Establishing your DJI Avata 2 Drone for the primary time may be an thrilling expertise. On this tutorial, I’ll information you thru the steps to get your drone prepared for its maiden flight and share some ideas and methods to boost each your flight and digicam picture high quality.
In case you are nonetheless on the fence about whether or not you must get the DJI Avata 2 FPV drone, take a look at my detailed assessment: https://oscarliang.com/dji-avata-2/
Should you resolve to get the DJI Avata 2, I like to recommend getting the Fly Extra Combo which comes with 3 batteries:
Listed here are the helpful equipment you may get in your Avata 2: https://oscarliang.com/dji-avata-2-accessories/
Step-by-Step Setup Information for Maiden Flight
Unboxing: Unbox your DJI Avata 2 and guarantee you will have all the required elements: the drone, controller, batteries, charger, propellers, and documentation.
Charging: Cost the drone’s battery utilizing the included charger. It’s additionally a good suggestion to cost the controller and any spare batteries.
Energy On: Start by powering on the DJI Goggles 3, Movement Controller, and the Avata 2 Drone. Press the facility button as soon as means that you can verify battery voltage, and should you press and maintain the button down once more till all inexperienced LEDs gentle up, it activates the goggles.
Goggles Tutorial: The FPV Goggles will information you thru a tutorial explaining the best way to navigate the menu and use the movement controller to manage your drone.
Activation: Earlier than your first flight, it is advisable to activate the goggles (the drone and distant don’t require separate activation). Join the USB-C port of the goggles to a cell gadget, launch the DJI Fly App, and comply with the prompts for activation. You’ll be able to obtain the app from DJI’s official obtain web page: https://www.dji.com/uk/avata-2/downloads
Alternatively, you should utilize a pc by downloading and putting in the newest model of DJI Assistant 2 (Shopper Drone Sequence) from the identical hyperlink. Should you beforehand put in this for different DJI fashions just like the O3 or unique Avata, make sure you replace to the newest model.
Firmware Replace: The app will immediate you to replace the firmware.
Linking: Usually, the drone ought to already be linked to the movement controller and goggles proper out of the field, eliminating the necessity for handbook pairing.
As soon as activated and up to date—a course of that ought to take not more than 10-Quarter-hour—you’re prepared for takeoff.
Flying Avata 2 with Movement Controller
For newbies, the Movement Controller would possibly really feel overwhelming as a result of there are such a lot of buttons. Even for skilled pilots, it takes some getting used to. Listed here are the fundamentals to get you began:
- Arm the drone: Double-press the lock button to arm the drone, motors will begin spinning.
- Disarm: Double-press the lock button once more to disarm, the motors will cease.
- Takeoff: With the drone armed, press and maintain the Lock button to provoke takeoff. The plane will ascend to about 1.2 meters and hover.
- Braking: Throughout flight, press the lock button to make the plane brake and hover in place. Press it once more to renew flying.
- Touchdown: To land, press and maintain the lock button whereas the plane is hovering. It’ll land mechanically and shut off the motors.
- Digicam Management: Alter the digicam angle by tilting the movement controller up or down.
- Yaw Management: Gently press the set off and tilt the distant left or proper to pan the drone.
- Lateral Motion: Use the joystick to maneuver the drone left or proper. Pushing it up or down adjusts the drone’s altitude, ascending or descending at about 1 meter per second.
- Ahead Flight: To maneuver ahead, merely press the set off all the best way.
- Flying Up and Down: For upward or downward flight, press the set off totally and tilt the controller up or down.
Superior Flying Methods
By default, your DJI Avata 2 shall be in Newbie mode, which is designed to be very sluggish and protected for brand spanking new pilots. On this mode, you may’t change flight modes, which helps forestall accidents when you’re nonetheless studying. Nevertheless, as soon as you’re feeling assured with the fundamentals, you’re able to take the subsequent step.
Switching Off Newbie Mode: Go to Settings -> Management to show off Newbie mode. This can unlock the drone’s full capabilities and can help you change between completely different flying modes.
Sport Mode: By urgent the flight mode button, you may activate Sport mode. Consider it as Regular mode with a major velocity enhance. It’s good for if you need a bit extra pleasure and an opportunity to actually see what your drone can do.
Turtle Mode: Should you’re acquainted with Betaflight, you’ll admire Turtle mode. This setting helps the Avata 2 recuperate from crashes by flipping itself right-side up. It’s extremely helpful in case your drone finally ends up the other way up after a mishap, saving you a visit to retrieve and manually reset it. You’ll find Turtle Mode within the Settings Menu.
