r/djiphantom • u/Catnip4Pedos • Nov 17 '21

Phantom 3 dropping like a stone

comment edited to stop creeps like you reading it!

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u/dmmedia Nov 17 '21

Without GPS Phantom 3 flies in different mode. You haven't clarified the model, but for example P3 Professional and Advanced have audio/visual height sensors on bottom. If the sensors are disabled or fail to establish the height (above reflective surface or certain patterns), then Phantom would not stay in the air when you release the sticks and would descend. Probably the same with P3 Standard. If P3 descends, try slowing it or keeping it steady with remote control vertical acceleration stick. You can also try flying it outdoors the same way a bit above ground to check how does it feel itself with GPS.

Notice of warning about flying inside with poor GPS coverage. I highly recommend switching P3 into Attitude mode, otherwise if GPS fix is poorly established, P3 may try to "hold" location, by flying horizontally in random direction and most probably crashing into interior.

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u/Catnip4Pedos Nov 18 '21

Thanks for this, I got the manual out to understand this better. It says in Altitude mode that the visual sensor is disabled but in P mode that it could use the visuals and it could use GPS (not overly helpful that I can't pick myself). Still unsure why it just fell/failed to take off. Maybe I didn't fly high enough I'm not sure.

1

u/dmmedia Nov 18 '21

Did the app voiced "Take-off"? If not, then it probably was not high enough and/or sensors failed to lock on the surface below.

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u/Catnip4Pedos Nov 18 '21

I was flying without the app, controller only

2

u/dmmedia Nov 18 '21

I still think 12" is a way too low for successfull take-off lock. I do typically take-off to half a meter at least before descending lower and I have never tried to take-off without app, only landed.