P3P - Loss of live video feed during flight

[Elbert Hill]

I'm having a recurring problem with one of my P3P drones. When it happens, and it doesn't necessarily happen every flight, but when you least expect it, the screen will freeze. I still have full control of the drone, it just loses the live video feed. I have no problems at all with my other drone so it's not the remote or tablet.

When I land it, check the SD card, and there's nary a glitch there, full flight not a single dropped frame. So it's not the camera. I shut everything down and restart, still no live feed. I've replaced the ribbon cable...twice I may add, the last one was a DJI (they're by far the best). Also, through all this, test the gimbal controls, all is well. just no live feed. Then, I let it set for an hour or two, and voila, live feed again !

If it were the board I wouldn't think it would become operable again, but I don't know, because I'm running out of things to check out.

And speaking of the camera/gimbal control boars, does anyone know the pn for that assembly.


And lastly, does anyone out there have any other ideas as to what the problem may be ?

 

[Alan-G]

I'm having a recurring problem with one of my P3P drones. When it happens, and it doesn't necessarily happen every flight, but when you least expect it, the screen will freeze. I still have full control of the drone, it just loses the live video feed. I have no problems at all with my other drone so it's not the remote or tablet.

When I land it, check the SD card, and there's nary a glitch there, full flight not a single dropped frame. So it's not the camera. I shut everything down and restart, still no live feed. I've replaced the ribbon cable...twice I may add, the last one was a DJI (they're by far the best). Also, through all this, test the gimbal controls, all is well. just no live feed. Then, I let it set for an hour or two, and voila, live feed again !

If it were the board I wouldn't think it would become operable again, but I don't know, because I'm running out of things to check out.

And speaking of the camera/gimbal control boars, does anyone know the pn for that assembly.


And lastly, does anyone out there have any other ideas as to what the problem may be ?

I have the same problem but mine is permanent, I have narrowed it down to the main gimbal pcb. There is obviously a video signal getting from the AC to the RX,( the app would say "no video signal" otherwise, there is just nothing on the signal, which points to the link between the gimbal and the transmitter, I have ruled out any cables, which leaves the pcb itself. I have heard that there was at one time a problem with the way the SMT components were soldered to the board so my next step (when I get time) is to go over all of the components on the board and re-solder them, (yes I do have the correct specialist equipment to hand) failing that it will be a case of replacing the gimbal board which is not very easy to come by. I will keep people updated with this as I believe it is quite a common problem.

 

[Airtography]

I have found the issue to be with the tablet itself -- it gets hot and overloads the graphics drivers. I've been somewhat successful with making sure that the tablet is in airplane mode (with wifi enabled) shutting down all other memory and processor consumption, ensured the tablet (Nexus 9) has no case or coverings, that no other applications are running and that he download video link setting is at the lowest resolution. Successful most of the time. I'd suggest that because it works for a while in our cases, it's not a board or component in the camera or drone itself, but a problem in the tablet where it can't handle the video feed and heat. Another solution -- abandon DJI Lightbridge enabled drones like I have. Use a Typhoon H with built in tablet -- no issues and one less thing to fiddle with.

 

[Alan-G]

I have found the issue to be with the tablet itself -- it gets hot and overloads the graphics drivers. I've been somewhat successful with making sure that the tablet is in airplane mode (with wifi enabled) shutting down all other memory and processor consumption, ensured the tablet (Nexus 9) has no case or coverings, that no other applications are running and that he download video link setting is at the lowest resolution. Successful most of the time. I'd suggest that because it works for a while in our cases, it's not a board or component in the camera or drone itself, but a problem in the tablet where it can't handle the video feed and heat. Another solution -- abandon DJI Lightbridge enabled drones like I have. Use a Typhoon H with built in tablet -- no issues and one less thing to fiddle with.

Definatley none of my four tablets/phones as it happens at turn on before any thing has a chance to warm up and resolution makes no difference. I have no such problems with my P3S, only the P3P.

 

[drm]

If it were the board I wouldn't think it would become operable again, but I don't know, because I'm running out of things to check out.

Electronics can fail due to overheating and continue working after cooling off. Check to make sure the air vents in your P3P are unobstructed by dust or other material. Have you noticed if the problem is more prevalent on warmer days?

You might also try swapping the gimbal assembly to one of your other birds, if possible, to help isolate the location of the failure.

 

[Oso]

I'm having a recurring problem with one of my P3P drones. When it happens, and it doesn't necessarily happen every flight, but when you least expect it, the screen will freeze. I still have full control of the drone, it just loses the live video feed. I have no problems at all with my other drone so it's not the remote or tablet.

