It's common for the downlink to drop out before the control signal and this is an indication that you are getting close to being out of range.
In this instance it would be a "Manual" commanded RTH from the RC. Downlink has nothing to do with fail-safe RTH.
Here's a Phantom out on the edge of signal (because it's down low) and disconnected (lost downlink) but RTH doesn't initiate and it still has full control via joysticks.Yes, that's exactly what this guy was saying. @Meta4 confirmed that's not the case, so case closed. It was an interesting theory, anyways.
In this case, if you have not done your research, read the manuals, and been practicing in all phases of training, then you should not be flying in the first place. I understand what you are saying, but that is something that even the most novice of pilots should fully understand ( Function of RTH, in particular) Learn safety and emergency procedures FIRST! Before you even charge the batteries. Photography, and enjoyment of the platform will follow, as opposed to fare too many Pilot incidences.
Just to expand on that. Downlink is basically a "luxury", as the Phantoms will still fly without a device even being used. The controller and the AC is really all that is required. Practice this way and loosing downlink is not a big deal, as long as you still have visual and RC connection you can always command RTH, if need be.
I wouldn't call it a "luxury": sure, the P3S can fly with just control signal, but all camera controls (including the basic ability to start/stop video recording) require WiFi. That's why I consider it an integral part of the P3S "system".
If you lose downlink, your P3S is likely a small dot in the sky, or ended up behind an obstacle. And unless you are absolutely certain about the AC orientation and its surroundings the moment you lost the downlink, your only option is to trigger RTH via RC (or turn off the RC altogether), trusting that the AC got the message even if you don't get any confirmation. Again, if you understand the separation between control and downlink and their roles, it's not a big deal, but you have to admit that it's a much trickier situation than losing control (before downlink), where the AC will come back on its own and you get immediate feedback via the app.
I was not even considering camera controls in this scenario because basically without a monitor device, using the camera is for all practical purposes, useless, although unlike the P3S, the other Phantoms have camera and shutter controls on the RC. This was more in regard to the fact that just to fly for entertainment purposes, it can be done, and it's good practice for those emergency situations when you can not "see" the device information.
