Just got my first ever drone about two months ago — a DJI Mini 2, and love it! Now, if only spring would come… this cold weather is depressing!
I’ve done about 15 excursions so far into the wild unknown. All of them great, except for the second last one, and I’m still not certain as to the cause. The mini was out about 450 m and flying altitude was 50 m. Then my screen went black — first the main camera view, and then the right sidebar. I was blind, and my drone was in flight! Of course, I panicked! What now???
Then my phone started to reboot. I didn’t know what the mini 2 was doing or where it was going, if anywhere. Finally the Fly app reappeared as well as a message saying the RTH function was initiated (automatically).
Whew! A few minutes later, I could hear it overhead, and it landed a few feet from me.
Thankfully I had a fresh buttery in the drone, but my phone was at 82% and I don’t know what caused it to die.
The next flight a few days later, had no issues.
I’m currently studying for the Transport Canada’s drone license, just in case I want to go >250g.
Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA.
You might want to consider also joining our Sister Site "MavicPilots" Linked here and below…
DJI Mavic Mini, Mavic, Air Drone User Group, Discussions, Support, Forum and Online Community
mavicpilots.com
The MavicPilots Web sites specializes in the DJI Drones and we even have several sub-forums specializing in the Mini 2. By the way, I also fly the Mini 2…
Since you are a Newbie, here is some Good Old Fashion Advice…
You paid a lot of money for that Drone, put your phone number on it. If your drone gets lost or stuck in a tree and it finally comes down when you are not around, give the finders an opportunity to contact you so it can be returned.
Now, for the Fun Part, But do not let the excitement of the moment get the best of you. When you are going out to fly, do it slowly and deliberately. Get used to a set procedure and even practice it.
There are so many things I could write but these are the highlights that I feel need mentioning.
Plug in your phone/tablet into your controller; turn on the Controller and DJI Fly App (if it does not start on its own…). On the Drone, open the front legs, then open the back legs, then remove the Gimbal Cover.
The Gimbal is the most delicate item on the Drone and banging or bumping can damage it. I also fastened a short "Remove Before Flight" ribbon to the cover so it's more noticeable and I do not forget to remove it…
Turn on the drone and watch it come to "life." Watching the Gimbal go through its self-check is almost like watching a kitten or puppy opening its eyes for the first time…
Place the drone down (preferably on a Landing Pad) while it finishes its self-test (collecting satellites, etc…).
Check your battery status (Phone, Drone, and Controller), check the Signal Strength, by now the Controller should have reported it updated the Home Point.
Lift off, 4-5 feet (1-1/2 meters) or so, hover a bit, check the controls (move the drone a bit forward, back, left, right, yaw left and right). By now, your Controller will probably report again, Home point Updated.
If you go out in a rush and race thru your start up and take off before the drone has finished it prep, it may update its Home Point over that pond or that old tree you are flying over and in your excitement, you'll fly the drone long past it Low Battery point and when it engages Return to Home and lands in the pond or in a tree; it will be all on you…
Now go have fun, learn to fly the drone by sight before you try to fly it out a distance depending on the video feed, FPV.
I would also advise you to use YouTube and watch a lot of the Videos on flying and setting up the Drone. When it is too dark, too cold, or too wet, you can "fly it vicariously" through YouTube. Also watch some of the Blooper Drone Videos and learn how not to fly your "New Baby."
Below is the link to all of the downloads offered by DJI for the Mini 2, including the User Manual.
After you read the Manual, read it again, you will be surprised what you missed the first time and you will be better prepared for that first "scary moment…"
At DJI Download Center, Learn aboutDJI Mini 2
www.dji.com
Fly On and Fly Safe…
