Cripes man....

HarryMerkin · May 8, 2017

So I joined this forum before purchasing (it came today) Not even a half hour into getting this thing airworthy, and the GO app won't recognize the code on the arm. I finally got it after shining lights, changing rooms, tilting the quad, etc....hadn't started changing settings and thankfully stumbled across the thread about leaving the drone on to change GO settings. I've watched what seems like a million videos on setting up the first time but they leave stuff out. Is there a definitive video out there that covers EVERYTHING? I'm not a complete virgin on this subject but this thing is different. I cut my teeth on a cheap Syma X5. Then I moved up to a Hubsan H501S. Both are very basic on controls. I lost the 501 yesterday after tons of successful flights. I think a nearby cell tower was to blame. Anyways, now I'm paranoid as hell because I thought I had given myself lots of flight time, had a flyaway and am now holding the cost of a small used car that has more calibration and settings than I probably will ever use. I want to make sure every little "T" is crossed and every "I" dotted. If it takes me a week before I fly this, I don't care. I just want to find a complete "mavic setup for dummies" video so I'm not at the local pub crying 15 minutes into my first flight. Thanks in advance! Android on Note 3.

hookalakupua · May 8, 2017

Try this first one. It's just over an hour long and it's what I used. I then added ones I saved which means I must have gotten something out of them. haha I know the feeling as my first flight scared me to death! Went 20ft in the air and immediately came down. 21 days and about 40 hours later and I'm way to comfortable for my skill level! Doing things I shouldn't be and I've had to curtail myself a bit. haha Get out, fly it a lot and have fun! Good luck!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGKZjk51B88

HarryMerkin · May 8, 2017

Thanks so much. My stress level is at an all time high. I ordered the Marco Polo tracker and won't even take it 20 ft. In the air until that sucker is attached.....maybe I'll hook a fishing pole to it. Lolololol

HarryMerkin · May 8, 2017

Ok. About eight minutes in or a little less he talks about how there's no Clarity to the map but he has cell phone service. I was hoping to use a phone that I don't have service on so I can still have my phone in case of emergency. Do I have use a smartphone that has service on it in order to fly the Drone?

JeffM46 · May 8, 2017

HarryMerkin said:
Thanks so much. My stress level is at an all time high. I ordered the Marco Polo tracker and won't even take it 20 ft. In the air until that sucker is attached.....maybe I'll hook a fishing pole to it. Lolololol

Before deciding to buy my Mavic and while waiting for it to arrive, I watched every video and read every review I could find ... just like you. I flew RC planes years back, but I had no previous drone experience. Besides it's portibility I chose the Mavic because of its technology and advanced features assuming that it would be easier to fly than the cheapies. After flying for a few weeks I'm now convinced that I was right. This bird flies like a dream and is rock steady.

Understand the settings but realize that the defaults are a good place to start. If you need more reassurance, buy the DJI Refresh crash insurance. Use common sense, experiment as you get more comfortable, but beyond that just enjoy. You made a great choice.

hookalakupua · May 8, 2017

HarryMerkin said:
Ok. About eight minutes in or a little less he talks about how there's no Clarity to the map but he has cell phone service. I was hoping to use a phone that I don't have service on so I can still have my phone in case of emergency. Do I have use a smartphone that has service on it in order to fly the Drone?

I'm only a couple of weeks in on this so hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong. You definitely don't need a cell phone or device with active service to fly it. As a matter of fact, a lot of people will put their phones on "airplane" mode so that they're not interrupted. With that said, I believe you have to either have a wireless or cellular signal in order to have the detailed maps but you definitely don't need it to fly. Enjoy!

Robbyg · May 8, 2017

HarryMerkin said:
. Anyways, now I'm paranoid as **** because I thought I had given myself lots of flight time, had a flyaway and am now holding the cost of a small used car

That is exactly how many people feel at first! Then you take her up the first time and you wonder why you were ever worried about it.

Just keep it in beginners mode and after one flight you will want P-mode and soon afterwards you will be in sports mode and all the stress will be a distant memory.

Rob

TheLightSpeed! · May 8, 2017

Dude, we all appreciate your caution. But it's like buying a Ferrari and leaving it in the garage.

Here's the truth, these are easier to fly than any toy you've ever had. All those cheap drones? Well they are incredibly difficult to fly.

