I decided to go to a local beauty spot and vantage point to try to get a spectacular video, and to try a rocket dronie, as the sun was out and the wind had dropped considerably here for the first time in weeks.
I looked at some YT videos to see how to do it, and did a trial run in my front yard to make sure that everything was working, just took off and flew vertically to about 50m and did a full 360 video, couple of pics, checked that the 'Home' point was being set etc.
Drove a mile to my target spot, walked up a very slippery and muddy grass slope to the top of the hill, boy it was cold up there.
The cold in the UK is NOT like the USA or Canada, as we have very high humidity here even in winter, and it cuts right through everything like a knife with high wind chill.
Anyway, I got everything set up, started the RC, connected my Nexus 5 (no SIM card as it's dedicated to the Spark), started the AC and waited until everything was connected.
I put the Spark in a nice clear area, looked around, and did an auto takeoff, all OK.
I didn't hear the 'home point recorded' message, even though I had a good GPS signal, but the Spark was staying in place even against the wind up there.
I thought that I'd risk a 'Rocket' shot, but then couldn't remember and find how to get into the 'quickshots' menu, couldn't figure it out - maybe because my teeth were chattering and ears were freezing off by now.
Instead, I decided to do a vertical takeoff to about 50m again, a nice panorama 360 video and return back down with me directly in shot underneath the Spark.
This all went well, except that I got a 'high wind speeds' warning, (still no mention of home point being set).
When I got down, I decided enough was enough and time to go home.
Walking down the steep muddy grass, I went down like a poleaxed cow on my backside, got mud all over my clean jeans, jacket and trainers, got up cursing, took two steps, and went down again.
I got back in the car and went home to look at my video...
Guess what, I forgot to hit the record button, probably because I was worried about the cold, the high wind up there, and the lack of a recorded Home point.
I still can't figure out why there was no home point recorded, anyone have any suggestions?
I wondered if it's because there was no local map available as there was no SIM in the phone?
Better planning definitely needed next time, and my gear is in the washer right now.
I looked at some YT videos to see how to do it, and did a trial run in my front yard to make sure that everything was working, just took off and flew vertically to about 50m and did a full 360 video, couple of pics, checked that the 'Home' point was being set etc.
Drove a mile to my target spot, walked up a very slippery and muddy grass slope to the top of the hill, boy it was cold up there.
The cold in the UK is NOT like the USA or Canada, as we have very high humidity here even in winter, and it cuts right through everything like a knife with high wind chill.
Anyway, I got everything set up, started the RC, connected my Nexus 5 (no SIM card as it's dedicated to the Spark), started the AC and waited until everything was connected.
I put the Spark in a nice clear area, looked around, and did an auto takeoff, all OK.
I didn't hear the 'home point recorded' message, even though I had a good GPS signal, but the Spark was staying in place even against the wind up there.
I thought that I'd risk a 'Rocket' shot, but then couldn't remember and find how to get into the 'quickshots' menu, couldn't figure it out - maybe because my teeth were chattering and ears were freezing off by now.
Instead, I decided to do a vertical takeoff to about 50m again, a nice panorama 360 video and return back down with me directly in shot underneath the Spark.
This all went well, except that I got a 'high wind speeds' warning, (still no mention of home point being set).
When I got down, I decided enough was enough and time to go home.
Walking down the steep muddy grass, I went down like a poleaxed cow on my backside, got mud all over my clean jeans, jacket and trainers, got up cursing, took two steps, and went down again.
I got back in the car and went home to look at my video...
Guess what, I forgot to hit the record button, probably because I was worried about the cold, the high wind up there, and the lack of a recorded Home point.
I still can't figure out why there was no home point recorded, anyone have any suggestions?
I wondered if it's because there was no local map available as there was no SIM in the phone?
Better planning definitely needed next time, and my gear is in the washer right now.
