Phantom 4 boat launch

[Schnauzergeek]

I had a nervous situation while trying to launch my Phantom 4 off the deck of a rocking 40 foot boat off the Pacific coast in Southern Calf.
While flying 10 feet over the ocean with 2-3 foot swells, my Phantom 4 seemed to lose responsiveness sporadically while trying to video a pod of dolphins feeding.
Is there a special setting I should have my Phantom on?


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[richardseguro]

If you had the VPS on, it could generate that kind of anomaly over water.

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[Tardisman]

Make sure you turn off your visual positioning system when flying over water.

 

[blmeanie]

if you turn off vps does the AC still utilize the GPS/satellite to maintain altitude?

 

[Tardisman]

The Visual positioning system is a totally separate system that only aids you while in areas without a gps signal (inside) or aids you when close to the ground (within 49 feet) for landing and in Return to Home situations so it won't land in an unsafe spot. Your Phantom will use GPS to stabilize itself when in p mode or sport mode only ATTI mode will not use GPS

 

[blmeanie]

thanks

 

[AlecW]

if you turn off vps does the AC still utilize the GPS/satellite to maintain altitude?

The AC uses it's barometer not GPS to figure out altitude. GPS is can be used to track altitude and it is stored in flight data but the phantom relies on the barometer because GPS altitude is less accurate. Unsure if there is any double check software comparing the two values during flight.

 

[DocDiggler]

Does the boat not create compass problems ?


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[Schnauzergeek]

Thanks! Do you think the onboard marine radios and radar would have an effect on the Phantom 4 radio controller?


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[DocDiggler]

If the hull of the boat involved some metal/aluminium I would be worried


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[The Flying Swan]

But DocDiggler, you don't understand!! The dolphins were feeding ten feet ABOVE the water... it's worth the risk just to get a video of such a phenomenon

("a pod of dolphins feeding about 10 feet above the water")

 

[Unkownone]

Lol the great risk for a great shot. I work on a tug boat and she is made out of metal bow to stern. I started my phantom 4 up to see what she would act like, no good. About half to New York, still hate that I couldn't get some great shots

 

[MA drone guy]

Make sure you turn off your visual positioning system when flying over water.

How do I turn this off? I've looked but can't locate it

Thanks!

 

[Erised]

Does the boat not create compass problems ?


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The boat may cause some compass errors when you are close, but as soon as you move away they should clear up, I happened to me a few time and as I flew away all was good.

 

[Schnauzergeek]

I have just found out that VPS can't be disabled on a Phantom 4


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[Schnauzergeek]

But DocDiggler, you don't understand!! The dolphins were feeding ten feet ABOVE the water... it's worth the risk just to get a video of such a phenomenon

("a pod of dolphins feeding about 10 feet above the water")

Thanks for pointing that out...It is now edited [emoji1433]


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[captainlewi]

Thanks! Do you think the onboard marine radios and radar would have an effect on the Phantom 4 radio controller?


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I've flown from my 10m fishing vessel with gps plotters vhf radios sonar and radar instruments and its flown just fine with no problems ...


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