If you have only ever used the DJI App, you would think that the Phantom 3 has always had an altitude limit of 500m, although I believe the first pilot app did not have that restriction, but I can't really be sure of that. However, it was not a limit that was imposed by the firmware. It was a limit within the app that DJI chose to impose. Third party apps using the original SDK did not have that limit. I use the Litchi app and have no altitude limit, however, with the latest SDK and the newest firmware, that 500m restriction has been forced on all the third party apps as well.
Therefore, I choose not to upgrade, because I currently do not have that restriction. Using Litchi (The version before it was redone with the SDK v 2.4) with the old firmware (version 1.4.10), I do not have that restriction. So it is true that when I bought the Phantom 3 I was able to go higher than 500m without restriction, and if I update to the latest FW, I would lose that ability because I am using third party software.
So this is something DJI has taken away from everyone who used third party apps, and I do question whether this restriction was in DJI Pilot 1.0, but have no way at this point to look it up.
Here is text from a post on the Litchi forum where they explain that the DJI SDK version 2.4 created a NEW altitude restriction that forces their app to comply:
What SDK 2.4 means for P3/I1 users:
The max altitude limit for P3/I1 users is now 500m, enforced by the SDK 2.4.
This means that, starting with Litchi version 2.4 beta, the maximum altitude cannot be set above 500m.
I am going to state all the things that have been taken away just this one more time and document each one with information from DJI or third party app developers like I just did. These are the reasons I keep saying what I have said. I am NOT making these things up. These are all things that have been removed or restricted from when it was purchased, and based on the way that DJI controls your updates through the DJI Go app and the fact that if you update, your old versions of the apps are rendered useless so you can't continue to use them (without the restrictions) makes me believe that more restrictions are on the way. I have stated this over and over. That is my belief, based on what has already taken place and the general climate about drones.
I have already covered the first point. That was the altitude restriction that was just added via Firmware to make sure that NO app will allow you to fly above 500m, not just the DJI app.
Next:
I have mentioned that there used to be 32 channels of video transmission in the DJI Pilot app which was reduced to 8 channels. This reduction in channels effectively reduced my range of flight due to frequent video signal dropouts happening closer to home due to fewer, more overused channels with lots of interference to choose from. Having the full 32 channels which the app would select the strongest automatically worked MUCH better for me because I live in an area where there is a lot of interference. With the 32 channels, I was always able to pull one in that worked, and I had almost no live video dropout. As soon as DJI restricted it to 8 channels, I got constant dropouts and couldn't fly anywhere near as far.
If you don't believe that happened, check out any of these threads about people hacking the app with mods to get back the 32 channels:
Search Results for Query: 32 channel | DJI Phantom Forum
I wrote DJI complaining about my loss of range because of the reduction in video transmission channels and got this response from
Sophie Zhang (DJI)
Hi Bob,
Thanks for your reply.
For the channel issue, I am sorry to tell you that it's strictly follow the international law and regulations, and we're unable to provide you the way to get it back to 32 channels.
Best regards,
Sophie
DJI Product Application Technical Support
So that is an admission that they did at the beginning, when I bought my Phantom have 32 channels of video transmission and then cut them down to 8.
Fortunately for me, I was already using the Litchi app which was still providing all 32 channels of video transmission since it was not restricted in the firmware, only in the DJI app. So by using Litchi to fly instead of the DJI app, I keep my altitude unrestricted and I keep my 32 channels and my range is not compromised.
For anyone who was using the DJI app, this is another thing that was available at the beginning and was later taken away.
Then there was the autonomous flight modes. DJI customers that used previous versions of the Phantom were used to ground station that allows you to plot your flight using satellite images and maps, then bring it outside and fly your missions. When DJI finally released their versions of these autonomous flight modes for the Phantom 3, that feature was gone, and the only way to create an autonomous flight mission, was to first fly it manually setting each point (Some of my missions consist of over 40 points) by flying to it, and setting that position and orientation as a point. If you can do that whole thing without using up an entire battery, you get to save the mission and then fly the mission you just flew manually, autonomously!
Again, this disappointment did not affect me, because the Litchi app has a much more robust version of Ground Station (and Orbit) than DJI did, so I just use that. I can still enter waypoints remotely by using satellite images and maps. I'm sure customers who were used to the old DJI GS for older Phantom versions were expecting at least the same, if not better functionality, and were let down when this was released.
I keep referring to Litchi because that was the third party app I decided to use. I understand that there are others, and to each their own. I only have experience with this particular one, so I can't speak to what the other ones can do or what restrictions they have.
So, just in case that was not enough, DJI restricted the speed at which a Ground Station mission can be flown in one of their SDKs which did affect all the third party apps.
