Field Readiness

[bhartwell]

To start, I have to say that I do love my PH4. I have literally taken it all over the world and have accumulated some great video over the last couple of years. It’s been my vacation tracker, video log, tourist camera and basically an invaluable tool.

As time goes by and multiple updates get applied, DJI is adding layer upon layer of unneeded complexity that is starting to take away from the readiness and utility of the tool. As an example, we travelled to Barcelona this last week for a vacation. I brought my drone as always. Did all the upgrades I thought outstanding before I left home, just to make sure I wouldn’t have any issues. I just wanted to take pics and videos, not mess with upgrades, fixes, etc.

Anyway, travelled out to a little village called Peratallada and a few other spots in the northern countryside. Started up my drone, and got pinged for a needed upgrade (map update). I’m miles from any internet signal, and don’t want to waste battery life and time anyway. Now my controller is giving me errors, needs an upgrade. Then, my controller lost its calibration, likely as a result of ignoring the upgrade request. I finally get past the errors and am able to fly. But not before the new DJI app complained when I couldn’t connect to the internet to log into my account.

I used to be able to just turn it on and go. Now it seems we are adding layers and layers of stuff that force us to be tethered to an internet connection in order to connect to accounts and apply these constant updates. I just want to be able to use it for what it’s design for, flying around and taking pictures and video. I have to wonder if DJI is going to end up burying a great product under the weight of unneeded and unwanted complexity.

Just ranting a bit here, but am super annoyed.

 

[Deleted member 62848]

To start, I have to say that I do love my PH4. I have literally taken it all over the world and have accumulated some great video over the last couple of years. It’s been my vacation tracker, video log, tourist camera and basically an invaluable tool.

As time goes by and multiple updates get applied, DJI is adding layer upon layer of unneeded complexity that is starting to take away from the readiness and utility of the tool. As an example, we travelled to Barcelona this last week for a vacation. I brought my drone as always. Did all the upgrades I thought outstanding before I left home, just to make sure I wouldn’t have any issues. I just wanted to take pics and videos, not mess with upgrades, fixes, etc.

Anyway, travelled out to a little village called Peratallada and a few other spots in the northern countryside. Started up my drone, and got pinged for a needed upgrade (map update). I’m miles from any internet signal, and don’t want to waste battery life and time anyway. Now my controller is giving me errors, needs an upgrade. Then, my controller lost its calibration, likely as a result of ignoring the upgrade request. I finally get past the errors and am able to fly. But not before the new DJI app complained when I couldn’t connect to the internet to log into my account.

I used to be able to just turn it on and go. Now it seems we are adding layers and layers of stuff that force us to be tethered to an internet connection in order to connect to accounts and apply these constant updates. I just want to be able to use it for what it’s design for, flying around and taking pictures and video. I have to wonder if DJI is going to end up burying a great product under the weight of unneeded and unwanted complexity.

Just ranting a bit here, but am super annoyed.

Good read and totaly agree i not done update for a while and have firmware upgrade required warning every start up,hey i would but have watched and read and experience some changes since early 2016,nearly every firmware update they give something and take something away,not how it was when first buy,should just be 2 versions for ios and android not someone chucking out updates just to keep his job and half grounding everyones asets,i bet that chap dont own a phantom,well thats my ranting windy here no flying

 

[Geoff G]

Very well put, and I can't help but agree with you.
Anyway, you're lucky not to have upgraded the firmware though (P4) - it could have spoilt your visit!

Considering the number of airframes, tablets, phones, operating systems that DJI support, I think that they do a good job overall, with outstanding product value for money, but their customer interaction is very poor (by many accounts), which is a pity. I suppose you do tend to hear about problems rather than solutions in that respect though.

As for improvements, I don't see much in the later Go 4 app that is indispensible. Warnings, most of which any responsible pilot will be aware of before taking off. The new TRIPOD flight mode just does something that many users will have been doing for a long time by simply applying flying skill, exponential and various other adjustments. Better hardware redundancy is something you could not complain about.

But when you go out to fly you just want it too work - simply - without a plethora of confusing warnings.

The arrival of firmware and software upgrades in recent years frequently raises the question -
should a manufacturer be allowed to change the specification of a product after purchase without the customers agreement (other than for critical safety reasons)?
I'm not sure that I agreed to that when I puchased my Phantom, although I didn't read the small print. But I would have agreed to a clause saying " the manufacturer will not alter the way this product functions without your permission"!

