After reading a multitude of posts on FW upgrades I've noticed that DJI says that you CAN now jump upgrades... Saying that, some DJI reps recommend upgrading in order of release... "Things can get scrambled"...  

Here's my dilemma... I just received my Inspire 1 V2.0 yesterday and the current FW is 1.4 on both the aircraft and the RC ... The only FW upgrade that is available on the DJI downloads for the AC is 1.7 and 1.8.1...  

So... Should I proceed and jump straight to 1.8.1 or start with 1.7?????

Ok first off read the Manual , very important.    (As updates come out read the Release Notes as well. )
Also read my tips page that I will attach.  

BEFORE YOU DO ANY UPDATING, DOWNLOAD THE GO APP AND BE SURE TO REGISTER WITH DJI . FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS .

ALSO TEST THE SYSTEM THE WAY IT WAS SENT, THIS WAY YOU CAN MAKE SURE THE SYSTEM WORKS . DO A SHORT TEST HOP .


To answer your question  of order.  I personally stay in order and on top of updates, that is why I always advise staying in order.  However Since this is a brand new Machine you need to catch up.  From Here on out I want you to make a Scouts Honor that you will stay in order.  It is very critical in this update that you DO NOT update the Radio transmitter before the aircraft, I always recomend that you Update the aircraft first always, it is mandatory in this case. Also do not use a MAC to do the downloads  unless you are a MASTER at the MAC.  I have seen more trouble from that machine, they are good machines they just dont play well with DJI downloads.  Some pilots have success but I would not chance it .  

Make sure the transmitter is not on when updating the Aircraft.  This can damage the video Board. Also I have not seen damage, but it is a BAD idea to have the Aircraft on while updating the Radio Controler=RC

There is a update on the Batteries as well ( I am sure you know that by now since you read all the firmware updates )  So after you have success loading the aircarft with FW 1.8 be sure that each battery gets updated as well.  


If you have any questions that you cant find the answers to here ,   e-mail me at donaldjames1990@gmail.com    I will do my best to help


Just take your time and go slow.  It is not that hard, just read up on your aircraft.   AND HAVE FUN -DONNIEhttp://forum.dji.com/thread-45630-1-1.html

My tips are for the DJI Phnatom Pro and Advanced but the rules for downloading are the same
   

Will do Donnie... I've read and saved a lot of your previous posts.   I did test everything last night... Short of actually flying it anyway... (It was too late at night). Everything appears to be working just fine.  Already formatted the ad card... Downloaded and transferred the .Bin file to the card

SD card... Lol... Thanks for the response

Jim09 Posted at 2016-4-13 12:00
Will do Donnie... I've read and saved a lot of your previous posts.   I did test everything last nig ...

Ok, super , Did you go right to 1.8 ?  Make sure you downloaded from the Inspire 1 page and not the PRO correct?  Make sure that the transmitter is off.  I know I harp on this but whenI first started on this forum there were a ton of BRICKED AIRCRAFT because pilots would have the transmitter on for some reason.

After the download is finshed let me know.  Dont forget after the download to place the other batteries in one by one.  Check the SD card for "Success"  at the end.
DO NOT UPDATE THE RC TRANSMITTER until you have success on the update  to the aircraft.

Haven't done any upgrades yet... Plan on doing that tonight... Still at work at the moment... I'll keep you posted though.  

Jim09 Posted at 2016-4-13 12:28
Haven't done any upgrades yet... Plan on doing that tonight... Still at work at the moment... I'll k ...

Ok , I have a dinner event  For my daughter at Michigan State University tonight.  Things are going to go fine if you read all my tips and what not.   If you have any trouble e -mail me and I will get with you tomorrow Morning for sure.

You will do just fine - donnie

Cheers mate

Donnie Posted at 2016-4-13 10:35
Ok , I have a dinner event  For my daughter at Michigan State University tonight.  Things are goin ...

Awesome...  You from the Ann Arbor area?  

Jim09 Posted at 2016-4-13 12:46
Awesome...  You from the Ann Arbor area?

