First thing to look at... Have you tried using a different OTG cable between the controller and the phone?
2nd thing: are you constantly pointing the control antenna towards where the drone is in the sky?
3rd: are there any trees or solid objects...
Interesting comment about both snide and open Government tactics. I'm struck with the fact that if this were all about gun ownership: there'd be riots by now, a subject I'm all too familiar with being British.
Back in the 60's and 70's, with the...
It's an old phrase that dates awhile back, I thought you would be familiar with it.
Kinda like my constant past warnings that government was coming for our drones and numerous warnings that new drone laws are on the horizon and are coming soon...
You didn't mention whether you managed to get any kind of satellite reception during the test flight. If you did: it's likely to have been sporadic and have dropped out at times - that's when ATTI mode kicks in and your drone gets squirrelly...