Cannot get GPS - Compass Error Magnetic Interference

Rrotz · Oct 11, 2015

I've read the threads and I've gone out in the middle of an open field 500 meters in all directions, did a IMU calibration, Gimbal Calib and Compass Calib and I briefly get GPS lock take off and get Compass Error, the it drifted off and I was able to get it close enough to the ground and slow enough to do an emergency landing but it flipped on it's props.

What is the fix for this issue? I never had this issue before, never crashed the bird before and never had any other problems until now.

PilotHarry · Oct 11, 2015

Odd. Most likely something is still interesting with the compass or the compass is defective. Maybe something under the ground... Sprinkler pipes?

brianb87 · Oct 11, 2015

I'm seeing a lot of these threads. Wondering if it's a FW or GO issue.

Rrotz · Oct 11, 2015

Everything has been good until Saturday. I fly 3 times a week and GPS has been stable and reliable. Saturday I could not get GPS at all, went out Sunday to test again and she drifted off.

The copter is 6 weeks old, would I be able to get warranty repair or exchange?

PilotHarry · Oct 11, 2015

Rrotz said:
Everything has been good until Saturday. I fly 3 times a week and GPS has been stable and reliable. Saturday I could not get GPS at all, went out Sunday to test again and she drifted off.

The copter is 6 weeks old, would I be able to get warranty repair or exchange?

How many satellites? Below 10 and I get some drifting

spindrift · Oct 11, 2015

Learn to fly in ATTI mode to offset any future compass errors. Set it up so you can toggle between the two. Compass errors generally happen when you have magnetic interference, you are in a polar region or there is mechinacal fault with your craft. Anything different with your setup?

Rrotz · Oct 11, 2015

PilotHarry said:
How many satellites? Below 10 and I get some drifting

Over 10, last flight I had 12.

Rrotz · Oct 11, 2015

spindrift said:
Learn to fly in ATTI mode to offset any future compass errors. Set it up so you can toggle between the two. Compass errors generally happen when you have magnetic interference, you are in a polar region or there is mechinacal fault with your craft. Anything different with your setup?

I'm in Australia, no mechanical fault that I know of, it's all internal. What support will DJI provide? Is there a trend occurring? How do I get GPS back? That's the question, do I return it now for an exchange or send logs to DJI? This is my livelihood, not a personal toy.

Chris P Duck · Oct 11, 2015

spindrift said:
Learn to fly in ATTI mode to offset any future compass errors. Set it up so you can toggle between the two. Compass errors generally happen when you have magnetic interference, you are in a polar region or there is mechinacal fault with your craft. Anything different with your setup?

Except the compass is still needed for atti mode.

GPS holds position (stops it drifting)

Compass holds orientation (stops it spinning)

If it's not getting enough sats in an area you previously did you may have cracked the GPS antenna as its ceramic.
If it's having problems with the compass you can only move somewhere new and recalibrate to get rid of any "bad" previous calibrations.

If it's having problems with both I wouldn't try flying it, get it sent in for repairs.

Rrotz · Oct 12, 2015

I need to contact support first and have them review logs. Where can I pull logs to facilitate "faster" service?

I can't have broken anything, I've never crashed other than it gently tipping over upside down from the last time I lost GPS signal and I flew the aircraft in for a landing. It was already experiencing GPS/compass issues.

Mako79 · Oct 12, 2015

Post up a screen shot of your Compass mod values > Settings > Sensors. It should sit around 1500..

Are you dancing correctly??
Is the phantom >1.5m off the ground when doing the dance??

Rrotz · Oct 13, 2015

It's working correctly now. I didn't do anything to fix it other than IMU calibration and gimbal calibration then compass calibration 3 days ago. It get's a fix in our apartment complex with 2 story buildings on both sides.

Wierdness!

EPT160 · Oct 14, 2015

Rrotz said:
I've read the threads and I've gone out in the middle of an open field 500 meters in all directions, did a IMU calibration, Gimbal Calib and Compass Calib and I briefly get GPS lock take off and get Compass Error, the it drifted off and I was able to get it close enough to the ground and slow enough to do an emergency landing but it flipped on it's props.

What is the fix for this issue? I never had this issue before, never crashed the bird before and never had any other problems until now.

I think you took off to quickly, before all the telemetry had properly established itself.
Give it a few more (10 to 20) seconds on the ground till you get the slow flash of the rear green lights.

Rrotz · Oct 15, 2015

I didn't even get a GPS signal before take off, it would give compass error. I never take off until I get the GPS-Safe to fly message.

robert eckert · May 14, 2016

Rrotz said:
Everything has been good until Saturday. I fly 3 times a week and GPS has been stable and reliable. Saturday I could not get GPS at all, went out Sunday to test again and she drifted off.

The copter is 6 weeks old, would I be able to get warranty repair or exchange?

thinking the same here cant use it for more then a month now ...just cant get gps signal at all even when i get 7 satelites...so strange
did u fix it now? p.s with me the same thing it worked always fine and then after a few weeks this happend and never got better