DJI Spark - deals etc
Discussion
Luke. said:
Getting mine tomorrow, but that all sounds like a massive pain in the arse. But I guess once it's done, it's done.
You might not get this at all...I guess it depends what fw versions you have and how keen you are to get started 
And if you do have the same issues, just check out the above.
When it first flies you'll forgive any hassles setting it up.
As others have mentioned, initial setup of the Spark is not as smooth or as straightforward as I had expected. I gave up after my first, time constrained, attempt to set it up (the QR didn't work for me, and make sure you connect to the controller, not the drone) but some googling revealed much better success can be had when using a cable to connect the phone/tablet to the controller. £5 on a cable made things much easier, and once initial setup was complete, it was as easy to use as I hoped.
Once word of warning. If you're you're planning to use it at a specific time or event, test it the day before you need it. My spark sat in it's bag at home for three weeks and when I tried to use it one morning I discovered that it was locked (refused to fly) until I had updated the firmware on the drone, the controller, and downloaded an updated 'No-fly Zone Database' (never realised how many prisons there were until I looked at where I could fly my drone).
But most incredibly, it refused to fly until I updated the battery's firmware! Make sure you update all your batteries. Don't want to use one battery and discover you didn't update the firmware on the others? Fortunately I was in a friend's back garden when I discovered it was locked, but had I been in the middle of nowhere unable to download the required updates, as I was a week later, I'd have been mightily annoyed that my drone was grounded.
Once word of warning. If you're you're planning to use it at a specific time or event, test it the day before you need it. My spark sat in it's bag at home for three weeks and when I tried to use it one morning I discovered that it was locked (refused to fly) until I had updated the firmware on the drone, the controller, and downloaded an updated 'No-fly Zone Database' (never realised how many prisons there were until I looked at where I could fly my drone).
But most incredibly, it refused to fly until I updated the battery's firmware! Make sure you update all your batteries. Don't want to use one battery and discover you didn't update the firmware on the others? Fortunately I was in a friend's back garden when I discovered it was locked, but had I been in the middle of nowhere unable to download the required updates, as I was a week later, I'd have been mightily annoyed that my drone was grounded.
Have had a few flights with mine, indoor and out thus far..thought I'd take it out in the snow today and take my first footage with it.
Seriously impressed (as is the OH, which is a surprising bonus).
The camera's rock steady, even in wind and snow. My flying and camera control leaves much to be desired, but the drone's brilliant.
I think the snow confused the object avoidance a few times, but really keen to learn how to fly it smoothly now and learn some decent techniques on getting good footage.
Only slight surprise is just how noisy it is...not what you'd call subtle. But a great piece of kit.
Seriously impressed (as is the OH, which is a surprising bonus).
The camera's rock steady, even in wind and snow. My flying and camera control leaves much to be desired, but the drone's brilliant.
I think the snow confused the object avoidance a few times, but really keen to learn how to fly it smoothly now and learn some decent techniques on getting good footage.
Only slight surprise is just how noisy it is...not what you'd call subtle. But a great piece of kit.
Murph7355 said:
Batteries come in "hibernation" mode so must be fully charged before use (which is easy enough of course ).
Out of the box you're then meant to be able to use QR codes to kick off the set up process. That didn't work. Apparently this is common.
Had I read the manual I'd possibly have known the controller's wifi is what you connect your phone to, not the aircraft. That might have saved me 20mins of Googling
So connected my phone to the remote controller. Tick.
Controller to the aircraft. Tick.
Aircraft wouldn't fly. Noted it was "locked".
Bit of Googling and I start to wonder if the warning zones I'm in might be precluding flight. So get onto support (very good btw).
They think not.
So I install DJI Assistant 2. But the Spark will only connect to it intermittently, and the firmware update it needs failed three or four times.
I then stumbled across a more reliable way of getting it to connect to Assistant 2 - connect phone to controller to Spark, then plug in the USB cable. Apparently this should not be necessary but it seems to work every time for me. So hey ho.
This then left me with an up to date Spark.
Then to update the remote controller. That has to be done via the phone so you have to switch in and out of WiFi connectivity with the internet or the controller. This took two goes, but was a little more straightforward.
Once all that was done, it worked nicely.