Actual-time Stay View
By double tapping actually arduous on the correct facet of the goggles, you may activate realtime reside view of your surrounding utilizing the 2 entrance dealing with cameras.
By default it’s on 2D mode which solely makes use of one of many two cameras. You’ll be able to set it to 3D within the Settings-> Show which makes use of each cameras and truly improves usability IMO.
Head Monitoring
Head Monitoring is an enchanting characteristic that enhances your flying expertise by linking digicam motion to your head actions. Right here’s the way it works:
To allow Head Monitoring, go to the highest menu of your Goggles. This permits the digicam gimbal to maneuver up and down as you progress your head up and down. If you look left or proper, the drone will pan in that path (because the gimbal doesn’t transfer in horizontal axis).
Initially, controlling the digicam along with your head whereas directing the drone with the movement controller would possibly really feel a bit unnatural. Nevertheless, with some observe, you may obtain dynamic and artistic pictures which are tough to duplicate with conventional controls.
It’s essential to say that Head Monitoring solely works with the Movement Controller and isn’t supported by the Distant Controller 3.
Return to House
Maintain down the flight mode button can activate return to residence (RTH) throughout flight. Throughout return to residence you may acquire again management by urgent the Lock button. It’s very correct, touchdown inside 1 meter of the house level.
DJI Avata 2 additionally help Low Battery RTH and Failsafe RTH.
Linking Gadgets
Your Avata 2, distant, and goggles ought to be linked proper out of the field. Nevertheless, if it is advisable to re-link them for any cause, right here’s the best way to do it. Be aware that there’s no devoted hyperlink button on the brand new units – to place them in hyperlink mode, you merely maintain the facility button for five seconds.
- Plane: With the drone powered on, press and maintain the facility button till you hear a steady beep, indicating the battery degree LEDs are blinking in sequence.
- Goggles: With the goggles powered on, press and maintain the facility button till the goggles begin to beep constantly.
- Completion: Linking is full when the beeping stops, and that the plane’s battery degree LEDs flip strong.
- Now repeat this for the distant, and the goggles.
Be aware: There’s no have to hyperlink the plane on to the distant as they impart by way of the goggles.
Firmware Replace
Personally I don’t rush to replace firmware – typically new firmware would possibly include some form of new restrictions. I all the time wait and see what the neighborhood’s suggestions is earlier than updating.
After a firmware replace, all the time restart your plane, distant controller, and goggles earlier than takeoff. This ensures all new settings take impact appropriately.
Essential: Firmware updates can reset flight parameters like RTH Altitude and Most Flight Distance. Make sure that to notice your most well-liked settings beforehand and reapply them post-update.
If the replace fails, restart the plane, distant controller, goggles, and both the DJI Fly app or DJI Assistant 2 (Shopper Drone Sequence). Then, try the replace once more.
FCC Unlock
Sadly DJI Avata 2 doesn’t help manually switching amongst FCC, CE, and SRRC. The plane will establish the nation and area the place it’s positioned in response to the situation of the cell gadget and the GPS of the plane, and change between FCC, CE, and SRRC following native legal guidelines and laws.
Whereas the ham file hack doesn’t unlock extra channels because it used to within the unique Avata and Goggles 2, it does improve RF output energy, permitting the drone to function in what seems to be an FCC RF energy mode. This hack additionally unlocks the velocity limitations within the EU.
Merely get the file “ham_cfg_support” and unzip it to the basis listing of the SD card and put it within the DJI Goggles 3. Obtain right here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ug2U_i5kdrKQQ2I17NLJBXm2tKQeNj5Q/view?usp=share_link
There are third occasion apps that may unlock FCC mode on the Avata 2, however they don’t seem to be free. You may also attempt a free app known as B3YOND however unavailable on iOS and works in older Android variations.
Greatest Transmission Settings
For CE customers, channel mode is ready to Auto and can’t be modified, so you may skip to the subsequent part.
For FCC customers, the next are my beneficial transmission settings.
Channel Mode: Set to Handbook to realize full management over transmission settings.
