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Get connected

Before you can run a single program, you need to connect your drone to echo.pitsco.com over Bluetooth. Once it’s linked, everything you build runs on the real drone.
Step-by-step flow diagram for connecting the drone to echo.pitsco.com over Bluetooth

The whole connection in five steps: open the site, power on, CONNECT, pair, code

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What you need

A charged drone

Powered on, with a charged battery and propellers on.

Chrome or Edge

Bluetooth coding works in Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge - not Safari.

Bluetooth on

Make sure Bluetooth is turned on for your computer.

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Connect step by step

Open the site

In Chrome or Edge, go to echo.pitsco.com.

Turn on your drone

Switch the drone on and set it on a flat surface. Do not pair it to the handheld controller - the app and controller can’t both connect.

Click CONNECT

Click the green CONNECT button in the toolbar.
echo.pitsco.com toolbar with the green CONNECT button

Click CONNECT to start pairing

Pick your drone and Pair

A browser pop-up appears listing nearby Bluetooth devices. Your drone shows up with a name like APEX_UART_xxxxxx. Select it and click Pair. If your browser asks for Bluetooth permission, allow it.
Browser Bluetooth pairing dialog showing the APEX_UART drone

Select your drone (APEX_UART_...) and click Pair

You're connected

The button changes to a red DISCONNECT, and START PROGRAM and LAND NOW become available. You’re ready to code.
Save your work with a code. At the top of the screen is a short code (like FZD6O4) under “Write down this code to continue later!” Jot it down - you can reopen your program anytime by clicking I have a code. No account needed.

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Controller or code - one at a time

Your drone has one radio “ear.” At any moment it listens to either the handheld controller or your code over Bluetooth - never both. When you click CONNECT, the drone starts listening to echo.pitsco.com and stops listening to the controller.
Diagram showing the drone can listen to the controller or to code, but not both at once

The drone listens to one boss at a time - the controller or your code

Want the controller back? Click DISCONNECT in echo.pitsco.com, then power-cycle the drone and re-pair the controller as you did on Day 1.

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Troubleshooting the connection

Confirm the drone is on, Bluetooth is enabled on your computer, and you’re using Chrome or Edge. Refresh the page and click CONNECT again.
Recharge the drone battery and stay close to the computer. Weak battery or distance can drop the link.
That’s expected - once connected to code, the drone ignores the controller. Click DISCONNECT to use the controller again.
Your drone is connected to echo.pitsco.com (the button now says DISCONNECT), and you’ve written down your save code. Time to write your first program.