Mastering Your Beacon & Joystick: A Complete Guide

Welcome to the ultimate guide for getting the most out of your HOVERAir Beacon and Joystick! Whether you are a first-time flyer or looking to fine-tune your setup, this guide covers everything from compatible models and control modes to troubleshooting and quick tips.

1. Which HOVERAir Models Are Compatible?

Both the Beacon and Joystick are designed to enhance your flying experience. Heres whos compatible:

Note: The Joystick is sold as a pair (Joystick A with the Hover logo and Joystick B). If you ever need a replacement, please return both sticks together.

2. Understanding Joystick Control Modes

Your Joystick can be set to four different control modes. Mode 2 is the default when you first connect.

Mode	Left Stick (Joystick B)	Right Stick (Joystick A)	Related Image
Mode 1	Forward / Backward / Turn Left / Turn Right	Up / Down / Move Left / Move Right
Mode 2 (Default)	Up / Down / Turn Left / Turn Right	Forward / Backward / Move Left / Move Right
Mode 3	Forward / Backward / Move  Left / Move Right	Up / Down / Turn Left / Turn Right
Mode 4	Up / Down / Move Left / Move Right	Forward / Backward / Turn Left / Turn Right

TL = Turn Left | TR = Turn Right

3. Mastering the "Inward vs. Outward" Rule

This is key to precise flying. Think of it in relation to where your camera is pointing.

Direction	What You Do	Which Way the device Flies	Related Image
Inward	Push the joystick toward the center of the Beacon.	The device flies opposite to where the camera is facing.
Outward	Push the joystick away from the center of the Beacon.	The device flies in the same direction the camera is facing.

Quick Memory Trick:

• Inward = Into the center = Fly opposite the camera.
• Outward = Out away from center = Fly with the camera.

4. Understanding Beacon Screen Icons

Your Beacons screen gives you vital information at a glance. Here is what those icons mean:

Icon	Name	What It Means	Related Image
	Audio Recording	Shows if audio is being recorded.
	Return-to-Home (RTH)	Indicates if the one-key return function is active.
	OmniTerrain System	Shows the status of the all-terrain feature (see below).
	HOVERLink	Connection status between your Beacon and flying camera.
	Signal Strength	Strength of the connection. More bars = stable video.
	HOVERAir Battery	Current battery level of your device.
	Beacon Battery	Current battery level of your Beacon.

HOVERLink & OmniTerrain Explained:
For your device to automatically re-find the Beacon if it loses sight of you, both HOVERLink and OmniTerrain must be active.

• HOVERLink Status:
  • All Green: Connection is good to go.
  • Top Half Gray: Waiting for OmniTerrain. Place your device face-up on a flat surface.
  • Bottom Half Gray: Please place the Beacon upright in a clear area.
• OmniTerrain Status:
  • Ready: You can now fly over water, cliffs, and reflective surfaces.
  • Scanning: Hold your device level while it calibrates.
  • Not Available: Move to a clear, open space and try again.

5. How Far Can I Fly? (Control Range)

Using a Beacon (with or without Joysticks) significantly extends your control range compared to using Wi-Fi alone.

Typical Control Distances:

• HOVERAir X1 / X1 Smart + Beacon: Up to 50 meters.
• HOVERAir X1 PRO / PROMAX / AQUA + Beacon: Up to 1 kilometer under ideal conditions.

Please Note: Actual range can vary based on your environment. Obstacles like buildings and trees, radio interference, and weather conditions can affect the signal.

6. Quick Start: Getting in the Air

Ready to fly? Follow these simple steps:

1. Power On: Press and hold the power button on your Beacon.
2. Pair: Wait for it to automatically connect to your flying camera.
3. Attach Joysticks: Slide in Joystick A (for one-handed use) or both A and B (for two-handed control).
4. Select Mode: On the Beacon screen, choose "Manual Control" .
5. Take Off: Briefly press the power button on your flying camera. Its liftoff!

