Has anyone ranged tested there p4 with the new firmware ?? And increase in distance ?

Well I did a test myself.

On last firmware I managed 1600m without parabolics and 2900m with.

Today after the firmware update I managed 3060m without any range extenders . This was done in the UK on CE mode

JESUS.......

Bennyboy1983 Posted at 2016-6-3 13:44
JESUS.......

He heard you call

P3A Without range extenders 2512 meters, with extenders mounted 1984 m
P4 without extenders 3541 m, with extenders 2912 m
(no, no mistake, extenders don't work for me)

That's fantastic distance, everyone. Please ensure, though, that you guys give yourselves enough battery life to come back!

I just picked up my P4 a few days ago.  This morning, I took my first long distance flight and got to 3000ft before Weak Signal.  Shouldn't I be able to go much further?  I'm in Florida.

Managed 3800 meters so far (12500 feet) with the old firmware and haven't noticed any difference with the new firmware. At that point the DJI go told me to go home. Still had good signal (flew over water with no obstacles). So in my experience it feels like the battery is the weakest link rather then bad signal.
Anyone know if there is an optimal speed for long range flying? I would guess sport mode, even if it takes you there faster, would drain the battery faster?

Well range test 2, with parabolics antennas on. Managed 4029m on CE(uk) version of the p4. So all range issue for me have been sorted

https://youtu.be/ktl643GT2U8

Skip to 4min to see return flight, so no sound

So for the people using feet .. This is around 13218ft ☺️

mgtkilledkenny@ Posted at 2016-6-4 15:04
So for the people using feet .. This is around 13218ft ☺️

So crazy how you are getting 13,000 and I'm only getting 3000.  I took a flight again today, same distance.  Using latest firmware.

I'll start a thread on it.

mike@soleproduc Posted at 2016-6-5 09:46
So crazy how you are getting 13,000 and I'm only getting 3000.  I took a flight again today, same  ...

P3p, stock everything, 2.75 miles from home point. 5.5 miles round trip. From the front of my house

From the back of the house only just over a mile.

From the right side of my house around 3/4 mile

Flew out over the sea just under 4 miles

So flight path, interference and obstructions play a major role in range.

Thanks rayrokni.  I received a similar response in the thread I started.  Not much "open" terrain here in Florida.  I'm headed to Alabama in a few weeks.  Should be able to test there.

Yeah over built up areas you will see very differs results.

My 1st I did 3000+m and my 2nd test with parabolics antennas fitted I managed 4029m. Again this was over water .and also on the lower power CE.

Buy yourself some parabolics or get some dbs antennas as this will cut through the interference in built up areas

Today I flew out 27,046 feet before turning around - that's 5.1 miles or 8.2 km!

I do a lot of long distance flying- primarily, like today, over completely unobstructed rural farm land with no trees, houses or WiFi interference. Prior to testing my P4 today with firmware version 1.1.410 and DJI GO app version 2.83, I calibrated the IMU using DJI GO app, calibrated the forward and bottom vision sensors using DJI Assistant 2 v1.0.2, and, of course, calibrated the compass. Using only a $30 parabolic reflector on my otherwise stock P4, I flew out further than I had ever flown before with ZERO loss of RC signal or HD Link video image. All the image issues that I had with DJI GO app version 2.8.2 were eliminated in DJI GO app version 2.8.3. In fact, when I turned around at 5.1 miles at 65% battery level, I still had 4 bars of RC control and HD Link signal strength!  

Unfortunately, as DJI-Jamie correctly cautions above, you need to leave yourself sufficient battery level to return home. I know this, and I thought I was OK when I turned my P4 around at 65% battery level.  BUT - I immediately encountered 15 mph headwinds from the outrush from a storm cell that had just disintegrated a couple miles behind me. I made it back 4 miles, but ultimately I had to make an emergency landing along the side of a farm road about 1.2 miles from Home point. Surprisingly, I had full control and stable video image from my P4 as I descended from 350 feet looking for a safe place to land until I was less than 10 feet above ground 1.2 miles away.

My total flight distance today was 48,203 feet with a flight time of 18:26 minutes. During the outbound leg, the P4's horizontal velocity averaged a pretty steady 44-46 mph but on my return leg I was only getting 18-24 mph due to increased headwind velocity. At 50% battery level, my flight time was 9:18 minutes. So, the battery levels throughout the flight appeared to be accurate - it was the strong headwinds that I encountered on my return flight that prevented me from returning all the way home. Luckily, when flying over open farmland there are lots of places to land.  Fortunately, I was able to retrieve my undamaged P4 from the side of the farm road where I landed it in tall grass. The first LED on the battery was still blinking even though I was at 0% battery level when I landed. A photo of my flight record appears below.

Aye

Marilyn Monroe knew all about tailwinds

Totally agree, I think long range flights should only be attempted if you know the wind conditions are reasonable settled ..
I know with no wind or alittle breeze , the p4 will average around 16-18m/s .  
So if your flying fast than this in 1 direction or so forth, you know you need to allow for time coming back.

But geeze that head wind must of been strong , 60% lipo and you still didn't make it back ...

PhanFran Posted at 2016-6-4 05:56
P3A Without range extenders 2512 meters, with extenders mounted 1984 m
P4 without extenders 3541 m,  ...

That's weird. It doesn't make sense..

mike@soleproduc Posted at 2016-6-4 20:40
I just picked up my P4 a few days ago.  This morning, I took my first long distance flight and got t ...