There was this exchange on the Litchi forum between a Litchi user and the Developer about this issue:
Question:
The maximum speed between waypoints seems to be 15MPH (24KPH). Was this done on purpose? Will this be changed in the future? I would like to be able to go full speed (35MPH or 56KPH) between waypoints. Some of my planned future missions involve 2 mile straight flights that transition into slow arcs and then orbits. It would be nice to fly full speed to the target so I have enough battery left to do some video before I must return home.
Response from VC Tech (Who is the developer of the Litchi App:
This is a recent SDK/firmware change from DJI.
Nothing we can do about it except hoping DJI increases that limit. Hopefully they will as 25km/h is really a let down.
Add to these things the fact that all apps had to be redesigned in order to work with the new DJI SDK and the next FW version, and older apps that may not have contained these restrictions could no longer be used if you upgraded, and the fact that your ability to roll back to a version of the FW without those restrictions was removed, and that the latest DJI Go app makes sure you are running the latest app and firmware and just downloads and installs it for you if you don't block it, makes me believe that they want to be sure to impose these restrictions on the widest number of people possible, and I see nothing anywhere that indicates to me that DJI is done taking things away. These few small things are just the beginning of a drive by DJI to reduce their liability by limiting what you can do with their product.
The following email from DJI states how after the update of the SDK to version 2.4, old versions of all app for the Phantom 3 become inoperable:
Dear DJI Developer:
A new encryption protocol will shortly be implemented. Please ensure that your app is updated to ensure continued use by downloading DJI Mobile SDK v2.4.0 at DJI Developer. Apps not updated to v2.4.0 will cease to be functional.
Besides some useful new features and bug fixes, DJI Mobile SDK v2.4.0 also includes an important security update that will significantly impact legacy applications starting from late October 2015. In other words, applications developed with earlier SDK versions will no longer be able to communicate with the Remote Controller. Please read the following for full details.
New iOS & Android SDK Features:
1. Access to Main Controller’s Serial Number
2. Access to aircraft type identification
3. Video hardware decoder library
4. New sync & download feature for the Inspire 1 and Phantom 3 Professional
Bug Fixes:
For a complete list of all bug fixes, please refer to the SDK and firmware release notes.
Of particular note, the Intelligent Navigation Waypoint mission feature has been fixed to allow uploading and execution directly from the ground.
IMPORTANT – New RC Encryption Method:
A new encryption method will be enabled in the next release of RC firmware scheduled for late October 2015. Only applications developed with SDK v2.4.0 will be able to communicate with RCs with the late October firmware. Applications developed with SDK v2.4.0 will be able to communicate with RCs that have either the current firmware or future firmware.
The only problem with this for me, is that the restrictions they are going with are one-size-fits-all solutions that in many cases stop you from doing perfectly legal things that are not against regulations just because it is possible for someone somewhere to misuse their drone.
As I also pointed out before, I am aware of what GEO is and what it does, and I am aware that there is a process you have to go through if you want to temporarily override the GEO restrictions in places where you have permission/authority to do so. I don't like it because instead of just alerting you to the fact that you are entering a NFZ and letting you fly there with the knowledge that it is a NFZ, without jumping through extra hoops and wasting time, your bird won't fly there at all. If you do have a legit reason for being there, you shouldn't have to register someplace and ask permission from DJI to proceed. If it just gave you a warning, so the uninformed pilot would know, DJI would have done their duty, and life would go on.
Seeing how things are going, I also believe that once this is in place, and people are used to being blocked from a variety of areas, the next step will be to start reducing the distance from your home point that you can fly. After all, you can only see so far with the naked eye, and your not supposed to fly further than that, so why not limit you to how far the average person can see. This is just supposition on my part. To date, DJI has done nothing specific to make anyone believe that this is currently in the works, but I see it coming. It's another way for DJI to avoid future litigation at the expense of the enjoyment of their customers.
So I hope we can put this part of the debate to rest. There have been things that the Phantom 3 came with that have been taken away.
I believe that more is coming, and just saying I am wrong or paranoid, will not change my belief. Only seeing over time that these things are not implemented will do that. So save your breath, and accept three things:
1. Things have been taken away already and I have documented them.
2. I am allowed to believe what I believe.
3. Anyone who reads this is free to do whatever they want about upgrading. If they are concerned about these issues, I suggest they do as I am doing and wait and see. I am allowed to make that suggestion. People are allowed to follow it or ignore it as they see fit.
, but the future capabilities of your P3P are being restricted, and the only question is to what degree, and we already know what FAA Rules the AMA is lobbying the for: the AMA Flying Rules! DJI is merely being proactive so they can enforce all future FAA Rules through software and firmware. If that adds restrictions to your current flying capabilities, you won't be able to blame DJI. They will merely be imposing the FAA Rules upon all their aircraft owners, as the government has requested!
