Establishing your DJI Avata 2 Drone for the primary time could 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 suggestions and methods to boost each your flight and digicam picture high quality.
If you’re nonetheless on the fence about whether or not you must get the DJI Avata 2 FPV drone, try my detailed assessment: https://oscarliang.com/dji-avata-2/
In the event you resolve to get the DJI Avata 2, I like to recommend getting the Fly Extra Combo which comes with 3 batteries:
Listed below are the helpful equipment you may get to 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’ve all the mandatory 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 examine battery voltage, and in case 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 how you can navigate the menu and use the movement controller to regulate your drone.
Activation: Earlier than your first flight, it’s good to activate the goggles (the drone and distant don’t require separate activation). Join the USB-C port of the goggles to a cellular 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 use a pc by downloading and putting in the newest model of DJI Assistant 2 (Client Drone Sequence) from the identical hyperlink. In the event 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: Sometimes, the drone ought to already be linked to the movement controller and goggles proper out of the field, eliminating the necessity for guide 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 learners, the Movement Controller may 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 below 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 is going to land robotically and shut off the motors.
- Digital camera Management: Regulate 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 will probably be in Newbie mode, which is designed to be very sluggish and secure for brand new pilots. On this mode, you may’t change flight modes, which helps forestall accidents when you’re nonetheless studying. Nonetheless, as soon as you are feeling assured with the fundamentals, you’re able to take the following step.
Switching Off Newbie Mode: Go to Settings -> Management to show off Newbie mode. This can unlock the drone’s full capabilities and will let you change between totally different flying modes.
Sport Mode: By urgent the flight mode button, you may activate Sport mode. Consider it as Regular mode with a big velocity enhance. It’s excellent for if you need a bit extra pleasure and an opportunity to actually see what your drone can do.
Turtle Mode: In the event you’re accustomed to Betaflight, you’ll recognize 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 wrong way up after a mishap, saving you a visit to retrieve and manually reset it. You will discover Turtle Mode within the Settings Menu.
Actual-time Stay View
By double tapping actually arduous on the appropriate facet of the goggles, you may activate realtime dwell view of your surrounding utilizing the 2 entrance going through 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. Whenever you look left or proper, the drone will pan in that course (because the gimbal doesn’t transfer in horizontal axis).
Initially, controlling the digicam together with your head whereas directing the drone with the movement controller may really feel a bit unnatural. Nonetheless, with some apply, you may obtain dynamic and inventive photographs which can be tough to copy with conventional controls.
It’s vital 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 house (RTH) throughout flight. Throughout return to house 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 assist Low Battery RTH and Failsafe RTH.
Linking Units
Your Avata 2, distant, and goggles must be linked proper out of the field. Nonetheless, if it’s good to re-link them for any motive, right here’s how you can do it. Notice 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.
Notice: There’s no must hyperlink the plane on to the distant as they convey by the goggles.
Firmware Replace
Personally I don’t rush to replace firmware – generally new firmware may include some type 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 (Client Drone Sequence). Then, try the replace once more.
FCC Unlock
Sadly DJI Avata 2 doesn’t assist manually switching amongst FCC, CE, and SRRC. The plane will establish the nation and area the place it’s situated in accordance with the situation of the cellular gadget and the GPS of the plane, and change between FCC, CE, and SRRC following native legal guidelines and rules.
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 foundation 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 celebration apps that may unlock FCC mode on the Avata 2, however they aren’t free. You too can strive a free app known as B3YOND however unavailable on iOS and works in older Android variations.
Finest Transmission Settings
For CE customers, channel mode is about to Auto and can’t be modified, so you may skip to the following part.
For FCC customers, the next are my advisable transmission settings.
Channel Mode: Set to Handbook to achieve full management over transmission settings.
Frequency: Select between 2.4GHz or 5.8GHz. 2.4GHz for higher penetration by obstacles however restricted to at least one pilot at a time as a consequence of its slim bandwidth (just one channel out there). It additionally interferes with 2.4GHz radio hyperlinks reminiscent of ExpressLRS, so DO NOT use 2.4GHz if you or different pilots are utilizing 2.4GHz radio hyperlinks. 5.8GHz is preferable in case you plan to fly with others, because it affords a lot wider bandwidth. Relying on interference, you could discover one frequency affords higher sign than the opposite, if unsure, strive each and evaluate bitrate.
