Hi folks,

Bit of a long post because I wanted to detail the strange things happening to my P3P, lately, and I wonder what you make of it all:

A couple of days ago, I have updated the firmware of the RC from v1.4.30 to v1.5.70, and the Phantom 3 Pro and batteries to v1.6.0040 (from 2015-12-22). I have since done a couple of successful flights, although I once shortly got a 'signal loss' during flight. I attributed that to using a new smartphone instead of the tablet I normally use.

Yesterday, I wanted to do another flight, but at the startup/check-up screen I got the warning that the radio channel quality was poor, probably due to interference, etc.. Also, the pre-flight calibrate button was just not there.

Furthermore, at some point a window popped-up with a slave (slave name: 9, I think it was) requesting control over the gimbal! Of course I denied it.

I have never seen this before. Also, as far as I know, the Phantom 3 Pro does not have the option to be controlled by multiple Rcs, only the Inspire has that option. (And I absolutely used the firmware update software from the Phantom 3 Pro).

I restarted all a couple of times, sometimes getting the message 'no-connection', sometimes getting the message 'no signal' and usually getting the slave-control request again as well. Always with the 'poor radio channel quality'-warning, and no calibration button.

And then, starting up all of the hardware once again, all over sudden, all was back to normal. I did a successful flight, although the Phantom was noticeably less stable when hovering in front of me in the air (I have had that a couple of times before, and attribute that to the weather, also because I had around 20 satellites to work with).

What do you make of that? I'm thinking there might actually have been some kind of radio interference. I'm not sure from what, because I live out on the countryside, with the nearest neighbors several 100s of meters away, no factories, no communication poles, etc...

Solar flares? (Trying to take over my phantom?! ;) ).

Or is the latest firmware update unstable and to blame?

Please let me know what make of all this.

Cheers!

Your app is confused about what aircraft you are flying.
Delete the app and reinstall it.

Do you recon that is because of the updates on the P3P, the RC and the Batteries I recently did?

Or might it have something to do with me using a new smartphone and then going back to the tablet I usually work with? (However, yesterday, I got no-signal-messages on both. I think I did not get the slave-request on the smartphone, though...).

ohh that sounds very strange...Slave on P3.. never heard of that

Quick update: I have not yet deleted and reinstalled my DJI GO app, but decided to try out the P3P one more time before doing that. I did not get the slave-request anymore. But during that flight, I did get 2-3 instances of 'signal lost's while not flying out very far (couple of 100s of meters). They occurred only for a very short moment, but frightened me into flying the P3P quickly back to me, as I feel I cannot trust it right now. I have flown in this same area a lot and NEVER had this problem before.

I will delete and reinstall the app, as suggested, but I must say, I am not sure that this will solve the signal-problem. I am leaning towards blaming the firmware update (especially since I saw others having the same problem after updating as well).

I understand that it is kind of difficult to down-grade to a former version, though...

info@lachassagn Posted at 2016-1-29 21:33
Quick update: I have not yet deleted and reinstalled my DJI GO app, but decided to try out the P3P o ...

Downgrading's easy, just put the bin file on the card as if you were upgrading.  You can only go back one version.

info@lachassagn Posted at 2016-1-29 13:33
Quick update: I have not yet deleted and reinstalled my DJI GO app, but decided to try out the P3P o ...

Also relink the aircraft and see if that helps.

Sounds like bad signal between the RC and the tablet.

Try changing the USB cable between the RC and your tablet.

Worth a try (an easy try)

Update:

Today, I (finally) updated de DJI-GO app on the Android tablet from version 2.1.0 to version 2.6.0 and I did not get the 'poor radio channel quality'-warning anymore and was able to calibrate the gimbal again. So, that problem seems to be solved.

However, I did get the 'weak transmission link /  signal lost warning again while flying out not even that far, but always at the same point. I did realize that it was just a tiny bit further than I would fly normally (only a couple of tens of meters more), plus, I came to realise that normally when flying in that direction, I'd be standing in front of the buildings, whereas with these last couple of tries, I was standing in between these stone buildings (no sky scrapers or anything, though). And sure enough, when standing in front of the buildings, I could fly further than normal, without getting the 'weak transmission link / signal loss'. It seems that it might just make the difference.

As for the 'slave trying to take control'-issue.. I'm thinking that this was a case of a confused P3, since I was normally using the tablet on the RC, and now I'd been trying out a smart phone and then back to tablet, etc... Still weird...

(@Sailer P3 - thanks for the suggestion! I had tried that already).
(@Nigelw and DJI Ken - thanks for the info. I might need it in the future. For now the problem seems to be solved)

Yes, you want clear sky between you and the P3, any buildings, trees, rocks, hills, and such can and will block your signal.