Want to get a controller with physical sticks for my Tello so I can have more precise control and to increase my skills in case I want to upgrade to a bigger drone.

But there is SO much confusion about what works and what does NOT work! I have an Android phone and that seems to make it even more difficult (iOS seems generally fine with controllers).

So here’s what I’ve learned:
Bluetooth connected controllers interfere with the Tello causing:
•        No video feed in the app (kills FPV)
•        Bad recorded video (lost frames or noise)
There is also a lot of lag (delay) with the controllers but it’s unclear if that is limited to Bluetooth controllers (not wired OTG controllers) or just limited to GameSir controllers on Android phones (either Bluetooth or OTG).

There are 3rd party apps (like aTello and Octopus) that seem to circumvent some controller issues but I’d like to have something that works with the stock Tello Android app.


GameSir T1s
Bluetooth - Cannot connect to the Tello via Bluetooth
Cable – MAY be able to connect via OTG. But may not be able change button mapping.

GameSir T1d
Made specifically for the Tello (yay!). but cannot be used for ANYTHING other than the Tello (no other drones, not as a game controller, nothing!) (boo!).
Bluetooth - Only connects via Bluetooth
Cable - Cannot connect via OTG cable

GameSire T1
Identical to the T1s except that it does not include the 2.4GHz Wireless adapter.


Are there any controllers with sticks that can connect to an Android phone via an OTG (on-the-go) USB cable and control the Tello using the stock Android app?

Decided to buy a refurbished Parrot Flypad Minidrone Controller.


Hope I can get it to work with the OTG cable. Will also try Bluetooth.


Either way I can also use it to fly my Parrot Rolling Spiders.

tuba Posted at 2018-7-26 18:41
Decided to buy a refurbished Parrot Flypad Minidrone Controller.

Got the Flypad Controller.

Fyling with physical sticks is great. I was using it with my Parrot Rolling Spider. It connects via the phone using the FreeFlight Mini App (it doesn't connect directly with the drone):
1) Sticks let you fly by touch without needing to watch the virtual sticks on the screen. You know where the sticks without needing to see where your fingers rest on the screen. Especially useful when your almost going to crash and panic sets in.
2) You get more precise control because the futher you push the sticks, the faster the drone moves. Hard to get that kind of precision with virtual sticks.

Had a few crashes so it will take some time to get used to it.


Next I tried the controller with the Tello stock App and the aTello App on my Android phone. None of the Apps worked! Tried Bluetooth and OTG but no luck. Neither App registered the controller.

Phone Bluetooth - I could not connect to the controller via the phone's Bluetooth settings because it would 'pair' and then disconnect automatically. Could only connect with the Parrot App (FreeFlight Mini). Having the Parrot App connected to the controller and running in the background didn't help any other App find the controller.

OTG Cable - Could only get phone to recognized the controller IF I plug like this:

Controller -> Micro USB Cable -> OTG Cable -> Phone

and I must plug the OTG Cable into the phone LAST. Any other cable set-up or connection order does not allow the phone to recognize the controller

Using the OTG cable, I was able to navigate and select the phone's icons. Also tried an App called FPV Freerider FREE. It recognized OTG Controller and let me calibrate it but I could not take off in the simulator. I can also use the OTG to read files off a USB Stick so I know the OTG works.

Octopus can recognize the controller over OTG but doesn't work for Tello or aTello Apps!

Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

tuba Posted at 2018-8-1 13:07
Got the Flypad Controller.

Fyling with physical sticks is great. I was using it with my Parrot Rolling Spider. It connects via the phone using the FreeFlight Mini App (it doesn't connect directly with the drone):

UPDATE: Tried it again today and it worked! Not sure why, maybe it was restarting the phone and the drone.

Managed to get the Flypad working over the OTG cable (Bluetooth was off) with both the Tello and aTello Aps using Octopus and even the FPV Freerider FREE game App.

3 problems:
1) Disconnects - The controller would disconnect/become unresponsive after some time. Might coincide with the battery on the Flypad Controller reaching full charge (it draws a charge from the phone when connected via the cable).
2) Repeat - When the controller disconnects, the App continues to repeat the last movement. So if I pitch down and controller stops working, then the drone flys backwards until it crashes.
3) Lag - Controls are a bit sluggish. Even without connecting to the drone, the physical controller sticks move the virtual sticks in the Apps very slowly. Much more so for the right stick. The left stick is almost instantaneous.

Wondering if the controller is defective since it was a refurb.

Anyone else have slow sticks using Octopus?

I just got the fly pad and found with the same problems. But i cant make it work with octopus or tello apps. The only app that seems to work is he FreeFlight Mini App. Also a refubish version but i dont know.