Hello GoPro Karma Pilot!
Join our Go Pro Karma community today!
Sign up

New Karma drone, won't initialise

cbaileyuk

Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2018
Messages
16
Reaction score
7
Age
53
Hi all,

I took advantage of the 40% off deal for a Karma drone and it arrived yesterday. I charged everything up, all lights looking good (i.e. fully charged) but when I power the drone on, the red and green lights light up but the gimbal doesn't spin nor will the controller connect to it. Also, I cannot power it off with the power switch - I have to pull the battery.

It seems like it is not initialising at all. I have called GoPro and they think the fault may be with the battery. I have agreed to let them send me a replacement battery but I am not convinced at all. The battery I have here looks like it is fully charged so I am not sure why another battery would make any difference.

Has this happened to any other owners? Have you heard of the failure to initialise and not switch off before? It appears that the unit is DOA to me.
 
I'll keep you all posted. The battery is due to arrive today but I do not expect it to fix the issue. I think the drone itself is not working - obviously can't be certain but it is all pointing that way.
 
Replacement battery has arrived (I saw UPS on CCTV). I'll let you all know tonight :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shon
Absolutely, categorically, still does NOT work.

This is (as expected) NOT a problem with the battery. The next test is the body (core) - I have to send this one back then they will replace it. That may take over two weeks :(

Considering the item is brand new and I have bought it direct, pretty shitty situation. I really want this drone yet it is a proving painful.

Just packing the body up now and completing the RMA process :(
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shon
Absolutely, categorically, still does NOT work.

This is (as expected) NOT a problem with the battery. The next test is the body (core) - I have to send this one back then they will replace it. That may take over two weeks :(

Considering the item is brand new and I have bought it direct, pretty shitty situation. I really want this drone yet it is a proving painful.

Just packing the body up now and completing the RMA process :(

Can you take it back and get it replaced where you bought it? Sorry this is happening to you, best regards.
 
Hi there,

I bought it directly from GoPro and they are managing the swap out. I think they should have just asked me to send the whole package back and replace it with a new package but they have had me sending individual bits and bobs to them. That's the most annoying part.

The core body is on its way back to the Netherlands right now and they are going to replace that but I am told that process may take two weeks. If that doesn't fix it then it only leaves the stabiliser to replace. By the time I get to fly it, I expect GoPro will had had my payment for over a month, maybe five weeks.

I have flown DJI for a long while and never had this. I wanted a Karma when they were on the discounted sale but even though they are cheaper, it should still work ;)
 
The replacement is on its way back to me. Should be with me tomorrow. I will report in when tested to see if this has resolved the issue.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shon
Hi there,

I bought it directly from GoPro and they are managing the swap out. I think they should have just asked me to send the whole package back and replace it with a new package but they have had me sending individual bits and bobs to them. That's the most annoying part.

The core body is on its way back to the Netherlands right now and they are going to replace that but I am told that process may take two weeks. If that doesn't fix it then it only leaves the stabiliser to replace. By the time I get to fly it, I expect GoPro will had had my payment for over a month, maybe five weeks.

I have flown DJI for a long while and never had this. I wanted a Karma when they were on the discounted sale but even though they are cheaper, it should still work ;)

I quite agree. :(
 
In other news, I flew the Mavic 2 Pro last night, that is a brilliant drone with truly bonkers range.

I'll keep you all posted on the Karma progress :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shon
The box from GoPro has arrived....I've seen it from my CCTV. I won't be able to update until 7pm :(

INCOMING!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shon
Right, where do I start....

The drone now connects to the controller. That is fine. The controller, via WiFi, is able to update the drone. Some progress. This drone switches on and off as it should. Much improved from the original one. The controller sees everything attached EXCEPT the camera....

The camera is not detected by the drone, nor does the stabiliser operate at all! I have tried two Hero 6 cameras in the harness, both act the same. So, this is a new battery, new drone core, but original stabiliser/harness. All firmware updated.

It can only be the harness at fault now. So that will be everything swapped. Each item swapped I, taking weeks to resolve from an original purchase from GoPro. Not even managed to fly one second. A pretty dreadful experience to be entirely blunt.
 
And....go pro want me to send the stabiliser back now. So thats every item swapped, individually.

No wonder DJI are dominating this market. I've never had a fault with any of their drones. This has been truly dreadful, I shouldn't have bothered.
 
And....go pro want me to send the stabiliser back now. So thats every item swapped, individually.

No wonder DJI are dominating this market. I've never had a fault with any of their drones. This has been truly dreadful, I shouldn't have bothered.
Wow... that is awful! I had a bad harness (connects the camera to the stabilizer) they kept telling me it would take a week to replace, it actually took longer than three. I wasn’t able to use my Karma on a trip I really wanted to use it on. It’s only a $30 part, and was available via Amazon Prime in two days. Had I known how long it would take, I would have just purchased an extra harness online. I mean... I’d already spent hundreds on my trip, what’s an extra $30?
 
They've sent me a new stabiliser so hopefully that will fix matters for me. I'll update you when I receive it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shon

New Posts

Members online

No members online now.

Forum statistics

Threads
1,039
Messages
7,641
Members
2,566
Latest member
BTFLYS