So (I feel) that's the real issue here. Tampering with my Phantom (it is mine), without my agreement, because the manufacturer knows best. Give the product OWNER the choice of upgrades, unless for mandatory safety reasons.




I

 

[Phill2]

Very well put, and I can't help but agree with you.
Anyway, you're lucky not to have upgraded the firmware though (P4) - it could have spoilt your visit!

Considering the number of airframes, tablets, phones, operating systems that DJI support, I think that they do a good job overall, with outstanding product value for money, but their customer interaction is very poor (by many accounts), which is a pity. I suppose you do tend to hear about problems rather than solutions in that respect though.

As for improvements, I don't see much in the later Go 4 app that is indispensible. Warnings, most of which any responsible pilot will be aware of before taking off. The new TRIPOD flight mode just does something that many users will have been doing for a long time by simply applying flying skill, exponential and various other adjustments. Better hardware redundancy is something you could not complain about.

But when you go out to fly you just want it too work - simply - without a plethora of confusing warnings.

The arrival of firmware and software upgrades in recent years frequently raises the question -
should a manufacturer be allowed to change the specification of a product after purchase without the customers agreement (other than for critical safety reasons)?
I'm not sure that I agreed to that when I puchased my Phantom, although I didn't read the small print. But I would have agreed to a clause saying " the manufacturer will not alter the way this product functions without your permission"!

So (I feel) that's the real issue here. Tampering with my Phantom (it is mine), without my agreement, because the manufacturer knows best. Give the product OWNER the choice of upgrades, unless for mandatory safety reasons.




I

You already have the choice.
I haven't connected to the net for over a year and everything works as it should.
I get the update required message but just ignore it and it goes away when I tale off.
It's the old situation of "if it ain't broke don't fix it "

 

[Geoff G]

Well, it's a limited choice if you want a warranty.
You have to agree to keep firmware regularly updated. I received specific warnings for both Phantoms I purchased (and got free shell replacements, one for each).
Every move of every stick is recorded, so you have to be on your very best behaviour not to upset DJI!!

 

[jbuy41]

I find Litchi working well without all the hassle.

 

[blomdido]

I've given up with DJI GO. I haven't had any maps for months. I'm considering trying to charge DJI for the cost of uploading LITCHI. As DJI GO, simply is f fit for purpose, as far as I am concerned. [emoji35]

 

[jbuy41]

I've given up with DJI GO. I haven't had any maps for months. I'm considering trying to charge DJI for the cost of uploading LITCHI. As DJI GO, simply is f fit for purpose, as far as I am concerned. [emoji35]

Litchi is cheap. Get alot of bang for the bucks. Odd about maps. Android or ISO?

 

[wa5tef]

Do what I did 11 months ago. But Litchi for $24.00 and avoid DJI if possible! Litchi is better in my opinion and never any required updates! The various features are great, especially the Waypoint and Mission Hub capability.
Good luck
Jim
WA5TEF

 

[bhartwell]

You already have the choice.
I haven't connected to the net for over a year and everything works as it should.
I get the update required message but just ignore it and it goes away when I tale off.
It's the old situation of "if it ain't broke don't fix it "

Can you simply ignore the updates? My understanding, perhaps mistakenly, was that without this last set of updates DJI severely limited your ability to fly (I.e. height and distance limits, etc). Is this not the case?

 

[Phill2]

Well, it's a limited choice if you want a warranty.
You have to agree to keep firmware regularly updated. I received specific warnings for both Phantoms I purchased (and got free shell replacements, one for each).
Every move of every stick is recorded, so you have to be on your very best behaviour not to upset DJI!!

I'm well out of warranty so no probs there
IMO you have less chance of needing to claim if you don't update.

 

[Phill2]

Can you simply ignore the updates? My understanding, perhaps mistakenly, was that without this last set of updates DJI severely limited your ability to fly (I.e. height and distance limits, etc). Is this not the case?

No the limit was only imposed if you updated.
It is DJIs attempt to make it look like they're being responsible by updating NFZs where you're flying.
Without that update I don't have to sign in to fly and there are no limitations.

 

[jlrsn]

I have to agree that most of the user's of DJI Quadcopters that I know are fed up with all the upgrades! I downgraded to the easier to use GO4 from back in January 2017 and couldn't be happier!

 

[DocDiggler]

Do what I did 11 months ago. But Litchi for $24.00 and avoid DJI if possible! Litchi is better in my opinion and never any required updates! The various features are great, especially the Waypoint and Mission Hub capability.
Good luck
Jim
WA5TEF

Was waiting 4 ur post lol