Bandwidth: Increased bandwidth supplies higher picture high quality however will increase the chance of interference with different pilots. When flying solo, you may safely use 60MHz or 50MHz. When flying in teams, take into account lowering the bandwidth to 50MHz, 40MHz, and even 20MHz to reduce interference.
Utilizing 5.8Ghz, you must have 3 channels with 60MHz and 50MHz bandwidth. In the event you solely have 1 channel out there, you should use 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
Finest Digital camera Settings
To get essentially 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
- Colour: 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 further 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 Stability on Auto first and see what the system select, then lock in with that worth, so WB is fastened throughout flight
- FOV: Huge
- Colour: D-Log M (in case you colour grade), or Customary (in case you don’t colour grade)
- EIS: OFF (in case you use Gyroflow), or Rocksteady
- Sharpness: -1 (you may improve sharpness in put up)
- Noise Discount: 0 (or +1 for lowlight reduces noise at midnight space)
For stabilization, the Avata 2 affords three modes: RockSteady, HorizonSteady, and Off. RockSteady is the default setting, offering sturdy stabilization. You’ll be able to change this within the Settings > Digital camera > EIS menu of the goggles. In the event you choose to stabilize footage post-flight, disable EIS and set the digicam to huge mode to assist Gyroflow offline stabilization.
Native facet ratio is 4:3, by switching to 16:9 it has the highest and backside cutoff.
Some testing on Noise Discount worth, has an affect on shadow element and lowlight.
Some comparability on sharpness worth, personally I choose -1, however that’s private choice.
Video bitrates below totally different decision/body fee:
- 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
Methods to Use Distant Controller 3
The Distant Controller 3 means that you can fly in full guide mode. You want to 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.
Notice: the Movement Controller will nonetheless work together with your drone, however you may solely use one controller at a time, relies on which one connects to the Goggles 3 first.
Assign guide mode to the mode button: Within the Goggles Settings->Controls->Distant Controller->Button Customization, set Customized Mode to Handbook Mode.
In the event you intend to fly in guide mode, ensure that to take away throttle stick self centering. By eradicating the again deal with rubber, you will see that 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 use the “Flight pause/Return to house” 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 house; 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
Whenever you lose video, it’s probably that you just nonetheless have RC sign. Subsequently It’s greatest to let go of the sticks; the Avata 2 ought to provoke return to house robotically.
Different Suggestions and Methods
When flying over the altitude peak restrict, the drone will go into Regular mode and received’t allow you to fly any larger. You’ll be able to improve the peak restrict as much as 500 meters (in Settings->Security), however you must comply with your native rules. There’s no approach 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 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 inner reminiscence so SD card shouldn’t be required. Moreover, if the drone nonetheless has battery energy, you may activate the ESC Beeping operate below 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 chunk 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 robotically. It is going to 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 discipline, 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 information to a cellphone:
The Avata 2 facilitates file switch by way of Wi-Fi by the DJI Fly app. Merely energy on the drone, activate the QuickTransfer operate within the app, and be sure that the drone and cellphone are inside 2 meters of one another with out obstructions.
Transferring information to a pc:
Join the drone to your pc 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 pc’s card reader.
Stay Feed Sharing (Video Out)
Stay feeds could be shared in 3 ways:
- Wi-Fi wi-fi sharing: Allow display sharing from the DJI Goggles 3 to a cell phone by way of Wi-Fi. Join the cellular gadget to the Goggles 3 by way of Wi-Fi and use the DJI Fly app to view the drone’s dwell feed. This technique helps connection to just one cellular gadget. The latency is over 100ms, so it’s not ultimate for flying utilizing this feed, however adequate for spectating. If that is too uneven, think about using a USB wired connection.
- Wired sharing: Join a cellular gadget to the DJI Goggles 3 utilizing an information cable and an OTG adapter. The linked cellular gadget will show the drone’s dwell feed by way of the DJI Fly app. Like Wi-Fi sharing, this technique helps just one gadget. Latency is way decrease than WiFi.
- Viewers mode: Activate the printed operate within the DJI Goggles 3 menu, permitting a number of goggles to obtain the dwell feed with no viewer restrict. That is ultimate for sharing the flying expertise with an viewers.
Notice: Remember that you may solely use one kind of connection at a time, whether or not connecting to goggles or a cellular gadget.
Conclusion
By following these setup steps and suggestions, you’ll be able to seize gorgeous aerial footage together 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 put up for this setup information.
