Mavic 2 Pro / RM500 stopping, maps and connection issues

[Urrad]

Hello, I’m hoping someone might be able to help?

I’ve not long had a Mavic 2 Pro with RM500 smart controller. I raised a ticket to DJI support on a couple of issues and unfortunately they have been pretty poor (asking me to do things I’ve previously said I have already done, asking for videos and then ignoring what they show in the response, and now saying I need to send both items in for a chargeable repair rather than trying to help me diagnose / resolve the software issues).

My issues don’t seem to be a ‘repair type thing’, but they are preventing me using the drone and have forced me to revert back to my Mini 3 for now. In case anyone has any ideas of what I might try or have experienced the same issues – here is what I am struggling with;

1) If I do not have an active Internet connection to the Controller then Go 4 stops as soon as you click ‘Go Fly’. This happens without exception, and the controller reports ‘Go 4 keeps stopping’ in a popup. If I tether to my phone (when I have signal), or take the drone indoors and connect to WiFi then Go 4 connects to the drone and runs without issue.

2) If I try to download offline maps from within Go 4 (from the three lines drop down menu in the upper left) I just get a ‘controller is having problems with Google Play services’ message even though the browser on the controller proves I have a WiFi Internet connection. DJI just keep telling me to download from within the App rather than the Play Store, but that is exactly what I am doing (and sent a video showing that too).

3) I had an issue where I had a strong signal to the drone whilst flying (about 50m away in clear sight), the controller reported ‘contact lost’ in the banner and the video froze. I found I could still control the drone with sticks to bring it back, but I had to use them on maximum travel to maintain flight in the right direction, and ended up having to ‘ditch’ into some tall grass as a controlled setdown was not possible with the limited control I have. The drone remained disconnected despite being right next to the controller once on the ground. Rebooting the drone and controller restored connection straight away.

I am guessing I’ll have to accept 3) for what it is and hope it does not happen again, but 1) and 2) just do not seem right?

To try and resolve prior to raising the ticket I had;
- Reset the RM500 to defaults.
- Used DJI Assist 2 over USB to refresh the firmware on the drone and controller.
- Uninstalled the Go 4 App and installed the latest version (from APK via an SD Card).

To confirm; the drone is running v01.00.0797 and the RM500 controller v01.01.0076. The Go 4 App is at P4_4.3.62.

On launching Go 4 the App runs through its version checks and confirms there is no mismatch. Running “checking for new versions” via the controller / within Go 4 also confirms ‘latest’.

Any ideas, help, suggests (or even just confirming I’m not alone) would be hugely welcome. Thank you

 

[Felix le Chat]

Hello, I’m hoping someone might be able to help?

I’ve not long had a Mavic 2 Pro with RM500 smart controller. I raised a ticket to DJI support on a couple of issues and unfortunately they have been pretty poor (asking me to do things I’ve previously said I have already done, asking for videos and then ignoring what they show in the response, and now saying I need to send both items in for a chargeable repair rather than trying to help me diagnose / resolve the software issues).

My issues don’t seem to be a ‘repair type thing’, but they are preventing me using the drone and have forced me to revert back to my Mini 3 for now. In case anyone has any ideas of what I might try or have experienced the same issues – here is what I am struggling with;

1) If I do not have an active Internet connection to the Controller then Go 4 stops as soon as you click ‘Go Fly’. This happens without exception, and the controller reports ‘Go 4 keeps stopping’ in a popup. If I tether to my phone (when I have signal), or take the drone indoors and connect to WiFi then Go 4 connects to the drone and runs without issue.

2) If I try to download offline maps from within Go 4 (from the three lines drop down menu in the upper left) I just get a ‘controller is having problems with Google Play services’ message even though the browser on the controller proves I have a WiFi Internet connection. DJI just keep telling me to download from within the App rather than the Play Store, but that is exactly what I am doing (and sent a video showing that too).

3) I had an issue where I had a strong signal to the drone whilst flying (about 50m away in clear sight), the controller reported ‘contact lost’ in the banner and the video froze. I found I could still control the drone with sticks to bring it back, but I had to use them on maximum travel to maintain flight in the right direction, and ended up having to ‘ditch’ into some tall grass as a controlled setdown was not possible with the limited control I have. The drone remained disconnected despite being right next to the controller once on the ground. Rebooting the drone and controller restored connection straight away.

