Just bought a new drone after years of using the Phantom 4 Pro.  Decided on the Air 3S.

Received it today from B&H Photo and immediately noticed that the RC2 controller that was part of the package is possessed by a spirit.   The controller powers up fine but the touch screen is a disaster.  I cannot imput anything to it but apparently a spectre cannot leave it alone.  Ie., I am getting random inputs to the screen that cause it to continually scroll mindlessly up and down (jittery) and I hear random audio cues as if the screen is being operated with a menu choice.

Sadly, I bought it from B&H and today is their first day of a 10 day Jewish holiday that they observe to the letter of the law.  Nothing wrong with that but it means I get no chance to even get a response from them for 10 days.

In the meantime, I was wondering if others had experienced similar issues.  Would love to be able to use my new drone as the old Phantom 4 Pro is showing signs of being about 8 years old...

Thanks.

Try connecting it your PC or Mac and updating the FW using DJI Assistant 2.

RobZilla Posted at 10-17 08:46
Try connecting it your PC or Mac and updating the FW using DJI Assistant 2.

I did.  The random touch screen inputs seem to interrupt the connection.   I tried the firmware update and it failed three times from what appears to be random inputs from the controller screen.  Figured I did not want to risk bricking it altogether so I stopped trying.   Plus, if I was to get it sort of working I think this is a defect that could come back possibly.

I have packed it all back up and guess I will stare at it for the next 10 days until B&H opens back up.

Any other ideas?

Also, I have not gotten past the language selection screen on the controller.  So maybe the controller has not even been fully initialized?

Jimbo67 Posted at 10-17 08:51
I did.  The random touch screen inputs seem to interrupt the connection.   I tried the firmware update and it failed three times from what appears to be random inputs from the controller screen.  Figured I did not want to risk bricking it altogether so I stopped trying.   Plus, if I was to get it sort of working I think this is a defect that could come back possibly.

I have packed it all back up and guess I will stare at it for the next 10 days until B&H opens back up.

Sadly can't think of anything else. Truly unfortunate you bought it recently but can't use it for 10 days! Maybe someone else can chime in on other steps.

I was going to check BH for stock as you've seen other US retailers unable to get stock due to customs issues and/or delayed release. Was hoping for local stock at Best Buy or maybe Amazon no dice. I might try DJI directly but I might be under the same umbrella as US retailers for customs.

RobZilla Posted at 10-17 09:07
Sadly can't think of anything else. Truly unfortunate you bought it recently but can't use it for 10 days! Maybe someone else can chime in on other steps.

I was going to check BH for stock as you've seen other US retailers unable to get stock due to customs issues and/or delayed release. Was hoping for local stock at Best Buy or maybe Amazon no dice. I might try DJI directly but I might be under the same umbrella as US retailers for customs.

Yeah... looks like I might have gotten the last one.  Crap.  Really just need a controller.

I see RC2 controllers available on Amazon.   I think I will buy one and hope that B&H will somehow address the issue at a later date.  

Jimbo67 Posted at 10-17 09:10
Yeah... looks like I might have gotten the last one.  Crap.  Really just need a controller.

I see RC2 controllers available on Amazon.   I think I will buy one and hope that B&H will somehow address the issue at a later date.

Let the power run down, so leave it on, re-charge do a factory reset and try updating on dji assistant , if that fails you will be no worse off.

Hallmark007 Posted at 10-17 10:14
Let the power run down, so leave it on, re-charge do a factory reset and try updating on dji assistant , if that fails you will be no worse off.

How can i do a factory reset without a working screen?

first of all wondering if it has warranty on it, second could we get a clip?

Antdrones Posted at 10-17 10:56
first of all wondering if it has warranty on it, second could we get a clip?

Brand new.  Like I said, the unfortunate thing is that the store I bought it from is closed for the next 10 days for religious holiday (B&H Photo).

Tried to upload a clip but the forum did not allow an .mp4 file.

Just imagine the opening language choice screen scrolling up and down at random and screen click sounds random 1-3 times per second.

Jimbo67 Posted at 10-17 10:27
How can i do a factory reset without a working screen?

