A2 2.1 upgrade procedure

[Droider]

SO I will spend another few hours trying to sort out the issues I have had since the 2.1 firmware was released back in December after this latest announcement from DJI.:apathy:

I have two A2 controllers sat on machines that I dont fly because of the on going issues with

Machine 1
The S-BUS and Spektrum the issue is that the A2 wont see the AR10000 when its powered up cold, the complete loss of satellites even though Garmin says there is 11, when satellites lost machine seems to go to manual it most certainly does NOT go to ATTi, Well I think thats what it does! turquoise flashing lights mid flight for no reason.

Machine 2
Spetrum DSM2 satelite controlled. As above. But with out the S-BUS issues

So first thing. to connect a power pack or not?

Well lets try it..
NO POWER PACK AS STATED IN INSTRUCTIONS
Well on a MacBook Pro using the iOS version of the assistant all I get a yellow light on the A2 LED and the assistant does not see the A2. Then after a min or less Assistant crashes. (SO I am guess ing some computers do NOT have enough USB power to fully power up the A2.
From instructions page 15 'A2 flight control system can takes power via the USB port during configuration, no additional battery is required. Note that the USB port can supply power no more than 500mA, an additional battery is necessary if connection failure or intermittent working.'
What additional battery if its not safe to power with flight pack?

WITH POWER PACK plugged in and PROPS OFF
The iOS assistant sees A2.

SO I am going to set 'EVERYTHING' back to default as the first step.

That done follow upgrade video to the letter
SO Receiver - Even thought the assistant says my firmware is 2.1 when you click on the Latest Version 2.1 It still wants to upgrade the controller again to 2.1! Anyway lets do it I have nowt to loose. Firware upgrade successful.
Now power cycle BOTH supplies and leave it 10 secs.

Power UP flight pack or secondary supply first, then connect A2 to computer. Check IMU stated firmware 2.1 but again assistant wants to upgrade it so tallyho!
UPGRADE FAILURE POWER CYCLE AND TRY AGAIN SO now it says version 0.0 and proceeds to upgrade to 2.1 and is successful. Power cycle both and disconnect from computer.

Power up again flight pack first then Assistant.
GPS Pro again no different firmware but re-loaded anyway and power cycle

GPS Module AHHHH! 'Latest Version 0.2 New version available 20.1' WOW thats a lot of versions I have missed! OR is it a case its taken so long and so many revisions for DJI to sort things out! OR is it the case this part has never been upgraded as TE suggests..

OK In for a penny in for a pound! Success Power cycle

BT Module Lates version 2.0 but again re load firmware..

All done..

SO the question is have I never upgraded the GPS Module.. Well I suppose if I aint I am the plonker.. or is it a case that its just not clear in the instruction that there is two parts to upgrading the GPS system.

BUT the question has to be asked after all this time and all the communication with DJI over the issues I have WHY has this never been asked in relation to my problems?

The BIGGER question is why does the assistant upgrade everything like on the WKM?

OK so now Ill go reprogram parameters and give it a whirl!

Dave

 

[Droider]

IMU Communication error!

So the process requires you rebind the TX.

In my case the Spectrum DSM2 satellite receiver. I could not get it to bind by traditional method of putting A2 in to link mode then firing up the DX8 in bind. I had to fire up DX8 in bind and before the main bind screen fired up press the link on the A2.

Other wise it just seemed to time out.

So now its bound fire up the assistant and see what happens... OK set to DSM2 in receiver type and were connected BUT now IMU connection error report...

'No IMU data to controller Unit - Please check connections between the IMU and the controller unit. The IMU should be connected to the CAN1 Port.' IT IS!!

IMU Green / red flash sequence 1 green 1 red 7 green. so where is the diagnostics for this?

Dave

 

[Droider]

OK Re loaded firmware on IMU and error gone away..

SO is there a spercific sequence to upgrading the firware? Is it documented anywhere? May be I should go read the fookin manual AGAIN.. am I a gozzy eyed SOB?!

Onwards and hopefully upwards we go

Dave

 

[Droider]

Setting up the FC

Basic

Check channel map and assign correct channels for - A - Aileron - E - Elevator - T -Throttle - R - Rudder.
Set air craft type
Input Mounting offsets od IMU and GPS ( making sure the - and + values are correct.
Set RC for GPS - Atti - Atti and check endpoints to ensure mode switch works how you want it.
Set Gains - ( use suggested by DJI to start or what you know works.

Advanced

Motor - go with recommended unless you know better

F/S - I set hover/go home and leve altitude at 20m unless I want to change that height.
Change backward to forward if you want to film yourself on the way back ;-)
Set up go home switch if required - for this test I have set it to my gear switch. You may need to adjust your endpoints in your transmitter to get this work correctly. Make sure sections light up blue depending on switch position.

IOC- If you want it. I stay clear of course lock as it can be a real bugger unless you use it all the time and it takes some getting used to. I use POI and home lock. Just incase out obscures your view of the machine you can at least bring it home BUT Beware once its flow past the home position things get reversed so tak care to switch back to normal as soon as you get sight back or its close to home.

Gimbal - suit yourselves on that one. On this test machine I aint got one.

Voltage protection - Normally I use telemetry alarms and lipo alarms for this but on this I done have telemetry so I will be relying on the timer and lipo alarm.

Limits _ again I dont use them but can be a good idea for learning. (Beware though I aint sure about these after the Naza problems where once it reached its limit it just stayed there till the batteries ran out!)

Gear - I dont have.

SO All that is needed now is compass calibration and pair with iPad and were off!

As for the calibration- well I dont know if this is just an old wives tail or just a figment of my imagination but I thought you should point the craft NORTH before starting this process, I may be wrong or it may not matter but its just something I do with the WKM so I do it with the A2

Dave

 

[Droider]

Motor test

OK Almost forgot..

Make sure you carry out a motor test before stick the props on and going outside and fly.

Dave

OBTW. this whole process has taken a couple of hours to double check and test every step of the way.. dont rush it.

 

[Bartman]

OK Almost forgot..

Make sure you carry out a motor test before stick the props on and going outside and fly.

Dave

OBTW. this whole process has taken a couple of hours to double check and test every step of the way.. dont rush it.

thanks for posting all that Dave. I'll be sure to follow it to the letter.