- Joined
- Mar 14, 2016
- Messages
- 346
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- 44
Even though mine went back on warranty I feel you made a big mistake. Live my P4P
Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots
Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots
FWIW I've owned both a P4P+ and P4P and both were flawless out of the box.
It's important to remember that a very large percentage of the problem posts are the result of either lack of understanding or someone whining with an agenda, and if you take them all as gospel then you will never own a drone of any kind. That's not to say that none of the reported issues are real, just that the view one gets from reading the forums is likely to be slanted highly (and inaccurately) negative.
Do you live in Seattle... (since you mentioned the Space Needle incident)? If you do, you could buy the P4P from the DJI store in Bellevue. They are an actual DJI company store and they have on site repair services.Thanks for all the insights. Thinking that I might reconsider. To demonstrate how much I wanted this I already have extra batteries, a charger that will charge all the batteries in the same amount of time the DJI will charge one, and I have a San Disk micro chip to boost its memory. Oh! Marco Polo is also on its way. So the question...Other than Best, what authorized seller of the Phantom will take me out of the loop dealing with DJI's customer service if I have a non pilot error, legitimate problem? I want this to be fun and don't want a hassle about returning a defective Phantom or waiting weeks for repair and then arguments about its repair. Frankly, it ought to be perfect out of the box...If not, it should be replaced at no expense to the purchaser.
Am I dreaming or is this possible? I actually see this forum as the customer service arm of DJI. I would think more problems are solved here than from DJI!
I have been waiting several weeks for a back order on a Pro 4+. It arrived tonight and I refused delivery. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I have done a lot more reading and looking since I placed the order and paid on the dotted line, and have come to the conclusion that I just can't risk $1800 on a piece of electronics that DJI is showing significant quality control issues with it's manufacture. Add to that there seemingly poor customer support and it finally added up to no DJI for me until I am convinced that they have attended to improving quality control.
There are another couple of issues that also swayed my acceptance of the quad. The government is going crazy about the restrictions they are placing on 'drones.' It doesn't help that idiot crashed into the Space Needle in Seattle,which is located in a park, the Seattle Center Park. It's still making the news here. How many realize the 'workers' on the deck were placing the fireworks explosives for the New Years extravaganza at the Needle? Imagine what would have been the result if the drone had actually triggered some of the explosives.
Several towns is Washington State have flat out banned drones in the entirety of their city limits. They are now banned in State Parks. We have the killer whales here, the Orcas, and a new regulation is being drafted to keep drones over 200' away from the whales as the noise may be interfering with them. Can't fly them in the Bahamas somebody reported. And on and on ad naseum.
Saw on a You Tube video where some clip popped up while researching drone videos that you can buy a single seat turbine helicopter in kit form for about $40K. According the the manufacturer you don't have to register it with the FAA and the pilot does not need a pilots license to fly it. Maybe if there was a camera under it, it would be come more of a problem.
I really like the forum and will continue watching and reading. I am impressed with the helpful nature of the forum. The moderators are doing a good job of keeping the trash talk out of here.
That is very sad the decision you have made. I have to confess that I had thought processes very similar to you: lots of "what ifs" went through my head (what if governments impost blanket bans on drones? What if I crash nearly $2000 of kit? What if some idiot posting aerial videos on YouTube kills/ severely injures someone with their drone and the aviation authorities step up, take note and implement punitive action on the entire hobby? What if I cannot get spare parts when I need them (e.g. a rotor motor)? What if someone gets all upset about me using my drone and reports me to the police for purely 'innocent' and legitimate uses - might I get in trouble/ get fined/ risk a day in court... And yardi yada.I have been waiting several weeks for a back order on a Pro 4+. It arrived tonight and I refused delivery. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I have done a lot more reading and looking since I placed the order and paid on the dotted line, and have come to the conclusion that I just can't risk $1800 on a piece of electronics that DJI is showing significant quality control issues with it's manufacture. Add to that there seemingly poor customer support and it finally added up to no DJI for me until I am convinced that they have attended to improving quality control.