Well let’s see if you can first withdraw all power and then recharge and see what happens.

I also noticed the touch screen on these supplied RC 2 is not the greatest. I tried my Air 3 RC 2 on Air 3 first and it worked great, updated FW and it had the touch screen issues. The problem is not the RC but the FW update that is causing the issues. After downgrading it was okay again but then I can't fly the Air 3S unless it's updated.

Hallmark007 Posted at 10-17 11:21
Well let’s see if you can first withdraw all power and then recharge and see what happens.

https://youtube.com/shorts/0Tk1rzh7kqM?feature=share

Definitely a ghost working the screen. I'd try hallmark's idea of running the power down then charging it back up.  Or just charging it fully to begin with.

RobZilla Posted at 10-17 11:44
Definitely a ghost working the screen. I'd try hallmark's idea of running the power down then charging it back up.  Or just charging it fully to begin with.

Well... this has gone from bad to worse.

It appears that I ordered an Air 3 and not the Air 3S.   I was reading all about the 3S and when I went to B&H's site it listed a bunch of items when I searched Air 3S... and one of them was an AIR 3.

Okay... it all goes back now.  And the second controller that I just bought from Amazon.

Sheesh.  Clearly my mistake but... whatever.

Defect is now a moot point.  I ordered the wrong thing.

Wow sorry to hear the news! When I was searching for Air 3S stock, even BH showed pre-order so I was curious if you got lucky. Most retailers don't show it except BH and DJI. I think the customs thing and maybe a later release date has a role in this. Guess all the Europeans and Aussies get to have all the fun and work out the existing bugs for us before the release!

RobZilla Posted at 10-17 12:07
Wow sorry to hear the news! When I was searching for Air 3S stock, even BH showed pre-order so I was curious if you got lucky. Most retailers don't show it except BH and DJI. I think the customs thing and maybe a later release date has a role in this. Guess all the Europeans and Aussies get to have all the fun and work out the existing bugs for us before the release!

Feel like a doofus at this point.  Ordered the wrong thing... then ordered the wrong thing to fix the malfunctioning part of the original wrong thing.  Got two returns on my hands now.

Jimbo67 Posted at 10-17 12:16
Feel like a doofus at this point.  Ordered the wrong thing... then ordered the wrong thing to fix the malfunctioning part of the original wrong thing.  Got two returns on my hands now.

Ahh thats tuff but the sky hasn’t fallen in and you’ll live to fight another day. It will work out for the best in the end. Good luck.

Jimbo67 Posted at 10-17 12:16
Feel like a doofus at this point.  Ordered the wrong thing... then ordered the wrong thing to fix the malfunctioning part of the original wrong thing.  Got two returns on my hands now.

oh man that sucks, hopefully you can get it all sorted out

Hi there,

Thank You for reaching out. We are truly sorry for the inconvenience you are experiencing. Please try to calibrate your DJI RC 2's compass. Follow the steps as below;
After powering on the remote controller, swipe down from the top of the screen to access the drop-down menu, and then tap the gear icon in the top-right corner to open System Settings.
Enter the Compass Calibration screen. Tap the Start Calibration button on the screen and complete the calibration as prompted.
Note: The compass calibration settings are available in the system settings of the remote controller, but not in the DJI Fly app.

Note: If the remote controller's compass is normal, no prompts about the calibration steps will be displayed and the message "Calibration is successful" will be directly displayed if the user taps Start Calibration.

If issue still persist upon calibration and firmware update please contact B&H directly for further assistance. I hope this information has helped to clarify your inquiries. If you have any other questions, kindly let us know. Thank You!

DJI Gamora Posted at 10-18 00:06
Hi there,

Thank You for reaching out. We are truly sorry for the inconvenience you are experiencing. Please try to calibrate your DJI RC 2's compass. Follow the steps as below;

WHAT ???

)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Gamora, is not about compass calibration here.

Hallmark, keeping the RC open up to 0% will destroy the LI ION battery as the  anod of battery will oxidize...I thought you know that.

Send all thing back, reorder...
Cheers.