Weak Signal Issue
Aircraft: DJI Mavic Air 2
Aircraft Firmware: v01.01.0920
DJI Fly app: v1.6.9
Dronelink for PC Web app: v3.4.1 | Kernel 3.4.0 running on Windows 10 Pro in Firefox
Android v12 on Samsung Galaxy A71 5G
Dronelink for Android app: v3.4.1 (208) | Kernel 3.4.1
This has been an ongoing issue and happens more often than not over the past couple of weeks. Sequence has been generally been the same in all cases with the proximity of controller to aircraft being less than 2 meters apart, sometimes 1 meter: 1) power on aircraft; 2) power on Android device; 3) power on DJI remote control; 4) choose to connect with Dronelink and not the DJI Fly app; 5) in the past, this would always be followed by the Dronelink app automatically opening on the Android device, but that no longer has been happening, which then leads to me manually opening the Dronelink app; 6) load mission; 7) then attempting to begin the mission is when the issue Weak Signal presents and the mission cannot proceed; 8) everything is powered off in reversed order and multiple attempts are made until the mission is able to be executed.
The work around often involves first choosing to connect using the DJI Fly app, which will automatically open the DJI Fly app, unlike Dronelink. The weak signal issue has never presented while using the DJI Fly app. Then closing the DJI Fly app and then opening Dronelink, the weak signal issue hasn't presented itself. The settings on the DJI Fly app are shown below.
Comments
24 comments
I’ve seen several similar issues like this. I know DL will work without letting the DJI Fly app load first. However, since the fly app always loads automatically once the controller is powered on I’ve always waited. Mine is set to go to camera view so I know it’s working. Then I scroll through all settings especially the RTH altitude, transmission signal, storage and a few others. By that time I usually have enough satellites locked and ready to go. It only takes about 1 minute or so and it’s no more time then loading DL and waiting for satellites. Once it’s all ready with the DJI App then I know it’s all working properly and close it and load DL. One of the biggest issues I’ve seen is no camera feed. Several have reported this and once done as I do it works. Not sure why but it’s technology. The Default transmission setting is Dual Band/ Auto when the app loads which is how I always fly mine. 👍🏼 Enjoy.
Sorry but I need more clarity. You both explain that Dji Fly shall be launched (for confirming some transmission parameters) prior to DL usage.
Correct or not ?
For information this is what I do to modify camera parameters as it is not so convenient from DL I find.
Hi Stéphane - I never said that the DJI Fly app must, or shall be required to be run first, but that I have had to run the DJI Fly app in several instances over the past couple of weeks in order to just get the Dronelink mobile app to work on my Android device with my Mavic Air 2, and that this behavior is different/ worse than before then.
Hi Mike - You have way more experience with Dronelink and the Mavic Air 2 than I do and I very much appreciate your input. On my Android 12 device, the DJI Fly app isn't automatically opened. What version of Android are you using?
When I first power on the remote controller the screen on my phone looks like this (below) and regardless of which app is chosen, I always respond to the second option with the "Just once"
V. Kelly Bellis, I think you'll find that weak signal message is a false positive message, which has been fixed in the current beta version 4.0.0, maybe Jim McAndrew can confirm
Thanks Martin, and I had thought this might be true also; however, there's no way that I'm aware of for Dronelink to be told to ignore the Weak Signal issue and to go ahead and fly the mission anyway, and I'm quite okay with that and for Dronelink erring on the side of caution.
Radio Frequency (RF) interference is ubiquitous and how it's being treated by the DJI Fly app and the Dronelink mobile app for Android apparently differs. On one of my indoors tests, simply turning off my LED ceiling lights allowed Dronelink to work without the Weak Signal issue presenting, while every other condition; e.g., location, proximity, etc., remained unchanged.
Time, as Mike keenly pointed out, may also come into critical play. As I previously mentioned,
Waiting for more than 60 seconds (even several minutes) didn't change the situation of Dronelink not opening automatically. I always have to overtly open Dronelink.
What I failed to mention was that when initially choosing to open the DJI Fly app, it is now taking a noticeably longer period of time to automatically open than it previously required; maybe something like 8 seconds instead of 2.
It is possible that many of these issues will be corrected in v4.0.0. Build 217 is available for testing in the beta if you want to try - we are considering it our release candidate in terms of maturity.
Thanks Jim. Is the release candidate v4.0.0 b217 just waiting for Google's acceptance?
We haven’t submitted it for review yet because we are kinda hoping DJI will drop the new SDK for the M3 soon and we can release support at the same time. If that doesn’t happen in the next week or two then we will probably just release 217 as is.
Jim - Beta v4.0.0 b217 in my limited (i.e., 2) tests did seem to address the Weak Signal issue; however, there were new issues observed. I'll start a new thread for each of them under the Beta section of the forum regarding them after I've studied this current build further.