There are another couple of issues that also swayed my acceptance of the quad. The government is going crazy about the restrictions they are placing on 'drones.' It doesn't help that idiot crashed into the Space Needle in Seattle,which is located in a park, the Seattle Center Park. It's still making the news here. How many realize the 'workers' on the deck were placing the fireworks explosives for the New Years extravaganza at the Needle? Imagine what would have been the result if the drone had actually triggered some of the explosives.
Several towns is Washington State have flat out banned drones in the entirety of their city limits. They are now banned in State Parks. We have the killer whales here, the Orcas, and a new regulation is being drafted to keep drones over 200' away from the whales as the noise may be interfering with them. Can't fly them in the Bahamas somebody reported. And on and on ad naseum.
Saw on a You Tube video where some clip popped up while researching drone videos that you can buy a single seat turbine helicopter in kit form for about $40K. According the the manufacturer you don't have to register it with the FAA and the pilot does not need a pilots license to fly it. Maybe if there was a camera under it, it would be come more of a problem.
I really like the forum and will continue watching and reading. I am impressed with the helpful nature of the forum. The moderators are doing a good job of keeping the trash talk out of here.
I have been waiting several weeks for a back order on a Pro 4+. It arrived tonight and I refused delivery. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I have done a lot more reading and looking since I placed the order and paid on the dotted line, and have come to the conclusion that I just can't risk $1800 on a piece of electronics that DJI is showing significant quality control issues with it's manufacture. Add to that there seemingly poor customer support and it finally added up to no DJI for me until I am convinced that they have attended to improving quality control.
There are another couple of issues that also swayed my acceptance of the quad. The government is going crazy about the restrictions they are placing on 'drones.' It doesn't help that idiot crashed into the Space Needle in Seattle,which is located in a park, the Seattle Center Park. It's still making the news here. How many realize the 'workers' on the deck were placing the fireworks explosives for the New Years extravaganza at the Needle? Imagine what would have been the result if the drone had actually triggered some of the explosives.
Several towns is Washington State have flat out banned drones in the entirety of their city limits. They are now banned in State Parks. We have the killer whales here, the Orcas, and a new regulation is being drafted to keep drones over 200' away from the whales as the noise may be interfering with them. Can't fly them in the Bahamas somebody reported. And on and on ad naseum.
Saw on a You Tube video where some clip popped up while researching drone videos that you can buy a single seat turbine helicopter in kit form for about $40K. According the the manufacturer you don't have to register it with the FAA and the pilot does not need a pilots license to fly it. Maybe if there was a camera under it, it would be come more of a problem.
I really like the forum and will continue watching and reading. I am impressed with the helpful nature of the forum. The moderators are doing a good job of keeping the trash talk out of here.
including phoning the police in advance of a flight IF I intend to fly in a location where overzealous citizens COULD call in and try to claim I was using it for anything other than legitimate reasons.
Exactly! I have a P3P and have NEVER had an issue it's been amazing!! As with anything, it's a very small percentage with a loud voice. There is no doubt however their Customer service can be greatly improved upon. You would think that since they are the king of the hill this billionaire 30 something would demand good customer service then he would own the industry!!Sorry about all this. I happen to love the P4P, after a year with a 3DR Solo. Easily it is the king of the heap. As for quality control, just remember that very few people post a message when everything is going right. So, the board is preselected to make it seem like there are problems. No quality problems at all.
As for regulations, sure. This is just about where cars were when they were first appearing. Scared the horses, and I think one state required that a fellow walk in front of the "horseless carriage" with a lantern.
PS I have a Drone Attorney I'm working with and the FAA is bullish on drones and the technology. They have moved amazingly fast to get to the part 107 license. I'm also a Private Pilot and had to deal with them in other areas, but I've been on a few conference calls with them and they realized the value of the sUAS and they just want a way to oversee it all. I think as more people are exposed them doing good! Saving lives in search and rescue, major use in industry cell phone tower inspection, pipeline inspection already HUGE in Agriculture and construction as more of the "Public " see them for the better good than evil some regulations will relax.I have been waiting several weeks for a back order on a Pro 4+. It arrived tonight and I refused delivery. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I have done a lot more reading and looking since I placed the order and paid on the dotted line, and have come to the conclusion that I just can't risk $1800 on a piece of electronics that DJI is showing significant quality control issues with it's manufacture. Add to that there seemingly poor customer support and it finally added up to no DJI for me until I am convinced that they have attended to improving quality control.
