Always wary about fixing what isn't broken, I decided (based largely on the absence of complaints) to upgrade the Phantom firmware to the recently release v.4.02 after having updated the Assistant to v.2.20. So...why am I making this post if there were no issues?
Because there were a couple, although they were minor and surmountable. The Assistant download and install went fine. The installation of the firmware failed on the first try, but succeeded on the second after de-powering and re-powering the Phantom. Not the most confidence-boosting of occurrences. The importation of the default settings also seemed to go nominally on the first try, and the Assistant software interface not changed at all as far as I could tell...so that was good.
The problem (once again) is with the advanced calibration. Once again that stupid, nagging warning about overly hot components aborts the calibration. Why was this not fixed??? Knowing it was going to take a few minutes, I left the computer during the calibration to get dressed for the cold outside so I could take the firmware updated Phantom for a spin. I came back to the computer to see the advanced calibration failure. Oh, boogers...here we go again. So after a couple of attempts, I manage to tease it to completion. Again, not the most confidence instilling happenstance.
Anyway, the first flight was uneventful and very cautiously made. If it acted wonky at all my plan was to toss my hat into the props if I had to to bring it to the ground. Nothing like that was required. What IS required (not really a surprise) is compass calibration. You MUST do the dance after a firmware upgrade. - so be advised - you WILL see flashing lights demanding a compass re-calibration upon first power-up.
I WILL say the Phantom took its sweet time stabilizing in altitude. For the first five minutes I found myself constantly giving "UP" stick commands during flight in GPS mode, although I had all green lights. After about 5 minutes, it totally straightened itself out and maintained its altitude perfectly. No toilet bowl effect. All gain settings were left at default (125%).
That was all I had time to test, as I need to run off to work. If the weather is good over Thanksgiving (a bit doubtful ATM) I'll put it through its paces in ATTI and Manual modes.
PF
Because there were a couple, although they were minor and surmountable. The Assistant download and install went fine. The installation of the firmware failed on the first try, but succeeded on the second after de-powering and re-powering the Phantom. Not the most confidence-boosting of occurrences. The importation of the default settings also seemed to go nominally on the first try, and the Assistant software interface not changed at all as far as I could tell...so that was good.
The problem (once again) is with the advanced calibration. Once again that stupid, nagging warning about overly hot components aborts the calibration. Why was this not fixed??? Knowing it was going to take a few minutes, I left the computer during the calibration to get dressed for the cold outside so I could take the firmware updated Phantom for a spin. I came back to the computer to see the advanced calibration failure. Oh, boogers...here we go again. So after a couple of attempts, I manage to tease it to completion. Again, not the most confidence instilling happenstance.
Anyway, the first flight was uneventful and very cautiously made. If it acted wonky at all my plan was to toss my hat into the props if I had to to bring it to the ground. Nothing like that was required. What IS required (not really a surprise) is compass calibration. You MUST do the dance after a firmware upgrade. - so be advised - you WILL see flashing lights demanding a compass re-calibration upon first power-up.
I WILL say the Phantom took its sweet time stabilizing in altitude. For the first five minutes I found myself constantly giving "UP" stick commands during flight in GPS mode, although I had all green lights. After about 5 minutes, it totally straightened itself out and maintained its altitude perfectly. No toilet bowl effect. All gain settings were left at default (125%).
That was all I had time to test, as I need to run off to work. If the weather is good over Thanksgiving (a bit doubtful ATM) I'll put it through its paces in ATTI and Manual modes.
PF