That sounds more like it. I bet there's a bug where setting MPH doesn't actually display speed in MPH on log screen.
Phantom 4 - Dirty Thoughts
- Thread starter Dirty Bird
- Start date
That sounds more like it. I bet there's a bug where setting MPH doesn't actually display speed in MPH on log screen.
I am becoming somewhat disenchanted with the P4's battery life. I just came in from flying around the neighborhood. I flew all three packs down to 15%. This is the third cycle for the packs. The first two flights were limited to P & A modes. The last flight was pure Sports Mode, balls-to-the-wall the entire flight. This thing doesn't even come close to 28 minutes. Next time out I am going to disable CA then lift off & hover down to 15%. Very disappointing.
Flight 1 - 18:20 - (P & A modes)
Flight 2 - 17:43 - (P & A modes)
Flight 3 - 14:12 - (Sports Mode balls-to-the-wall)
Flight 1 - 18:20 - (P & A modes)
Flight 2 - 17:43 - (P & A modes)
Flight 3 - 14:12 - (Sports Mode balls-to-the-wall)
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The real reason why Frank sent you the dozen batteries was because you are not getting impressive flight times. It was an attempt of an apology.
This is a TRUE dirty bird - P2 V+ : 8 weeks submerged in a slurry pit!
I take it this one didn't fly again? At least without some MAJOR repairs!
This is a TRUE dirty bird - P2 V+ : 8 weeks submerged in a slurry pit!
Probably the same bug that caused those errant flyaways in P3s
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I wouldn't be surprised if the battery life is less even with stonger batteries. I don't have a P4 but everyone says it's more "solid" and it's advertised as having multiple circuit boards, therefore heavier. The props have to exert a force equal and opposite to the quad's weight just to hover in place, so they would have to work harder to hover a P4 than a P3. The P4 must use battery energy faster than the P3 to get decent vertical performance with the heavier bird
But then we would expect the P4 to have faster horizontal performance, because max horizontal speed is related to drag, not weight (except as the weight affects how much energy can be used for horizontal propulsion and how much is needed to maintain altitude.).
But then we would expect the P4 to have faster horizontal performance, because max horizontal speed is related to drag, not weight (except as the weight affects how much energy can be used for horizontal propulsion and how much is needed to maintain altitude.).
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The P4 is 8% heavier than the P3P. The battery has nearly 20% more capacity (energy). Power to hover should go linearly with weight, and thus so will expended energy, for any given period of time.
N017RW
Premium Pilot
This afternoon I finally maidened the Phantom 4 nearly a week after arrival. Went to my usual test site at Ft. Armistead. I wasn't going for distance or records today. Just testing her airworthiness & some of the features. She is running the latest 288 AC FW. I did NOT update the RC to 1.5.80 to avoid the silly CSC change. This isn't some sort of full-fledged review just brief initial thoughts.
First off the Phantom 4 performs beautifully. She flies very smooth & precise. Stability is excellent & hover accuracy is measured in inches. Very impressive. In P-mode with OA enabled she feels a bit sluggish compared to a P3. This is because with OA engaged she is limited to around 22 mph & that is a significant speed reduction from the normal 35 mph.. I will probably disable OA on missions where it is unlikely to be needed to avoid this speed limitation.
TapFly works well but carries the same 22 mph speed limit. Be aware that if you tap above or below the horizon the bird will just keep on climbing or descending until you reach the altitude limit, OA avoids the ground, RC control is lost, or she reaches battery failsafe. I did not test ActiveTrack because I did not want people laughing at me as I ran around the parking lot pursued by a strange & angry-sounding whirlybird gizmo.
Sport mode is...as you will see by this screenshot at only 85% throttle....sporty & VERY fast. 78.1 mph...nuts!!!You have to be very gentle on the sticks for any semblance of smooth flight as she is a real thoroughbred & eager to please. She is hyper-responsive to the slightest stick input. What would be really nice here is if DJI made dual-rates available that automatically kicked in custom Expo & sensitivity settings when Sport Mode is selected. If you need to get someplace in a hurry or you just feel the need for speed then Sport Mode is your friend.
Now for my one & only disappointment from this afternoon's flights. Battery life! In three flights I got 18, 17, & 19 minutes of flight respectively for a grand total of 52 minutes from three batteries (don't blame me the Go app did the math!). That's less than half of what two batteries should get at the stated "28 minute" run time. Had the batteries lasted say, 25 minutes, I wouldn't have felt so bad. But at 10 minutes less (1/3rd) than advertised I am a bit bummed. Granted I was buzzing around in Sport Mode quite a bit just for the "Wow!" factor as she went screaming past & that surely taxed the battery. But 10 minutes less? Next time out I will fly an pack or two in straight P-mode for comparison.
I have not yet had an opportunity to review my footage from today so comments on camera, gimbal, & video performance will come later.
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