I wonder which remote controller mode people prefer to use, and for which reasons?

- mode 1 (left: forward/backward ; turn left/right | right: up/down ; sideways left/right)
- mode 2 (left: up/down ; turn left/right | right: forward/backward ; sideways left/right)
- mode 3 (left: forward/backward ; sideways left/right | right: up/down ; turn left/right)

I am using the default mode 2, but find myself often trying to turn left/right using the right stick. In other words, it feels more natural to control the speed and turn of the camera movement with the same hand. Maybe I'll be better off using a custom mode, or should I continue tarining in mode 2?

I started flying rc planes/helis 15yrs ago in mode 2 and never look back. Like you said it feels more natural. Also I like the fact that for me it's easier to do piro flips in mode 2.

I strongly suggest not to change modes and stick to whichever you're comfortable with. In a panic event, the mind can play tricks on the orientation.

Just my 2cents...

I re-read your post again, "but find myself often trying to turn left/right using the right stick". The proper way of turning the aircraft while in motion is a combination of [elevator (speed control)] + [aileron + yaw (bank control)]. If it's stationary then a yaw should suffice.

I use mode 3 and I'm sticking with it. No pun intended ;)

It works for me.

For most people who have migrated from rc model aircraft they will probably continue to use the mode that they are used to.
I am in Australia and the majority of modellers use Mode 1, however some have found that on helicopters and drones, mode 2 suits them better.
It really is a personal preference for those who are starting out with drones with no previous model experience. I would suggest you fly with the mode that makes most sense to you personally and in a stressful moment is likely to give you the appropriate stick movements to get you out of trouble. But, in saying that, it also takes practice to make the correct moves automatically without having to think first.

Mode 3 feels more natural to me, maybe cause I'm lefthanded.

Nazar78 Posted at 2017-8-6 08:19
I re-read your post again, "but find myself often trying to turn left/right using the right stick". The proper way of turning the aircraft while in motion is a combination of [elevator (speed control)] + [aileron + yaw (bank control)]. If it's stationary then a yaw should suffice.

I've previously only flown cheap 3-axis choppers, where left stick controls up/don, and right stick controls rotation (yaw) and forward/backward (pitch). There was no sideways (banking) movement. This what confuses me now in Mode 2 - I sometimes try to yaw with right stick, and find AC going sideways

You bring up an interesting subject of turning. I thought that banking into the turn applied only to fixed wing aircraft, but when I watch footage of helicopters they too bank into the turn. This seems logical - if I only use yaw, the aircraft will continue for a while sideways in its previous direction. Banking would counteract that.

So to turn at speed, I actually need to use both sticks! I definitely need more practice, and a custom layout to avoid accidental mix-up in the paragraph above - (left: up/down ; sideways left/right | right: forward/backward ; turn left/right).

BumblerBee Posted at 2017-8-7 02:24
I've previously only flown cheap 3-axis choppers, where left stick controls up/don, and right stick controls rotation (yaw) and forward/backward (pitch). There was no sideways (banking) movement. This what confuses me now in Mode 2 - I sometimes try to yaw with right stick, and find AC going sideways  

You bring up an interesting subject of turning. I thought that banking into the turn applied only to fixed wing aircraft, but when I watch footage of helicopters they too bank into the turn. This seems logical - if I only use yaw, the aircraft will continue for a while sideways in its previous direction. Banking would counteract that.

A fixed wing aircraft may get away to turn with only a yaw (slight turn) or only both elevator/aileron (bank then pull up elevator) although it doesn't turn out nice. A heli needs all 3 stick movements to do a proper turn while in motion, also the throttle for height/speed control. For a VPS drone like Mavic, the least is a yaw + aileron. For non-VPS drones or if you choose to disable the bottom sensors, it's almost similar as a heli which will require to adjust the height with the throttle stick. We can't depend only on a yaw for helis/drones without front VPS because if you're about to hit a tree few meters ahead and you choose not to brake, with only a yaw you will still head for the tree

Chose whichever mode you're comfortable with and don't look back (I knew one flymate who can do both mode 1 & 2 efficiently which I didn't bother to accomplish). I suggest you play around and practice with the sim, or download any free drone sim from the store. Try practice doing figure 8s both forward and reverse with the mode you're comfortable with. Also practice doing nose-in, this will help with your orientations. Need to advance further? Try a rc heli sim It really helped me in the old days flying in all directions including inverted+reversed. Although all these sounds too exaggerated, you'll be surprised how these practices will help with your aerial shots and/or emergency situations.

Have a nice day!

Always mode 2

Right handed but anyway use mode 3.

Custom - (left: up/down ;sideways left/right| right: forward/backward  ; turn left/right  )

I use mode 3 since I wanted it to match most first person shooter controls. Left stick matches perfectly, forward/reverse, strafe left/right.  Right stick looks right/left but instead of looking up and down it changes the altitude up/down.

