07 October 2024

Drone pilots using DJI’s 03 Unit with Goggles 3 are facing a serious issue, as highlighted by recent tests. If signal loss occurs, the 03 Unit fails to reconnect with Goggles 3—raising significant safety concerns. This issue has been confirmed across multiple 03 units and firmware updates, showing no sign of improvement.

Key Findings

The problem doesn’t exist when pairing the 03 Unit with Goggles 2. In testing, the Goggles 3 attempt to reestablish connection but fail to re-sync fully, despite clear communication between the devices. The unit appears to go into “polling mode”, hopping frequencies in search of the goggles, but a full reconnection never happens.

While some users speculated that the issue may be power-related or connected to the frequency scanning process, current evidence suggests it may be a firmware or authentication issue with the Goggles 3. DJI has not yet confirmed the exact cause.

Safety Risks and Recommendations

Due to the inability of the 03 Unit to reconnect after a signal drop, continuing to fly with this setup is unsafe. Losing connection during flight could result in an inability to recover the drone mid-air, which could lead to accidents or damage to the drone. Until a firmware fix is provided by DJI, it is strongly advised not to fly the 03 Unit with Goggles 3.

Next Steps

DJI has been alerted to this problem, and users are advised to stay updated for further announcements. In the meantime, pilots should revert to using Goggles 2 or other combinations that do not exhibit these critical issues.

Final Takeaway: For now, DJI 03 Unit and Goggles 3 should not be flown together, as the potential for signal loss without reconnection makes it a dangerous setup for both new and experienced pilots alike.

What Is Polling Mode?

In the context of DJI’s systems, polling mode refers to a process where, after a signal drop, the 03 Unit begins hopping between different frequencies in an attempt to reestablish connection with the Goggles. Instead of staying on the original frequency, it switches through various channels, “polling” the environment, and signaling the goggles to reconnect. This process continues until a connection is reestablished. However, with the Goggles 3, the 03 Unit’s polling fails to result in a full reconnection, which is why it poses such a safety risk.