Hi Everyone -

I was in the middle of some mountains and my compass kept failing when I tried to do it, so it would not let me fly (had no GPS or internet service), it kept asking me to switch off P mode (the top right trigger thing? so I pushed it all the way down) and still wouldn't let me.

I'm very new to this and just wanted to get a quick shot. How do I fly without any of that? or can I not fly it to gather video?

Thank you.

First, it's very unlikely that your compass was failing.
A compass error means that your compass is telling you that the local magnetic environment is the problem ... not the compass.
The solution is to move away from steel objects, reinforced concrete etc.
No GPS?  Unless your view of the sky is blocked, you should have GPS.
Internet or not makes no difference.

To tell if the compass id damaged or disconnected (quite uncommon), check the sensor data in the app.
If you have numbers showing for compass data, your compass is working.
If you have zero, that is a problem with the compass.

labroides@yahoo Posted at 2016-6-12 18:16
First, it's very unlikely that your compass was failing.
A compass error means that your compass is  ...

This drone is only like 2 weeks old. I couldn't imagine it not working. I was in the middle of a valley between mountains basically a forest lol. nothing is there, nothing to interfere with the compass.

ZeeKeezer Posted at 2016-6-13 10:22
This drone is only like 2 weeks old. I couldn't imagine it not working. I was in the middle of a v ...

There are only two reasons you would have compass problems like that.
The most common is that you are close to steel objects or electrical cables.
The second is that your compass is malfunctioning or disconnected.
If your compass is working now, you know that number two wasn't the cause.

What state are you in flying?

ZeeKeezer Posted at 2016-6-13 10:22
This drone is only like 2 weeks old. I couldn't imagine it not working. I was in the middle of a v ...

It is more likely that you had insufficient GPS satellites for a decent position fix if you were flying in a forest in a valley. In which case you would be only able to fly in ATTI or full manual mode.

ZeeKeezer Posted at 2016-6-13 08:22
This drone is only like 2 weeks old. I couldn't imagine it not working. I was in the middle of a v ...

There could be iron ores beneath the ground or magnetic rocks in the mountain that's affecting the compass, it is not uncommon.

Are you using Phantom 3 or Phantom 4?  Phantom 4 has an extra spare compass, which makes it more unlikely to fail.

Based on your comments about P mode switching, I would recommend you read manuals thoroughly again, because one mistake can totally wreck your Phantom quad.

Hello ZeeKeezer, I'd suggest you to try to calibrate the compass in different areas. IMU calibration is also worth a try.

DJI-Paladin Posted at 2016-6-13 19:27
Hello ZeeKeezer, I'd suggest you to try to calibrate the compass in different areas. IMU calibration ...

IMU  ???
Why are you recommending looking at the IMU.
It has nothing to do with the compass.
Nothing at all.
There is no need to do anything to the IMU.

labroides@yahoo Posted at 2016-6-13 18:44
IMU  ???
Why are you recommending looking at the IMU.
It has nothing to do with the compass.

Sensors are interrelated. It doesn't hurt to try.

DJI-Paladin Posted at 2016-6-13 21:05
Sensors are interrelated. It doesn't hurt to try.

The compass only detects magnetic fields and is located in the leg.
The IMU is inside the Phantom and contains a barometer, accelerometers and gyros.
They both feed into the flight controller but that is all they have in common.

You may as well suggest he checks his tyre pressure when the problem is clearly compass related.

labroides@yahoo Posted at 2016-6-13 12:37
The compass only detects magnetic fields and is located in the leg.
The IMU is inside the Phantom  ...

"You may as well suggest he checks his tyre pressure"

I feel cheated, mine didn't come with tyres