This list is for the Phantom 2 Vision, (for the Original Phantom, see the posting on this Forum titled "Preflight Check List").... In these lists we have tried to cover most all of the steps, cautions, pitfalls, warnings, etc. that we all need to be aware of, especially if we are new to flying the Phantom.
More experienced pilots will probably not need all of these reminders, but it's better to aim for a complete and extensive list, rather than make assumption of, "That's SO basic, EVERYONE knows to do that!!"
If you find this to be of some help, feel free to custom tailor it to YOUR needs. Copy it as is for a more detailed and extensive Check List...OR...Cut, Paste and Edit it to make it a helpful document for your own style and experience.
A hint / suggestion before that First Flight, would be to affix or tape a message on your Phantom to the effect..."REWARD if found...Call 555-BR549"...or whatever your contact number might be.
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Aerial & ground Pre-Flight Inspection:
Note wind direction and weather conditions
Verify no airport, air traffic, restricted air space
Check for any hazards, obstructions, pedestrian or vehicular traffic, personal property within flight plan
Check for wireless or EME interference potential, (Wireless Towers or Power Lines)
Plan emergency landing area accounting for the above
Aircraft Check:
Accessories Secured
Props inspected -flaws/debris/Nuts Verified tight
No Transport Damage
Phantom 2 Vision check list ~~~~~~~~~~Does NOT apply to the Original Phantom..
Check battery level of the uninstalled main battery and install it in the Phantom
(A note of caution here...refrain from touching any of the battery terminals, either those ON the battery...or the mating surfaces in the Phantom itself. Dirty or corrupted contacts have been suspected in many of the "Invalid Battery" messages...just keep "Fingers OFF" to be safe..!)
Turn on range extender (This is the first and longest step in establishing the WiFi network)
Turn on Controller (Listen for the confirmation beep...or double beep for FAA setting)
Double check of the main battery level after installation in the Phantom
Turn on main battery (Enjoy the sound and light show from the Phantom!)
(Press button on Main battery once immediately followed by a 2nd press-held for 2-3 secs)
(Turning on all three batteries ASAP will allow the WiFi network to begin connecting soonest)
Activate "Settings" in iPhone
Under "WiFi", view "Choose a Network" (There may be a short wait for the WiFI to become active)
The WiFi for "Phantom_1***" should be active, if not, select it
Activate DJI app on iPhone...or 'Droid
Verify battery power via DJI app
Check number of GPS satellites acquired ~ 6 or more required, this should establish "Home Point"
Orient the Controller antenna to vertical position.
Orient the Range extender at right angles to your projected flight pattern.
If needed, verify camera settings, stills, video, burst, ISO, tilt, etc.
Check for installed SD card & camera cable plugged in firmly.
Ensure that the camera's switch is set to "Wi-Fi."
No FPV (First Person View) image?? Remove lens cap from camera.. Duh!.!
Operate S1 switch (Upper Right Corner) - 9 +/- times to initiate Compass Calibration
Perform Compass Calibration by your favorite method..."Do the 'Dance' or Rotate the P2V!" First rotate the P2V in a horizontal direction until the Yellow lights turn to Green, then rotate in the vertical plane..Remember that the P2V camera end should be pointing either straight down or straight up, that is the Phantom body should be in a vertical orientation.
Successful Compass Calibration is indicated by solid green lights on the Phantom...
Start video camera or intervalometer for stills...optional, but nice to have take off images at times...!
Place Phantom so that the battery lights are visible, wait for all 4 to be lit. This establishes "Home Point" so the Phantom can RTH (Return To Home) in case of trouble...very valuable. The Phantom needs 6 GPS satellites for this to complete.
Double check for nearby obstructions, people, power lines, etc.
Ready, Set, Fly..!!
After flight checks...
Turn off the Main Battery power, the Range Extender and the Controller
Inspect the Phantom for any damage, mishaps, loosened screws or components
Remove the main battery There is some thought that removing the tension from the contact surfaces might help with the "Invalid Battery" issue...and it has to be removed for a charge, so why not now?
Stow away any parts and pieces that might have gotten moved, misplaced, etc. during the flight
Explain to the gathered crowd that you are a real Phantom Ace, take your bows and get to the recharger...!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Finally, if you have anything to add that has been overlooked or any other suggestions OR corrections (VERY important to get this all right), please PM me with your thoughts. I've gotten a lot of input for this and have tried to incorporate all of them into a "fairly" brief summary... I will be more than happy to edit this list if needed. Thanks to those of you who have provided this help..
