Hi,

I've been reading on some forums of P3 owners that they've noticed a noticeable drop in the range of the P4 (despite DJI's claims that it supports 3.5 miles). Not that I'm trying to push my P4 that far, but I'm curious to ascertain what the experience has been with most people. Have people (particularly P3) owners noticed a dramatic drop in the range supported by the default RC compared to P3P or P3A?

I flew mine about 300 yards away and lost video signal when about 30 feet above the ground, granted, there were two trees and a house between me and the drone, but that was disappointing to say the least.

Maybe they are referring to the  remote control range, not the actual FPV video feed range.

I originally thought there was a drop off but I flew my P3 and P4 from the same spot to the same location and lost signal at the same place so it's more about the interference in my area.

yeah, just set the return to home before you take off and cross your fingers. I could still control the drone, just lost video feed . The house was about 50 yards in front of me.

DJI has yet to answer the range question for the P4 vs the P3 Pro. I have my fingers crossed that the transmit power level is not getting set correctly based on location. The DJI reps should at least say they are looking into the issue.

There is no doubt in my mind the range has dropped.  You also can't pan the P4 around while rth is activated like p3p.  So far all I have is a much nicer looking drone which is a matter of opinion.

pgrover516 Posted at 2016-3-22 22:56
what was the distance?

The distance was just over 4,000 feet but again, it is a congested area as far as interference goes. Interference appeared to be down today and I was actually able to make it a little bit further. Best way to test is by being in a wide open area which I have not been able to do yet.

granne@hotmail. Posted at 2016-3-22 08:42
yeah, just set the return to home before you take off and cross your fingers. I could still control  ...

Could be the house had wifi cameras or something similar in it. 2.4GHz isn't a super wide band there's a lot of noise in it and a lot of consumer products capable of swamping your radio signal.

The P4 has the EXACT same range as the P3. Do a flight test with both aircraft in the exact same location at the same time of day and exact same conditions and hold the RC the exact same way with the antennas the exact same way.
You will see that you get the EXACT same distance on both.

DJI-Ken Posted at 2016-3-22 17:02
The P4 has the EXACT same range as the P3. Do a flight test with both aircraft in the exact same loc ...

This is what I experienced.

pgrover516 Posted at 2016-3-23 05:11
that would have been my expectation though some (one?) report doubling range and others seem to se ...

Only way you will convince yourself is to get both aircraft and test for your self

ed@edwardsroofi Posted at 2016-3-23 03:03
There is no doubt in my mind the range has dropped.  You also can't pan the P4 around while rth is a ...

'You also can't pan the P4 around while rth is activated like p3p. '

No, and it is designed that way. The obstacle avoidance sensors must face the front when it is in RTH mode.

The range is enough for what I do but no where's near 3.1 miles. It's like those two-way radios with an advertised range of 35 miles when actually they go about 900 feet.

R&L Aerial  Posted at 2016-3-23 07:13
The range is enough for what I do but no where's near 3.1 miles. It's like those two-way radios with ...

The 3.1 miles is in really good conditions, as DJI states. As long as I can get 3.1 in excellent conditions, I'm happy.

Geebax Posted at 2016-3-23 06:37
'You also can't pan the P4 around while rth is activated like p3p. '

No, and it is designed that  ...

Even with obstacle avoidance turned off?

ed@edwardsroofi Posted at 2016-3-23 10:27
Even with obstacle avoidance turned off?

I don't have a P4, but as far as I am aware, you cannot turn off obstacle avoidance during an RTH cycle..

Test both craft on the same day? Done. Did it today and this was the best FPV distance I've ever gotten out of my phantom 4. Both flights had me standing in the same location, position, antenna placement, and the routes were in the same direction. The span between flights was the time it took to turn off my phantom 3 advanced and to turn on my phantom 2.

The next flight

Phantom 3 FPV

My phantom 4 at the same place, distance, time, standing position, controller position, HD settings on DJI go, etc. This was the closest my phantom 4 came to the FPV distance of my phantom 3. Still short and far more FPV hiccups. I love my phantom 4, more than my 3, but I am far from satisfied with its FPV range.

edbighi@gmail.c Posted at 2016-3-22 16:56
Test both craft on the same day? Done. Did it today and this was the best FPV distance I've ever got ...

