Ensure Aircraft Connection Is Normal and Retry

[Venture3344555]

After crashing my Air 3 and losing gimbal signal and control I've seen found and replaced a broken gimbal ribbon cable and flex cable. Initially with the new ribbon only I had control of the gimbal but no signal.

Now with both new cables I have no control and no video. Whenever I try to calibrate the gimbal through the controller it says 'ensure aircraft connection is normal and retry'. What does this mean?

The aircraft is definitely connecting to the controller, and it will take off if I tell it to. I can calibrate my compass and IMU no problem but cannot do anything with the gimbal.

Does anyone have any advice??

 

[Cafguy]

After crashing my Air 3 and losing gimbal signal and control I've seen found and replaced a broken gimbal ribbon cable and flex cable.

Did you notice the solder chipping? or any of the pads on the board that were knocked loose or off by the crash? Did you examine carefully with a magnifying glass? Of course not. You would not be able to easily see these things BUT they happen all the time in a crash. If your drone is under warranty send it to DJI unless you just want to find your problem by installing parts you don't need. I have seen many try to save money with a DIY repair only to realize it costs them WAY more then it could have by just sending it in for repair.

 

[davidarmenb]

I read somewhere on this forum that the new DJI drones require some sort of activation when the gimbal/camera system is replaced and no longer matches the one from factory. I apologize but I have no idea which thread this was discussed in.

 

[davidarmenb]

Did you notice the solder chipping? or any of the pads on the board that were knocked loose or off by the crash? Did you examine carefully with a magnifying glass? Of course not. You would not be able to easily see these things BUT they happen all the time in a crash. If your drone is under warranty send it to DJI unless you just want to find your problem by installing parts you don't need. I have seen many try to save money with a DIY repair only to realize it costs them WAY more then it could have by just sending it in for repair.

Another reason to just send it in to get repaired is because I’ve also heard on the forum that DJI doesn’t charge that much for repairs. It is the opinion of most members who have sent their drones in for repair that DJI very reasonable with their repair pricing.

 

[Cafguy]

I read somewhere on this forum that the new DJI drones require some sort of activation when the gimbal/camera system is replaced and no longer matches the one from factory. I apologize but I have no idea which thread this was discussed in.

DJI uses propriety software called RepairTool to give some components (gimbles) a number the main board will except. There is a workaround but owners of this workaround software will charge you a per use fee of around 100 bucks SO add $100 to the fix before you even purchase your gimble. and DJI repairs are not expensive.

 

[sdsurf86]

I will have to completely disagree with everyone saying that "DJI repairs are cheap" they are 'relatively' cheap. For example, I replaced my flat ribbon cable ($7) DJI price = $25, and PTZ transmission cable ($21) DJI price = $25. As well as propellers (2 sets for $5 and various colors) DJI price 'Grey only' = $25. Then they wanted to stack on $65 for the "service fee". Additionally they they took 3 weeks just to come up with this invoice, a month from the time you send the drone in to the time you get it back is about the time you can expect to be out of commission. They REFUSED to remove the service fee and tried to charge me for a gimbal replacement head DJI price = $60 because it was scratched. . . . completely functional and everything else but scratched. They also tried to charge me $200 for a broken rear leg hinge (Aliexpress $7)

But my biggest frustration with them is that they lie constantly, I suppose every corporation does these days with 0 accountability. My Air 2 had great sentimental value to me, and when I crashed it into the side of a building breaking the yaw arm of the gimbal I thought it would be simple, and when I sent it in I expressly stated on the order and to the customer service rep "Please just repair the drone do not replace it" Sure enough 4 weeks later I got my Air 2 back but my license was not on the drone. I then looked up the serial numbers and they were different. I was infuriated. After speaking to several reps, I finally got the truth; "A lot of times we just send you a new drone because to repair the drone, while cheap, would cost too many man hours so we scrap it for parts and send you a brand new one! You're welcome!"

DIY isn't for everyone but I feel more connected and confident knowing that I know everything in my drone and I am even building a brand new Air 2s from the ground up. Don't let other people fearmonger you with their basic Suzie-homemaker-never-step-out-of-the-box advice. Just tread lightly and don't get in over your head, In the worst-case scenario you can always send it to DJI and they'll throw it out without looking at it in depth, and for $200 send you a brand new one no questions.

 

[Cafguy]

"Please just repair the drone do not replace it"

DJI will only do this for Enterprise models.

A lot of times we just send you a new drone because to repair the drone, while cheap, would cost too many man hours so we scrap it for parts and send you a brand new one! You're welcome!"

This is stated on the paperwork when you purchase the Drone.

Sure enough 4 weeks later I got my Air 2 back

4 WEEKS!? -DJI has a place in L.A. that does that. I am confused about that 4 weeks.

Don't let other people fearmonger you with their basic Suzie-homemaker-never-step-out-of-the-box advice. Just tread lightly and don't get in over your head, In the worst-case scenario you can always send it to DJI and they'll throw it out without looking at it in depth, and for $200 send you a brand new one no questions.

Building Drones is not for everyone and there is a lot to it. The build is in the details. For instance:

tried to charge me for a gimbal replacement head DJI price = $60 because it was scratched. . . . completely functional and everything else but scratched.

Well if it is scratched it could have an effect on other components SO it needs to be replaced to pass their inspection.
DJI WILL NOT send out an Drone that does not 100 percent pass all checks.

DIY isn't for everyone but I feel more connected and confident knowing that I know everything in my drone and I am even building a brand new Air 2s from the ground up.

Yes to me building Drones is not hard BUT for most there is no way they are going to open one. DJI can actually be cheaper than some repair people quotes I have seen.

 

[Droning on and on...]

DJI uses propriety software called RepairTool to give some components (gimbles) a number the main board will except. There is a workaround but owners of this workaround software will charge you a per use fee of around 100 bucks SO add $100 to the fix before you even purchase your gimble. and DJI repairs are not expensive.

Although the OP only speaks of replacing the cables, not the camera and gimbal itself.

If that's the case, I opine that it's very unlikely the cables are serialized in some way, or have active circuitry that requires "pairing" with the motherboard.

Based on the symptoms described, this sounds like a damaged camera/gimbal that was marginal when the first cable was replaced, and mechanical stresses and jostling did it in replacing the second cable.

The problem could be at the other end too, damaged motherboard. Without the proper tools, documentation, and knowledge, this is headed for an expensive DIY crapshoot.

The cheap, easy fix has been done. Didn't work. Time to send it in.

 

[Droning on and on...]

But my biggest frustration with them is that they lie constantly, I suppose every corporation does these days with 0 accountability. My Air 2 had great sentimental value to me, and when I crashed it into the side of a building breaking the yaw arm of the gimbal I thought it would be simple, and when I sent it in I expressly stated on the order and to the customer service rep "Please just repair the drone do not replace it" Sure enough 4 weeks later I got my Air 2 back but my license was not on the drone. I then looked up the serial numbers and they were different. I was infuriated.

I don't think DJI offers simple repair with a guarantee you'll get back the same unit. IIRC it's spelled out in the terms when you sign up for a repair ticket. Regardless of what you put in your comments/description.

It's a PITA, but it's a good idea to read that fine print. There are several independent repair shops around the US that do traditional repairs and return the drone to you fixed.