These drones are not a big deal because of the skill involved to fly them, but rather the intelligence to know when not to fly them- "TheLightSpeedz 2017" that's going in my book.

If you bought a drone and are paralyzed to not fly it, then you just wasted money. I know many, (including myself) that are into the "gadgets" and "tinkering" of this hobby as much as the flying of the drone. I don't even care about the videos, I like flying fast, and for out of sight distance runs. That's nerve wrecking

Robert Mitchell · May 9, 2017

Take your time and don't be rushed, either now, or once you get flying regularly. Haste and overconfidence will be your biggest enemy. And yes it is easy to fly, but IMO that is part of the problem. It will lull you into thinking that you can do things you shouldn't. That said, you WILL get more at ease with time and begin to get the enjoyment out of it.

And no, your phone doesn't need to be on. Once I get my location established on the map before takeoff, mine is in airplane mode with wifi and gps off.

HarryMerkin · May 10, 2017

TheLightSpeed! said:
Dude, we all appreciate your caution. But it's like buying a Ferrari and leaving it in the garage.

Here's the truth, these are easier to fly than any toy you've ever had. All those cheap drones? Well they are incredibly difficult to fly.

These drones are not a big deal because of the skill involved to fly them, but rather the intelligence to know when not to fly them- "TheLightSpeedz 2017" that's going in my book.

If you bought a drone and are paralyzed to not fly it, then you just wasted money. I know many, (including myself) that are into the "gadgets" and "tinkering" of this hobby as much as the flying of the drone. I don't even care about the videos, I like flying fast, and for out of sight distance runs. That's nerve wrecking

Well.
That didn't last long.
I haven't even received the tracker and I'm all over the place videotaping stuff. Here's my first "non-test" video. Glad I used a trainer first. Had to cloud this so hit full screen and turn your phone sideways.

TRAIN IN RELIANCE.MOV

SeanOzz · May 10, 2017

HarryMerkin said:
So I joined this forum before purchasing (it came today) Not even a half hour into getting this thing airworthy, and the GO app won't recognize the code on the arm. I finally got it after shining lights, changing rooms, tilting the quad, etc....hadn't started changing settings and thankfully stumbled across the thread about leaving the drone on to change GO settings. I've watched what seems like a million videos on setting up the first time but they leave stuff out. Is there a definitive video out there that covers EVERYTHING? I'm not a complete virgin on this subject but this thing is different. I cut my teeth on a cheap Syma X5. Then I moved up to a Hubsan H501S. Both are very basic on controls. I lost the 501 yesterday after tons of successful flights. I think a nearby cell tower was to blame. Anyways, now I'm paranoid as **** because I thought I had given myself lots of flight time, had a flyaway and am now holding the cost of a small used car that has more calibration and settings than I probably will ever use. I want to make sure every little "T" is crossed and every "I" dotted. If it takes me a week before I fly this, I don't care. I just want to find a complete "mavic setup for dummies" video so I'm not at the local pub crying 15 minutes into my first flight. Thanks in advance! Android on Note 3.

This video will help you a bunch with your filters and style settings.

JeffM46 · May 10, 2017

HarryMerkin said:
Well.
That didn't last long.
I haven't even received the tracker and I'm all over the place videotaping stuff. Here's my first "non-test" video. Glad I used a trainer first. Had to cloud this so hit full screen and turn your phone sideways.

TRAIN IN RELIANCE.MOV

I figured once you put your Mavic in the sky things would change. BTW, I found that the gimble up/down control was hard to change smoothly, but there is a setting to slow that. Nice work!

Robbyg · May 10, 2017

HarryMerkin said:
Well.
That didn't last long.
I haven't even received the tracker and I'm all over the place videotaping stuff. Here's my first "non-test" video. Glad I used a trainer first. Had to cloud this so hit full screen and turn your phone sideways.

TRAIN IN RELIANCE.MOV

One day of flying and your already in sports mode and chasing trains while flying sideways. Yep that's how it is but you where pretty close to that hill side while flying sideways. If a tree had been there you would have been toast.

Just remember almost all the crashes we have seen, started out by the pilot getting overconfident. There is a fine line between the fantastic stability of the Mavic and where it can take you and the huge problems you will have if it goes into Atti mode in high winds or hits a tree limb or goes into a return mode and you have not set the settings right. If you keep that in mind you should be fine.

Rob