I would upgrade. Clearly DJI thought the battery cut off and birds falling out of the sky needed to be addressed by a firmware update. How will you feel if it falls out of the sky because you did not updateHey everyone 1st post ever on this site but have been reading for a while. Really disappointed in what's going on with the new download. I however have not done it.
Question is are we safe remaining at the prior download and not going to the 1.6?
It has been going well and I don't want what I am used to to change. I am in New Jersey and right now it is still warm but today I flew it in the low 40's and had no problems. Once again back to my question ( sorry for rambling) will I be ok if I stay at the 1.5.3 and ignore the 1.6??? Thanks for the response.
Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots mobile app
Very wise. A small performance in vertical climb is not worth the risk of a total battery shut down. Clearly they upgraded the firmware for a reason.I can confirm ParsnipHysorter's findings. I've tested out the 1.6 firmware and noticed that vertical speed seemed the same as the 1.4 firmware I previously had, 10-11 MPH with full battery and repeated tests for the next 8 minutes or so. Then once the battery had drained some (don't know the actual battery %, but probably around 60%) there was a significant drop in vertical acceleration for the rest of the life of the battery (7-9 MPH max vertical speed). Temperature was 70 degrees F., so not cold at all. The Vertical speed seemed to get slightly slower every time I tried it as the battery drained. I never got below 7 MPH vertical speed. The vertical speed wasn't consistent the whole accent either. It seemed slightly faster the first 30 feet and then I could visually see and hear a reduction in assent/motor speed.
I then downgraded to firmware 1.5 and retested under the same conditions. Vertical speed was back to 10-11 MPH no matter how much life was left on the batteries. I've gone back and forth on which firmware to keep on my phantom and decided to stick with version 1.6 for now. I don't want to risk the battery shutdown mid flight. I'll take the better piece of mind over the lower vertical performance even though I haven't witnessed any battery shutdown issues firsthand with the 1.5 firmware.
LOS is not A law yet bro its a guideline. I have 10 million flight feet in under 300 flights 66 hrs on the P3 with no incidence 8.6 miles out and back over the gulf of mexico under 200 ft. Altitude you tell me who I'm hurting at that altitude over open water?So, what can you take away from that? From this ever more pissing about regulation environment, if the bird flies a bit slower and shortens up the range of people flying well beyond LOS (an absolute no-no), you get...conformity. Heck, that's a nice plus for them. But if you start talking 13mph, that's ridiculously hobbled. Even pro-am video needs more than that. I hope I don't hear that one again.
I would upgrade. Clearly DJI thought the battery cut off and birds falling out of the sky needed to be addressed by a firmware update. How will you feel if it falls out of the sky because you did not update
It's about good common sense. It's a hobby drone. If you want to fly 10 million feet out and you can't see it since the camera can't rotate 360 degrees you can't see everything around you (regardless of your altitude) then it's probably not a good idea. Perhaps they already have a commercial line that requires testing and training but for simple hobby folks I think it works just fine. If you want to go faster and higher then build your own.
I would upgrade. Clearly DJI thought the battery cut off and birds falling out of the sky needed to be addressed by a firmware update. How will you feel if it falls out of the sky because you did not update
Spot on m8 I have new firmware and need it due to the crap battery life u get with the new batteries! 35 flights & battery knackered the 4 cells are all over the place as you can see by this pic. Always discharged to 50% it's a joke @120 pounds per battery DJI claim around 300 cycles per battery or so I read becoming an expensive hobby!!I have not done the upgrade, but my takeaway from reading this and other threads about the new firmware is that there is no reduction in maximum speed. However, under cold conditions, there is a reduction in acceleration both horizontally and vertically. It appears this has been done in response to problems of sudden drop in battery power some have been experiencing while flying in very cold temperatures. It looks like there is also a battery firmware update available in this release also designed to help operation in very cold temperatures.
Does that seem to be an accurate assessment?
They now give you the ability to see the battery voltage on the main screen at what level is the voltage considered to be low and dangerous to flySpot on m8 I have new firmware and need it due to the crap battery life u get with the new batteries! 35 flights & battery knackered the 4 cells are all over the place as you can see by this pic. Always discharged to 50% it's a joke @120 pounds per battery DJI claim around 300 cycles per battery or so I read becoming an expensive hobby!!View attachment 40317
Yeah I have this on my screen, after about 10 mins or at 3.62 volts mine turns Orange! Scary, I think it turns red around 3.4 in which case it will automatically landing knowing my luck on a house or in a lake lol.They now give you the ability to see the battery voltage on the main screen at what level is the voltage considered to be low and dangerous to fly
Don't over think this...
All batteries have temp range/limits where they perform best.
In warmer climates they need to be kept cool(er).
In colder climates they need to be kept warm(er).
The DJI batteries are likely low-tier, low-bid, and likely under spec-ed (IMO).
This was exacerbated by the lower temps.
I see you're new here. Do you remember folks having to wait until they cooled down to be allowed to charge them???
If it turns red definitely land ! Also you may be aware that u need to recharge ya batteries back up to 40- 50 percent after your flight. Especially if you're not flying for a while, otherwise your batteries will be knackered in no time! Voltage will turn red as soon as it drops below 3.50V , I've had a battery for 35 flights and it's knackered already! Takes the piss when you consider how much they are new!! I will never buy from DJI again, unreliable and not safe & crap firmware updates. For me personally I feel always worried when I'm flying that copter & it should be fun lol, just put simply theirs to many issues with em.I wish someone would explain the safe range. If it turns red should we land?
I wish someone would explain the safe range. If it turns red should we land?
If it turns red definitely land ! Also you may be aware that u need to recharge ya batteries back up to 40- 50 percent after your flight. Especially if you're not flying for a while, otherwise your batteries will be knackered in no time! Voltage will turn red as soon as it drops below 3.50V , I've had a battery for 35 flights and it's knackered already! Takes the piss when you consider how much they are new!! I will never buy from DJI again, unreliable and not safe & crap firmware updates. For me personally I feel always worried when I'm flying that copter & it should be fun lol, just put simply theirs to many issues with em.
I have 2 phantom3' s and 4 batteries, 2 of Batteries are knackered! Always been discharged to 50%. I fly slowly all the time but the voltage will show Orange and sometimes red after about 5 mins of flight time . All I seem to do when flying these birds is constantly stare at the voltage levels, kind of ruins the experience! Don't fly them anymore selling both of em, and getting the new typhoon H with obstacle avoidance, maybe slower and less distance but better peice of mind!So what battery setup are you using now?
I have 2 phantom3' s and 4 batteries, 2 of Batteries are knackered! Always been discharged to 50%. I fly slowly all the time but the voltage will show Orange and sometimes red after about 5 mins of flight time . All I seem to do when flying these birds is constantly stare at the voltage levels, kind of ruins the experience! Don't fly them anymore selling both of em, and getting the new typhoon H with obstacle avoidance, maybe slower and less distance but better peice of mind!