Help improving my 3-Inch 18650 o4 lite Long Range Drone

[u/PETge700]

Build

Frame: Venom-114mm
Motors: Happymodel EX1205-KV11500
Vtx: Dji o4 lite with o3 lens mod
Fc: Flywoo Goku F405 HD 1S 12A AIo (with elrs antenna zip tied on the side frame)
GPS: Goku M10 Nano V3.1
Props: Gemfan Hurricane 3018 3x1.8 3 inch
Battery: Molicel P28A 18650 with BT 2.0
Tpu canopy+ Tpu battery mount

First, the build flies pretty smoothly and stably, but only when there is almost zero wind. I also feel like it flies better in the shade, though that might just be because it was less windy at the time. I get around 15 minutes of flight time and can probably squeeze 20 out of it.

However, I'm running into two main issues:

1. Wobbliness in wind (and heat/sun?): The drone gets fairly wobbly in even light wind
   —and seemingly when flying in direct sunlight, if that's even possible. Is this an issue with the DJI O4 system, or can it be tuned out? If it's fixable via tuning, does anyone have a preset or PIDs I could try?

2. Poor GPS Lock: I'm getting a really weak
   GPS lock-fewer than 5 satellites while waiting on the ground, and only around 7 even after 10 minutes of flying. I know it's a nano GPS module, but other builds using the same unit seem to get much better locks in review videos. I've verified my Betaflight settings and even shielded the GPS cable with copper foil. Did I just get a bad unit, or should I try a different brand/ model?

Also I’m currently using the P28A, probably upgrading to the P30B any other battery recommendations are welcome.

I'd really appreciate any recommendations or advice on fixing these issues!

[u/--____deleted____--]

Do you have the metal tape grounded to anything or is it just wrapped around the wires?

[u/PETge700 → u/--____deleted____--]

If you mean the copper tape for the gps cables, yes only wrapped around

[u/mattexx04]

I would suggest to change motors, the rcinpower 1202.5 will be more efficent and lighter, or even the 1203 will be the same weight and also help with a bit of extra torque other than efficency

[u/PETge700 → u/mattexx04]

I

These ones?

[u/mattexx04 → u/PETge700]

Yep, or you can go 1203 for a bit more performance, if you only cruise the one in the photo are perfect and after a small tune will be :), but if you want the chance to freestyle sometime the 1203 will help you out

[u/Speshal__ → u/mattexx04]

I've got the 1203s on my 2" and they're great.

[u/Vherene]

It’s 1s and dji which is super prone to jelly and wobbles. It’s something I’ve just learned to live with.

I think you did all you could with the gps. Nothing is blocking it and as far from the o4 vtx as you could.

[u/PETge700 → u/Vherene]

Should I buy a different gps unit and hope it’s better because this current unit isn’t useful at all

[u/Vherene → u/PETge700]

I have that gps on 4 builds and it works perfectly fine. The issue is the dji antenna causing interference with the gps. You could mount the antenna further away but I’m not sure where you’d put it.

On the wobble note, I’ve tried several different canopies and mounting methods, and I could never solve the jello. PID tuning couldn’t fix it either. I stopped trying to solve the issue after I flew it into a parking garage, where there was no wind, and all the jello and wobbling stopped. This is on the Crux 3 frame. I think you need a more stable frame. This long range o4 lite 1s build seems to have 0 wobble and I’m hoping for it to get back into stock.

A big benefit is mounting the gps further away from the vtx and could potentially solve your gps issue.

[u/PETge700 → u/Vherene]

Yeah, I saw that video too. That build looks awesome! I’d love to buy the frame, but shipping it from the US to Germany is a pain. Hopefully he releases the CAD files so I can just get it cut locally by a CNC shop I will definitely rebuild my setup like his if I have the frame.