When I land it, check the SD card, and there's nary a glitch there, full flight not a single dropped frame. So it's not the camera. I shut everything down and restart, still no live feed. I've replaced the ribbon cable...twice I may add, the last one was a DJI (they're by far the best). Also, through all this, test the gimbal controls, all is well. just no live feed. Then, I let it set for an hour or two, and voila, live feed again !

If it were the board I wouldn't think it would become operable again, but I don't know, because I'm running out of things to check out.

And speaking of the camera/gimbal control boars, does anyone know the pn for that assembly.


And lastly, does anyone out there have any other ideas as to what the problem may be ?

The symptoms you noted here along with the symptoms you noted one week ago lead me to first think that you may have a tablet issue as noted earlier in this thread. Since you said a week ago that both of your P3Ps had a serious FPV lag issue, your tablet is a common denominator and mobile devices have often been proven as the cause of these type of issues.

Yes, there have also been numerous reports of no live feed on a P3P which point to the hard to source gimbal main board. Granted, needing to wait one or two hours for the FPV to return is less indicative of a mobile device issue. However, since you've said previously that this is happening to both of your P3Ps, if it were mine I would not look at the gimbal board immediately until my tablet had been eliminated as the cause.

What mobile device are you using to fly, and as also asked in the other thread which versions of FW are you using on everything?

 

[crash1sttime]

Is anyone else flying with you when it happens ?

 

[Elbert Hill]

Electronics can fail due to overheating and continue working after cooling off. Check to make sure the air vents in your P3P are unobstructed by dust or other material. Have you noticed if the problem is more prevalent on warmer days?

You might also try swapping the gimbal assembly to one of your other birds, if possible, to help isolate the location of the failure.

 

[Elbert Hill]

Your right on both accounts as far as sometimes when boards heat up they may fail then work ok when they cool of.

And that's a darn good idea, as far as switching the gimbal control board assy from one to the other gimbal assy. If it doesn't do it after switching Ive found my problem.

Also someone mentioned it may be the tablet, not in my case, I switched over to my other P3P and it worked fine.

Thanks to all of you who responded. Does anyone here know though if the the control board assy is available without the arms and camera ? And if yes what is the pn (since DJI is not very forthcoming with parts lists)

 

[mpkrva]

I had an iPhone 7+ 128gb and an older Samsung Note 10.1 tablet that I use with my P3P. Absolutely no problems with the iPhone, but the tablet stutters and freeze frames after about 5 minutes flight regardless of distance. Currently looking for a refurbished iPad...

 

[Alan-G]

Your right on both accounts as far as sometimes when boards heat up they may fail then work ok when they cool of.

And that's a darn good idea, as far as switching the gimbal control board assy from one to the other gimbal assy. If it doesn't do it after switching Ive found my problem.

Also someone mentioned it may be the tablet, not in my case, I switched over to my other P3P and it worked fine.

Thanks to all of you who responded. Does anyone here know though if the the control board assy is available without the arms and camera ? And if yes what is the pn (since DJI is not very forthcoming with parts lists)

This is the problem. The "control board" Main gimbal PCB is NOT a seperate part unless you can find a s/h one. DJI only supply a complete cam/gimbal assy at an extortionate cost

 

[Elbert Hill]

Through trial and error I have indeed narrowed it down to the gimbal assy control board, and Alan G seems to be correct as I've been looking for separate control board now for over an hour and they're not to be found. Also a moderator on the DJI comm msg board confirmed.... not available separately.

I'm hoping I can find some poor soul fed up with his drone and will sell all or parts of it....................

 

[Elbert Hill]

The symptoms you noted here along with the symptoms you noted one week ago lead me to first think that you may have a tablet issue as noted earlier in this thread. Since you said a week ago that both of your P3Ps had a serious FPV lag issue, your tablet is a common denominator and mobile devices have often been proven as the cause of these type of issues.

Yes, there have also been numerous reports of no live feed on a P3P which point to the hard to source gimbal main board. Granted, needing to wait one or two hours for the FPV to return is less indicative of a mobile device issue. However, since you've said previously that this is happening to both of your P3Ps, if it were mine I would not look at the gimbal board immediately until my tablet had been eliminated as the cause.

What mobile device are you using to fly, and as also asked in the other thread which versions of FW are you using on everything?

Oso
I'm sorry I missed your post. But the problem I was having with BOTH drones I've come to the conclusion that there must have been some kind of interference, I went back outside (and this was in front of my house) an hour or two later and that problem was gone. Oh and I'm using as Samsung Tab 4 8"screen running 3.1.5 drone fw 1.9.60 remote is 1.8 I haven't updated as I prefer to wait until I see what kinds of bugs may be present in any given update.

