Never have and never will

You will iffin' it tells ya twos....

I think using the bars would be better, but I just rely on the app.

I only calibrate when flying some where new.

I've found even just leaving the Mavic sitting in it's case for a couple of days a compass re-calibration is a good idea - after a few occasions where I've experienced a 'compass calibration error' mid flight, and the unit going into ATTI mode because there's a mismatch between the compass and the GPS direction calculation. Also have to re-calibrate the compass on the Cristalsky I use with the RC controller. It seems even when not near any heavy magnetic fields the compasses can drift out of calibration after a few days just sitting in storage. So every time I fly - I go through the DJI drone dance - pirouetting on the spot for a couple of turns - much to the bemusement of passersby!

I only calibrate when flying somewhere new (i.e) flying to another country. Otherwise when the app tells me to do so, not that it did so far.

Only when it tells me too.

Whenever I change flight locations.

You suppose to do that?  ¯\_()_/¯

i calibrate when i travel more than 100 miles away from last calibration, or change in altitude of more than 1000 ft.

I calibrate when the app says I need to. First time I flew I needed to calibrate. Maybe one other time since then.

I learned after my Mavic had some switches to ATTI mode that it is better to check these advanced settings in my preflight checks. Since then no unattended switch to ATTI mode anymore.
Later I saw that DJI is recommending the same in one of their tutorials :-)

Mavic Pro User Manual v2.0, page 54:

https://dl.djicdn.com/downloads/mavic/Mavic%20Pro%20User%20Manual%20V2.0-.pdf

It is recommended to calibrate the compass in any of the following situations when flying outdoors:

• Flying at a location farther than 10 km away from the last flight location.
• The aircraft hasn’t been flown for more than one month.
• A compass interference warning appears in the DJI GO 4 app, and the warning persists after changing location.
  

BumblerBee Posted at 2018-2-20 12:57
Mavic Pro User Manual v2.0, page 54:

https://dl.djicdn.com/downloads/mavic/Mavic%20Pro%20User%20Manual%20V2.0-.pdf

There is conflict in all dji manuals, Mavic went from don’t calibrate until app tells you to calibrate every 10km, Spark not until app tells you, MavAir every 50 km, P4Pro only when app tells you, I think the right way is wait for app to tell you , calibration because you move to new location is ridiculous unless it to a location with much different declination, it’s an urban myth that you need to calibrate when moving to new location.
I have used my Mavic Pro in Spain Sweden Hungary & UK, I have never needed to calibrate and to do so would not have made my compass any better so why would I need to calibrate, nobody seems to be able to say why you would need to do this including dji so I’m still waiting for reasons that calibration is needed.

Swedrone Posted at 2018-2-20 06:49
Never have and never will

Can't say that with the Mavic Air LOLLL

1 & 3 are pretty much the same thing.

FatherXmas Posted at 2018-2-20 16:35
1 & 3 are pretty much the same thing.

Should be, but in the latest Mavic pro manual it's almost 2 & 3, a backward step. With recommendation to calibrate if more than 10km away from previous location.

Not required.

I "Only calibrate when the DJI Go App says to" which is every single time I go to fly.

Lamplighter55 Posted at 2018-2-20 09:32
I've found even just leaving the Mavic sitting in it's case for a couple of days a compass re-calibration is a good idea - after a few occasions where I've experienced a 'compass calibration error' mid flight, and the unit going into ATTI mode because there's a mismatch between the compass and the GPS direction calculation. Also have to re-calibrate the compass on the Cristalsky I use with the RC controller. It seems even when not near any heavy magnetic fields the compasses can drift out of calibration after a few days just sitting in storage. So every time I fly - I go through the DJI drone dance - pirouetting on the spot for a couple of turns - much to the bemusement of passersby!

Thank goodness, not one of my three vehicles with electronic compasses, even when left to set for week, have to be re-calibrated.  Even when vehicles are driven couple hundred miles away from their home bases.