Thanks, Nazar78 and others for feedback! (Interesting to see that Mode 2 is dominating so far)

I have a cheap-ish Polaroid hexacopter that I use for ATTI practice. Looking through its manual once more, I see that it has something that they called for "Mode 4" - the custom layout that Griffith described and that I find myself "accidentally" falling back to.
Looks like the stars are pointing to this Mode 4

Learnt in Mode 2. Feels natural so why change. Each to there own though eh.  

Mode 3 for me being a gamer

fans7744acd0 Posted at 2017-8-7 15:11
Mode 3 for me being a gamer

C1, C2...you mean R1 R2? lol

idofuel Posted at 2017-8-7 17:45
C1, C2...you mean R1 R2? lol

No i use mode 3 for control and c1&2 for focus and battery stats

I use mode 1

2 is

fans7744acd0 Posted at 2017-8-14 08:07
No i use mode 3 for control and c1&2 for focus and battery stats

I thought the camera has auto focus?

Mode one with c1 set to focus and c2 to battery info

Always mode two.

I prefer to use standard as it is easier to swap drones. Nothing worse than going up when you expected your actions to be left or right.

Always use mode 2.

Mode 2, hard to break old habits.

I think mode 2 seems to be more standard from drone to drone of different manufactures.

Use Mode 1 because it is similar to ISO mode for controls used on CTL.

Jenee 2 Posted at 2017-8-6 20:13
For most people who have migrated from rc model aircraft they will probably continue to use the mode that they are used to.
I am in Australia and the majority of modellers use Mode 1, however some have found that on helicopters and drones, mode 2 suits them better.
It really is a personal preference for those who are starting out with drones with no previous model experience. I would suggest you fly with the mode that makes most sense to you personally and in a stressful moment is likely to give you the appropriate stick movements to get you out of trouble. But, in saying that, it also takes practice to make the correct moves automatically without having to think first.

I've always regretted not to have done enough research before I spent all these painstaking hours learning to fly my first collective pitch RC helicopter in mode 1. It was already too difficult for me to switch to mode 2 by the time I realized mode 2  has way more resemblance to real helicopter control, in which all your cyclic control is on the same stick. And for learning certain 3D flying moves, not having all cyclic controls on one stick makes it a fair bit more difficult. So I really wished I had started my RC flying hobby with mode 2!!!

Monkey007 Posted at 2018-3-20 21:38
I've always regretted not to have done enough research before I spent all these painstaking hours learning to fly my first collective pitch RC helicopter in mode 1. It was already too difficult for me to switch to mode 2 by the time I realized mode 2  has way more resemblance to real helicopter control, in which all your cyclic control is on the same stick. And for learning certain 3D flying moves, not having all cyclic controls on one stick makes it a fair bit more difficult. So I really wished I had started my RC flying hobby with mode 2!!!

Thank you! Yours is probably the best-argumented answer for sticking (pun intended) to mode 2.

Mode 2, natural after playing hours of shoot em ups on PS3/4

jamesw Posted at 2017-8-6 08:49
I use mode 3 and I'm sticking with it. No pun intended ;)

It works for me.

Mode 3 is closest to most video game consoles, were strafe left/right and forward/backward is on the left thumb stick, while look up/down and turn left/right is on the right thumbstick

I suspect it'll be a more natural transition for gamers

CynicalZombie Posted at 2017-8-7 06:10
I use mode 3 since I wanted it to match most first person shooter controls. Left stick matches perfectly, forward/reverse, strafe left/right.  Right stick looks right/left but instead of looking up and down it changes the altitude up/down.

how have you found the transition? I've considered using the C1 and C2 buttons below the controller for altitude up and down - it would match crouch/jump on my scuf controller, that way the right thumb up and down can be assigned to camera gimbal up/down... thoughts?

fans7744acd0 Posted at 2017-8-7 15:11
Mode 3 for me being a gamer

same question - how have you found the transition? I've considered using the C1 and C2 buttons below the controller for altitude up and down - it would match crouch (c2 - left) / jump (c1 - right) on my scuf controller, that way the right thumb up and down can be assigned to camera gimbal up/down which then matches look up/down exactly.... thoughts?

Most in Australia use Mode 1 but it was a pain in the arse, switched over to Mode 2 and I haven't looked back.
Must have something to do with being used to a PS4 controller, albeit reversed sticks.

I am switching to mode 1. It seems natural to me especially when I try to just fly without adjusting altitude. Using mode 2 I always seemed to go up or down when I was just trying to fly at the same height and go where I was shooting for. This way, I don't even have to touch the right stick, unless I need an altitude adjustment. Plus, I'm left handed and that may make a difference.

Mode 1 all the way. That's how I learned to fly r/c many years ago so muscle memory is now pure instinct. Thumbs on top of the sticks also.

At the end of the day it really does not matter, just fly the mode that works for you but be careful to check the control mode if flying somebody else's machine

Using the default mode of 2. Just feels natural to me.

i use mode 2, it feels natural

but don't swap to it if you have practiced something else

Mode 2 but my I instincts seem to prefer mode 3 in crisis so I'm gonna experiment with that (I only flew for few days (7 hours) with it).

Contrary to other opinions here I would recommend everyone to experiment a bit and see what feels the most natural. You can always switch back.