Low signal strength on the way back home

megapixle · Sep 11, 2023

In general the signal strength and range of my Air 3 is pretty good. However, I've noticed the signal is substantially degraded if the drone is pointed and headed back my direction. On the way out I can have 2-3 bars of signal strength, but once I turn around to fly back home I only have 0-1 bars signal strength, with noticeably degraded responsiveness and transmission quality.

So far I haven't completely lost signal, resulting in auto-RTH, but I am worried about being in an area that seems safe, but I then rotate the drone and suddenly have a disconnect.

Anybody else noticed this phenomenon?

mobilehomer · Sep 11, 2023

It is because of the tilt.

GadgetGuy · Sep 11, 2023

mobilehomer said:
It is because of the tilt.

How so?

mobilehomer · Sep 12, 2023

GadgetGuy said:
How so?

Think about it, going away the antennae are aimed at the controller, coming back they are aimed away.

megapixle · Sep 12, 2023

mobilehomer said:
Think about it, going away the antennae are aimed at the controller, coming back they are aimed away.

Where are the antennae located on the aircraft?

mobilehomer · Sep 12, 2023

megapixle said:
Where are the antennae located on the aircraft?

In the arms.

GadgetGuy · Sep 13, 2023

mobilehomer said:
In the arms.

Exactly which arms, and how is "the tilt" interfering with the aiming of the antennas?
You are being very obtuse.

This is the Air 3 with DJI's best transmission signal of OS4.

I have never seen any DJI drone perform in such a poor manner, as described by the OP:

"On the way out I can have 2-3 bars of signal strength, but once I turn around to fly back home I only have 0-1 bars signal strength, with noticeably degraded responsiveness and transmission quality."

I would find this behavior unacceptable on any DJI drone, let alone an Air 3!
This is definitely not normal behavior!

Something else is going on, other than the mere direction the drone is flying!

mobilehomer · Sep 13, 2023

GadgetGuy said:
Exactly which arms, and how is "the tilt" interfering with the aiming of the antennas?
You are being very obtuse.

This is the Air 3 with DJI's best transmission signal of OS4.

I have never seen any DJI drone perform in such a poor manner, as described by the OP:

"On the way out I can have 2-3 bars of signal strength, but once I turn around to fly back home I only have 0-1 bars signal strength, with noticeably degraded responsiveness and transmission quality."

I would find this behavior unacceptable on any DJI drone, let alone an Air 3!
This is definitely not normal behavior!

Something else is going on, other than the mere direction the drone is flying!

Dang, it happens with my Mini 2, Air 2S and Mavic 3 Classic. You will never notice if you only fly 100 meters away.

GadgetGuy · Sep 14, 2023

mobilehomer said:
Dang, it happens with my Mini 2, Air 2S and Mavic 3 Classic. You will never notice if you only fly 100 meters away.

You still haven't answered my question:

"Exactly which arms, and how is "the tilt" interfering with the aiming of the antennas?"

From the OP:

"On the way out I can have 2-3 bars of signal strength, but once I turn around to fly back home I only have 0-1 bars signal strength, with noticeably degraded responsiveness and transmission quality."

As to your reference to under 100 meters, in 8 years of flying DJI drones, I have NEVER seen this on ANY DJI drone, even before VLOS, when flying up to 5 miles away and turning around! On rare occasions, when flying at 90° to the signal transmission at great distance, the signal may become degraded, but never when flying towards the RC!

Please explain the physics behind your "theory," dismissing this as normal behavior, and not a defect under the best signal transmission DJI has ever offered, supposedly good out to 20km!