And as far as losing video, by removing/exchanging the control boards from one assembly to another I've narrowed it down to the main gimbal control board (it sure comes in handy to have things to switch around sometimes when trouble shooting). Both yaw arm and camera assemblies work fine when hooked up to one of the gimbal controller, and the other not.

And now I'm looking for a board, but not having any luck as DJI will not sell one separately, they would much rather have you send it in to them and have you wait only god knows how long for them to get around to it and then charge you a fortune. I'm perfectly capable of doing these repairs if only I could find the parts. The one thing I use to dread was changing ribbon cables, but I've become quite adept at it, and have also learned not all ribbon cables are created equal.

Anyway sorry I digress, but that's the info you asked for I believe, be glad to hear any other comments.

 

[Elbert Hill]

Is anyone else flying with you when it happens ?

Funny you should mention that. But no, not recently during the current issue. But a friend of mine recently added a Phantom 4 to his collection. And just about every time we go out flying together I have remote connection issues, I guess there is some kind of interference here, and it only happens when he's flying the 4, no issues when he's flying a P3

You sound like maybe you are aware of some issues, I'd like to hear about it please

 

[crash1sttime]

Funny you should mention that. But no, not recently during the current issue. But a friend of mine recently added a Phantom 4 to his collection. And just about every time we go out flying together I have remote connection issues, I guess there is some kind of interference here, and it only happens when he's flying the 4, no issues when he's flying a P3

You sound like maybe you are aware of some issues, I'd like to hear about it please

We fly as a group, a couple of standards, an inspire, 3 advanced a Mavic and a couple of old P2v's

When my Advanced is near to a standard I get bad interference on my screen, no loss of signal strength just bad interference.

When I fly with a mate who also has an advanced we work out which channel to use, as we have both done the 32 channel hack he goes on channel 1 and I go on 32, if anyone else joins with an advanced/pro/ inspire we get them to set their channel to some where in between the 2 in use.

I mentioned the standard, unfortunately they don't have the ability to set a channel so we get the pilot to move down the field or take turns flying if they are nearby this also applies to the P2V users.

With trial and error we know who does what to who's quad and have alleviated most of the interference issues.

 

[benthinking08]

I have found the issue to be with the tablet itself -- it gets hot and overloads the graphics drivers. I've been somewhat successful with making sure that the tablet is in airplane mode (with wifi enabled) shutting down all other memory and processor consumption, ensured the tablet (Nexus 9) has no case or coverings, that no other applications are running and that he download video link setting is at the lowest resolution. Successful most of the time. I'd suggest that because it works for a while in our cases, it's not a board or component in the camera or drone itself, but a problem in the tablet where it can't handle the video feed and heat. Another solution -- abandon DJI Lightbridge enabled drones like I have. Use a Typhoon H with built in tablet -- no issues and one less thing to fiddle with.

I tend to agree with this assessment as I've experienced the same problem with my video feed on multiple devices:
1. Android Phone: It was a phone that I'd had for a year so there were quite a few apps, photos, videos, etc tying up the memory and processor. I'd have a good feed for the first couple of minutes before the feed started to get choppy/pixelated. The feed would eventually freeze up completely. The only way I could restore it was to close DJI GO, zap some pics/vids from device storage and restart the app.

2. Android Tablet: It was newer than the phone and had fewer things clogging up the resources. I could fly for 5-7 mins before the choppiness started but the feed never totally froze up throughout the duration of the flight.

3. El Cheapo Android Tablet: Although brand new with only the factory-installed software and DJI GO app installed, the P3P would barely lift off the ground before the feed froze completely.

4. New Android Phone: This phone had only factory-installed apps and the DJI GO app. It works like a charm throughout the entire flight.

So my recommendation is to purchase a mid/high-end device that can be wholly dedicated to your flights. Or, if you're unable/unwilling to go that route, then get in the habit of saving your footage on a disk or other medium after each flight and wiping it out of your device memory to free it up for a clean feed on your next adventure.

Just a thought...Hope it helps!

DRONE ON!!!

-Scoop

 

[GWTX]

Similar problem here. P3A flying in a rural setting(my home place) with no interference around, except a 345KV transmission line, and I don't go anywhere near it. I'm flying with a Samsung Tab A 7" 8GB device dedicated to the drone. I take off and usually within 1 or 2 minutes I lose the video. I've found that I can turn off DJI GO, then restart it, and the video comes back. I'm pretty sure it's a problem with the Tablet. Sometimes after restarting GO, it doesn't happen again, sometimes it does. A bit un nerving to say the least. I probably need to clean up my tab and see if that helps. It's not "rooted" but has only apps that I couldn't get rid of.
Good luck getting your problem fixed soon.

 

[hrosee]

Since you have 2 RC's I would link the one from the P3P that is working. It receives the video and is the easiest thing to try first. Won't cost you anything but a little time.