I have taken mine thousands of klms in my 4x4 in Australia and all I do is check sensors before takeoff...if all looks good I fly. Touch wood.....I have never had a problem ! (yet ).

Hi, here are some scenarios that we suggest calibrating the compass:
1. When compass data is abnormal, and the Aircraft Status Indicator is blinking red and yellow.
2. When flying in a new location, or a location that is different from your last flight.
3. When the aircraft moves erratically during flight, i.e. the drone doesn't fly in straight lines.
You can go this route: MC Settings--Advanced Settings--Sensor--Compass--calibrate.

I calibrate the compass of my android phone before every flight. Only did calibration on Spark after buying.

I always calibrate when visiting a new country and before every flight I check the sensors and calibrate accordingly. No need to calibrate before every single flight.

Randomly answered to collect my monies....

Have never calibrated since I got it. No issues whatsoever

Never have, was calibrated in China and works fine in the uk, so re-calibrating when you go to new sites...waste of time.

So many ways to do a simple thing!

According to DJI non-calibration is one of the most common contributors to "Fly-Aways".

Also the auto land is more precise if you hav calibrated that session.

What the heck, a $1000 toy and to improve its safety  you only have to take a few seconds extra before takeoff.

If you get a total "Disconnect" from the phone/tablet having a precise compass will make it easier to fly you're bird home by using the Distance  Indicator on the controller.

According to DJI non-calibration is one of the most common contributors to "Fly-Aways".

Also the auto land is more precise if you hav calibrated that session.

What the heck, a $1000 toy and to improve its safety  you only have to take a few seconds extra before takeoff.

If you get a total "Disconnect" from the phone/tablet having a precise compass will make it easier to fly you're bird home by using the Distance  Indicator on the controller.

Skymax. Posted at 2018-3-2 23:13
According to DJI non-calibration is one of the most common contributors to "Fly-Aways".

Also the auto land is more precise if you hav calibrated that session.

In practice though it often turns out to be the complete opposite. In an ideal world calibrating each time should not do any harm (although not required). But it seems to happen quite often that the compass can be badly calibrated, which leads to conflict with the GPS data, aircraft switches to ATTI, and often gets carried off in the wind.

One point to note is that they did not recommend calibration each time in the previous manual, nor in the current Spark,  P4P and P4 Advanced manuals ($2000 toys), or indeed the Inspire 2 manual ($$$$ toy). They all use the same technologies.

Bad calibration is one of the most common causes of 'fly away', along with unexpected high wind  speed.

Never calibrated my P3A after the first time. It is not necessary to do it if the app isn’t asking for it. My P3A always indicated “compass normal” at start up.

seems safer to do it when the app notify us on Mavic Air Right?

Suggestion: you need a choice for "after changing locations plus when the app calls for it" -- I am assuming we call that following manufacturer's directions.

I have only calibrate compass if app ask.

I calibrate the compass if I am taking off from a different location. I often check the IMU bars and if they are too long I calibrate

I calibrate the compass if I am taking off from a different location. I often check the IMU bars and if they are too long I calibrate them even if they are green. Better safe than sorry

DJI Thor Posted at 2018-2-22 04:34
Hi, here are some scenarios that we suggest calibrating the compass:
1. When compass data is abnormal, and the Aircraft Status Indicator is blinking red and yellow.
2. When flying in a new location, or a location that is different from your last flight.

Hi Thor, why was it changed? I asked for this on this post: https://forum.dji.com/thread-140230-1-1.html

It used to be: Do it only when prompted.

Does this only apply to Mavic or all DJI drones including the Spark?

davidmartingraf Posted at 2018-3-21 14:20
Does this only apply to Mavic or all DJI drones including the Spark?

Page 49 of the spark Manual advises you only to calibrate when prompted by the Application or Status indicators, which is what the majority of voters are advocating in this poll. My only caveat to that might be if it were flying erratically and no indication of cause.