Not all DJI's issue. And tbh I can easily forgive it when you think what this little thing does and how beautifully it runs once set up (I could watch the camera move all day). Just took a bit of faff. I do also wonder if this one had been sat on the shelves for some time at JL - fw was a couple of versions out at least.
I haven't used a bebop...but I can't see anyone who has an inkling for one of these being disappointed . (Until I crash it into a tree or something!).
Pretty much my exact experience. Though I haven't managed to connect the remote to the spark yet. Every single time I turn the spark on I can't connect to its wifi...).Out of the box you're then meant to be able to use QR codes to kick off the set up process. That didn't work. Apparently this is common.
Had I read the manual I'd possibly have known the controller's wifi is what you connect your phone to, not the aircraft. That might have saved me 20mins of Googling
So connected my phone to the remote controller. Tick.
Controller to the aircraft. Tick.
Aircraft wouldn't fly. Noted it was "locked".
Bit of Googling and I start to wonder if the warning zones I'm in might be precluding flight. So get onto support (very good btw).
They think not.
So I install DJI Assistant 2. But the Spark will only connect to it intermittently, and the firmware update it needs failed three or four times.
I then stumbled across a more reliable way of getting it to connect to Assistant 2 - connect phone to controller to Spark, then plug in the USB cable. Apparently this should not be necessary but it seems to work every time for me. So hey ho.
This then left me with an up to date Spark.
Then to update the remote controller. That has to be done via the phone so you have to switch in and out of WiFi connectivity with the internet or the controller. This took two goes, but was a little more straightforward.
Once all that was done, it worked nicely.
Not all DJI's issue. And tbh I can easily forgive it when you think what this little thing does and how beautifully it runs once set up (I could watch the camera move all day
). Just took a bit of faff. I do also wonder if this one had been sat on the shelves for some time at JL - fw was a couple of versions out at least.I haven't used a bebop...but I can't see anyone who has an inkling for one of these being disappointed
. (Until I crash it into a tree or something!).Only had an hour attempting to set it all up so far, much of it spent swearing at it, googling and waiting for charging.
Back in London now, and have no space to practise working it. Fired it up in my living room and crashed straight into a wall, so now waiting to give it another go when I have more space.
t....Bungleaio said:
Anywhere out there with good deals on these at the moment or is it worth holding out for boxing day sales?
5-600 seems to be the mark now.Am not entirely convinced there'll be deals outside of this range. At least not until the next version is out or they release specials.
WestyCarl said:
Murph7355 said:
5-600 seems to be the mark now.
Am not entirely convinced there'll be deals outside of this range. At least not until the next version is out or they release specials.
£489 at eglobalcentral.co.uk. Based in China but have good google reviews (if that means anything).Am not entirely convinced there'll be deals outside of this range. At least not until the next version is out or they release specials.
Bungleaio said:
Cheers guys. I think I'd rather stick with a UK supplier but that's a very good price. Costco have them for £550 I I think im going to hold out and see what happens the other side of Christmas. Unless I get it from a store in person I'm unlikely to get a delivery this side of Christmas anyway.
Same. Too much risk for me. I fought the urge to buy a Mavic, but the Spark at this price is acceptable as an entry point. thats a good price, I got mine in the states at that price.
Pay attention to upthread, the remote is already connected.
Spent an arse load of time figuring that out, and downloading stuff again and again and again, but finally I have flight!
I haven't quite figured out how to record video direct to my phone without the memory card, but I am assured its possible!
Pay attention to upthread, the remote is already connected.
Spent an arse load of time figuring that out, and downloading stuff again and again and again, but finally I have flight!
I haven't quite figured out how to record video direct to my phone without the memory card, but I am assured its possible!
HotJambalaya said:
thats a good price, I got mine in the states at that price.
Pay attention to upthread, the remote is already connected.
Spent an arse load of time figuring that out, and downloading stuff again and again and again, but finally I have flight!
I haven't quite figured out how to record video direct to my phone without the memory card, but I am assured its possible!
If your phone is connected to the remote's WiFi and you're getting an image on the phone's screen, just press record and it will record on the phone (assuming it has space left etc). Pay attention to upthread, the remote is already connected.
Spent an arse load of time figuring that out, and downloading stuff again and again and again, but finally I have flight!
I haven't quite figured out how to record video direct to my phone without the memory card, but I am assured its possible!
If a memory card is inserted you get it on both, though the memory card footage doesn't freeze etc if WiFi connectivity is lost
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