was stoked to get the air up and running that is until i found the range to be super limited, i could fly my spark up to 400 feet but the air totaly looses signal around 200 feet, looks like others are having the same problem too. after all the hype and i get this, very disapointing.

That’s a pity, you never said what system you are using, I think it’s pretty well known that most people are having no real problems with range and transmission.
Range at 200 ft then you are obviously having other problems because that’s not normal.

I’ve flown mine 2 miles away.  Not sure why you are experiencing such limited range. Is it just the video or the RC?

I run mine at 400ft constantly and usually run out to about a mile. I think you need check your settings. Just my two

What device are you using?

Over 3000 meters away on mine without issues. It’s either your aircraft or a setting/config.

I've gone 500m away or 1640 feet and ok signal, I'm gonna get me those parabolic directional reflectors. They really work as I saw measuring equipment display the difference in signal strength.

You may had either a faulty unit or wrong setup

Wifi systems sre heavily interfered by other signals. The air is simply a spark improved.

hallmark007 Posted at 2018-3-9 16:05
That’s a pity, you never said what system you are using, I think it’s pretty well known that most people are having no real problems with range and transmission.
Range at 200 ft then you are obviously having other problems because that’s not normal.

went through tech support and sent screen shots of wifi, app version info and firmware info, no luck, they had no idea. I have zero stable transmission bands on my screen, all bands are red

A CW Posted at 2018-3-9 16:38
What device are you using?

iPhone 7plus, looked at all the wifi signal indicators in the dpi go and all are red, no useable bars.

Zea Drone Posted at 2018-3-9 17:18
I've gone 500m away or 1640 feet and ok signal, I'm gonna get me those parabolic directional reflectors. They really work as I saw measuring equipment display the difference in signal strength.

You may had either a faulty unit or wrong setup

spent an hour with tech support, they could not figure it out, all my wifi bars are red, no green at all.running on iPhone 7plus with latest software, apps and firmware.

Well John, the MA is well designed to prevent you from flying in the neighbourhood. The new antenna can pickup signal so excellent that if you fly in upcountry you can fly further than Spark. On the contrary it can pickup excellent interferance in the neighbourhood.

Mine flys fine in neighborhood?  My range is great ...exchange it

John Mclaughlin 7 Posted at 2018-3-9 18:08
spent an hour with tech support, they could not figure it out, all my wifi bars are red, no green at all.running on iPhone 7plus with latest software, apps and firmware.

Please ensure that if is not caused by environment, please adjust your antenna to the right position. If the problem remains, please contact our support and start a case: http://www.dji.com/support

djiuser_fiQgdFqHaUQg Posted at 2018-3-9 17:23
Wifi systems sre heavily interfered by other signals. The air is simply a spark improved.

This. Says it all.

I have had really good luck with my Air -- where the Spark I tried was just the opposite.  Absolutely unreliable.  Sorry to hear it didn't work out for you.  Maybe you got a faulty unit and should give it another go?

I have an Air and a Spark and I can assure you that the Air is not just an upgraded spark.  It’s better than the Mavic Pro in just about all respects except range.

Mavic Ace Posted at 2018-3-9 21:21
I have an Air and a Spark and I can assure you that the Air is not just an upgraded spark.  It’s better than the Mavic Pro in just about all respects except range.

Fully agree!  I still chuckle at how frequently people have to chime in that it's nothing more than a glorified Spark.  Anyone that owns both the Air and Pro will know different.  Extended range and Battery life are the only negatives. Faster flying in breezy conditions, better strong wind handling, smaller size, no tap to focus and more camera options including higher bitrate make it a direct comparison to the Pro.  But each to their own!  
As for the OP's issue, yep, something definitely wrong.  You should have trouble free range up to 1,000 metres / yards.   Maybe try a completely different location away from any buildings, in open countryside, and if you still get a poor range, you know it's a fault.
Cheers,
Ian

Wellsi Posted at 2018-3-9 23:31
Fully agree!  I still chuckle at how frequently people have to chime in that it's nothing more than a glorified Spark.  Anyone that owns both the Air and Pro will know different.  Extended range and Battery life are the only negatives. Faster flying in breezy conditions, better strong wind handling, smaller size, no tap to focus and more camera options including higher bitrate make it a direct comparison to the Pro.  But each to their own!   
As for the OP's issue, yep, something definitely wrong.  You should have trouble free range up to 1,000 metres / yards.   Maybe try a completely different location away from any buildings, in open countryside, and if you still get a poor range, you know it's a fault.
Cheers,

Fully agree with you.

Mavic Ace Posted at 2018-3-9 21:21
I have an Air and a Spark and I can assure you that the Air is not just an upgraded spark.  It’s better than the Mavic Pro in just about all respects except range.

Nah the air gives 14 mins of flight while the platinum 28 mins. Nothing the air can do differently

djiuser_fiQgdFqHaUQg Posted at 2018-3-10 01:35
Nah the air gives 14 mins of flight while the platinum 28 mins. Nothing the air can do differently

Not trying to start yet another MA vs MPP comarison here, but I always carry both with me so I always fly them one after the other on the same day and same location. What I'm seeing over the last 50 or so flights on each of them is mostly 17 mins on the Air, and 24 mins on the Platinum. However,  on the very windy days, it's still 16-17 mins for Air; but 20-21 mins for Platinum, so it appears the Air is more energy efficient in strong winds.

