"Firmware is out-of-date" even though it isn't. Cannot take off

AntoineD · Tuesday at 2:25 AM

(I posted this problem on the Mini 4 Pro forum, but nobody there could come up with an answer, so I'm trying here. I don't normally double post, but I'm getting a bit desperate.)

I got a Mini 4 Pro recently, and everything went OK with the setup, but when I tried to start the motors, nothing happened, and I got the message 'firmware out of date'. I tried to update via the RC2 controller, but it kept saying 'not connected to server'. So I downloaded Assistant 2 to my laptop and I updated both aircraft and controller firmware that way. The controller now says aircraft firmware is 01.00.0800 and controller firmware is 05.00.0300. But I still get 'firmware out of date', and aircraft still won't start. I even tried a FlySafe data upgrade, but after trying unsuccessfully to get to the server a few dozen times, it finally said it's up to date. Someone mentioned updating the batteries but there seemed to be no way to do this on Assistant 2 and I can't see a way on the controller.

I spent over an hour on online chat with someone from DJI with no luck, but to be frank, he didn't seem to know that much. He wound up suggesting I send it in for repair.

So, can anyone suggest anything I haven't tried yet? Thanks.

Kilrah · Tuesday at 5:33 AM

If a battery is out of date the app will ask you to update it on the home page.

AntoineD said:
I tried to update via the RC2 controller, but it kept saying 'not connected to server'.

Sounds like you don't have your RC2 connected to wifi.

Felix le Chat · Tuesday at 5:43 AM

As already suggested to you - there are a number of software swamps a new owner of a DJI drone has to wade through and all of them can cause confusion. It helps if you actually answer the questions that have been asked - they're not posed to make you feel a fool: they have been asked because they highlight certain aspects of registration and operation that can cause problems to someone who is still feeling their way around.

If we know what you have done (or not done) - we are in a better situation to be able to offer practical advice. Without information... it's all just flailing about in the dark... guess work.

Such as the question you didn't respond to as to whether you have tried to alter settings in the flight app (or on any other device you might connect to a controller)...settings that limit the drone or the flight app from connecting to the server network... Doing so will affect your ability to (as pointed out in your other thread) have access to the live map function. Not allowing the app to connect with the server will also flag up an "...unable to connect to server..." message and will also stop you dead in your tracks when you try to download off-line maps. Even something as simple as engaging 'airplane mode' will throw a proper spanner in your works. (I did notice that you mentioned in your original post that you weren't keen on the idea of Big Brother looking over your shoulder)

If everything boots up, connects (drone to controller - controller to flight app - live camera view on-screen) and you have the ability to pitch the camera up and down on the gimbal by using the shoulder wheel - the drone is operating correctly.

*Important Question*
As the drone boots up: do all four motors twitch their props and does the camera twitch a bit? If 'yes' then the drone has successfully gone through its POST (Power On Self Test) and is working properly.

After a successful POST: Now check the flight screen - look on the top bar and make sure you have satellite connection. If all the writing and icons on the top bar are red: you have no connection to all the bells & whistles that make flying a DJI drone so easy - but you should still be able to attempt to fly it (really not a good idea if you've never owned an ATTI capable drone before)

If you pull both control sticks simultaneously down and in (diagonally downwards) and the motors don't spin up ready for a left stick take-off, it may be down to your location. You may be in a Flight Restricted Zone and in that case, you have to unlock the zone by agreeing to accept responsibility for your flight... otherwise? you guessed it... the motors won't spin up... a design feature of all DJI drones. Check your location - but in order to know what's around you: you have to have the live map screen for reference... so you have to allow the app to connect to the servers.

AntoineD · Wednesday at 3:51 AM

I will try to answer these questions as best I can. First of all, I'd like to thank you for all the trouble you've taken - clearly, a lot of work went into that post. Also, I'd just like to point out that I'm not a beginner - I've had a Phantom 3, a Mavic Pro and a Mini 2.

