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Hello from the Malaysian Jungle

Paul Arden

Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2021
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15
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Age
53
Location
Malaysia
Hi chaps,

New member here! I was given a Mavic Air 2 for my birthday in December - from my wife - fantastic present. But I think I must have fitted the props on incorrectly at some point and it took off into the lake! So I’ve just bought a replacement through DJI which should arrive tomorrow. I think this time I’ll keep the props attached!!

Anyway as you can tell I’m new to this. :D But I do want to get good at flying and shooting video. I currently live on a lake in the Malaysian Jungle where I’m a fly fishing guide. The video and photographs I’ve taken so far are the first time I’ve seen images that really show the beauty of the place. So if you can help me keep the next aircraft dry I would be very grateful! Nice to meet you all :)

Cheers,
Paul
10848248-4668-4CE5-93D1-6B11D94E7525.jpeg
 
Hi there & welcome to the forum ? :D

Digest this here below & you will avoid most causes for mishaps ...

Read the user manual ...the thick downloadable one, not only the quick start, download here --> https://dl.djicdn.com/downloads/Mavic_Air_2/Mavic_Air_2_User_Manual_v1.4_en.pdf

Power on in the right order ... First power on your RC & start the app ... after that, power on the drone (& do it on the spot you're going to take off from). Reverse order to shut down.

Preferably power on the drone keeping it horizontal in your out stretched hand (without watches, rings or other magnetic objects) … once the live view have turned up in your mobile device you can put it on ground for take-off. (This supports the point below …)

Before take-off ALWAYS ... add in one very easy check to avoid a really scary event coming from accidentally launching from a magnetic disturbed place with following flyaway at height in an uncontrollable circular or straight flight path. After powering on your drone, connected to your RC/app & placed it in the take-off spot ... but before lift-off, ALWAYS check that the drone icon on the map in your app is pointing equal in relation to other objects in the map as the drone does in reality ... if not, abort launch attempt, POWER DOWN & move away, power up again and repeat.

Keep well under the wind spec where you fly ... and please note that it's not only at ground, it's at the altitude where you fly. The winds up to 400ft are very different then on ground. Use for instance the UAV Forecast app where you can get a feeling about the winds on higher altitudes, but please note that it's forecasts we are speaking of, a bit of common sense is good to apply to that ... "better skip flying a windy day & fly more another".

Don't go & calibrate everything on a regularly basis ... why fix things that are working, it's just a higher risk that you by mistake calibrate your compass in a magnetic disturbed area & the drone goes haywire 10 meters up in the air. Calibrate IMU + compass according to user manual, keep away from magnetic things like cars, metal tables & reinforced concrete at take-off & compass calibrations. If the app recommend a compass calibration first try another launch spot on a far distance from the first ... if calibration still is recommended by the app do it, but only then.

Don't launch in a hurry ... wait until you have at least 8, preferable 10 locked satellites & wait for the lady voice announce that the Home point has been updated, check then on the map that it's in the correct spot. Learn how the RTH function works (it can work differently depending on scenario), don't set the altitude for that unnecessary high, look around were you are going to fly and set it to clear the highest obstacle, to high & the drone risks a blow away.

Seek up a large open place ... a soccer field, free of obstacles & people. Test off every function one at a time until you fully understand how it works & the logic behind, confirm through the user manual if needed. Fly low, slow & near. And don’t try to fly indoors before you exactly know what makes these machines fly stable … you only risk your interior & to damage your drone in the process.

Take the claimed control distance from DJI with a pinch of salt ... only doable out in the countryside completely free of WiFi disturbance & obstacles in between the Remote & Aircraft.

Don't rely 100% on the obstacle avoidance sensors ... they are good & handy to have to perhaps save you when making a mistake, but they can't see everything, especially thin branches & wires so don't think they will allow your drone to just bounce away from everything all the time. Also note that they need plenty of light to work properly, too dark & they will turn off.

The Pause button on the RC ... It's a handy one, it will stop all automated modes immediately (if you have GPS coverage). Place your thumb on that when you initiate an automated flight mode & be prepare to stop it if too close to a tree for instance.

Don't use the RTH button as a "panic button" it's usually the weakest mode of them all ... you will always have access to more power in the manual modes ... if slow against a bit to strong head wind, go for Sport mode, drop altitude & manoeuvre the drone home manually.

Learn the rules & regulation ... keep the drone within Visual line of sight & respect max altitudes, if you can't avoid going out of visual keep it at least in line of sight (unobstructed line between Remote & Aircraft even though you don't see it) so you don’t lose the connection.
 
Blimey Slup!! Thanks mate I’ll read through carefully (in my hammock tonight!). It was a hand launch and I could feel the aircraft trying to go sideways and not upwards. I should have turned it upside down of course, but I did something more interesting instead and let go!

It could be a whole bunch of things - the boat is metal for example, but aluminium? - and I’m leaning towards fitting the props on incorrectly, despite paying attention! It’s in 70’ of water but I have a plan involving magnets and a fishing rod to recover it. At least then I’ll know. But to be honest I’m trying to put the event behind me and just not lose another one for a while :D

Unfortunately the care package is unavailable in Malaysia so I suspect this might be another expensive hobby!

Cheers, Paul
 
Welcome to Mavic Pilots! :) Enjoy the forum!Thumbswayup
 
Welcome to Mavic Pilots .
I hope you will find our site helpful and look forward to any input , photo's/video's you might post .
Don't be shy and ask anything if you can't find it by searching .Thumbswayup
 
Welcome to the forum! :)
 
Really looking forward to seeing your footage of wonderful Malaysia, I’ve visited many times, where about are you?

good luck 2nd time around
Hi UKDrone-guy,

I live on a boat on Lake Belum-Temenggor which is the middle of the top end of peninsular Malaysia about 20km south of Thailand. It’s a huge labyrinth of a jungle lake about 80km long. I’ll hopefully shoot some better footage shortly. The footage so far has been more figuring it out.

E395ECAD-D941-4D81-87AC-27EAD86FC9E7.jpeg

I’d love to get some footage of actually catching a Snakehead from the drone but I’m a little bit concerned that this will sink another one :)

Cheers, Paul
 
Hi UKDrone-guy,

I live on a boat on Lake Belum-Temenggor which is the middle of the top end of peninsular Malaysia about 20km south of Thailand. It’s a huge labyrinth of a jungle lake about 80km long. I’ll hopefully shoot some better footage shortly. The footage so far has been more figuring it out.

View attachment 126425

I’d love to get some footage of actually catching a Snakehead from the drone but I’m a little bit concerned that this will sink another one :)

Cheers, Paul
Hi Paul,
Welcome to the club. I'm from Ipoh/Perak. When I return to Malaysia, I'll look you up and show you all the drone stuff. For now go to YouTube for all the tons of tutorials. Enjoy your new toy!
Dunstan
 
Hi chaps,

New member here! I was given a Mavic Air 2 for my birthday in December - from my wife - fantastic present. But I think I must have fitted the props on incorrectly at some point and it took off into the lake! So I’ve just bought a replacement through DJI which should arrive tomorrow. I think this time I’ll keep the props attached!!

Anyway as you can tell I’m new to this. :D But I do want to get good at flying and shooting video. I currently live on a lake in the Malaysian Jungle where I’m a fly fishing guide. The video and photographs I’ve taken so far are the first time I’ve seen images that really show the beauty of the place. So if you can help me keep the next aircraft dry I would be very grateful! Nice to meet you all :)

Cheers,
Paul
View attachment 126392
you live and work in a truly gorgeous part of the world! spent several weeks in KL and KKB and want to come back and explore more. fly safe and enjoy...
 
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