I am guessing I’ll have to accept 3) for what it is and hope it does not happen again, but 1) and 2) just do not seem right?

To try and resolve prior to raising the ticket I had;
- Reset the RM500 to defaults.
- Used DJI Assist 2 over USB to refresh the firmware on the drone and controller.
- Uninstalled the Go 4 App and installed the latest version (from APK via an SD Card).

To confirm; the drone is running v01.00.0797 and the RM500 controller v01.01.0076. The Go 4 App is at P4_4.3.62.

On launching Go 4 the App runs through its version checks and confirms there is no mismatch. Running “checking for new versions” via the controller / within Go 4 also confirms ‘latest’.

Any ideas, help, suggests (or even just confirming I’m not alone) would be hugely welcome. Thank you

In reverse order.

3) in the transmission tab of the main menu: what frequency is the drone using whenever this connection lost problem occurs? I'll hazard an educated guess it's 2.4gHz or 'dual'.

A percentage of the Mavic 2 drones (Pro and Zoom) developed a transmission signal problem that affected the reliability of the 2.4 - 2.48gHz band.

This DJI model also had difficulty auto-switching the transmission signal from 2.4gHz to 5.8gHz when it was left in the default dual mode (this is seen in a small box in the top right corner of the transmission menu).

There are a couple of workarounds. Before takeoff on every flight, open the transmission tab and tap the dual word: you get a small drop-down sub-menu that reads:

DUAL
2.4
5.8

Tap the 5.8 and this manually sets that control frequency - now try a flight.

1) and 2) You might be better off finding one of the original controllers (RC-1A, or RC-1B) and using that coupled to an older Android device (mobile phone or large screen 64bit tablet), that way you can easily control which version of the GO4 app you're running (use an earlier version). It is also easier to control what Google play protect does in the Android environment (you need to switch it off)

 

[Urrad]

Thank you for those words of wisdom (way more than I have got from DJI over the last few weeks!) I will check / give thise settings a try.

Do you (or anyone else) know if the Go 4 App keep stopping when there is no Internet connection is 'normal' / correct operation? It would be great to know if I actually have an issue (and DJI support ignore the question for some reason).

If it is an issue then I wonder if there is anyway to install a complete fresh 'image' including the Go 4 default install to an existing RM500 controller? Or if anyone has an original RM500 version APK for Go 4 (wondering if the RM500 version of the App is different from the standard Android one? I have a place / am planning to live perminently in a pretty remote part of the Scottish Highlands so always having an Internet connection for the controller is not really practical / possible - hence my fussing over it...

The partial loss of control / complete loss of video link is by far the scariest issue I am experiencing, so thank you so much for your post and proving me something to try

 

[Felix le Chat]

Regarding the flight app - This depends on what you mean by "...just stopping..."

If you mean as you launch the app, the DJI screen appears momentarily and then just winks out of existence without loading the GO4 app at all: then yes, I do know exactly what you mean.

Background: I use the RC-1A/1B controller linked to a large screen Lenovo M10 Gen #3 tablet. The flight apps (DJI GO4 used for my Mavic 2's and DJI FLY used for my mini 3 pro) are installed onto the tablet Android system - not too dissimilar to what's happening with the Android screen built into your RM500, even though you're only able to run GO4..

A couple of years ago, I found that if I turned the tablet off completely and then re-booted it: as soon as I tried launching the flight app: it would fail. This happened constantly with both GO4 and FLY and drove me scatological. If I'm daft enough to turn the tablet off completely: this still happens to this day.

I finally identified the culprit - it was the security settings in both the Android system and those connected with Google Play Protect. The only way I could get either flight app to work was to cripple the Android 'safety' settings and turn Play Protect off completely. It might pay dividends if you try this first - I doubt there's anything wrong with your controller.

I also made sure that the tablet remained in 'standby' mode all the time - no reboot: no changes to the security settings.

