The Phantom 3 Has arrived

mark jackson

mark jackson

Well-Known Member
WHOA!...Being a Newbie I am Amazed ........................ after cutting my teath with my Toy Syma quads I am speechless how can something so heavy fly? Whoa Amazing charging everything now have to reformat a Samsung tablet and dl app maybe a test hover tomorrow Impressed
 
Become well versed in its flying and flight characteristics. Imagine, for a moment, hovering over your neighbor's car at 400 feet and the battery dying. It would be like dropping a brick from 400 feet. BOOM!
 
I'm definitely much more the camp of racing/acro quads but have to say I'm still tempted to buy a DJI every time they have a sale. One of these days I'll get one too for more cinematic shots, but will have to be when I have the money to take it on some trips to make it all worthwhile too (already quite a bit of good aerial photography around Chicago here).

Regarding the quad being dangerous as it free falls I've had this thought before as well but just did some searching and I think you're actually going to do more damage flying into something with a racing quad than falling onto it most likely:

https://phantompilots.com/threads/terminal-velocity-of-a-phantom.30834/page-3

Consensus there seems to be terminal velocity is around 30-40mph range, still nothing to scoff at 30mph 1.2kg or about 2.6lbs, a baseball is about a tenth the size in terms of weight but getting hit by a fast ball at 90mph would only be about 1/3 the impact force (3 times the speed but 10 times less weight, works out to around 1/3 the momentum). I guess really racing quad weight reduction plus speed increase you end up around the same force as free falling DJI but while moving also have the high speed blades to contend with in terms of damaging things.
 
Having reluctantly studied Physics in college, I learned that the Acceleration of an object by the effects of Earth's Gravity is 32 feet per second per second. That means that in the first second of downward free fall, the velocity of an object (not a feather), however, is 32 feet per second, the next second it is 64 feet per second and the third is 96 feet per second. The object will have traveled 192 feet in 3 seconds at a velocity of 96 feet per seconds. That's like over 85 MPH! There is a terminal velocity of around 120 MPH due to air resistance. But, that velocity will be reached within the next 1.5 seconds. Whether it's a non- flying drone, or a bowling ball, the force of hitting something will be extremely impactful.
 
LoneRCRanger said:
Having reluctantly studied Physics in college, I learned that the Acceleration of an object by the effects of Earth's Gravity is 32 feet per second per second. That means that in the first second of downward free fall, the velocity of an object (not a feather), however, is 32 feet per second, the next second it is 64 feet per second and the third is 96 feet per second. The object will have traveled 192 feet in 3 seconds at a velocity of 96 feet per seconds. That's like over 85 MPH! There is a terminal velocity of around 120 MPH due to air resistance. But, that velocity will be reached within the next 1.5 seconds. Whether it's a non- flying drone, or a bowling ball, the force of hitting something will be extremely impactful.
Click to expand...
That free fall calculation is based on 0 drag though when you account for the surface area of the object then it slows down due to drag as the velocity increases it doesn't just accelerate forever hence "terminal" in terminal velocity. Either way safe to say it's not going to be a great outcome anywhere in the 30-100mph range. People in the other thread did a bit of back and forth but final actual testing someone reported back around 15 m/s or somewhere in the 30-40mph range.
 
Too many safety features built in, it'll land or RTH before it ever drops out of the sky. In fact they're smart enough to turn around and come back before they reach the point of no return
 
LoneRCRanger said:
Having reluctantly studied Physics in college, I learned that the Acceleration of an object by the effects of Earth's Gravity is 32 feet per second per second. That means that in the first second of downward free fall, the velocity of an object (not a feather), however, is 32 feet per second, the next second it is 64 feet per second and the third is 96 feet per second. The object will have traveled 192 feet in 3 seconds at a velocity of 96 feet per seconds. That's like over 85 MPH! There is a terminal velocity of around 120 MPH due to air resistance. But, that velocity will be reached within the next 1.5 seconds. Whether it's a non- flying drone, or a bowling ball, the force of hitting something will be extremely impactful.
Click to expand...

But you're overlooking air drag. That's why a feather falls slower than a paper clip on earth. Feather and Bowling ball fall at same speed on the moon.
 
Hi Guys I am new to the Phantom 3 I recently got a second hand unit off ebay looks good charged everything had stupid fun reformatting a Samsung tablet then installing the DJI GO app got caught with the Chinese phone number rubbish any way got through all that got connection

I was inside I kept getting the message weak signal ? it was right in front of me I had video what signal? the unit I got has the aftermarket range extender big fat areal and 2 paddles is this product any good? should I go back to stock? or was it because I was inside ? but the controller and drone were almost touching you would think there would be good signal?

Or was it talking about the gps? being inside the house I did manage to start the motors with no props so I think the unit is ok .................. I know I have to recalibrate the compass should I relink the drone and controller as who knows how long it has been sitting trying to get sorted for first flight
 
The range extender you're talking about does work, but only for longer range. It extends the signal but doesn't improve it at close range. So yes, what you're getting is just a warning that because you're inside, you don't have enough satellites. Also, you can have issues if the controller is super close to the Phantom, when testing it's better to have it a metre or 2 away
 
mark jackson said:
Hi Guys I am new to the Phantom 3 I recently got a second hand unit off ebay looks good charged everything had stupid fun reformatting a Samsung tablet then installing the DJI GO app got caught with the Chinese phone number rubbish any way got through all that got connection

I was inside I kept getting the message weak signal ? it was right in front of me I had video what signal? the unit I got has the aftermarket range extender big fat areal and 2 paddles is this product any good? should I go back to stock? or was it because I was inside ? but the controller and drone were almost touching you would think there would be good signal?

Or was it talking about the gps? being inside the house I did manage to start the motors with no props so I think the unit is ok .................. I know I have to recalibrate the compass should I relink the drone and controller as who knows how long it has been sitting trying to get sorted for first flight
Click to expand...

I have a P3S also. I occasionally get the same "low signal" indoors. I finally attributed it to interference from my home Wi-Fi and the myriad of tech stuff in my house.

I don't fly indoors, just for bench testing and Always with props removed!

As soon as I take it outside everything is fine.

First time out get away from everything as much as possible. Do not carry your cell phone. And do the compass calibrate.

Assuming you get good GPS your good to go.

Good luck and have fun yanking and banking!
 
mark jackson said:
Hi Guys I am new to the Phantom 3 I recently got a second hand unit off ebay looks good charged everything had stupid fun reformatting a Samsung tablet then installing the DJI GO app got caught with the Chinese phone number rubbish any way got through all that got connection

I was inside I kept getting the message weak signal ? it was right in front of me I had video what signal? the unit I got has the aftermarket range extender big fat areal and 2 paddles is this product any good? should I go back to stock? or was it because I was inside ? but the controller and drone were almost touching you would think there would be good signal?

Or was it talking about the gps? being inside the house I did manage to start the motors with no props so I think the unit is ok .................. I know I have to recalibrate the compass should I relink the drone and controller as who knows how long it has been sitting trying to get sorted for first flight
Click to expand...

Also, if it was me I might be tempted to not use the range extenders at first. I don't have them, but they are directional and that just gives you something else to pay attention to. The DJI GO app will keep you busy enough.

Keep us posted.
 
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