OK, so after a few dozen flights with my non-plus, I am now fairly comfortable with most if not all aspects of the hardware, software, applications and controls.  i am experiencing no problematic aspects and I am having a fairly good piloting experience each time.

A few questions about range.  I know the TX has much better range than the wifi extender and that makes perfect sense.  So basically, when it gets a certain distance away from me (seems to be about 400ft), the vision app will say 'connection to phantom lost' because the wifi signal is now too weak.  I lose the ability to change filming settings, camera angle, etc at this point because of the loss of wifi, however, all of this still makes perfect sense.

However, when losing that app interface, do i not also lose the ability to see my battery level, distance, altitude, etc?  If so, what is the range of the TX versus the wifi.  I have read posts about this and coupled that with manuf info (spec showing 500m TX and 300m Wifi), and based upon that info, the effective range of the TX was like 1500ft or more (obviously the environment is a big factor on exactly what you get, more in some very wide open areas and less in more dense areas etc).  Am i getting this right?

Also, the range on the DJI spec page for the wifi says 300m (so nearly 1000ft) and I am only getting around 400ft.  Now that isnt a huge deal (except for the loss of important info above) but wanted to make sure that I am fully understanding this in terms of what might be the reason for those differences.

thanks, in advance, for your input.

I believe you lose everything (except control of the craft) when the vision app disconnects.  The range of the wifi listed is under the best ideal conditions like out in the middle of the desert with no obstructions and electrical interference.  When I fly through my  townhime neighborhood that has many wireless networks and tall trees I often lose wifi connection between 700 to a 1000 feet. When I fly in a nearby field without any wireless wifi networks and trees I can easily get over 1000 ft. I usually don't fly much further beyond 1000 feet because I lose line of sight. Dji specs are always a little misleading and are given under the most ideal conditions. Battery life is also exaggerated. Sure you could probably fly a vision plus for 20 minutes if you were willing to risk it dropping out of the sky. Flight times are more realistically at 15-16 minutes in the real world.

I have the P2V+ and I have been out just past 2000' on a perfectly clear night in an open clear area with reception and no loss of any info on the display and the other day (not night) was losing connection at 1'300'...environment will certainly play a factor.
As for the Phone, well, you could technically fly without it but highly unrecommended! The app is just an app and it is not flying your bird, well, hmmm..I guess with ground station it would be navigating it so not sure, maybe someone could test that if the connection breaks or the battery on the phone dies...I think it will finish its pattern and return home but not sure....

P2V+ here.  I find I lose that connection right around 1,100 feet even on cloudy days.  Although I can sometimes get it back if I very deliberately aim the extender directly at the bird.

But I usually don't fly that far away though.  Flying via FPV is fine for some, but my thinking is, if I want to play a video game I have my Xbox for that.  Doesn't cost NEARLY as much if I were to crash.

north, from what ive read, the GS app uploads the WHOLE FLIGHT at startup and when the wifi connection breaks, the phantom has it all locally hosted on the bird so it can finish without needing connection.

as for distances, rdc says 'only 1000ft' in his neighborhood with trees and conflicting wifi signals.  in my neighborhood (same situation), i am lucky to get 300ft.  in fields i might if lucky get 400-500ft but never more than that.  makes me wonder why.  

the 'spec' only says 300m for wifi and 500m for TX.  that means that you guys are getting WAY more than the wifi spec if you are making it to over that in open fields so i dont think DJI specs sound like they are 'a stretch'.  but im certainly not getting that.

and i just feel very nervous about flying it (even with LOS) beyond the app/wifi connection range.  it just wrenches my gut.

oh and thanks for all the replies gang, forgot to mention that in my post.  my post wasnt really about wanting to go thousands of feet, but i would like to be able to get to 500-600ft and not lose wifi.  guess ill have to tinker a bit more perhaps.

Understood and everyone of these birds seem to have a different brain...Hell. Think it is time to name my Phantom...TheBirdWithNoBrain! or just BirdBrain
I will see if I can get a screenshot of my phone next time I am out a fair distance and post it though others have done so before I'm pretty certain..
As a rule I don't go way out as it does get the heart pumping a bit more than I care for...but what a rush when it all works...

gnixon2015 Posted at 2015-3-11 02:41
oh and thanks for all the replies gang, forgot to mention that in my post.  my post wasnt really abo ...

Yeah, I'd think 500 feet is a little short.  Are you using any range booster or anything?  I'm not.  But I'm just trying to find a potential cause for your short distance.

im just using the little white thing that came with it but nothing else besides stock hw/sw.

gnixon2015 Posted at 2015-3-11 02:47
im just using the little white thing that came with it but nothing else besides stock hw/sw.