Secondly: Make sure you're logged in to your DJI account and then engage LDM (Local Data Mode) - you'll find it in your privacy & security settings in the app menu. LDM cuts off any internet connection between your drone: the controller and the flight app - there is one problem with this... you don't get the maps, so if you rely on them: you might not like LDM. It also cuts off the 'check for current firmware' option which can be a real bonus.

This was a built in feature that was introduced by DJI to answer the accusations that led to the first security audit by the US Federal government back in 2018. The drone flies and operates perfectly in a self contained closed loop (drone-controller-flight app) without any need for any kind of link to the internet.

With LDM: I've found that I don't get logged out of my account (something DJI has a tendency to force, for some reason) which has come in really handy whenever I've been in black hole areas where a mobile signal is a wild fantasy.

 

[Urrad]

Thank you again for coming back. I'll have a look as that may be relevent / still address the issue, but what I am seeing seems a bit different to what you describe.

I've uploaded a video that shows exactly what is happening (link below), but essentially Go 4 stops with a popup confirming it is stopping everytime (without fail) that I click "Go Fly" without some form of Internet connection. Just as reliably it will connect to the drone everytime I click "Go Fly" if the controller has some form of connection to the Internet...

Go 4 Stopping + Maps Issue.mp4

Strange eh? No matter what I have tried (forcing firmware refresh, resetting to factory defualts, using an APK installer file to reload Go 4 - all makes no difference...

 

[Felix le Chat]

Thank you again for coming back. I'll have a look as that may be relevent / still address the issue, but what I am seeing seems a bit different to what you describe.

I've uploaded a video that shows exactly what is happening (link below), but essentially Go 4 stops with a popup confirming it is stopping everytime (without fail) that I click "Go Fly" without some form of Internet connection. Just as reliably it will connect to the drone everytime I click "Go Fly" if the controller has some form of connection to the Internet...

Go 4 Stopping + Maps Issue.mp4

Strange eh? No matter what I have tried (forcing firmware refresh, resetting to factory defualts, using an APK installer file to reload Go 4 - all makes no difference...

Have you updated firmware/app recently?... strike that: just re-read your initial post... sorry.

Was this occurring before the update?

What happens if you boot the controller on its own? Do you have full access to all the menu and settings functions?

Can you run a controller calibration?

About three years ago, EASA was tossing a few ideas around about controlling how a drone could be flown, part of which involved deliberately grounding any drone that didn't perform a live internet check for the latest firmware and 'safe flight' maps and databases. The results would be very similar to what you describe.

I'm not saying that this is what has happened, but it is curious behaviour that mirrors that active restriction concept.

Try turning LDM on to see if actively cutting the live connection (using DJI's own specifically designed software privacy routine) throws up the same refusal to fly... It could well be something simple and innocuous that both of us are overlooking, but this is an odd one.

 

[Urrad]

Hi there, thank you again for the help.

Yes, updated the App and Firmware as trying to fix - and yes this was happening on the previous version.

Booting the controller on it's own does give me access to the menu and settings.

I cannot find anything on the Internet to say anyone else has experienced this, and whilst to me it feels very much like a software issue I am starting to think I may have a controller that has gone faulty. Very strange hardware fault though!

 

[Felix le Chat]

Do you have 'Quickfly' enabled?

What happens if you try a take off the old fashioned way? (Cross Control sticks to spin the motors up then throttle up for take off)

 

[KB9Radio]

You mentioned Google play, which I can't even figure out why it would be in an RM500. I have a mavic 2 & RM500 controller that I've had since it was new, and it never had Google play. The only apps in it was a generic browser and Amazon Appstore. You obviously need the latest version of GO4 downloaded directly from DJI website, because they no longer have them on the Appstore, playstore, and so on. I do wonder if since you haven't had it long and don't know the history if a total factory reset might be the best option. Then download and install the latest aircraft/controller firmware and the latest version of GO4. Once the garbage is out and everything is up to date, operation should be back to normal. There was a time some folks were trying to install Google playstore in the smart controller which resulted in very mixed results depending on exactly how it was achieved. However the smart controller did not come that way from DJI. Others with much more knowledge than I can weigh in with their thoughts, but I think just going back to the basics might be the best course of action. The original Smart Controller is not a real robust operating system and any extra garbage can really affect it. Mines all original but always updated and works perfectly.

