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Accurate repeated waypoint routes

Myersfilm

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Joined
Nov 24, 2025
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Age
53
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usa
I have been capturing the process of construction sites and have had trouble with the waypoint paths staying true. My Mavic 3 pro will drift from the original routes logged making it hard to align in post editing.
Any suggestions to creating a accurate repeatable waypoint routes with minimal inconsistencies?
The advice that I have gotten is to create many waypoints within the route, or to set the mph low, or to calibrate the compass and update the home point in the same place every flight.
I appreciate any input.

P
 
Hello from the Crossroads of America Myersfilm.

Nice to meet you. 🤝

You might try the sites search engine (Magnifying Glass, top / right of browser). 🤔

Others will be along and may have better advice than me.

Welcome to the Forum. :cool:

.
 
The compass has nothing to do with gps positioning so I wouldn’t bother calibrating it before each flight unless the app requires it and even then I’d shut the drone down and move it and check again before calibrating. The accuracy of gps positioning and therefore waypoint positioning has more to do with the number and spread of gps satellites. Civilian GPS can be as accurate as 0.5m but can easily be 3 or 4m out.
 
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I have been capturing the process of construction sites and have had trouble with the waypoint paths staying true.

Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA. We have a Member's Map in the Upper Right of the Title Bar. Click on "Members" and then Click on "Member's Map…" Check it out and you might find some new flying friends.


Weak GPS Signal is the primary cause of drift. The drone's ability to maintain a precise position relies on a strong, clear signal from multiple GPS and GLONASS satellites. You wrote that you are have been capturing the process of construction sites. But you did not mention if these are in large metropolitan areas or urban settings. Obstacles like tall buildings, dense tree cover, mountains, or even heavy cloud cover can block or weaken these signals.

Have you tried it in less "busy" areas, like parks, fields, etc…

Good Luck!
 
Greetings from Birmingham Alabama USA: welcome to the forum! We look forward to hearing from you!

Currently, I have 4 construction sites that I am doing. I dropped my Air 3 and replaced it with the Air 3s and the waypoints worked perfectly. No variance at all. So, I only have one question. Did you fly the waypoint route to make it or did you make it via the map?
 
Welcome to the forum. We look forward to your participation and your view of the world.
 
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Welcome to the forum from the beautiful woods of Maine!
 
In addition to GPS variances from flight to flight, be sure to launch from the same spot each time. Flight altitude is a function of your home point.
You may want to try a cross dissolve between clips to help cover up imperfect alignment.
 

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