Hello everyone !!
Recently my Spark is taking too much time to get a stable GPS signal, and turn on GPS flight mode.
Sometimes it costs almost 10% of battery to take off.

In order to get it faster, I've been taking off on Atti Mode and some meters above the ground, it switches to GPS....thats not good, flying in Atti may cause some problems....

Anyway, is there someting I could do to get it faster ??

The GPS hardware (board) could be damaged ??

Both RC and drone are in the last FW. Also DJI GO app its on the lastest version.

I already tryied to fly in other locations, and the problem persists.....

tks all

Hi,

I think thats normal. For a GPS receiver to work properly, it needs to know the tracks of all the GPS satellites (almanac data). If that receiver (= the Spark) has been moved to another location or it has been turned off for a few days, it needs to download that data via the satellites in sight. That process can use up to 15 mintes.

Cheers,
Wolferl

Wolferl Posted at 5-24 00:28
Hi,

I think thats normal. For a GPS receiver to work properly, it needs to know the tracks of all the GPS satellites (almanac data). If that receiver (= the Spark) has been moved to another location or it has been turned off for a few days, it needs to download that data via the satellites in sight. That process can use up to 15 mintes.

Thanks buddy!! Great explanation

you also have to take into consideration where you are flying , are you in an open field , clear skies . all drones that use GPS sometimes take awhile to connect to a number of sats you need to fly . the Spark stock batteries  will give you about 10 to 12 minutes of flight time . what i have been doing for a number of years is point my drone to north , to me and all the drones i have ,it seams to get more sats and faster .
fly safe and stay well

NRRTRAINS 85 Posted at 5-25 19:09
you also have to take into consideration where you are flying , are you in an open field , clear skies . all drones that use GPS sometimes take awhile to connect to a number of sats you need to fly . the Spark stock batteries  will give you about 10 to 12 minutes of flight time . what i have been doing for a number of years is point my drone to north , to me and all the drones i have ,it seams to get more sats and faster .
fly safe and stay well

Hi,

It doesn't matter where you "point" the drone. GPS satellites are all over the sky, and they move fast.
Open field is the best of course.

Cheers,
Wolferl

NRRTRAINS 85 Posted at 5-25 19:09
you also have to take into consideration where you are flying , are you in an open field , clear skies . all drones that use GPS sometimes take awhile to connect to a number of sats you need to fly . the Spark stock batteries  will give you about 10 to 12 minutes of flight time . what i have been doing for a number of years is point my drone to north , to me and all the drones i have ,it seams to get more sats and faster .
fly safe and stay well

Thank you for your reply.
The only reason I posted that issue, its because started doing that suddently.....I used to get GPS signal very fast, even on the same places of take off...

Hi there，How many minutes does it take to get a stable GPS signal now? Please try to do a compass calibration and see if it helps.

This is strange.

Are you perhaps under heavy tree canopy or near some structure?

DJI Natalia Posted at 5-27 01:49
Hi there，How many minutes does it take to get a stable GPS signal now? Please try to do a compass calibration and see if it helps.

Perhaps 4 or 5 minutes.... But sometimes In need to take off and gain some altitude to do that.
And I used to get GPS signal with no problems before, on the same location.

Tentoes Posted at 5-28 13:01
This is strange.

Are you perhaps under heavy tree canopy or near some structure?

No, it on my backtard....I used to take off with no problems in the past...

diogolobo Posted at 6-1 14:47
No, it on my backtard....I used to take off with no problems in the past...

Hmm. I think something has happened to your Spark.

Tentoes Posted at 6-1 19:59
Hmm. I think something has happened to your Spark.

Me too. Thats the problem

diogolobo Posted at 6-2 07:32
Me too. Thats the problem

I'd try DJI Support.

https://www.dji.com/support?site=brandsite&from=nav

diogolobo Posted at 6-2 07:32
Me too. Thats the problem

Oh! Have you tried resetting the spark?

With the drone turned on, press and hold the power button until it beeps twice. About 9 seconds.

This fixed something I was having trouble with and was told, "That's just the way it is."

Tentoes Posted at 6-2 09:49
Oh! Have you tried resetting the spark?

With the drone turned on, press and hold the power button until it beeps twice. About 9 seconds.

No I didnt....I just downgraded the FW and upgraded again....No changes on the issue

Tentoes Posted at 6-2 09:37
I'd try DJI Support.

https://www.dji.com/support?site=brandsite&from=nav

Tried.
They asked me to send the spark to a repair shop...

diogolobo Posted at 6-18 14:48
Tried.
They asked me to send the spark to a repair shop...

I think I would agree with them. Something's wonky with the GPS receiver.

Wait a minute: You don't have some kind of shiny sticker on this spark?

Tentoes Posted at 6-20 05:45
I think I would agree with them. Something's wonky with the GPS receiver.

Wait a minute: You don't have some kind of shiny sticker on this spark?

No, nothing glued on spark different than stock....

Tentoes Posted at 6-20 05:45
I think I would agree with them. Something's wonky with the GPS receiver.

Wait a minute: You don't have some kind of shiny sticker on this spark?

No, nothing glued on spark different than stock....

diogolobo Posted at 7-11 16:27
No, nothing glued on spark different than stock....

Before sending it for service, go to another location (flat countryside, away from buildings) and try it there. Analytical thinking:
If the 10 satellites are there for a long time, then the Spark is faulty, if you quickly find 10 satellites there, then the place where you have tried so far is shaded and the Spark is not faulty.