There are another couple of issues that also swayed my acceptance of the quad. The government is going crazy about the restrictions they are placing on 'drones.' It doesn't help that idiot crashed into the Space Needle in Seattle,which is located in a park, the Seattle Center Park. It's still making the news here. How many realize the 'workers' on the deck were placing the fireworks explosives for the New Years extravaganza at the Needle? Imagine what would have been the result if the drone had actually triggered some of the explosives.
Several towns is Washington State have flat out banned drones in the entirety of their city limits. They are now banned in State Parks. We have the killer whales here, the Orcas, and a new regulation is being drafted to keep drones over 200' away from the whales as the noise may be interfering with them. Can't fly them in the Bahamas somebody reported. And on and on ad naseum.
Saw on a YouTube video where some clip popped up while researching drone videos that you can buy a single seat turbine helicopter in kit form for about $40K. According to the manufacturer, you don't have to register it with the FAA and the pilot does not need a pilot's license to fly it. Maybe if there was a camera under it, it would come more of a problem.
I really like the forum and will continue watching and reading. I am impressed with the helpful nature of the forum. The moderators are doing a good job of keeping the trash talk out of here.
I am in the Bay Area as well. I love my new P4P+. Just wish that it would stop raining. (Can't believe that I just said that after the drought years.)This is right on point. I don't fly around my neighborhood, over crowds, into space needles etc. I'm into landscape photography, and the shots from the phantom are so amazing for the different perspective. I think it's inevitable that uav's will be banned most places. State and local parks are already off limits in my part of CA. I will hold off buying a P4P and continue to fly my P3P. I just think it's a bad investment.
I think that DJI is dealing with manufacturing quality issues as they seem to have taken a manufacturing break until March. Smart folks that will get it figured out.I finally got a Phantom that didn't have to be returned. Last June I bought a Phantom 3 Pro. It had to go back as it was a brick when it arrived. I ordered another one and it was a good one. Last November I sold it and ordered a Phantom 4 Pro Plus. It arrived with numerous issues. App problems, and the gimbal would initiate sometimes and sometimes it would not. I sent it back and ordered another one. This one came with the carton so badly damaged I had second thoughts but tried it anyway. This one wouldn't update the firmware. I sent it back and ordered a DJI Phantom 4 Pro (no plus this time as I didn't want to be stuck with an Android device and no options as to what I could have on it). This Phantom 4 Pro set up quickly and perfectly. The battery compartment is a perfect fit with no slop. I use an iPad Mini 4 which works just fine with DJI Go4 and the firmware updated perfectly without any problems whatsoever.
So now I have a Phantom that I can trust, it works perfectly and haven't had an issue with it. I think this one is a keeper, finally.
I agree with what someone said about DJI's quality control and customer service. It's not good and shouldn't be that way when we spend a great deal of money on these things.
Finally, as for buying from Bet Buy? I like Amazon because you have a thirty day return policy with no questions asked.
Bud
Hi there mate - they were very helpful. They first ask for your details (name, address, make/ model/ colour of drone), then ask you where you intend flying and the purpose, and then they just ask me whether I am committed to CAA regulations, to which of course I say yes (line of sight, and distance / height regs). They then quite often say something like: "hope you enjoy, fly responsibility, etc." before giving you a reference code to quote in case of any challenges should you need to contact backThat's interesting mate, what did the police say?
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Hi there mate - they were very helpful. They first ask for your details (name, address, make/ model/ colour of drone), then ask you where you intend flying and the purpose, and then they just ask me whether I am committed to CAA regulations, to which of course I say yes (line of sight, and distance / height regs). They then quite often say something like: "hope you enjoy, fly responsibility, etc." before giving you a reference code to quote in case of any challenges should you need to contact back
Woah, you sound like me when I am paranoid about what people think about me flying my drone. Just re-order the drone, stick to the rules and enjoy it (while the gov still lets you?) mate!