Well-Known Member
I REALLY do not like that app. It has so many phishing messages. BE CAREFUL.
After you have installed the app, you might bee asked to "creat your account", DON"T do that. Don't install anything offered to you.
At the top of the same screen click "continue to app". That get out of that phishing screen.
After you have installed the app, you might bee asked to "creat your account", DON"T do that. Don't install anything offered to you.
At the top of the same screen click "continue to app". That get out of that phishing screen.
davidhk129
Well-Known Member
Monte,
In order to investigate your issue, I installed the Wifi-Cam. It troubled me with all those phishing messages I uninstalled it in record time.
I absolutely do NOT trust that site.
You said you bought those drones with very little money. You probably bought them from a questionable site.
My suggestion ....... Bite the bullet and put the drones away. Uninstall that app. Forget you even have them.
My advice ........ If you really want to start a drone hobby, buy your drones from reliable sources and reliable brand names.
In order to investigate your issue, I installed the Wifi-Cam. It troubled me with all those phishing messages I uninstalled it in record time.
I absolutely do NOT trust that site.
You said you bought those drones with very little money. You probably bought them from a questionable site.
My suggestion ....... Bite the bullet and put the drones away. Uninstall that app. Forget you even have them.
My advice ........ If you really want to start a drone hobby, buy your drones from reliable sources and reliable brand names.
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davidhk129
Well-Known Member
You have the right idea. However, You still need to buy a drone that is "built to fly". You can't learn to pilot a drone if the drone is poorly built.
Hence reliable sources and brand names.