Here's One Big Problem With The Dji Avata - Signal Loss

[@AVION360]

I've experienced this same problem flying outdoors behind boulders. However I've never faced any issues flying all over inside my office, up the stairs, behind 3 sets of walls etc. I have even flown inside a stadium and behind hollow brick walls, concrete walls without any problem. You are right, its probably Bouldernite (DJI's kryptonite).

[@AZ-Drone]

Bouldernite? That's funny!!!

[@AVION360]

@@AZ-Drone Haa Haa

[@dogstar7]

You are correct, radio waves bounce off of granite and cannot go through rock formations. The 2.4GHz range can work in the scatter but it is not as good as 5.8gHz in the line-of-sight. That is why you can stay in control at oblique angles but will lose signal quickly if you drift into the radio penumbra shadow.

[@AZ-Drone]

I used to work in wireless telecomm back in New England as a network design engineer. I often worked with the RF (Radio Frequency) engineers as they plotted out cell tower propagation. Your comment reminded me of conversations with the RF guys about penetration and propagation for our Digital PCS network. 😀😁

[@dogstar7]

@@AZ-Drone I'm looking to upgrade my Mavic 3 with the Integra goggles and the Motion 2 for full immersive and proximity flights. Another thing my brother who does framing tells me is that modern construction is made to be more radio opaque for wi-fi and 5G propagation.

[@Legendpilot]

Indeed. Not Avata, or even FPV specific. Any LOS radio signal is going to want an unobstructed view in general.

[@AZ-Drone]

@@Legendpilot We've tested the Mavic 2 Pro in some of the same locations, and didn't get the kind of drop out we've seen with the Avata. With the Avata it's a very dramatic, very sudden cut out. But now that we know what we're looking for we'll find ways around it. No dipping way down into the canyons. 😀

[@emonsamsami1355]

What happens if you lose signal with goggles in manual mode? Will return to home kick in? Or does it just brake?

[@AZ-Drone]

We haven't tested that scenario yet, but I'll try and remind myself to try it at one of our "safe" testing sites.

[@womaninred5523]

I had the same problem when was flying between rocks but I also lost signal when was flying slightly higher than the trees(I was on the ground) just in field and still lost signal flying not too far from home point. So I take it it doesn’t have to be nessesary rocks/mountains, it also doesn’t fly far distances. Hundred meters and loosing signal which isn’t fun because that means you can’t fly far or too high.. if you know how to fix it I would appreciate it

[@AZ-Drone]

So far we haven't found a fix for ours. But since we're aware of the issues we're having we keep our distance and obstructions in mind.

[@copyandpastification]

One year later, avata 2 with new technology O4 still giving the same problem, i had signal drops in a football field doing acro (5m distance 5 m off the ground)

[@AZ-Drone]

That's not right at all. Sorry to hear it.

[@copyandpastification]

@@AZ-Drone sorry I meant 50 meters distance...

[@seanswanson8831]

Isn't this the case for all drones? Without line of sight every drone starts to loose signal, correct? While I do not own a DJI Avata, I do own the Mavic Pro 2, Air 2S, Mini 2, and the Mavic 3 and any time any obstacle stands between the controller and my Drone the signal always seems to drop (depending on the thickness/density sometimes I completely loose signal at 200 to 300 ft). I'm far from a drone expert, this is just what I have always thought based on my experience with drones. I regularly use the RTH feature with my other drones and I have been considering buying the Avata to give FPV a try. My biggest question was "Will the Avata do any better with a signal behind objects comparatively to my current drones?" Your vid definitely answered my question, which appears to be -Not really-. I used to live in Tucson AZ and I would have loved to have had my drones while living there. AZ is beautiful and I really enjoyed your video. Thanks for the Video, take care and stay safe.

[@AZ-Drone]

In the case of my Avata vs Mavic 2 pro we've found the mavic has less signal loss than the Avata. We actually did additional testing. I think it might be an issue with our avata. From other Avata videos I've seen better connection while flying through buildings and obstructions. It might just be an issue wit my setup.

[@lukakevkhishvili2207]

I have dji avata 2 and on 500meters signal is getting weaker and RC and goggle signal thing from 4 it drops to 1-2 and do u know whats the problem?

[@miyahollands6136]

Hi Rich. How does it work when flying it through a building? Do you get any signal degradation?

[@AZ-Drone]

When we're flying indoors the biggest thing we notice is GPS connection (not enough satellites). In the homes we've flown we haven't run into any major issues yet. On one flight we flew out of the building, and across the street, turned around to fly back inside, and had to pause for a moment because the Avata complained about GPS. Oh, also inside, keep your speed low.

[@Metaphysicalgrace86]

So, how are you breaking LOS and still in compliance? Do you have a VO or some other certification?

[@AZ-Drone]

In this one we did dip slightly behind the rocks, but it was supposed to come back up and over, and instead just froze and activated return to home. We do have a VO / Spotter who is watching the sky and checking the feed to our iPhone. For the pilot using the goggles, you don't have visual line of site (since the goggles are on). The VO did keep track up to when the drone dipped down a bit. Once RTH activated it was visible for the VO again in seconds.

[@jackofallvishal5361]

Today I have lost connection within 200 ft, and most importantly there is only walls and ope space, it was very heartbreaking moment for me is there any specific setting to avoid such issue

[@AZ-Drone]

Wow only 200 feet? Have you had previous success with longer distances from the controller?

[@jackofallvishal5361]

@@AZ-Drone it was my first flight in open area but now got the solution

[@Wayward2023]

I know they have relays for their agri drones but I have been looking for a drone that I can position overhead and act as a video/control relay for a 2nd FPV drone for signal challenged environments. Anyone know of anything?

[@AZ-Drone]

Can't say that I've come across that.

[@HaidoRossi]

Would love to find a similar solution as well indeed

[@Time2FLYAlDiaz]

I flew the avata yesterday in a huge warehouse in normal/sport mode and it drifted all over the place. I never experienced this before when flying indoors. Definitely a let down.

[@AZ-Drone]

Interesting. One of our clients has a massive warehouse with inline hockey, and other sports. In normal we don’t really get a lot of drift in there and hovers well.