I just wanted to introduce myself. I am Hank from the Southwestern Virginia area. I am VERY new to the drone world. I purchased a DJI Mini 2 and have been enjoying learning how to fly and just have some fun with it. It was extremely easy to connect to my Android phone and have had no issues with it. I’m building up my confidence as I didn’t want to be one of those that came back within a month with a crashed machine. I am working to learn so I can get on as an operator with our local search and rescue teams as well as other emergency services as I’m already a firefighter. Up until today, I have been doing fine. However, today, I decided to try an upgrade. I tried to research a lot about tablets that I could connect. I wanted to stay with the android side. So I went to look at the S9. I have seen a lot of conflicting data on if I could connect. I rolled the dice and looks like I came up empty as my Samsung S9 won’t even get past the download. My question is, will they ever put out an app that will be able to connect to this tablet, or did I just waste a couple of hundred bucks?
I will be sending multiple postings, this first one is about tablets. I also fly the Mini 2 and I use three different devices (all Android…), my Motorola Moto G smart phone, not very good as the images are too small for my liking… But it works great…
Next, I use the Galaxy Tablet S2, a 2017 model, (8" screen) and it is nice a light, easy to handle, requires an adapter to mount…
I also use a Samsung Galaxy A8, a 2022 model (10" screen) but heavy, about 1-1/2 pounds, if you are standing or walking about, it gets even “heavier…” and because of where it is mounted, it is top heavy… I only use this if I am sitting…
This is to a link that also might be able to help you…
There are brackets that you can buy to mount a tablet on but I liked the idea of making my own… Also, if you mount a tablet, you will need a new, longer cable, be sure to get a Charging/Data cable and do not go cheap like the Dollar Store…
Here is how I built my mounts, I cut them out of 1/4 Plexiglas, sanded the edges and used a heat gun to heat the Plexiglas until it was “droopable” soft and then wrapped around a suitable shaped item until it cooled…
And the mount for the S2…
I also mad a battery extractor… Comihng up next…
I found it exceedingly difficult to remove the batteries from my Mini 2, so I made this out of a piece of square dowel…
And next, now my standard Welcome letter…
Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA.
As a New Drone Pilot, there are a couple of Legal Things you may need to do…
If you have not already done so, you will need to get your TRUST Certificate. You can get that at the Pilot Institute Web Site (FREE…). Your Drone weighs less than 250-grams (0.55 pounds), and while you are flying under The Exception for Recreational Flyers, you are not required to register your Drone.
Link to the TRUST Certificate at the Pilot Institute Web Site (FREE…)
Link to the FAADroneZone (Optional Registration for Drones under 250-Grams…)
https://faadronezone-access.faa.gov/#/
If you are considering acquiring your Part 107 License, here is a link to get you going…
Since you also live in Virginia, there are specific laws and rules for you to follow, please check the link below for all the Rules and Laws that are in effect in your neck of the woods and it also links you to some of the Best Places to Fly in your area… Also, if you travel on vacation, visit friends, and relatives in other parts of the country, check back here so you do not run afoul of the law.
Even if you have flown Drones before, here is some Good Old Fashion Advice…
You paid a lot of money for that Drone, put your phone number on it. If your drone gets lost or stuck in a tree and it finally comes down when you are not around, give the finders an opportunity to contact you so it can be returned.
Now, for the Fun Part, But do not let the excitement of the moment get the best of you. When you are going out to fly, do it slowly and deliberately. Get used to a set procedure and even practice it.
There are so many things I could write but these are the highlights that I feel need mentioning.
Plug in your phone/tablet into your controller; turn on the Controller and DJI Fly App (if it does not start on its own…). On the Drone, open the front legs, then open the back legs, then remove the Gimbal Cover.
The Gimbal is the most delicate item on the Drone and banging or bumping can damage it. I also fastened a short “Remove Before Flight” ribbon to the cover so it’s more noticeable and I do not forget to remove it…
Turn on the drone and watch it come to “life.” Watching the Gimbal go through its self-check is almost like watching a puppy or kitten opening its eyes for the first time…
Place the drone down (preferably on a Landing Pad) while it finishes its self-test (collecting satellites, etc…).
Check your battery status (Phone, Drone, and Controller), check the Signal Strength, by now the Controller should have reported it updated the Home Point.
Lift off, 6- feet (2-meters) or so, hover a bit, check the controls (move the drone a bit forward, back, left, right, yaw left and right). By now, your Controller will probably report again, Home point Updated.
If you go out in a rush and race thru your start up and take off before the drone has finished it prep, it may update its Home Point over that pond or that old tree you are flying over and in your excitement, you’ll fly the drone long past it Low Battery point and when it engages Return to Home and lands in the pond or in a tree; it will be all on you…
Now go have fun, learn to fly the drone by sight before you try to fly it out a distance depending on the video feed, FPV.
I would also advise you to use YouTube and watch a lot of the Videos on flying and setting up the Drone. When it is too dark, too cold, or too wet, you can “fly it vicariously” through YouTube. Also watch some of the Blooper Drone Videos and learn how not to fly your “New Baby.”
Below is the link to all of the downloads offered by DJI for the Mini 2, including the User Manual.
After you read the Manual, read it again, you will be surprised what you missed the first time and you will be better prepared for that first “scary moment…”
Fly On and Fly Safe…
The S9 is 5 years old now (released in 2018), so it might not be the best choice. Maybe try the S9 Tab Ultra instead if that also fits within your budget.
What do you mean by it cannot get past the download?
Are you all talking about the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra? I seems to be a $800 to $1,200 tablet, you cannot be talking about that are you?
And correction – the S9 Tab was released in 2023 (the S9 phone was released 2018). The specs are fairly close to the S9 Tab Ultra, so it should be able to handle DJI Fly.
Yes
Why? Didn’t you post that you had a DJI Mini 2? What on earth would inspire you to spend so much money for this? Are you using the Mini 2 as an ulterior motive just to get a really expensive tablet? This tablet will still not be all that great, The screen is not highly rated for brightness (NITS), you can boost the brightness for short periods of time when outside, but it quickly drains the battery and there have been cases of it overheating and the screen blacking out until if cools. Not a good feature when you are flying and you have flown a bit too far and need that FPV display to get home or have to use the RTH feature…
Thanks everyone for the tips and such. I will be heading for the 107. Right now I’m just flying for recreation purposes only 
. I guess I did waste the money on my S9 tablet as it will not allow the download. Oh well. Guess I will try again. I do have a mounting kit that actually works well so far. Right now, as I said, I do a bit of flying around the fire station for fun. Just working to get more comfortable. I will certainly be hitting the links. Like I said, I had a bad feeling I was wasting my money, but I rolled the dice.
The OP mentioned he was interested in S9 models. I’d personally use my iPhone since that’s the device I always have on me. And when compatible, I prefer to use one of the DJI RCs with a screen.
I do. I own all but a few of the DJI consumer drones – back to the Phantom 3 models.
I buy products based on features rather than price. The S9 models must appeal to some audience else they would have been discontinued by now. It’s not something I’d personally buy – as noted above.