BengalBoy
First Officer
Flight distance : 11134446 ft
United States
Offline
|
Updated from .102 firmware after waiting for this release. Luckily, I saw the issues of last firmware and decided not to chance the upgrade. With .700 firmware I decided to go ahead and upgrade.
Upgrading was not without some issues. I upgraded using WiFi connection through latest version of DJI Go 4 from my Samsung Galaxy S8 to download firmware packet while connected to my RC. After downloading, it prompted USB connection from my Samsung Galaxy S8 to my Phantom 4. I unplugged my Galaxy S8 from my RC, connected it to the USB cable for the Phantom 4 firmware upgrade and download of firmware began. Upgrading to 99% the upgrade stopped with a prompt to disconnect cables and restart aircraft if update failed. Refusing to do this for fear of losing update, I continued to disconnect/reconnect cable. Finally, I shutdown and restarted both Phantom 4 and RC. Upon reboot, "Firmware Update" In my DJI Go 4 app re-appeared and I selected it and began update process again. This time, the DJI Go 4 app immediately prompted me that It was updating RC firmware. After doing so, RC restarted and said it had battery failure and no connection. This required a shutdown and restart of both RC and Phantom 4. Opening re-opening DJI GO 4 the RC was working properly with full battery indicated and connected to Phantom 4. However, checking "About menu" in DJI GO 4 showed no firmware for the Phantom 4, just a spinning wheel, but, the RC upgrade to 1.9.3 was listed correctly. I disconnected my Samsung Galaxy S8 from the RC and plugged it directly back into my Phantom 4 and forced another "update" through DJI Go 4. It only took a moment to say "finished". I restarted RC, Phantom 4 and DJI Go 4. Upon reconnecting the .700 firmware showed up correctly in the "About" menu of DJI Go 4. I recalibrated my IMUs and Compass. Recalibrated my camera gimbal and updated my old Android 5 tablet to latest version of DJI Go 4.
I flew my fresh .700 firmware Phantom 4 today. On first battery the camera unexplainably just fell limp on start up and connection. I shut down the Phantom 4 and restarted. The camera calibrated on startup and functioned perfectly thereafter. No idea why it would do that, but, it seemed to be a upgrade anomaly. First flight was rough due to video lag and connection issues. Using a older Android 5.0 tablet that worked flawlessly at the introduction of the Phantom 4 using DJI Go flight app. However, control of craft seemed as before, which is to say exceptional. I landed and changed battery.
Second battery I also changed to my Samsung Galaxy S8 phone on Android 7.0. Changed everything bad about the first battery flight characteristics. Suddenly video transmission is flawless and long range connection is beyond my better discretion after a fresh firmware upgrade. I flew over 5200 feet and turned around with inclement weather. No video transmission or RC connection issues or warnings. Sport mode and GPS seemed normal in terms of speed. Very windy day at altitude flying mostly in a crosswind. Definitely recommend that anyone having transmission issues first check that your running latest DJI Go 4 on a later model Android version with strong processer and RAM in the device.
Third battery I flew again out beyond 5200 feet and came in to test Smart Modes. Phantom 4 was very responsive, stable and inspired confidence. In fact, I've become very confident in my Phantom 4 but have also learned to fear the firmware upgrade until I regain confidence again. The one thing I found very different is the "wind warning" is constatly on. It was windy, but, I've flown my Phantom 4 in similar conditions without a almost "always on" wind warning.
So my experience is that the upgrade was alittle unorthodox but successful using the DJI Go 4 app on a Samsung Galaxy S8 and WiFi connection. Actual flight had a strange camera "limp" gimbal issue that was cured on shutdown and restart of the Phantom 4. DJI Go 4 and older Android 5.0 device don't jive well together and cause a loss of flight control and Pilot confidence. Changing out and using a later model Android 7.0 device with better processer and RAM cured flight control issues and provided a confident and reliable flight on two batteries. Very stable flight, and for me, no change from the flight characteristics of my Phantom prior to upgrade.
|
|