So I wanted to create a list to of things that have been confirmed by multiple experienced pilots, issues that seem to need fixed. Please add to this list if you have noticed other things.
1. Altitude drop for no reason. This has been reported by many people. I thought I had it fixed with a sensor calibration because it went away for a while, however it has come back. I notice this when flying along and let go of the sticks. Normally in GPS mode (CA is off) the craft "should" put on the brakes and hover at the same elevation. However what happens it the craft stops and then descends 6 to 8' before it hovers steady. This occurs at any altitude, below 30' as well as above. My P3P never did this. Others have reported random descending when yawing left or right, but I haven't experienced that.
2. Random yaw. When accelerating with the right stick only (not touching the left yaw stick), as the craft starts moving forward the craft yaws left, out of the blue, in dead calm. This can be compensated for with left stick yaw counter navigation to the right, but it ruins the shot. Fortunately this seldom happens, only ~2% of the time. But of course, it happens during a critical shoot and I have to start the shot all over again. Spontaneous yaw is something I hadn't seen until P4. It's almost like it's got a mind of its own when it occurs. My P3P never did this, even in wind.
3. Only 13mph in CA mode. My top speed for CA mode is set to 22mph but it only does 13mph. Apparently only my craft has this anomaly, so this one may not need fixed if I can figure it out. Everyone else says they get over 20+mph.
4. Losing 10-15 video frames of video between files. This issue everyone knows about, confirmed it's always been this way. This happens when the video file reaches the maximum 4,203,070,762 byte file size, then starts a new file to continue recording. The loss of these 10-15 frames can ruin a job if gone unnoticed. The display gives you no warning that a new file has been created, to tip you off that you may have to redo the shot. You don't discover this until editing. An audible beep or buzz would be nice to have when the new file is created as a band-aid solution, but I would rather see the files lose no frames between files, like GoPro cameras.
5. Total Disconnects. Even though I have been able to demonstrate 15,000' distance using Windsurfter, I will often see total disconnects for several seconds with distances less than a mile over open water, with windsurfer. I have seen this happen on Ch20 as well as Ch32 and the channel is dead quiet, and I'm operating over water. I've had this occur in 3 different ocean locations, as well as flights over land. I always asume I'm causing this with my windsurfer possibly pointed in the wrong direction, but when I double check, I'm pointed correctly at the craft. I tend to get this when I'm between 40 to 75' off the water, but with clear LOS orientation to the RC. My P3P NEVER had a total disconnects flying in the same places. With P3P, sometimes at 1.5 to 2mi away I would see "weak signal" first, at which time the video could go out, but while the video isn't working I still had control of the craft which allowed me to ascend to get the video signal back. With P4 there are no warnings, the video is fine, and all of a sudden I get the red DISCONNECT notification. To me, this implies the CONTROL signal is weaker than the VIDEO signal, since it seems to total disconnect randomly with no weak video signal warning.
6. S Mode prop viewing (This is a product improvement suggestion, not a flaw). I like the option to using the mode switch to flick CA on and off, WITHOUT having to enter the app. However, flicking off CA by using S mode makes the craft controls too touchy, too fast for serious shoots. Using exponential adjustments help, but it could be better. I would prefer a method to set the top "S mode" speed with a slider bar, from 22mph up to 45mph. This would help minimize the risk of prop views during important shoots, having the ability to make P4 act more like a P3 (similar to P mode with CA off). An S mode speed limiter would allow the CA to be turned on and off with a flick of the switch to S mode, without the risk of the touchy controls in S mode.
As a result of these issues I fly my P3P when the shoot is important. I still like my P4, it's a very slick design. But there's some work to be done to sort things out IMO. I'm crossing my fingers.
1. Altitude drop for no reason. This has been reported by many people. I thought I had it fixed with a sensor calibration because it went away for a while, however it has come back. I notice this when flying along and let go of the sticks. Normally in GPS mode (CA is off) the craft "should" put on the brakes and hover at the same elevation. However what happens it the craft stops and then descends 6 to 8' before it hovers steady. This occurs at any altitude, below 30' as well as above. My P3P never did this. Others have reported random descending when yawing left or right, but I haven't experienced that.
2. Random yaw. When accelerating with the right stick only (not touching the left yaw stick), as the craft starts moving forward the craft yaws left, out of the blue, in dead calm. This can be compensated for with left stick yaw counter navigation to the right, but it ruins the shot. Fortunately this seldom happens, only ~2% of the time. But of course, it happens during a critical shoot and I have to start the shot all over again. Spontaneous yaw is something I hadn't seen until P4. It's almost like it's got a mind of its own when it occurs. My P3P never did this, even in wind.
3. Only 13mph in CA mode. My top speed for CA mode is set to 22mph but it only does 13mph. Apparently only my craft has this anomaly, so this one may not need fixed if I can figure it out. Everyone else says they get over 20+mph.
4. Losing 10-15 video frames of video between files. This issue everyone knows about, confirmed it's always been this way. This happens when the video file reaches the maximum 4,203,070,762 byte file size, then starts a new file to continue recording. The loss of these 10-15 frames can ruin a job if gone unnoticed. The display gives you no warning that a new file has been created, to tip you off that you may have to redo the shot. You don't discover this until editing. An audible beep or buzz would be nice to have when the new file is created as a band-aid solution, but I would rather see the files lose no frames between files, like GoPro cameras.
5. Total Disconnects. Even though I have been able to demonstrate 15,000' distance using Windsurfter, I will often see total disconnects for several seconds with distances less than a mile over open water, with windsurfer. I have seen this happen on Ch20 as well as Ch32 and the channel is dead quiet, and I'm operating over water. I've had this occur in 3 different ocean locations, as well as flights over land. I always asume I'm causing this with my windsurfer possibly pointed in the wrong direction, but when I double check, I'm pointed correctly at the craft. I tend to get this when I'm between 40 to 75' off the water, but with clear LOS orientation to the RC. My P3P NEVER had a total disconnects flying in the same places. With P3P, sometimes at 1.5 to 2mi away I would see "weak signal" first, at which time the video could go out, but while the video isn't working I still had control of the craft which allowed me to ascend to get the video signal back. With P4 there are no warnings, the video is fine, and all of a sudden I get the red DISCONNECT notification. To me, this implies the CONTROL signal is weaker than the VIDEO signal, since it seems to total disconnect randomly with no weak video signal warning.
6. S Mode prop viewing (This is a product improvement suggestion, not a flaw). I like the option to using the mode switch to flick CA on and off, WITHOUT having to enter the app. However, flicking off CA by using S mode makes the craft controls too touchy, too fast for serious shoots. Using exponential adjustments help, but it could be better. I would prefer a method to set the top "S mode" speed with a slider bar, from 22mph up to 45mph. This would help minimize the risk of prop views during important shoots, having the ability to make P4 act more like a P3 (similar to P mode with CA off). An S mode speed limiter would allow the CA to be turned on and off with a flick of the switch to S mode, without the risk of the touchy controls in S mode.
As a result of these issues I fly my P3P when the shoot is important. I still like my P4, it's a very slick design. But there's some work to be done to sort things out IMO. I'm crossing my fingers.
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