The Phantom 3 Pro gets better range than the Phantom 3 Advance, right? Your tests show that the Phantom 4 goes not quite as far as the Phantom 3 Advance. This is consistent with what I have been reading from other pilots. The main evidence thus far is that the Phantom 4 has lower signal power than the Phantom 3 Pro which explains the lack of range. Apologies for grossly oversimplifying the problem. I am not a RF engineer. My concern is still that the Phantom 4 is not setting itself to US signal strength automatically and I am guessing there is no user setting.

It isn't just less range. Have a look at both of my videos from beginning to end and notice the live feed hiccups for my phantom 4. This inferiority in FPV is a real shame for what is otherwise a superior craft.

I've been reading the posts in this thread and in Phantompilots.com forums, where people are up in arms about this. Some, even advocating writing letters to DJI CEO etc.  I would imagine, though, that this problem with range can be potentially fixed with a firmware update? I'm certainly not sure what made DJI reduce the range in the P4 unless they were pressured by the FAA to do so, but I would imagine the best way to keep tabs on the problem is to restrict it in the firmware.  I took mine out for a range test (I only have a P4) and couldn't get beyond 2200 feet before I started having FPV signal problems. It was, however, in a congested suburban areas.

As the word goes...fools rush in.

edbighi@gmail.c Posted at 2016-3-23 07:56
Test both craft on the same day? Done. Did it today and this was the best FPV distance I've ever got ...

Wow thanks for this screen shot. Can't wait to buy one.

edbighi@gmail.c Posted at 2016-3-23 07:56
Test both craft on the same day? Done. Did it today and this was the best FPV distance I've ever got ...

Wow thanks for this screen shot. Can't wait to buy one.

edbighi@gmail.c Posted at 2016-3-23 07:56
Test both craft on the same day? Done. Did it today and this was the best FPV distance I've ever got ...

Wow thanks for this screen shot. Can't wait to buy one.

atis Posted at 2016-3-23 13:22
Wow thanks for this screen shot. Can't wait to buy one.

Oh sorry 3 times

rwickra Posted at 2016-3-23 03:41
I've been reading the posts in this thread and in Phantompilots.com forums, where people are up in a ...

I could easily get 6100 feet over a massively congested European city (keep in mind Italy density) in my lower CE specifiaction phantom 3 advanced. Every day. Flight after flight. And of course it could go much further. Forget it in my phantom 4. Might as well have been made by Yunnec.

My P4 range going North from my driveway was 5500' at 400' altitude, 20 minutes later I took my P3P #2 on the exact same route, I got 12500'.
Very disappointed in the P4 range.

Flyin'Bryan Posted at 2016-3-22 22:57
Haha....... too bad so many fell for the p4's wonderful marketing ploy.

Even though the range is a little less in my opinion, the camera quality and new features make up for it. The p4 is amazing. If you install a pair of cheap antenna boosters the range is more than enough for long flights.

R&L Aerial  Posted at 2016-3-23 08:51
Even though the range is a little less in my opinion, the camera quality and new features make up  ...

A "little" less?  Numerous people are reporting substantially less range in side-by-side tests.  The post just above yours was less than half the range.  More than a little.  And per the video above, unstable FPV throughout.

DJI rep says, "only way to know is to try them side-by-side."  So a bunch of people do and prove the opposite of what he was saying.

Something is up.  Whether it only affects some units or all, it's a real issue.

citivas Posted at 2016-3-23 21:33
A "little" less?  Numerous people are reporting substantially less range in side-by-side tests.  T ...

I did side by side and lost signal at the same place. Maybe I'm just in the minority

A little less?!!! More like substantially less and massive glaring flaws in FPV when compared to the phantom 3 advanced and pro. Hell, the Advanced costs half the price! Here was my flight  today. Distance when this was filmed was between 1000 and 1300 meters. My advanced could carry on for 2000 meters in the same valley. Stock. No rigged antennas, nothing. And no, I don't want custom antennas. Like most of us here I want range solidly as good as the p3. And by solidly I don't mean this p2v+ era crap below.

Drone Man Posted at 2016-3-23 13:48
My P4 range going North from my driveway was 5500' at 400' altitude, 20 minutes later I took my P3P  ...

Yeah, that is the same thing I am seeing. Unbelievable! 1600 euro, double the cost of an advanced, half to 2/3 of the range. And in worse quality to boot. Last week I was stoked with it. In love with it. But then i start doing what I did with my advanced, mountain flights and oops. Tried everything, no dice.