East Lansing Michigan, Ann Arbor is about 40  minutes. from East Lansing

Donnie Posted at 2016-4-13 10:55
East Lansing Michigan, Ann Arbor is about 40  minutes. from East Lansing

Nice... I graduated from Oscoda... Lake Huron side between Tawas and Alpina

Jim09 Posted at 2016-4-13 14:02
Nice... I graduated from Oscoda... Lake Huron side between Tawas and Alpina

We have a place in Oscoda........On  Ausable Point   Drive.  And  a home in East  Tawas, My wifes family I should say, but I have been going UP NORTH there for 35 years.  Do you live up there Now ? I thought you live in California ?

Small  World !!

Cheers - donnie

Lol... Small world indeed... Spent many a day oon the Ausable Salmon fishing..haha...  Living in Southern CA now... Retired Air Force... My dad was stationed at Wurtsmith back in the day..  Haha... Hell, I use deliver pizza for Big Daves.   Doubt that it's there anymore .   That's crazy..!!!

Donnie Posted at 2016-4-13 12:25
We have a place in Oscoda........On  Ausable Point   Drive.  And  a home in East  Tawas, My wifes f ...

Other two batteries just arrived ... Charging now.  Prob won't be able to get to updates til Friday... Shift work tomorrow.  

Jim09 Posted at 2016-4-13 19:32
Other two batteries just arrived ... Charging now.  Prob won't be able to get to updates til Frida ...

Jim



You are all set to move forward.....   just take a deep breath and make it so number one

Rich

Lol... You guys have been awesome.  Countdown to Friday..

Jim09 Posted at 2016-4-13 23:31
Lol... You guys have been awesome.  Countdown to Friday..

Small world Indeed.  Ironic how That happens sometimes.  When you do the Updates , as I say , just go slow .  Once you do a couple they really are easy.  If you need immediate help for anything , send me  a text or you can call me 517 -896-0060  .

Cheers Jim - Donnie   

You should go to the latest version to eliminate any bugs in the previous version. Some times there is a glitch in a new upgrade. The other reason to go back may be due to the operating system and age of your smart device.

Donnie Posted at 2016-4-14 05:08
Small world Indeed.  Ironic how That happens sometimes.  When you do the Updates , as I say , just ...

Cheers mate... Work is interfering with my fun... lol... Shift work today (Firefighter) but I might take off early Friday to get these updates done... Hopefully everything goes ok... I'd love to go hike this weekend and take the bird with me.

Got my other two batteries in late last night and got them charged up.. One appears to have only charged 3/4... LED 4 doesn't light up but it may just be the LED... I'll have to check the actual level/capacity tomorrow

Just updated from V1.5 to V1.8 - no issues.
Good advice here - order of upgrade is very important.

Donnie Posted at 2016-4-13 12:51
Ok first off read the Manual , very important.    (As updates come out read the Release Notes as wel ...

Hi Donnie, Kevin in CT here. Could you please elaborate a bit on the MAC problems? Have a Vision 2+ and have never had a problem with the updates, is this something that is happening with later DJI stuff perhaps? Not looking to start anything with you I'm just very curious as I will be getting an Inspire 1 Pro very soon and don;t want any problems with it, thanks very much!

Kevin Gallagher CT

Jim09 Posted at 2016-4-14 08:31
Cheers mate... Work is interfering with my fun... lol... Shift work today (Firefighter) but I migh ...

That will happen on a new battery sometimes, dont worry it is "Somewhat Normal " .  The first few flights Charge them up until they  stop ( You may not get all of the LED's lights )  Then go out and fly, be sure for about the first 7-10 flights that you dont take the Battery level  below  50%. . It is just good practice  and will lengthen battery life.  

The next time you charge that battery it should light up all of the Led's.  I have had a bout 3 NEW packs do that to me as well.  

Cheers- donnie  

Kevin in CT Posted at 2016-4-14 09:59
Hi Donnie, Kevin in CT here. Could you please elaborate a bit on the MAC problems? Have a Vision 2 ...

