P3S Compass woes

[Darius]

Hate to start an introduction to a forum with issues.. Anyways I’ve been into RC for yeas and recently switched from 1/16 & 1/10 scale trucks to the world of drones.

I picked up a P3S for my birthday 2 weeks ago and updated to latest FirmWare out of the box. Logged about 15 flights worry-free. Packed up for a weekend trip home before college starts back and took the phantom to get some shots of our farm in Western NC. 10 minutes into my flight (FPV utilizing litchi/Modified Samsung VR headset/Note 4) I hit a tree at about 30ft high and around an estimated 30 MPH and sent the poor bird down like it was duck season.

Only damage was 2 broken props, a broken corner on the camera mount, and both 2.4Ghz pigtails were jerked from their connectors at the gimble. I powered it on to make sure the gimble was good and everything checked out.

Since I was going to have to replace the internal 2.4 antennas I ordered (2) 2.4 Ghz and (2) RHCP 5.8Ghz externals to replace all the on board antennas. Ordered a few cables and adapters and made a set of antenna mounts that go on each leg.

Went ahead and bought the DBS mods range extender as well as some carbon props, taller landing gear, stabilizer legs, a carbon gimble mount, and some other controller mods. Got the bird built up with the new goodies since crash and went out to my backyard.

Powered on, calibrated IMU/Gimble/compass on a cold start and proceeded to take off in GPS assist. As soon as it cleared about 10 feet and I took over, it immediately had a compass error flash red and Atti mode came on. Set it back down manually (not very neat either) and wiped the sweat from my brow.

Opened the bird up and saw no loose connections. Also saw where another member just sent his in for this exact reason. A quick disassembly showed no internal damage as far as my eye could see, even under the foil adhesion and bottom of boards. It shows me flying at a crazy altitude in one screenshot when it’s still sitting still? Calibrated the compass in 4 different wide open areas and still the same error.

Flying in Atti mode is a good skill but for a greenhorn I need the GPS assist, any advice on the compass error? Antenna interference? I hate I dumped so much money into this thing already, I should have just got the P4… May end up selling it as-is 750 bucks in the hole


DIY antenna mounts

Stress cracks already..filled with epoxy and bits of carbon on the top half from a broken arrow








Pictures of TX




Pictures of bird RX setup







Readings before takeoff




After landing w/error



I might also add:
Upon powering up/connecting to DJI Go, I get a green status saying ready to fly after the homepoint has been set. I can pick the phantom up and carry it and within 3 feet the compass error comes up…. Not just in flight..

You think the compass was damaged? I didn't notice anything when i swapped it to its new legs.

 

[Hunter Hughes]

Could be a loose connection. Your drone looks sick tho dude!!


Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots

 

[Darius]

Could be a loose connection. Your drone looks sick tho dude!!


Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots

Thanks! I've checked every connection and had the shell apart probably more than a DJI tech... Moved the 5.8 antenna beside the compass to the other leg with no success. Going to try and degauss it tonight.

I made the red skin myself from stenciling out a template for P3 skins found online(I can send you the PDF). You can do any color to the controller and bird fairly easy if you take a little time to make some stencils and order some vinyl wrap off fleabay.

I am thinking about swapping out to plastic props and just flying the hell out of Atti mode until I figure it out..being flightless sucks.

 

[Darius]

Degauss didn't work. The only article of metal i didn't remove from my body during calibration is my hearing aid. never get flagged at airports for it so I don't think it would make a difference. Shucks.

 

[RICHARD W GARRETT]

Thanks! I've checked every connection and had the shell apart probably more than a DJI tech... Moved the 5.8 antenna beside the compass to the other leg with no success. Going to try and degauss it tonight.

I made the red skin myself from stenciling out a template for P3 skins found online(I can send you the PDF). You can do any color to the controller and bird fairly easy if you take a little time to make some stencils and order some vinyl wrap off fleabay.

I am thinking about swapping out to plastic props and just flying the hell out of Atti mode until I figure it out..being flightless sucks.

I'm interested in the template, please!

 

[korakora]

Hi Darius

is the compass error begin from the open box or since you put an antenna mushrooms? you are too close to put the antenna with a compass
compass is very sensitive thats why it is placed far in phantom landing skid, but now you put the antenna nearby the compass

 

[Darius]

Hi Darius

is the compass error begin from the open box or since you put an antenna mushrooms? you are too close to put the antenna with a compass
compass is very sensitive thats why it is placed far in phantom landing skid, but now you put the antenna nearby the compass

This happened after the crash..that's when i went wild with the upgrades. The antennas should have no bearing on the compass readings as I moved the red 5.8 antenna from the leg the compass resides on to another.

 

[Darius]

I'm interested in the template, please!

Open it as a PDF and in the print box click on poster format so you can print the PDF to multiple pages. You may have to tape them together after everything is printed but it took me all of 20 minutes to make all the stencils.

 

[korakora]

just a bit curious, when you mod with that anttena is there any improve for video range and rc ? or not that significant ?

 

[Darius]

just a bit curious, when you mod with that anttena is there any improve for video range and rc ? or not that significant ?

There is a great increase in range for both!

 

[korakora]

There is a great increase in range for both!

noted!
i'll be do it on my week end project

thank for clarified

 

[Darius]

Fixed Replacement compass costed $12 bucks.. the dbs mods really improved the range !! Will do a max flight once I warm back up to the FPS goggle experience.

This was the first flight since the carbon props were installed..Holy cow at the speed increase. It stops so much quicker that I almost thought it was going to flip over.

Onto the next mod: orientation Led's!!!

Sent from my phone by pushing buttons with my fingers

 

[jeganx]

Nice bird. I was about to guess you need to change the compass. Fortunately you did. How much range did you get now with birdside antenna mod and dbs?

 

[Darius]

Funny enough I dont think it was the compass all along but the orientation in which I had it mounted in the extended landing gear. I had it vertical instead of horizontal in the slot. Anyways, I now have spare cable in case of another SHTF moment.


I made it out to 5,000 feet and some change this evening at a new bypass being built. There is a lot of interference from the surrounding neighborhoods though. I could have probably went further but I was using Litchi for the 2nd time in FPV utilizing a samsung VR headset so I was a little skeptical to take it to the max. On the return home I lost a 5.8 antenna(didnt loc-tite the threads).. I still had enough spotty transmission to make it back but I opted to RTH and cracked a cold one while I waited for my bird to land. Still getting used to it as its only about my 20th flight.

I would still love to have lightbridge but for my first drone I'm absolutely ecstatic for the $725 I've got invested thus far.