I don’t use Android so why it isn’t automatically opening I don’t know. My iPad opens DJI app after powering on controller in about 5 to 10 seconds or so to load and go into the camera view. So it seems similar to yours which is not long. Very possible that it will vary depending on the device your using. I believe it’s just better to check and make sure everything is good to go with the DJI app since it’s the app made specifically for the drone. If no errors, bad transmission signal or any other issue then I know it’s all ready. Once I load DL it has worked 99% of the time without any issues. A tiny bit of time and patience can make for a better flying experience. Enjoy…
Also the false weak transmission signal message which has been known for years is only with all the Mini’s using an Android device, not with IOS. I’ve ever seen or heard of any error like this with the my MA2. No issues with my iPad Mini. Your seems to be something else and hopefully the new Beta build does correct it. If still any issues I always say to update or refresh the firmware on drone and controller with DJI Assistant 2 PC software. The app may indicate it’s up to date but no way to refresh it unless using the PC software. Calibrate IMU & Compass. I have seen several or more pilots in a few different groups over the last two years which had problems and once they refreshed firmware, it corrected their issue. Can hurt and doesn’t take long to make sure it’s all good to go. You never know with technology these days. Good luck….
Thank you Mike for all of your helpful remarks. I know you're also a beta tester (thanks for that too!) and wondered if the reason you always run the DJI Fly app before all Dronelink missions is because of your experiences working with beta versions of Dronelink, or is it something that all Dronelink users should be doing normally irrespective of beta or release candidates of Dronelink?
How many other Dronelink for Android (or iOS) users follow this practice of running the DJI Fly app before opening Dronelink?
About the only time i open DJI fly on any of my android devices these days is when i hear that there is a firmware update for my mini2, when i fire up the controller I just select Dronelink (Choices are DJI fly,Dronelink, Litchi & Rainbow) and select "Just Once"
Thanks Marty.
Not to hi-jack my own thread, but I've been meaning to ask you: which Android device are you running after seeing some of your screenshots in another thread? and are you happy with it?
I normally fly using my Galaxy tab 7FE 5G (Android 12) but i also sometimes use my Galaxy fold Z2 (Android12) or my LG V50 5G (Android 11) and have no cause for complaint using any of them, I also find that if i do have a problem (or possible problem), that Jim McAndrew is quick on the scene with an answer or suggestion of something to try
Kelly. I always let the DJI Fly app open just to make sure everything is good to go just as if I was going to use it. If it’s all good and I’ve doubled check all the settings and allow time for satellites then I figure it’s ready as always. The DJI app is obviously made for the drone and if any errors or other issues it should indicate them. Just something I like to do and as I stated before it doesn’t take any more time. The drone is what the satellites lock to so it won’t take more time to wait agin for satellites once you start DL. You know what they say, it ain’t broke then don’t fix it. It work’s for me even if it’s not necessary. 🤙🏼
The manual https://dl.djicdn.com/downloads/Mavic_Air_2/Mavic_Air_2_User_Manual_v1.6_enIII.pdf isn't completely answering the question but may provide some clue as to the frequent occurrence of the Weak Signal Issue reported herein. Moreover, I believe what appears to possibly be a viable workaround and which is determined by when the Dronelink app is initially opened.
When the aircraft is first powered on, it runs through a sequence of various combinations of LED flashes/ blinkings/ color changes. The remote controller and the Android device (Android 12) are powered on after the aircraft. The Android device then presents a choice which app to open; i.e., Dronelink or DJI Fly. Once the 2 aft GREEN LEDs begin flashing twice in quick succession, then the choice to open Dronelink is made, and following that sequence, the weak signal issue hasn't repeated so far during my tests yesterday and today.
The Aircraft Status Indicators chart on page 12 only describes Green, Periodically blinks twice, as a Normal State for the status of the aircraft's Forward and Downward Vision Systems; however, it's unclear if, how, or why any of vision system may be triggering the Weak Signal Issue in Dronelink.
Personally, I start the phone/tablet first, then connect it to the controller and turn the controller on, select dronelink and just once, then once I'm in the dashboard, I fire the drone up and wait for the satellites count to go over 12, them load and launch the mission
select shoveling?
nl the dashboard?
Sorry V. Kelly Bellis, darned autrocorrect on the phone, edited now
hahaha - my pedantic dense self thanks you Martin!
I'll follow your outlined start up procedure forthwith:
Yep that's about it👍
Epilogue - About a week ago I wrote to DJI support and they kindly and quickly wrote back which included "We do not recommend that you use third-party software to use the drone, which may result in a flight accident." Taking quiet umbrage, I chose not to respond to their follow up request to take their satisfaction survey. But they later persisted, asking again for me to please consider taking the satisfaction survey. Here's what I said:
Brilliant reply, however, some may argue that there is a difference between:
"We do not recommend that you use third-party software to use the drone, which may result in a flight accident."
And
"We do not recommend that you use third-party software to use the drone."
Before I started using 3rd party software to fly my mini 2 I emailed my drone insurance company to ask if it would effect my cover, and this was their reply:
Good Afternoon,
Thank you for your email, I hope you are well. Your policy would not be affected, as long as the app being used is compatible with the drone and is being flown legally and within the rules and regulations of the national aviation authority.
Kind regards
I posted this just to highlight how different people interoperate 3rd party apps
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