More experienced pilots will probably not need all of these reminders, but it's better to aim for a complete and extensive list, rather than make assumption of, "That's SO basic, EVERYONE knows to do that!!"
If you find this to be of some help, feel free to custom tailor it to YOUR needs. Copy it as is for a more detailed and extensive Check List...OR...Cut, Paste and Edit it to make it a helpful document for your own style and experience.
A hint / suggestion before that First Flight, would be to affix or tape a message on your Phantom to the effect..."REWARD if found...Call 555-BR549"...or whatever your contact number might be.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aerial & ground Pre-Flight Inspection:
Note wind direction and weather conditions
Verify no airport, air traffic, restricted air space
Check for any hazards, obstructions, pedestrian or vehicular traffic, personal property within flight plan
Check for wireless or EME interference potential, (Wireless Towers or Power Lines)
Plan emergency landing area accounting for the above
Aircraft Check:
Accessories Secured
Props inspected -flaws/debris/Nuts Verified tight
No Transport Damage
Phantom 2 Vision check list ~~~~~~~~~~Does NOT apply to the Original Phantom..
Check battery level of the uninstalled main battery and install it in the Phantom
(A note of caution here...refrain from touching any of the battery terminals, either those ON the battery...or the mating surfaces in the Phantom itself. Dirty or corrupted contacts have been suspected in many of the "Invalid Battery" messages...just keep "Fingers OFF" to be safe..!)
Turn on range extender (This is the first and longest step in establishing the WiFi network)
Turn on Controller (Listen for the confirmation beep...or double beep for FAA setting)
Double check of the main battery level after installation in the Phantom
Turn on main battery (Enjoy the sound and light show from the Phantom!)
(Press button on Main battery once immediately followed by a 2nd press-held for 2-3 secs)
(Turning on all three batteries ASAP will allow the WiFi network to begin connecting soonest)
Activate "Settings" in iPhone
Under "WiFi", view "Choose a Network" (There may be a short wait for the WiFI to become active)
The WiFi for "Phantom_1***" should be active, if not, select it
Activate DJI app on iPhone...or 'Droid
Verify battery power via DJI app
Check number of GPS satellites acquired ~ 6 or more required, this should establish "Home Point"
Orient the Controller antenna to vertical position.
Orient the Range extender at right angles to your projected flight pattern.
If needed, verify camera settings, stills, video, burst, ISO, tilt, etc.
Check for installed SD card & camera cable plugged in firmly.
Ensure that the camera's switch is set to "Wi-Fi."
No FPV (First Person View) image?? Remove lens cap from camera.. Duh!.!
Operate S1 switch (Upper Right Corner) - 9 +/- times to initiate Compass Calibration
Perform Compass Calibration by your favorite method..."Do the 'Dance' or Rotate the P2V!" First rotate the P2V in a horizontal direction until the Yellow lights turn to Green, then rotate in the vertical plane..Remember that the P2V camera end should be pointing either straight down or straight up, that is the Phantom body should be in a vertical orientation.
Successful Compass Calibration is indicated by solid green lights on the Phantom...
Start video camera or intervalometer for stills...optional, but nice to have take off images at times...!
Place Phantom so that the battery lights are visible, wait for all 4 to be lit. This establishes "Home Point" so the Phantom can RTH (Return To Home) in case of trouble...very valuable. The Phantom needs 6 GPS satellites for this to complete.
Double check for nearby obstructions, people, power lines, etc.
Ready, Set, Fly..!!
After flight checks...
Turn off the Main Battery power, the Range Extender and the Controller
Inspect the Phantom for any damage, mishaps, loosened screws or components
Remove the main battery There is some thought that removing the tension from the contact surfaces might help with the "Invalid Battery" issue...and it has to be removed for a charge, so why not now?
Stow away any parts and pieces that might have gotten moved, misplaced, etc. during the flight
Explain to the gathered crowd that you are a real Phantom Ace, take your bows and get to the recharger...!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Finally, if you have anything to add that has been overlooked or any other suggestions OR corrections (VERY important to get this all right), please PM me with your thoughts. I've gotten a lot of input for this and have tried to incorporate all of them into a "fairly" brief summary... I will be more than happy to edit this list if needed. Thanks to those of you who have provided this help..
