Waypoint missions
Why is the dronelink mission editor so much more complicated than the dji? I made a mission, then I went to waypoint mission tab, and it's not there? So I wasted all my work. I put one waypoint on at it has around 8 points and 5 lines. Wtf? And I can't put any pictures in my post.
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Dronelink has more functionality than most other mission planners, and while we try to make it as easy as possible (with features such as mission planner mode - normal, expert, etc), additional features = additional complexity.
Having said that, I am not entirely sure I understand the issue. Could you be a bit more specific about what the issue is and how to reproduce it? If needed you could upload screen recordings or screenshots to youtube, dropbox, etc.
Here's a YouTube video of what I'm talking about.
https://youtu.be/Ol4-PzQRMGA?si=L8YeZ4zzifwEtZSR
Tap the orange button in the bottom right that says unlock pins.
Ok. That worked. I'm really a beginner here!
In the tutorial I'm watching, he switching between a web page and the dronelink app. I want to make my missions exclusively with the app. Is that OK?
Also, it brought up a menu that's in my way.
It's very frustrating not being able to put pictures in this forum.
Here's another YouTube video.
https://youtu.be/zOp6A8aKWIU?si=aNoGWReqWRUxmqpz
you can put pictures in this forum, if using a mobile device, just go to the browser menu and select use desktop site, you can make missions exclusively with the app, but its a darn sight easier on a pc
Why is it always wanting to add multiple waypoints. Can't I just add one waypoint at a time?
Of course, but using a mouse/keyboard/bigger screen will be easier for larger or more complex missions.
When you unlock the pins the menu will not come up if you are initiating a drag gesture. The menu should only show while tapping.
As Martin stated, you can post pictures in the forum. For example, to answer your next question about multiple components, you can just click this button to focus on the one you are planning at the moment:
Alternatively, you can just plan everything as one big waypoint component which make the lettering never reset. This would be the more basic way to use the system, and would be more similar to competing apps, but of course when you hit the limits of single waypoint missions, you can always dig deeper (see next paragraph).
Dronelink can be as easier or complex as you want to make it. The easiest option is to just plan everything on the fly. The next level would be to stay in normal mission planner mode and plan all your missions with one component on your mobile device. After that, you might want to switch to expert mode or start using more than one component per mission to avoid the pain of loading new missions while already in the air or if you need to perform different types of behaviors in the same mission (e.g. orbit + waypoints + map).
Thanks for answering so many questions. I realize this will take a while to become proficient. I switched to desktop mode and see the picture icon. I'm in the province, here in the Philippines now, and don't have a PC, but I prefer making my missions lying in bed anyway.
So that green circle in the middle. Is that just to make changes to the whole missions settings. Are changes automatically saved and is there any save as?
In the youtube tutorial, when he's talkinging about the web app, he's talking about a windows program? Where do I get that? In the tutorial he should talk about getting, and running, that program at the start of the tutorial.
Will these missions continue on signal loss or do I have to set that up?
Why am I forced to start every mission with waypoint elements rather than just one waypoint?
You can start with whatever you like, checkpoint,photo, orbit, panorama etc, however the waypoints component is what most pilots who aren't mapping tend to fly
Ok. Thanks Martin. When you fly a mission, does it upload the whole mission to the drone first, so you no longer need connection? Steve
No, it won't upload the whole mission to the drone, as the likes of Mini2, Mini3, A2S etc all use VSC (virtual Stick Control), and therefore require a constant connection to the controller
Thanks for replying Martin. I'm disappointed to here this. I guess it's the final nail in the coffin of my mini 3 pro. I bought it because DJI had a low price on a refurbished mini 3 pro. I read on YouTube that it now had waypoint missions. I assumed they were the same waypoint missions that my mavic 3 pro had. Later, I found that they were only available on dronelink. So I bought dronelink. All they waypoint missions I fly with my mavic 3 pro are out of signal range missions, because my connectivity where I live is only 2,000 feet. They allowed me to fly many miles away. So I guess dronelink won't work for me. I know it's not dronelink's fault, because it's a hardware limitation. DJI will never upgrade the capabilities of old drones, because they want you to buy new drones. DJI was a good company when I bought my mavic pro in 2017, but now they've changed into only caring about money. That's why they won't release the mavic 3 pro SDK. And their apps are inferior to 3rd party apps, because they have no competition, and therefore no incentive to improve them. That's why they've never improved the mavic 3 pro waypoint editor.
I suspect DJI will not be providing that on any future drones, which is a shame.
If you are selling your mini 3 pro you could look for a Mavic 2 Pro as a replacement. It's an older drone but perfectly capable and does allow for uploading the missions to the drone for flights.
What will DJI not be providing on any future drones? The SDK? I won't sell my mini 3 pro. I already bought 3 extra capacity batteries, and a charger for it. I can use it as a backup. My mavic 3 pro does what I want it to, but it's just expensive to replace if I lose it. It was damaged on one out of signal range waypoint mission, and then later it didn't return from the same mission. DJI replaced it for free because it was in warranty.
I've been watching a lot of your tutorial videos on the dronelink mission editor. They are very good!
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