W.T. Foxtrot Posted at 2018-3-9 20:54
I have had really good luck with my Air -- where the Spark I tried was just the opposite.  Absolutely unreliable.  Sorry to hear it didn't work out for you.  Maybe you got a faulty unit and should give it another go?

thanks, I'm gonna give it a go, thinking about doing an exchange

$gambino$ Posted at 2018-3-9 19:23
Mine flys fine in neighborhood?  My range is great ...exchange it

thanks, thats what I am thinking about doing

John Mclaughlin 7 Posted at 2018-3-9 17:41
went through tech support and sent screen shots of wifi, app version info and firmware info, no luck, they had no idea. I have zero stable transmission bands on my screen, all bands are red

Have you tried to fly in airplane mode?

hallmark007 Posted at 2018-3-10 05:06
Have you tried to fly in airplane mode?

yes, I'm trying a firmware restore as well, doubtful though, as I mentioned before in the wifi tab all the channels are red and there isn't even an option to select 5.8g to try that

thanks to all that replied, here's a screen shot from my iPhone
I tried auto as well of course

John Mclaughlin 7 Posted at 2018-3-10 05:16
yes, I'm trying a firmware restore as well, doubtful though, as I mentioned before in the wifi tab all the channels are red and there isn't even an option to select 5.8g to try that[view_image]

Try auto it should give you an option. Certainly showing no signal available in that picture.

If you're flying the Mavic Air directly above the remote, keep the antenna on the Air folded (facing down) and remote's antenna pointing up.

DJT_MVSP Posted at 2018-3-10 05:30
If you're flying the Mavic Air directly above the remote, keep the antenna on the Air folded (facing down) and remote's antenna pointing up.

yes, done, gonna try again this am

I am wondering if it's an actual problem with the remote.

John Mclaughlin 7 Posted at 2018-3-10 05:35
I am wondering if it's an actual problem with the remote.

Unless you test in a less polluted airspace you cannot be sure. But RC failures have been reported in the past.

Sounds like the internal antennae connection on the board inside might be disconnected. Had very similar results with another of my quads and that's what I found when I opened the controller up. If you look at this picture inside the controller (no not DJI) just using as a reference as I suspect these controllers use the same micro cable connectors on the board for the antennae you will notice a grey cable that drops off the board and next to it a black cable with gold connector on the board printed is wifi. Open the controller and look for something like that disconnected. If it is be careful to center the socket over the board and push straight down, you will feel it click.

wifi cable

Mavic Ace Posted at 2018-3-9 21:21
I have an Air and a Spark and I can assure you that the Air is not just an upgraded spark.  It’s better than the Mavic Pro in just about all respects except range.

Do you find the 2 axis gimble better than the 3 axis gimble on the MP along with an RC that doesn’t have a  display readout. Oh and it connects via Wi-fi

Mavic Ace Posted at 2018-3-9 21:21
I have an Air and a Spark and I can assure you that the Air is not just an upgraded spark.  It’s better than the Mavic Pro in just about all respects except range.

Do you find the 2 axis gimble better than the 3 axis gimble on the MP along with an RC that doesn’t have a  display readout. Oh and it connects via Wi-fi. Did I forget nearly double battery time?

John Mclaughlin 7 Posted at 2018-3-10 05:35
I am wondering if it's an actual problem with the remote.

thats what I suspect, I will create a new post when i get the new m/a and let everyone know

RL_XXI Posted at 2018-3-10 12:16
Sounds like the internal antennae connection on the board inside might be disconnected. Had very similar results with another of my quads and that's what I found when I opened the controller up. If you look at this picture inside the controller (no not DJI) just using as a reference as I suspect these controllers use the same micro cable connectors on the board for the antennae you will notice a grey cable that drops off the board and next to it a black cable with gold connector on the board printed is wifi. Open the controller and look for something like that disconnected. If it is be careful to center the socket over the board and push straight down, you will feel it click.

returned it for an exchange arriving this week, what you say makes a lot of sense and I was wondering if it was an actual hardware problem. I didn't have any options at all to change the frequency. a lot of grief, all because I want a bit more functionality than my spark so I can get better quality (in theory) photos and videos.

Yup, dji strikes Again

Monkey007 Posted at 2018-3-10 01:49
Not trying to start yet another MA vs MPP comarison here, but I always carry both with me so I always fly them one after the other on the same day and same location. What I'm seeing over the last 50 or so flights on each of them is mostly 17 mins on the Air, and 24 mins on the Platinum. However,  on the very windy days, it's still 16-17 mins for Air; but 20-21 mins for Platinum, so it appears the Air is more energy efficient in strong winds.

The air does 15, platinum does 25 on the same condition. 10 mins is a lot

Monkey007 Posted at 2018-3-10 01:49
Not trying to start yet another MA vs MPP comarison here, but I always carry both with me so I always fly them one after the other on the same day and same location. What I'm seeing over the last 50 or so flights on each of them is mostly 17 mins on the Air, and 24 mins on the Platinum. However,  on the very windy days, it's still 16-17 mins for Air; but 20-21 mins for Platinum, so it appears the Air is more energy efficient in strong winds.

Reason for this is better known now because of a certain Mr Welsi, MavAir will turn of obstacle avoidance to increase its pitch and speed in the wind where as Mavic Pro can’t do this so is trying to hold its pitch and maintain obstacle avoidance so becomes less efficient into the wind .

djiuser_fiQgdFqHaUQg Posted at 2018-3-10 14:08
The air does 15, platinum does 25 on the same condition. 10 mins is a lot

Don't get me wrong my friend, I'm one of those who agree that the Air is a little bit 'hyped and exaggerated'. But those flight times I've quoted are objective and  were based on my own observations. By the way, where do you get your numbers? Do you own a Mavic Air?????