First Flight Tip: Your Joystick will be in default Mode 2 when you connect for the first time.

7. Button Functions at a Glance

Get to know the physical controls on your Beacon and Joystick:

• Power button (long press): turn on / turn off

  

• Fn Button (Short Press): Emergency brake / Stop.

• Fn Button (Hold for 2 seconds): Initiate Return-to-Home (RTH).

  

• Select Button: Switch to manual control mode.

  

• Scroll Wheel (on Joystick B): Adjust the gimbal (camera) angle up or down.

  

• Motion Control: Hold the Fn button and tilt the Beacon to control direction using the built-in gyro.

  

• Joystick Takeoff feature: 

  a. For one-handed remote: Push the joystick upward and hold for 2 seconds to unlock > Push up again to take off.

  

  b. For two-handed remote: Unlock using inward or outward joystick movement

  Inward Calibration Operation：
  Push the left joystick to the bottom right, meanwhile push the right joystick to the bottom left, as shown in the figure below.

  

  Outward Calibration Operation：
  Push the left joystick to the bottom left, meanwhile push the right joystick to the bottom right, as shown in the figure below.

  

   

8. Technical Specifications

9. Getting the Best Audio from Your Beacon

The Beacon supports audio recording to add voice to your aerial footage. To get the best possible sound quality, here are a few tips you can try.

1. Always Download Videos from the App First
After recording, make sure to download the video from the Beacon to the HOVERAir App album. Noise reduction is applied during this download process. If you export the original video directly from the aircraft, it will not include the noise-reduced audio.

2. Choose the Right Noise Reduction Mode
The Beacon offers two noise reduction modes. You can switch between them in the App to see which one best fits your scene.

• Natural Noise Reduction
  This mode removes propeller noise while keeping ambient sounds and your voice. It’s ideal when you want the audio to feel natural and retain the sense of your surroundings. Once recording starts, audio is captured through your phone.
• Extreme Noise Cancellation
  This mode actively removes both propeller and environmental background noise, focusing solely on your voice. It works well in noisy environments, but in some cases, it may cause slight distortion to the voice. You can try both modes to find the one that delivers the most satisfying result. Once recording starts, audio is captured through your phone.

3. Use a Windshield for Windy Conditions
If you’re flying in windy conditions, attaching a microphone windshield to the Beacon can significantly improve audio clarity by reducing wind interference.

If you’ve tried the suggestions above and still feel the audio quality doesn’t meet your needs, we completely understand. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we’ll make sure to share it with our team as we continue to improve future products. For scenarios where higher audio fidelity is essential, you may also consider using a dedicated external wireless microphone.

10. Troubleshooting & FAQ

Having trouble? Here are a few quick fixes. If the problem persists, our support team is ready to help.

Issue	Suggested Solution
Joystick won't connect or respond	Please contact our support team at support@hoverair.com for assistance with calibration or replacement.
Beacon won't charge	Try using a magnetic charging cable for a deep charge.
Beacon keeps restarting / disconnecting from the device	Check out our detailed fix-it guide here: Fixing Your Beacon & JoySticks in No Time!
General connection issues	If your Beacon and device won't link up, please reach out to support@hoverair.com.
Beacon unable to connect AQUA	Step 1: Check Firmware Version If firmware is outdated,  update via the App or FlyKit tool， Beacon latest firmware version: 3.1.5. Flykit download link  Step 2: Check WiFi Interference Confirm that AQUA is NOT connected to phone WiFi. The phone WiFi may occupy the connection, preventing Beacon from connecting. Delete all "Hover" networks from the phone's WiFisettings,reconnect Beacon and test again. Step 3: Environment Test Make sure you have pressed and held the select button until the AQUA flashes blue light, indicating it has entered pairing mode. Test at different distances to verify signal stability.

For more detailed support, including video tutorials, visit our official support page: HOVERAir X1 PRO & PROMAX Support

Happy Flying! 🚀