 

[Calicassy]

Hello, I’m hoping someone might be able to help?

I’ve not long had a Mavic 2 Pro with RM500 smart controller. I raised a ticket to DJI support on a couple of issues and unfortunately they have been pretty poor (asking me to do things I’ve previously said I have already done, asking for videos and then ignoring what they show in the response, and now saying I need to send both items in for a chargeable repair rather than trying to help me diagnose / resolve the software issues).

My issues don’t seem to be a ‘repair type thing’, but they are preventing me using the drone and have forced me to revert back to my Mini 3 for now. In case anyone has any ideas of what I might try or have experienced the same issues – here is what I am struggling with;

1) If I do not have an active Internet connection to the Controller then Go 4 stops as soon as you click ‘Go Fly’. This happens without exception, and the controller reports ‘Go 4 keeps stopping’ in a popup. If I tether to my phone (when I have signal), or take the drone indoors and connect to WiFi then Go 4 connects to the drone and runs without issue.

2) If I try to download offline maps from within Go 4 (from the three lines drop down menu in the upper left) I just get a ‘controller is having problems with Google Play services’ message even though the browser on the controller proves I have a WiFi Internet connection. DJI just keep telling me to download from within the App rather than the Play Store, but that is exactly what I am doing (and sent a video showing that too).

3) I had an issue where I had a strong signal to the drone whilst flying (about 50m away in clear sight), the controller reported ‘contact lost’ in the banner and the video froze. I found I could still control the drone with sticks to bring it back, but I had to use them on maximum travel to maintain flight in the right direction, and ended up having to ‘ditch’ into some tall grass as a controlled setdown was not possible with the limited control I have. The drone remained disconnected despite being right next to the controller once on the ground. Rebooting the drone and controller restored connection straight away.

I am guessing I’ll have to accept 3) for what it is and hope it does not happen again, but 1) and 2) just do not seem right?

To try and resolve prior to raising the ticket I had;
- Reset the RM500 to defaults.
- Used DJI Assist 2 over USB to refresh the firmware on the drone and controller.
- Uninstalled the Go 4 App and installed the latest version (from APK via an SD Card).

To confirm; the drone is running v01.00.0797 and the RM500 controller v01.01.0076. The Go 4 App is at P4_4.3.62.

On launching Go 4 the App runs through its version checks and confirms there is no mismatch. Running “checking for new versions” via the controller / within Go 4 also confirms ‘latest’.

Any ideas, help, suggests (or even just confirming I’m not alone) would be hugely welcome. Thank you

This may be stupid, but have you tried the original remote controller and phone to see if it is indeed A. Software,B.controller,C.drone issues in my mind. But I may be looking at it wrong. But too many variables. By trying with the original remote and the phone, it would answer at least a couple of questions, 1.does the drone work correctly, and updates and all are correct. This would then point directly to the rm500. Then it would then be a question of software or hardware failure.

 

[KB9Radio]

This may be stupid, but have you tried the original remote controller and phone to see if it is indeed A. Software,B.controller,C.drone issues in my mind. But I may be looking at it wrong. But too many variables. By trying with the original remote and the phone, it would answer at least a couple of questions, 1.does the drone work correctly, and updates and all are correct. This would then point directly to the rm500. Then it would then be a question of software or hardware failure.

Many of Mavic 2's were purchased with the RM500 Smart Controller, so that is the "original" controller. That's how I purchased mine new from DJI. I know you were also able buy them with just a basic "plain Jane" controller as well, but many folks purchased them with the Smart Controller and have no other controllers to try. So buying a different controller would be an option, but if the controller seems to be working fine otherwise, I would think a factory reset and GO4 reinstall might take care of the problem.

 

[Urrad]

Nothing is stupid! I just really appreciate all the ideas / input in all honesty (especially after being stone-walled by DJI "support").

I have plenty to try now at least (feels like progress in itself), and at least know what i am seeing doesn't seem normal. I'll find some time to dedicate so I can go through methodically and see where I get, and will report back

Thanks everyone!