I was flying my NEO over a beaver pond at about about 12m my iPhone disconnected from the RC-N3 controller but I still had control. Shortly after is when the problem started, the NEO seemed to be descending very quickly toward the water. I was able to counter-act it but then it started quickly heading for the trees. I got it back under control just before it would have impacted the trees on the side of the pond and was able to land it safely.
I am no log expert but from the messages in the log it would seem that a number of problems occurred simultaneously - the Phone disconnected, the RC disconnected from the NEO, satellite reception suddenly decreased, and the VPS got confused.
Here is a screenshot of the error message:
And here is the log file:
Flight Log
If anyone can help explain what happened so that I don’t repeat this again, I would appreciate it.
Also, it seems the log file ended right after the error message but I was able to regain control and land the NEO in my hand.
Other info: This was the second flight out of three and wet snow was falling.
Chris
I cannot tell you what all the issues were but cloud cover, especially heavy cloud cover (wet snow…) reduces GPS Signal strength…
I know you have been a member for years, but I do not know your actual experience so please do not get bent out of shape if you already know and practice these recommendations…
Additionally, make sure you have good GPS signal and an established Home Point before flying away. Some folk, in their excitement, fly away before the home point is established and then are upset when their drone returns to home point and lands in a tree or a pond…
Also, when flying around water, especially around “beaver ponds,” if you take off from under the trees that often line waterways, the Home Point is established under those trees and if your drone does Return to Home Point, the drone will fly at altitude to above the Home point and then try to land, right through those trees…
Good Luck with that Little Bird…
Thank you for replying. I do appreciate it. Although I have been a member here and on other forums for years and have been flying my drones for even longer, I am no expert. I make mistakes and there is always room to improve.
Most of the flights with my NEO are low to the ground like tracking shots or flying through the forest and in these instances it takes a long time for the NEO to acquire enough satellites and it often loses it. With the short battery life, I often take off before I get the home point updated message. Also, on these flights RTH is set to Hover since I am flying through forest with overhanging trees and my landing point is never going to be near the take-off point.
The particular flight where the problems occurred was over water and I did reset the RTH action and the RTH height. I know the NEO does not have as good VPS and GPS as my other drones, so my mistake was probably launching before I had good GPS.
My main purpose for buying the NEO was to fly it in conditions/environments I would not fly my other drones (Mavic 3 Pro, Mini 3 Pro). Also, I am testing and experimenting with it to see what its limits are so I can use it effectively.
From the Log file the main problems I had was:
• iPhone disconnecting from controller (solved) but still had control
• then RC disconnecting from NEO. Why this happened is puzzling to me.
• satellite positioning weak
• Hovering unstable likely due to being over water.
• the NEO descending fast then veering to the right.
FWIW the area that I was flying in I have flown many times before with my other drones and it sometimes can take awhile to acquire enough satellites. On those drones I always wait before launching.
I am learning lots about the NEO both the good and the bad.
Chris
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