Sure Kevin, I have nothing against Mac's overall.  It is just that I see so many new pilots who are  accustomed to using a PC ( to foramt SD cards and load FW)  and expect the Mac to do the same.  For example:  When formatting an SD card on a PC it is easy, You just place the Device in the USB slot  and ask it to format, It will automatically WIPE 100% OF THE OLD DATA OFF it also recognizes the Size of the SD card.   On a Mac, if you dont know what you  are doing  and have the settings just right it will leave old data on the SD card , this can cause serious problems especially if you were trying to wipe old firmware and load new one to it.  The other part of the Mac is that it says formatted, it very may well have but only a Partition has been formatted, with DJI systems , you need to have the Root Directory ( The first thing on the Card )  installed with the new firmware.  Also  most PC will  easily load the Bin file to the SD card with a RAR software built in.  The MAC unzips the File amd if you dont Grab just the BIN file you will corrupt the Download.  

For me it just gets frustrating, I ask folks not to Format and load FW  on the MAC and everyone thinks there Steve Wozniak .  ( NOT YOU )  and then they come back to me and say I'm stuck.    I really enjoy helping but I dont see any MAC users here on the forum saying let me guide you through the settings of the MAc to show  how to do it properly.   So , for me, It is just better to say at the very least FORMAT THE SD CARD ON THE AIRCRAFT , ( ON THE GO APP, UNDER THE TOOL SETTING OF CAMERA )  and then only DOWNLOAD THE BIN file which will auto unzip when you open the file.  I think formatting is the biggest problem on the MAC.  I did hear  of a New APP for the MAC called SD formatter for MACS that is supposed to wipe them 100% this is the result of all the problems Mac users have with this topic.  

I love my apple I-pad by the way, I think it is the best device for  the GO APP.  I just dont understand what MACS  reasoning is to format just a small section of file and then tell the User "Formatted "  when it really is not. ( I dont own a MAC so i dont know the exact process, i only know that users say the MAC says that the SD card is formatted and wiped when indeed it is not.  )   

Once again I want to re-iterate many users of MAC's can download and format on a MAC no problem.  I just dont  know what the procedure is.  And until that point in time , I am going to advise new users to use a PC.  It is usually the New Pilots that have the Problems and they have no idea where the download went wrong, with a little detective work there is usually a MAC in there somewhere or they have downloaded the wrong FW because ( And it is stupid )  The numbers are all the same and there is very little difference between the advance Phantom page and the pro Phantom page  for downloads, or Pro Inspire or Inspire one .

I hope this helps and I am NOT Mac bashing,  DJI firmware and the SD format process do not go together, play it safe and use a PC or experiment with formatting a SD card on the MAC and then test on a PC.  Maybe you can be the one to make a tutorial of how to load with a MAC.  UNFORTUNATLY   the problem will still be there because most new pilots are so excited and pissing there pants to fly that they skim the manual ( IF THAT EVEN )  and then wonder what went wrong and it must be DJI's fault !!  Also just know I dont work for DJI, I just come here to help fellow pilots when I have extra time.  I enjoy paying it forward and remeber when I  was a new pilot, the milllion questions I had.  So Here I am.....

Good Luck, sorry to ramble- donnie

Donnie Posted at 2016-4-14 00:51
Ok first off read the Manual , very important.    (As updates come out read the Release Notes as wel ...

Donnie great points, thanks for the backup on issues and questions.
Love the inspire 1 when I go into follow me  and my RC is in F Selection of course and on the rc my choices for fvp or free follow do those options make a difference I say this because it acted very jerky motions like it was self correcting when follow me was engaged and my selection on the remote was in the fvp or free any ideas I also found out this only works if I use my iPhone that has GPS on it of course instead of the iPad which does not have phone service. Sorry if I'm not explaining this correctly!
I appreciate any input or thoughts thank you Donnie Steve from California

str1776 Posted at 2016-4-14 10:50
Donnie great points, thanks for the backup on issues and questions.
Love the inspire 1 when I go i ...

