I often complain about DJI policy but must admit, the design and hardware are top notch.

About a month ago I came home to find a Sheriff's card on my door with the only message being 'Drone'.  My First thought was that I must have upset a neighbor somehow.  I called the number on the card and was told the investigator would give me a call. (They also asked if I was home, which was creepy) Next day the investigator called and stated someone had found and returned my first P4, which I lost on a Litchi mission.  Completely my fault for failing to make an altitude adjustment in an automated flight up the river and back.  The loss was on 2/19/17.  

I cried a few months, finally gave up hope and gave away my remote to a forum member in need.  Another year and a half pass and suddenly I have the drone back.  I was expecting a mess but received a fairly clean bird with two broken props.  Battery was toast.  The investigator mentioned they had to 'learn' how to identify the owner and was instructed to accomplish that by accessing the internal SD card on the Flight Control board.  My FAA number was on the bird, bless their hearts, lol.  But really, hats off to the Goochland Police Department for going the extra mile to find the owner - me!  Even if it didn't work, I had a spot for it in the garage for old time sake.  

Got it home, slapped in a battery and the darn thing fired up.  The startup tones were not correct, and I couldn't get my P4P+ controller to connect - that's another story.  I figured, what the hell and opened it up.  I found the attempt to remove the internal SD card broke the SD socket on the flight controller and severed a flight control cable.  Ordered the FC and cable from eBay for $50.  That fixed everything, the startup tones and LEDs were correct but I still couldn't bind.  Purchased a used P4 controller (because I gave mine away lol) which arrived today.  Binding was quick, and I connected right away.  Motors work, all checks in the Go App are green, camera and gimble good.  Putting in the final screws, now if it would just stop snowing/raining!   

So yeah, almost 2 years outdoors and aside from some minor dirt and spiderwebs on the inside, I think she's gonna fly!  Gotta say, good bird.

It's a good story and thank you for sharing.  I wonder if someone would do the same with mine and find it down the riveronly had 3 flights and totally my fault due to blind flights under a bridge that I could barely see and hitting a pole that I thought was invisible.

One lucky guy!  Good story.

Lucky fellow. Congrats

Wow, nice one

Cool story, glad you got it back.

But... title says 47 months? That's 4 YEARS. [20190220 - ETA - OP fixed title after realizing it was really 23 months]

Also, did the sheriff say it had just been returned, or they had it some time (trying to get at whether it was actually out in the elements for 2 years or sat in their evidence room for the bulk of that time....)

Anyway good luck with the maiden flight of the zombie phantom!

The P4P remote is not compatibale wth P4 standard, that is why you could not get it to bind.

What is the next mission? ;-)


RedHotPoker

Man you got lucky on that one.. Where I live if someone found it, it would have been pawned or used by them...  BUT i hope i'm that lucky if I am ever in the situation.. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall to see your face though when they told you they found your drone. I bet your were just beside yourself, i know i would have been.  I would have been like "SERIOUSLY? HOLYCRAP! WHERES IT AT" LOL

Man you got lucky on that one.. Where I live if someone found it, it would have been pawned or used by them...  BUT i hope i'm that lucky if I am ever in the situation.. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall to see your face though when they told you they found your drone. I bet your were just beside yourself, i know i would have been.  I would have been like "SERIOUSLY? HOLYCRAP! WHERES IT AT" LOL

Amazing news. So happy for you. I hope it flies when you can get it out there.

Wow, thanks for sharing the story!

Hi there, we really appreciate you for sharing some good story and experience. Hoping back in the Air soonest. Fly safely. Cheers!

patiam Posted at 2-20 21:05
Cool story, glad you got it back.

But... title says 47 months? That's 4 YEARS.

Opps, yeah, that should be 23 months.  Don't know what the heck I was thinking.

patiam Posted at 2-20 21:05
Cool story, glad you got it back.

But... title says 47 months? That's 4 YEARS.

Opps, yeah, that should be 23 months.  Don't know what the heck I was thinking.

fansb1fe1104 Posted at 2-21 00:10
The P4P remote is not compatibale wth P4 standard, that is why you could not get it to bind.

It used to be.  In older versions of the firmware there was a selection under the remote settings in the Go App that would allow you to choose one of three models.  What was actually happening was that it would bind, took forever, but the link would be in and out - mostly out.  I would get a half second of connection and a quick partial video then it would drop again.  I upgraded my firmware in an attempt to correct the issue and lost the option all together lol.  

The Roach Posted at 2-21 16:50
It used to be.  In older versions of the firmware there was a selection under the remote settings in the Go App that would allow you to choose one of three models.  What was actually happening was that it would bind, took forever, but the link would be in and out - mostly out.  I would get a half second of connection and a quick partial video then it would drop again.  I upgraded my firmware in an attempt to correct the issue and lost the option all together lol.

Ahhh I must have had it backwards. The P4 standard remote is not compatible with P4P. Sorry for the confusion.

The Roach Posted at 2-21 16:37
Opps, yeah, that should be 23 months.  Don't know what the heck I was thinking.

Sounds more like it. Don't think the P4 has even existed for 47 months :p
Thanks for the edit

Good for you, nice cops, here in Germany by law you got to put a fireproof id plate on your drone, name address, and phone number so people can return to you or sue you, hehe get insurance!

Wow - that is truly awesome!!

That's really good to hear a positive story like that.  I bet you feel like a dog with two .....  errr,  tails ?

Finally stopped raining.  While there is a 17 mile an hour wind, I gave it a shot.  She flew great.  Took her out about 1/2 mile and back.  Hit 55 mph with the wind.  Brought her in at 48% battery to check things out.  Got a screw loose, lol, inside the body so I have to crack it open to figure that out.  I was having issues with firmware updates but figured that out today post flight.  Recalibrated everything, it's like getting a new drone lol.  Don't think I'll be flying this one over people, still nervous, but it's a good utility bird.  Got the M2 coming this week.  Then I promise - no more drones....

So  pleased for you that it flew, and still amazed that it flew after all this time. "No more drones.....". Well I am sure we all know you will stick to that.

Great story Inuave a question how do I link my new controller with my phantom 4?