It depends where you are, if you're in city, there's a lot of  airwaves interfering with the transmission.  You can also try signal boosters, for about $20 on ebay, most people boost maximum distance more than 30%

mgtkilledkenny@ Posted at 2016-6-6 16:21
Totally agree, I think long range flights should only be attempted if you know the wind conditions a ...

Or if you have a friend, he can drive to chase the plane then you don't have to worry about returning battery depletion.

Just a thought , did you have your range extenders facing the correct way.. I've stupidly had them the wrong way round and couldn't figure out why I was getting less signal . Silly me.

Did another test today and managed 4725m (15501ft) with my p4 here in the UK (CE mode)

david.p.mann@ea Posted at 2016-6-5 23:19
Today I flew out 27,046 feet before turning around - that's 5.1 miles or 8.2 km!

I do a lot of lon ...

WOW!!!  I too will be doing a long range test when I go out to Kansas in a few months.  As you stated about head winds, I will be watching the weather very closely BEFORE I take off so I can go out w/o any issues.  I am, however, going to do this in small increments...1 mile, return, 2 miles, return, etc. then when I'm daring enough, take it out!  Thanks for your input on this.

ProQuad Posted at 2016-6-6 14:58
WOW!!!  I too will be doing a long range test when I go out to Kansas in a few months.  As you sta ...

Like me, I knew I was flying into a head wind.. Yes my flight was longer going out, but my flight coming back would of been faster..
If there wasent a headwind I would of been able to go some more, but I started to return home at 57% battery life get.  Flight speed coming back was around 18-20m/s and going out was around 10-12m/s

mgtkilledkenny@ Posted at 2016-6-6 15:21
Totally agree, I think long range flights should only be attempted if you know the wind conditions a ...

Absolutely agree - ALWAYS check wind speeds and weather conditions and map out your entire flight on satellite view map before taking off.

On this flight, as usual, I checked wind speed and direction with my digital anemometer (very handy device) for several minutes before starting flight - got a consistent 6 mph tailwind reading. Now I STRONGLY PREFER to fly into wind on outbound leg so I have a tailwind on return leg, but that was not possible on this flight. Should have paid more attention to distant storm clouds.  My horiz. velocity aloft of 42-44 mph on outbound leg confirmed my initial 6 mph tailwind reading at ground level (38 mph speed in P-mode with obstacle detection turned off and no wind + 6 mph tailwind = 44 mph).  

Unfortunately, just as I was turning my P4 around it got hit with increased headwinds of 15-20 mph, which never relented, and, thus, I only achieved 18-24 mph on entire return flight. Knew I was in trouble 3 minutes into return flight based on progress made. Was looking for alternate landing sites final 4 minutes of flight - bald spot in cow pasture over there, farm house driveway over there, etc.  You'll note on flight log I followed a farm road the final 3/4 mile and finally set my P4 down in grass by side of road near a T-intersection with another farm road so I could easily find it.

Main purpose of this long-distance flight was to confirm that firmware 1.1.410 and DJI GO app version 2.8.3 had restored range and eliminated the HD Link image blips and pixelation I was experiencing - even at close range - with DJI GO app version 2.8.2. I'm very happy with the current firmware and DJI GO app version.

The only remaining software/firmware/hardware issue for me is intermittent false readings from Vision Positioning System - briefly flashing up 10-20 foot VPS heights when I'm 350 feet above cow pasture! Definitely hoping for future option to turn VPS OFF during outdoor flights (or improved VPS reliability).

anders_alergard Posted at 2016-6-4 08:58
Managed 3800 meters so far (12500 feet) with the old firmware and haven't noticed any difference wit ...

Wow are you flying in US are UK not getting close to that with or without range extenders

vanjones37@yaho Posted at 2016-6-7 09:16
Wow are you flying in US are UK not getting close to that with or without range extenders

Check #22 post. He flew 4000+ meters away with range booster in UK

Yes the uk . All tested with the latest firmware .

Without booters I did 3000m.

Please note before firmware and app I was only getting around 1600m

PhanFran Posted at 2016-6-3 22:56
P3A Without range extenders 2512 meters, with extenders mounted 1984 m
P4 without extenders 3541 m,  ...

This is the sort of "range extenders" I use, twin 7 element 2.4ghz beams, they work very well!!,   ..........improves both transmit and receive.....

I can't seem to get a clear answer to this. My P4 has FW 1.00.0288 and the RC is 1.5.80 and I'm using the latest 2.83 Go App. Are people getting greater range since upgrading their firmware P4/RC to the latest 1.1.411 vs any earlier versions?  On some of the other forums I am reading posts which seem to indicate this. I can't imagine the range would actually increase beyond what I am currently getting. I did not upgrade to 2.82, but waited until the range issue was fixed with 2.83 Thanks

Solsystem :- yes I'm getting much better (a lot better ) range with the latest firmware and app.

mgtkilledkenny, do you recall which Firmware you had previous to the latest? Thanks again

mgtkilledkenny@ Posted at 2016-6-6 20:55
Yes the uk . All tested with the latest firmware .

Without booters I did 3000m.

Thanks!!!!

Solsystem .

I can remember the firmware version ...  It was the firmware that got released about 2months ago before live streaming was enabled ..

The test where done on the firmware just before the last one that sorted the blurry image issue out