Mmmmmm.... Interference maybe?  Do you get the same result in other areas?
Also, the little white thing is the WiFi Extender.  That should be, generally, facing the quad.  By "facing" I mean the... top (I guess is the best word) should be relatively aimed towards the quad.
Also you want to ensure the WiFi extender is charged fully.  I'm not religious about it, but I charge it almost every time I go out.

friffy, thanks.  yes, i point the flat surface towards the quad.  i also charge it every time even if it is not very depleted.  i guess i might be getting interference.  now that i know 300ft is too short, ill do some more testing and report back if i can ever get beyond.  once we rule out interference, then maybe we can talk more.  preesh.

The farthest I've been is 2200 feet.   I used the video looking down to find on the map where it turned around and came home and compared it to google maps.  I'll have to convert the video to put here later.

Here is the video

Gerry that is very impressive range with a stock set up.

Tahoe_Ed Posted at 2015-3-11 09:44
Gerry that is very impressive range with a stock set up.

The video coincides with the map.  The only mod was a copper shield for GPS reception

Gertrude and Heathcliff

Man you are old school.  

Tahoe_Ed Posted at 2015-3-11 10:44
Man you are old school.

I'm just OLDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gerry1124 Posted at 2015-3-11 09:10
Here is the video

https://vimeo.com/121832039

That looks to be a old drive in theather.

Gerry1124 Posted at 2015-3-11 10:47
I'm just OLDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dont take it personal, But your Avatar is to "creepy" LOL.

davidw1963@att. Posted at 2015-3-11 19:08
Dont take it personal, But your Avatar is to "creepy" LOL.

That was my flight suit in Vietnam.

davidw1963@att. Posted at 2015-3-11 19:07
That looks to be a old drive in theather.

It was originally opened in the early 50's then closed for 20 years.  We rebuilt it 9 years ago and reopened it.

Gerry1124 Posted at 2015-3-11 10:07
Gertrude and Heathcliff

Gerry are they version 3's and if so have you opened the top to check the esc/wires? I alsoLike your bong

I forgot to mention that I was using the fpv booster when I get 1000ft however even when using the booster I'll occasionally drop wifi at 600- 700 ft.

Gerry1124 Posted at 2015-3-11 19:10
That was my flight suit in Vietnam.

Is that really you?

rdc44444@hotmai Posted at 2015-3-11 21:25
Gerry are they version 3's and if so have you opened the top to check the esc/wires? I alsoLike you ...

That statue above the Phantoms wasn't a bong.  They are both ver.2's but one has a ver.3 transmitter paired with it.

It was some things I inherited from my mother a few years ago.

For the last two days, I have been able to fly my P2V+ V3 out 1,800ft without losing control or wi-fi. Granted, I'm flying out in the Sonoran desert, with no power lines or antennas anywhere close, but I'm really happy with those results.

I did drop the control signal at 900ft yesterday, but it came right back and then went on to double that distance. The signal wasn't lost at 1,800ft, but I chickened out and didn't go any farther. Thank goodness for FPV, or I wouldn't have had any idea where the Phantom was. Definitely couldn't see it. Glad, too, that I was flying over open country. If anything went awry, the most damage I could do to anything on the ground wouldn't compare to the effect on the Phantom of hitting a Saguaro cactus. Yikes!!!!

smatch,
check out this post and the first picture in the start of the thread, that was far! and i had no concerns it would not come back.
http://forum.dji.com/forum.php?m ... ra=page%3D1&lang=en

rdc44444@hotmai Posted at 2015-3-11 21:25
Gerry are they version 3's and if so have you opened the top to check the esc/wires? I alsoLike you ...

that's funny I was just thinking that same thing.  lol

kirk2579@aol.co Posted at 2015-3-17 11:24
that's funny I was just thinking that same thing.  lol

Both Phantoms are ver 2, 1 tx is ver 3

I use my phone for my display. I use it everywhere and have many wifi locations. I fly a lot from home and I noticed tonight I lost video with my plus in the same area my p2 with cgo-1 worked earlier. around 200 meters.
With that in mind I am going to unplug my home wifi tomorrow and see if range will expand. I am thinking at some point the home wifi at 30 ft away overwhelms the phantom. even though the extender repeats the signal at a certain point  who knows which signal "wins"

kirk2579@aol.co Posted at 2015-3-17 11:31
I use my phone for my display. I use it everywhere and have many wifi locations. I fly a lot from ho ...

Put your phone in airplane mode.

smatchet42@hotm Posted at 2015-3-11 22:50
For the last two days, I have been able to fly my P2V+ V3 out 1,800ft without losing control or wi-f ...

You must be in Tucson, I was there a few years ago for an Air Force reunion

Capt. Bill Posted at 2015-3-17 11:42
You must be in Tucson, I was there a few years ago for an Air Force reunion

Sorry for the late reply, but you're close.