Frequency: Select between 2.4GHz or 5.8GHz. 2.4GHz for higher penetration by way of obstacles however restricted to 1 pilot at a time as a consequence of its slender bandwidth (just one channel obtainable). It additionally interferes with 2.4GHz radio hyperlinks corresponding to ExpressLRS, so DO NOT use 2.4GHz if you or different pilots are utilizing 2.4GHz radio hyperlinks. 5.8GHz is preferable should you plan to fly with others, because it gives a lot wider bandwidth. Relying on interference, it’s possible you’ll discover one frequency gives higher sign than the opposite, if unsure, attempt each and evaluate bitrate.
Bandwidth: Larger bandwidth offers higher picture high quality however will increase the probability of interference with different pilots. When flying solo, you may safely use 60MHz or 50MHz. When flying in teams, think about decreasing the bandwidth to 50MHz, 40MHz, and even 20MHz to attenuate interference.
Utilizing 5.8Ghz, you must have 3 channels with 60MHz and 50MHz bandwidth. Should you solely have 1 channel obtainable, you should utilize the “ham file” hack to unlock the remainder of the channels, obtain the ham file and place it within the root listing of your goggles SD card: https://oscarliang.com/dji-fpv-system-fcc-700mw/#DJI-Goggles-2-and-O3-Air-Unit
Greatest Digicam Settings
To get probably the most out of the DJI Avata 2, I’ve discovered these digicam settings produce nice consequence for video high quality.
For greatest flying expertise and don’t care a lot about recording:
- Mode: Auto
- Decision: 1080p 100FPS
- Shade: Customary
For greatest cinematic footage:
- ND filter is a should, see why: https://oscarliang.com/nd-filter-fpv/
- Mode: Handbook
- ISO: 100 (or as little as potential relying in your lighting), or Auto (then set Max ISO to 400 or 800 for additional flexibility)
- Decision: 4K 60FPS (Keep away from 30FPS as a result of latency is simply too dangerous for flying)
- Shutter Pace: 1/120
- WB: Put White Steadiness on Auto first and see what the system select, then lock in with that worth, so WB is mounted throughout flight
- FOV: Vast
- Shade: D-Log M (should you colour grade), or Customary (should you don’t colour grade)
- EIS: OFF (should you use Gyroflow), or Rocksteady
- Sharpness: -1 (you may enhance sharpness in publish)
- Noise Discount: 0 (or +1 for lowlight reduces noise at the hours of darkness space)
For stabilization, the Avata 2 gives three modes: RockSteady, HorizonSteady, and Off. RockSteady is the default setting, offering sturdy stabilization. You’ll be able to change this within the Settings > Digicam > EIS menu of the goggles. Should you choose to stabilize footage post-flight, disable EIS and set the digicam to broad mode to help Gyroflow offline stabilization.
Native side ratio is 4:3, by switching to 16:9 it has the highest and backside cutoff.
Some testing on Noise Discount worth, has an influence on shadow element and lowlight.
Some comparability on sharpness worth, personally I choose -1, however that’s private desire.
Video bitrates underneath completely different decision/body price:
- 4K 60fps: 130Mbps
- 4K 50fps: 120Mbps
- 4K 30fps: 90Mbps
- 2.7K 60fps: 100Mbps
- 2.7K 50fps: 90Mbps
- 2.7K 30fps: 70Mbps
- 1080p 120fps: 80Mbps
- 1080p 100fps: 70Mbps
- 1080p 60fps: 50Mbps
- 1080p 50fps: 40Mbps
- 1080p 30fps: 25Mbps
How one can Use Distant Controller 3
The Distant Controller 3 means that you can fly in full handbook mode. It is advisable activate the RC3 first and replace its firmware by way of the DJI Fly App or DJI Assistant 2 earlier than utilizing it.
To hyperlink the Distant Controller 3 to your DJI Goggles 3, comply with these directions:
- Goggles: With the goggles powered on, press and maintain the facility button till the goggles begin to beep constantly.
- Distant: With the distant powered on, press and maintain the facility button till it begins beeping.
- Completion: Linking is full when the beeping stops, and that the plane’s battery degree LEDs flip strong.
Be aware: the Movement Controller will nonetheless work along with your drone, however you may solely use one controller at a time, depends upon which one connects to the Goggles 3 first.
Assign handbook mode to the mode button: Within the Goggles Settings->Controls->Distant Controller->Button Customization, set Customized Mode to Handbook Mode.
Should you intend to fly in handbook mode, be sure that to take away throttle stick self centering. By eradicating the again deal with rubber, you will discover two screws – tighten each screws will take away throttle stick self centering. By loosening or tightening each screws barely adjusts the friction, takes a little bit of trial and error to get it proper.
