Aircraft Connected / Aircraft Disconnected ???

[ccc124]

I just crashed my Phantom 3 Standard. I need a new ribbon cable for the gimbal and I have a spare OEM here so that's ok. However, when I turn everything on (RC, Wifi, App and bird), it connects for about 12 seconds, then disconnects for about 7 seconds and repeats that cycle continuously. And, it also make a faint electronic-type beeping sound for about 10 seconds. it stops but if I move the drone, the beeps start up again. I can start the props and even fly the drone but I can't figure out the connect/disconnect issue or what internal part controls that functionality. the drone clipped the top of a small tree (10-12') and landed upside down in my driveway.

Any help diagnosing this issue would be very much appreciated. And if anyone is confident in their diagnosis, I'm curious if it's a repair I can make myself.

Thanks very much!

 

[Jthomp]

I would first of all check for any obvious damage to the outside of the drone itself (cracks, missing pieces, etc.) or to any of the antennae wires that extend down the legs of the 'copter. The latter have little clips which hold the wires in place in the channel of the legs - perhaps if one of those has come loose out of the clip it could be affecting radio reception.

Barring you finding any exterior damage I would say the impact with terra firma may have knocked a component loose inside the drone, which (at least in my case) would be a factory repair (I know just enough about electronics build/repair work to get me into very deep trouble!).

Is your unit still under warranty? Since you (like me) hit a tree with your 'copter you can always blame the incident on a failure of the MIE/BGS (Mark 1 Integrated Eyeball/Brain Guidance System) - your brain didn't understand that your eyeball just saw a tree which just so happened be right smack in the middle of the path you were flying!

Who knows? Maybe f you explain that the MIE/BGS failed they might just repair it for free???

 

[ccc124]

I just gave the exterior another comprehensive inspection and there is no damage to the legs (or the antennas within them) and there is really no visual damage to speak of... only the silver and black top prop colors are scraped up a bit from landing upside down. I hear nothing but negative experiences from DJI product owners, not only the nightmares of simply getting them to agree to make necessary repairs, but also the turn-around time it takes to get your drone returned to you. I truly hope some expert out there has a stong idea as to what the connecting/disconnecting might be. Thanks so much for your reply!

 

[ccc124]

Also, I failed to answer your question relative to warranty coverage. Unfortunaltely, the unit is no longer covered by warranty. I'm sure some expert out there will recognize my issue and be able to tell me fairly definitively what that issue is. Thanks so much for your repy!

 

[Jthomp]

. I hear nothing but negative experiences from DJI product owners, not only the nightmares of simply getting them to agree to make necessary repairs, but also the turn-around time it takes to get your drone returned to you. I truly hope some expert out there has a stong idea as to what the connecting/disconnecting might be. Thanks so much for your reply!

I can attest to the slowness of DJI's repair service - as well as to their exorbitant pricing for such. They wanted to charge me more to repair my P3S's broken gimbal that it would cost me to buy a complete refurbished 'copter, which would include a new battery, new warranty, new props - the works! (I did just go out and buy a refurbished one after all - so now I have one flying and one not flying...)

 

[ccc124]

Jthomp, I wonder if I will ultimately end up doing just that depending on the answers I reveive here!

 

[Jthomp]

Jthomp, I wonder if I will ultimately end up doing just that depending on the answers I reveive here!

If it were me doing it again I think I would opt for attempting to repair the gimbal myself. They are a bit complicated to work with, but anyone with average dexterity and a little patience can fix most anything on them - thanks to the internet, of course! This hobby is expensive enough as it is just to buy good basic equipment, let alone to have to pay someone $65.00 per hour just so they can tell you what you already know ("Your drone is busted, sir")

 

[ccc124]

I completely agree. As I mentioned on my first post, I have a spare, new, OEM ribbon cable and I can replace at anytime, I just want to get to the bottom of the disconnection issue before I go through the tedious process of installing the new ribbon cable.

 

[alokbhargava]

What's getting connected and disconnected? Are you talking about video feed or RC to AC connectivity?

 

[ccc124]

The light on the remote controller is GREEN initially...for about 12 seconds. During that 12 seconds, the DJI Go App is functioning properly. Then the light on the remote controller turns RED and subsequently the display on the DJI App changes and reads "Aircraft Disconneted". And when the green light on the RC comes back on about 7 seconds later, the display on my app screen is normal again. That cycle of connected/disconnected continues indefinitely. And, again, the drone itself is beeping with the same type electronic sound the camera makes when you start the drone. It stops after a few mintues but if you pick up or move the drone, that electronic beep starts up again for a minute or so. Thanks

 

[ccc124]

Also, during those 12 seconds of normal communication bwtween the RC nd the drone, It's lets me start both an IMU Check or an IMU Calibration with no error messages. The obvious problem there is the the RC light turns red again before I can see any IMU test results.
Also, here is a screenshot of the Aircraft Status whaen I start everything...