I just want to note to all you phantom flyers, I have a P3S I took it out one day and all 'pre flight checks' where ok except for 1... Celebrating compass... Because I always fly my drone in the same area I never need to calibrate the compass however, this time round I drove to a different area and I did not carry out the only pre flight check of calibration!, this is just a heads up and a must, just before takeoff of this flight I still had 'safe to fly (GPS)' in green at the top, soon as I took off within about 15 seconds (around 120ft high, 100ft distance) the green status bar suddenly changed to 'compass error NON GPS' mode, I panicked and tried to gain control of the drone as it is drifting off, I strongly recommend that you go to a safe and open field and practice flying your drone with NON GPS just I case anything like what happened to me knocks you off GPS mode

**Calibrating compass** lol

And I strongly recommend you do the same!

also don't have anything metal on you while doing the calibration. IE: a belt, change in your pocket, cell phone, knife, metal framed glasses, etc......

Calibration!! Lets all calibrate and have a good time

afiend69 Posted at 2016-2-2 12:38
Calibration!! Lets all calibrate and have a good time

Too Funny.

You should always learn to fly in ATTI  mode AND also be able to fly ATTI on a very windy day.

afiend69 Posted at 2016-2-2 17:38
Calibration!! Lets all calibrate and have a good time

Groaaannnn !!!! Your hat & coat are in the corner, please leave when Calibration complete

But a good reminder non the less, I will think of that song each time I calibrate now.

"also don't have anything metal on you while doing the calibration. IE: a belt, change in your pocket, cell phone, knife, metal framed glasses, etc......"

I always strip down naked before calibrating.  

speaking of calibration... I just walked my whole house with a level and can't find anything that is level .. ugh.  guess I will have to shim

afiend69 Posted at 2016-2-3 07:01
speaking of calibration... I just walked my whole house with a level and can't find anything that is ...

your house is on a hill?
Shim some paper or something like this should work

afiend69 Posted at 2016-2-2 19:01
speaking of calibration... I just walked my whole house with a level and can't find anything that is ...

I did the exact same thing - I found one paving slab outside (hereafter, "The Magic Slab") that's actually level.

tim.hulse Posted at 2016-2-3 06:39
I did the exact same thing - I found one paving slab outside (hereafter, "The Magic Slab") that's a ...

Well, that takes care of leveling for IMU calibration - is there any rebar in that slab - that will foul up your compass calibration!

(I'm betting you knew that already!)

It is amazing, however, how many people seem to think you must have  a level surface to calibrate the compass!

A TV ad just came on - we need to get one of those Progressive "name your price" tools. Then we can tell DJI what we're willing to pay for our birds. Oh, that's right - those things only work for Progressive insurance. LOL

Art - N4PJ
Leesburg, FL

It is always recommended to practice ATTI mode. In fact I enjoy flying in ATTI, just be sure to keep your Phantom in sight. Also power up and take off in GPS mode to let the RTH know where you are. You can change back and forth in the modes while flying.

afiend69 Posted at 2016-2-2 11:38
Calibration!! Lets all calibrate and have a good time

    That was Funny, I mean My drink squirted out my nose and everything. Made me day.

Cheers -donnie

Ca-li-brate- Good- time's--- C"mon... lets Calibrate !

gherd Posted at 2016-2-2 14:50
"also don't have anything metal on you while doing the calibration. IE: a belt, change in your pocke ...

     " I always strip down naked before calibrating"

I swear to god that crossed my mind............

Cheers -donnie

gherd Posted at 2016-2-2 12:50
"also don't have anything metal on you while doing the calibration. IE: a belt, change in your pocke ...

That won't help me.  I will have to amputate my arm and leg for accurate calibration I suppose.  But how will I do the Calibration dance then?

Part of my takeoff routine is to get up above all the obstructions on GPS, then switch to AATI to gauge the wind.  From there I go up to max altitude, looking for wind shear (the drone suddenly changed direction and/or speed).  I live at the base of a hill, and 100' up there is usually wind, no matter how calm it is on the ground.  If I travel more then 10 or so miles I also recalibrate the compass.

Flying in Atti mode is like flying most other standard RC drones.  But its still easier.  Most other drones are very throttle dependent and relies entirely on the pilot to keep it from going too high or crashing down.  There is nothing holding its elevation.  So if you can fly a faster rc drone, than you can fly in atti, except with the phantom you get added weight and stability

I most always have an attitude when I fly.

Always take off fly to around 4 or 5 feet, let it settle for a few seconds and do some simple moves before heading off into the skies.  May not of changed anything, but its a good practice.

When I first got my P3S , I must have bumped the S1 switch so I was flying in ATTI mode.  Didn't realize it till after the flight... Nothing bad happened so now I add that to my pre-flight checklist... ensure S1 is in upmost position prior to flight

I just don't understand why some pilots hit the throttle straight away and climb to dizzy heights within 15 seconds after taking off.  Irrespective of having done the naked calibration voodoo dance or not, its irresponsible!

1. LEARN TO FLY ATTI PROFICIENTLY (yes I left caps on for a reason) !!! - learn to walk before running!
2. Before taking off do a preflight check. - there are numerous lists, even on this forum.
3. After taking off, hover at a height of 2-3meters in front of yourself for at least 30 seconds to 1 minute (or more if necessary) and check everything. Sticks-LRFBYT, GPS number of sats, battery state and voltage levels etc..  Make sure the craft is stable before getting an itchy throttle thumb.

I have followed the preflight check and 30-60 seconds hover habit for over 25 years starting from the days I learnt to fly helis till today and have caught countless issues,safely landed, sorted the issue and had millions of successful flights over those years. - so much so that till today I still confidently fly my vintage Kalt Whisper heli (one of the only two surviving flying models in the world, that I know of, for which spares are no longer available anywhere in the world).

For all you young pilots I would say one of thing:  Patience, you must have, young Padawans and sure you are to be, rewarded with a successful flight!  

afiend69 Posted at 2016-2-2 12:38
Calibration!! Lets all calibrate and have a good time

Calibrate good times, come on! (Let's Calibrate)
Calibrate good times, come on! (Let's Calibrate)
There's a party goin' on right here
A calibration to last throughout the years
So bring your good times, and your Phantom too
We gonna Calibrate your party with you
Come on now
calibration
Let's all Calibrate and have a good time
calibration
We gonna Calibrate and have a good time

microcyb Posted at 2016-2-19 22:27
Calibrate good times, come on! (Let's Calibrate)
Calibrate good times, come on! (Let's Calibrate)
...

Nice One!!!! Oh, Wise one... !
I wonder if the young ones will be able to "name that tune"...

I use Sony Vegas Studio, you can get DaVinci Resolve that has a free version.

Morph1 Posted at 2016-2-19 22:56
haha, lets celebrate the calibration
I have done a couple flights where I was 180 km away from ...

Lens filters- great idea.
I'm shooting w/ an 18 - 32 in the bright beach sun


Cheers