location unavailable
I have seen many posts regarding this error msg. "location unavailable" but they were over a year ago and besides a work around I have not seen a fix. I fly many of my missions from the exact same spot and just within the last month I have started getting this msg. every time I fly. I usually solve the problem shutting things down and starting over. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to what works. Sometimes I just shut down the controller and re-start and other times I shut everything down. Have there been any further developments in this matter. I fly the Mini with a Samsun S21 and I am current in all updates.
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18 comments
https://support.dronelink.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/1500000604521-Messages-and-suggestions-for-solving-the-problem
Hi Bob. I always have the DJI Fly app set in the settings to start on power up of controller. I wait for satellites and check everything in settings like, RTH, Max distance etc., before starting DL app. I make sure it at least records the home-point which is when the little Arrow Icon for the drone is indicated. Doesn’t always give the voice prompt for some reason. Of course It may take several minutes to get most satellites locked and record the home-point. Since I’ve been always doing it this way I’ve never had that error. Maybe try this if you haven’t already.
I have noticed when just using the DJI Fly app the and home-point is recorded it sometimes doesn’t give the audible. However, once I take off even a few inches the “DJI Lady” has always said “home-point has been updated, pleases check it on the map.” Not sure why it sometimes does and sometimes doesn’t before take-of but that’s technology.
Goid luck. Mike……….
Mike I could not find anything in the DJI Fly app. that allows it "to start on power up of controller". I have since posting flown the same mission 4 times and the error msg. never came up. I always start the same, I hook everything up, power up controller, then the app. (Drone link) and then the AC. Don't know why I sometimes receive the message and sometimes not.
Sorry Bob. I forgot you are using the Mavic Mini. The MA2 controller automatically starts the app when connected and powered up. I have my settings to go into Camera View on startup. You can start it manually as usual though and let everything load and acquire satellites. Once all ready to go after a couple minutes as usual then close Fly app and open DL. Maybe it will solve issues. 😀
Also whatever the settings are in the DJI fly app carry over to the DL app. Example; RTH altitude, max distance, camera settings, Home-point location etc. This is why I always wait for the Fly app to load everything first before using DL. Once everything is loaded you can check and make sure the Drones location is also correct on the map. If so then I believe it should work for you every time. Only thing I can think of Bob.
Maybe this will help.
It's good to know that I was not going crazy. I have had some issues in finding stuff in the DJI Fly app., like the payload mode, it took having someone tell me where the switch was, I think it was you, but I looked everywhere, I just did not scroll down far enough. Do you remember that issue? My mini kept going into payload mode by itself. It even made an automatic emergency landing with 92% battery. I was going nuts trying to figure out what was going on and it ended up being the blades. The DJI blades were old but had no physical damage, they were just kinda flat. I made matters worse by unknowingly putting on knock off blades. I then went to Best Buy and bought DJI blades and you could, with the naked eye, see a difference in the pitch. I don't think the MA2 would have that problem, I think the blades are much more solid.
I think some of the smallest things affect the Mini more than other heavier drones. I don't believe this current issue is a physical one. I know there are reasons that I would get this error msg. but I don't think any of them are a contributing factor. I will try your suggestion, but I find it strange that I have been flying this drone for 1 1/2 years, using the same order of start-up and I have just started getting this msg. within the last 2 or 3 weeks. At this point it is just an annoying thing because I always get it to fly, even if by shutting down and re-starting the R/C several times. When it doesn't re-start then it will be an issue and time to return everything to DJI. I have their insurance policy and I had to return one drone because it kept issuing a warning that the gimbal was overheating. Never did solve that issue so they gave me a new drone.
Well thanks for all your advice.
Yes, I remember the prop issue. This is Just an idea to try which may alleviate the issue. The Dronelink app seems to maybe not know where your drone is or indicating a location which is not allowed. Never know with tech these days. Since everything carry’s over to the DL app from Fly app maybe letting the home-point location get recorded will solve it. Always frustrating when something which seems so simple can’t get figured out.
Enjoy…
You are right. If I start in DJI Fly then close everything down and turn on DL I do not have the problem. When I start with DL 2 things do not happen that do happen when starting with Fly first. 1) I do not get my acknowledgement that I am flying in a restricted zone and 2) I do not receive the message that home port has been established. I do get the round percentage circle for a very brief moment and the drone light goes from flashing red to slow flashing green which I believe in DJI talk says the drone is recognized. So it should be ready to fly but sometimes is and sometimes is not. But what I still do not understand, after a year and half of flying and never getting the msg. why do I get it not 3 out of 4 flights? Very frustrating.
Whether there is a new firmware update or not I usually refresh my firmware on the drone and controller every month or two. Also maybe check for any Flysafe Database updates in the app. I’ve gotten maybe a few of those within the last few months or so. Possible it has changed and maybe it’s something with that. I don’t always get a notice to update it but when I check in the app it sometimes will update it. Even though DL doesn’t update any of the firmware or software within their app maybe the DJI app still makes a difference since all the parameters carry over to the DL app as I stated earlier.
Good luck Bob.
I checked for updates when I had the problem with the unexplained emergency landing which was a couple months ago but I will check again. Off the topic a little, I have a post in "DL Bug reports" which Jim put there. I just discovered something and I wonder if the same thing would happen to you if you tried? While flying a DL mission I accidently hit my phones (Samsung S21) blank button, also the on and off button, I use this button all the time when I put my phone in my pocket. When I did this while flying a mission when I clicked the phone back on the screen was frozen at the point that I clicked it. I had no altitude, no distance and no tracking in the bottom left, I still had video though so I knew the drone was flying but I could not see where, except of course if I recognized something like my house, in the video. I fly the mini so it might be different than the MA2. I still had full control of the drone but it was a little nerve wracking not knowing where the drone was.
I Read that post about your screen freezing up. I’ve never tried to close my iPad screen while flying. I’ll try it next time I fly to see if the telemetry is working.
😀
I do not think it was a telemetry issue because I was only about 300 feet away on the first time and less when trying to re-create the scenario. I am sure that if I do it again at home base I will get the same results. I will try tomorrow.
I believe it is a DJI SDK bug / inconsistency.
I will try it now with DJI Fly and see what happens.
I just flew with DJI Fly and blacked out my phone and turned it back on and there was no issue.
I was referring to your earlier comment about the screen freezing up and still having video but no distance, altitude speed etc. 😀
I was responding to Jim saying that the freezing screen was a DJI SDK issue
I was referring to the location unavailable issue.
Oh OK, that makes sense. I probably should not have mentioned 2 different issues under one post. But it seemed like it was just Mike and I conversing at the time. Sorry for the confusion.
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