TheMann58
Second Officer
Flight distance : 18669501 ft
United States
Offline
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The DJI Phantom 4 Pro is a fantastic piece of drone technology that will allow you, after gaining some experience and learning of basic drone videography techniques, to take very high-quality aerial videos and photos.
Here is my advice to have the most trouble-free and enjoyable experience:
1) Buy from a reputable dealer - I recommend Best Buy as they are an authorized DJI reseller and have a reasonable return policy; this will assure that you will be purchasing brand-new, never-opened hardware from an authorized dealer.
2) Download and read the entire DJI Phantom 4 Pro manual. Read it again.
3) Watch several excellent YouTube videos about how to set up and calibrate your Phantom 4 Pro.
4) Install the DJI GO 4 app on your mobile device. I STRONGLY recommend that you use or purchase a newer Apple iPad Air or iPad Pro as user experience documented on this DJI forum and other DJI forums indicates that the DJI app running under iOS on a newer iPad is the most reliable, never-crashes, works-well experience. If you use an Android device - expect at least occasional app hangs and device lockups.
5) Watch DJI's videos on how to update the firmware of your P4Pro. Then watch them again.
6) Connect your mobile device to Internet using a reliable, high-speed home WiFi.
7) Using DJI GO 4 app, create and login in to your DJI user account.
8) Install latest firmware update on your P4Pro aircraft, battery and remote controller using DJI GO 4 app. If you purchased several spare batteries, after completing initial firmware update, power down the P4Pro, replace battery, power up, wait for "Inconisistent Firmware" message, and then proceed to update second battery. Repeat for third/fourth/ etc. batteries. Battery firmware updates only take a minute or so each vs. 7-15 minutes for P4Pro aircraft/RC firmware updates.
9) Watch DJI video on how to perform an IMU calibration on your P4Pro. NOTE: The P4Pro has been manufactured in and shipped from China, jostled around in a dozen shipping trucks, boats and planes before getting to your home. You MUST perform an IMU calibration at least once on your new drone to give the best, most stable, flying experience with a new drone. In addition, the IMU calibration, properly executed, will also yield a very level, possibly perfectly level, camera gimbal during flight. I have found with my P4Pro that the IMU calibration alone yields the most level gimbal - and if I then perform a Gimbal Calibration - the gimbal level is less perfect than it was immediately after a successful IMU calibration on a level surface. So, I don't do gimbal calibrations on my P4Pro.
10) Fully charge your P4Pro battery(ies) and your P4Pro Remote Controller.
11) Perform an IMU calibration on a sturdy, level, vibration-proof surface - a granite countertop works well for this. An IMU calibration is not difficult - it just may seem a bit weird that at one point you are asked to position the P4Pro upside down on the level calibration platform.
12) Watch DJI video on how to perform a compass calibration on the P4Pro.
13) Take the P4Pro outside (never inside a building) and perform a compass calibration - preferably in your grass-covered yard - several feet away from any reinforced concrete. NEVER perform a compass calibration inside a building, on a driveway, in a street, or on a concrete parking lot - all these environments likely contain rebar- reinforced concrete surfaces that screw up a compass calibration. Again, because the P4Pro shipped from China, you should always perform a compass calibration before first flying attempt.
14) Buy a cheap plastic landing pad - foldable if you prefer - from numerous eBay/Amazon vendors.
15) Leave your new drone in beginner mode and, if at all possible, find a friend, or friendly DJI drone owner, with experience in DJI drones to go out with you the first few times you fly to provide helpful pointers, to make sure your P4Pro is calibrated correctly, and to provide advice.
16) Find a safe, very open area to practice flying with few if any trees within 200 feet with few if any people about.
17) Practice taking off and landing, flying forward, backward, sideways, turning slowly while flying forward - over and over again, until it becomes second nature.
18) Get in the habit of always STARTING video recording BEFORE you take off. Nothing more disappointing (other than crashing into a tree) than landing after a successful 15-20 minute flight to discover that you forgot to start video recording and you have NO video captured of your latest flying adventure. You can always delete the video later.
19) After getting comfortable with basic flying maneuvers, fly your P4Pro out at least 65 feet away - more if you wish - and test the Return to Home button on the P4Pro - remember to hold the button down for at least five seconds to activate the RTH feature. Be amazed as your P4Pro magically returns to home point at pre-set RTH height, descends and lands within 6 feet of your take-off point (within 6 inches of your take-off point if you use automatic takeoff and check the Precision Takeoff box before moving slider to the right). REMEMBER - at a distance of less than 20 meters (65 feet) from Home Point, if you initiate an RTH, the P4Pro will immediately descend and land where it is.
20) ENJOY flying your P4Pro and watching your recorded videos afterwards!
Dave Mann |
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