You’ll be able to change between Regular/Sport/Handbook flight modes utilizing the mode button.
To arm and disarm the drone in Regular/Sport modes, use these stick positions.
To arm and disarm the drone in Handbook mode, double press the Begin/Cease button. You’ll be able to alter the digicam angle utilizing the highest left rotary change.
In case of emergency, you should utilize the “Flight pause/Return to residence” button in any flight mode:
- Press as soon as the quad will cease and hover in place, and put it in Regular Mode.
- Press and maintain and it’ll activate return to residence; to cancel RTH, press it yet one more time.
Set your charges and expo, I’m utilizing these for freestyle flying:
- 120/800/0.5
- 120/800/0.5
- 140/650/0.5
What to Do When Shedding Sign
If you lose video, it’s probably that you simply nonetheless have RC sign. Due to this fact It’s greatest to let go of the sticks; the Avata 2 ought to provoke return to residence mechanically.
Different Suggestions and Methods
When flying over the altitude peak restrict, the drone will go into Regular mode and gained’t allow you to fly any greater. You’ll be able to enhance the peak restrict as much as 500 meters (in Settings->Security), however you must comply with your native laws. There’s no option to take away the altitude restrict, in order that’s one other draw back in comparison with an FPV drone.
The DJI Avata 2 features a useful ‘Discover My Drone’ characteristic. To entry it, navigate by way of the goggles menu to Settings > Security > Discover My Drone. This characteristic exhibits video footage from the 30 seconds earlier than the drone was misplaced, aiding in its restoration. The footage is saved in inside reminiscence so SD card shouldn’t be required. Moreover, if the drone nonetheless has battery energy, you may activate the ESC Beeping perform underneath the identical menu to make the drone’s motors beep, serving to you find it by sound.
A useful trick for goggle customers: place a bit of tape on the sensor between the lenses. This prevents the screens from turning off if you take away the goggles, avoiding the transient delay when turning them again on.
Battery charging: as quickly as you insert the batteries into the charging hub, it’s going to begin charging mechanically. It’ll all the time begin with the one with highest energy degree so it finishes faster. If all of your batteries are low in energy degree, you may switch the remaining cost into one single pack so you may fly a bit longer – merely insert all of the batteries within the hub, press and maintain the facility button till the LED turns inexperienced. To cease, press and maintain the button once more.
To cost batteries within the subject, I’ve been utilizing the Speedybee Discharger with an enormous 6S 10000mah LiPo. This is sufficient to recharge 6 of the Avata 2 batteries.
File Switch
Transferring recordsdata to a telephone:
The Avata 2 facilitates file switch by way of Wi-Fi by way of the DJI Fly app. Merely energy on the drone, activate the QuickTransfer perform within the app, and be certain that the drone and telephone are inside 2 meters of one another with out obstructions.
Transferring recordsdata to a pc:
Join the drone to your laptop utilizing a USB cable with out powering on the Avata 2, an exterior drive ought to seem. If utilizing a reminiscence card, you may straight insert the cardboard into your laptop’s card reader.
Stay Feed Sharing (Video Out)
Stay feeds may be shared in 3 ways:
- Wi-Fi wi-fi sharing: Allow display screen sharing from the DJI Goggles 3 to a cell phone by way of Wi-Fi. Join the cell gadget to the Goggles 3 by way of Wi-Fi and use the DJI Fly app to view the drone’s reside feed. This methodology helps connection to just one cell gadget. The latency is over 100ms, so it’s not excellent for flying utilizing this feed, however ok for spectating. If that is too uneven, think about using a USB wired connection.
- Wired sharing: Join a cell gadget to the DJI Goggles 3 utilizing an information cable and an OTG adapter. The linked cell gadget will show the drone’s reside feed by way of the DJI Fly app. Like Wi-Fi sharing, this methodology helps just one gadget. Latency is far decrease than WiFi.
- Viewers mode: Activate the printed perform within the DJI Goggles 3 menu, permitting a number of goggles to obtain the reside feed with no viewer restrict. That is excellent for sharing the flying expertise with an viewers.
Be aware: Needless to say you may solely use one sort of connection at a time, whether or not connecting to goggles or a cell gadget.
Conclusion
By following these setup steps and ideas, you’ll be able to seize beautiful aerial footage along with your DJI Avata 2 Drone. Take pleasure in your flight!
Edit Historical past
- Apr 2024 – Directions written for the assessment of the Avata 2.
- Aug 2024 – Created a separate publish for this setup information.