Just in case there's some confusion, what I said about not being able to download maps only applies to my previous Mini 4 Pro, which I returned because of this. I flew it several times, got a lot of photos and some video, but whenever I tried to download maps it would say it was unable to connect to the server. So I returned it, got a refund, then bought a second Mini 4 Pro. My post on this thread is about this second one.

I'll go through what happened with this one. I went through the setup and got to where I could see what the camera was seeing - the normal screen you'd see if you were flying it. But a red notice was scrolling on the upper left of the screen saying "Aircraft firmware version out-of-date".

I've tried starting the drone again, just now. The propellers do twitch. Rear light flash green rapidly, then red slowly. Gimbal works OK, and so do camera settings, but when I push the sticks together to start the motors, nothing happens and I get "Aircraft firmware version out-of-date". I go to 'about', try to update the firmware, then it says "checking version", then "server error - check network connection and try again" plus a long code that I can't read before the message disappears.

Satellites indicate zero when indoors but if I hold the drone out of the window I can get the number up to 12. This is in red. Wi-fi indicates it's connected and strength is 'fair'. Home point updates OK.

Going back to when I first tried to set up the drone: after battling with this "server error - check network connection and try again" I looked at DJI's website and it said you could update firmware via the Assistant 2 app. So I installed the app to my laptop and used it to install the firmware versions is said were 'current'. So I then had v01.00.0800 for the drone and 05.00.0300 for the controller. But it still wouldn't start, I still got "Aircraft firmware version out-of-date" and if I tried checking for updates, I still got "checking version", then "server error - check network connection and try again". I then tried updating the FlySafe data, and after about ten minutes of getting 'checking version' appearing then blinking off after about a second, I finally got a message saying this data was up to date. But drone still wouldn't start (I've tried all these steps again while composing this message, with the same result). I did an online chat with someone from DJI that lasted about an hour but he just wound up suggesting I send the drone in to be checked.

Concerning no-fly zones, I don't think that applies, as I've flown all my drones from where I am now, including that previous Mini 4 Pro.

I should add that I registered my DJI account with an email address that I didn't use to buy the drone with, but that was the case with that previous Mini 4 Pro and I could still fly it OK.

I can't think of anything more to add. Once again, thank you for being so helpful.

Felix le Chat · Wednesday at 7:00 AM

Thank you for responding. A suggestion concerning the multi-digit error code which doesn't hang around long enough to be legible: can I suggest using the screen record option (either built in to the controller, or one side-loaded). Set it recording before you boot the drone, then power the drone on and let it connect. That way you can grab a still frame of everything that happens afterwards and physically note down the code.

A bit left-field: but is there anyone you can borrow an RC-N2 controller from? It would be interesting to see if you got the same glitches with a separate RC and an independent mobile device hosting the FLY app.

*addendum*

Issue description:
The motors cannot start or the drone cannot take off after the motors start.

Main causes:
1. The drone is in a Restricted Zone.
2. The propellers are mounted incorrectly.
3. The motor is malfunctioning.
4. Firmware incompatibility

The problem you described can be caused by an incompatible firmware issue (ties in with the core of what you describe). The 'official' advice here is to try rolling back the drone and controller firmware to the previous version (revert to last good configuration).

Also try reverting to a previous version of the FLY app. With the built-in screen remotes: this can be difficult or next to impossible (it can be done with the RM500 and to a degree with the RC: but no direct experience with the newer RC2) - but it is something that can be done if you use the separate controller (RC-N2) linked to a mobile device hosting the FLY app version you want to use... which is why I suggested you trying to scrounge the temporary use of an RC-N2 to test this out.

By direct experience, I've suffered having a drone rendered unusable on the main transmission band as the result of a firmware 'update' that couldn't... and still can't be reversed by reverting to last good configuration (thank you, Anti Rollback... thank you DJI) so I have a very real appreciation for just how frustrating this can be.

Next step: definitely try winding back the firmware.