    Steve I think I understand.  When you are in" F Mode "  and" Follow me" is enabled   and  " First Person View  " FPV,  camera setting you are not having the camera do any lead times or compensating for the movement of the camera  and you will get very jerky movement.   I would definitely have the camera  in "Follow me mode"  ,  This will give the Smoothest of all the options.  FPV makes me  ill when watching the screen !!  

And yes The only way  that" follow me" is going to work is if you have GPS enabled on your device
I will tell you a stetting I really like is ' Point OF Interst " once again in "F" Mode and the Camera set to "Follow Me"  You can get some really beautiful  SMOOTH shots, I love it !!
  
I hope this helps- donnie

Just want to give a Huge shout out for all the advise and guidance.  All upgrades went smooth as butter...!!!  Everything is calibrated and the first test hop went awesome...!!!  Too windy to take it out today but hopefully the winds will die down this weekend.  Thanks again all.... you guys ROCK...!!!

Donnie Posted at 2016-4-14 09:16
Steve I think I understand.  When you are in" F Mode "  and" Follow me" is enabled   and  " Fi ...

Thanks Donnie for the valuable advice I had a hunch there was a solution to this issue. This helps out to get to the next level Donnie If you don't mind my follow up is about the FPVLR  antenna system.
I want more of a quality  robust signal that will help not so much for distance but areas of concern around a obstruction . Donnie I would rather pay more now for a nice upgrade then pay later for a problem I could have prevented. Any thoughts worth the investment lets put any cost aside what would you do to decrease the chances of a unfortunate loss signal weak transmission problem that could be costly. Thanks again in advance Donnie for your ideas!

str1776 Posted at 2016-4-24 22:37
Thanks Donnie for the valuable advice I had a hunch there was a solution to this issue. This helps ...

Two things  I would do for certain is invest in  Windsurfer antenna .  I find I get better signal , better distance, and less dropout, NOW, one thing is when it is close by or overhead you need to aim the antenna at the aircraft or simply remove it.  It slides on and off in a Jiffy.  I just keep mine on and am just mindful that it is a focused beam than a wide one. This will help some because the beam is focused and not spread out giving more power to a specific area .  The cost on a good one is 25 bucks
***** The only way to get around buildings is to go to short wave, this will require a HAM radio license ( I got away with it in the early 90's with a No Code Tech License  )  , these devices can go for 20 miles or more and they also go through buildings and trees easily,  I am not an expert on this topic but the lower the GHZ the more you have signal attenuated , so for example 900 mhz will go through walls better than 2.4 ghz.  So for the a the  same power the lower frequncis go further.

Also I would do the 32 channel "Upgrade "  hack is an ugly word,  it gives me great signal video  and very little dropout (99% perfect )  There are several videos on you tube on how to do it,  I will attach the file as it is getting scarce on the Net.  

I would also Invest in a Apple I pad, air or pro  it has been proven that these have the most power and the lest amount of latency. Well wrth the Money.  also I just Picked up a Hoodman and just love it for flying during the day, I may look a little goofy, but I  just sit down and fly, it is great . It gives you that First Person , like you are flying feel , I love it !

I hope these suggestions answer your question , if you ever need help and cant fin the answer here send me an e mail.    donaldjames1990@gmail.com

Hoodmanusa.com
Second Officer - donnie  ( I got a promotion )   

Donnie Posted at 2016-4-25 08:31
Two things  I would do for certain is invest in  Windsurfer antenna .  I find I get better signal , ...

Congratulations are due Donnie great job this 32 channel upgrade sounds very interesting I know   i'll check out this wind surfer and 32 channel upgrade you're talking about and the lower the frequency the farther your connection that's very interesting I like that I'm gonna check
around for that 32 channel upgrade if you find a link feel free to share that would be cool thanks Donnie it's great that you're easy to reach out to you when someone has a problem thank you sir

str1776 Posted at 2016-4-25 22:24
Congratulations are due Donnie great job this 32 channel upgrade sounds very interesting I know    ...

Here is a link to a  thread  regarding the " Upgrade "

http://forum.dji.com/thread-27299-1-1.html

Also the file needed is in my post above.  I have done it and it is worth doing, thanks for the kind words too !
Best Regards- donnie