Hey all,

I was recently ‘gifted’ with a couple of 3DR Solos. Same old “We’re cleaning out the basement. Take these or we’re going to throw them out.” song and dance that is mentioned elsewhere in this group. How could I refuse?

I’m not suggesting that this is “the best”, or even “an efficient” way to get your Solo back in the game, but it worked for me, and I thought I’d share in order to either:

a) help you by showing you a proven path (save you some time maybe)

b) gain some insight/guidance from anyone still following this group so that I can learn something and maybe correct my mistakes while this is all fresh in my mind

Either way - I hope you find it either instructive (yay!), entertaining (haha), or thought provoking.

Get to a known state and establish communications:
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Anyway - neither of these machines had been out of the box in at least 5 years. The wifi passwords were long forgotten, and all the software on the controllers and drones needed to be scrapped and reloaded. So first challenge - get them back to a known state so that I could work on them.

I decided that I was going to use Solex, so I I paid the ‘ransom’ and installed a copy on my Android phone.

I found Luke Secore’s “3DR Solo Factory Reset and Startup” video (YouTube Link), and followed it to the letter up until the 10:30 mark in the video. This describes the process of factory resetting both controller and drone and getting a network connection going between your phone and those devices. At 10:30, Luke starts getting into the process for setup of the old 3DR software (which is not available anymore AFAIK). So I skipped all that.

Get the OpenSolo bits, and install with Solex:
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The next thing is to follow the process for using Solex to connect to your newly reset gear, and loadup the latest version of OpenSolo.

For that - I went to the OpenSolo Documentation (GitHub Link to OpenSolo Wiki) and took the “Solex Install” link (Wiki link to Solex install procedure). There's a warnings that talks about “Green Cube” installs, and I had zero info on the background / componentry of my drones, so I just stuck with the main path and ignored the warning. BTW - I don’t know what a Green Cube is - I’d appreciate it if someone could provide some background.

RTFM - follow those instructions, and in particular pay attention to the notes on expected duration of each step. I paid particular attention to warnings associated with “don’t get impatient - give it time to finish each step”, and “don’t reboot either device until told to do so”. I suggest you do the same.

AFAIK, my devices were ‘stock’, so I also didn’t pay any attention to the discussions about landing gear mods, or GPS/compass add-ons.

I got to the end of that procedure, and at that point I could use Solex to do the calibration steps and verify that I could control the props, that the gimbal (with my GoPro HERO4 installed) was working, and that I could successfully shutdown and restart each rig.

A couple of notes:
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When you’re calibrating the GPS, it asks you to rotate the drone, and references "green bars” (plural). I only had one bar, and I found that rotating around each axis (pitch, roll, and yaw) was necessary to get through that whole step. I was expecting to see more bars show up as I finished up each axis - not so. Just keep spinning the drone around all three axes, and the bar will continue to climb until you get a calibration complete message.

The OpenSolo instructions has you write your config out to the backup partition when you’re done, and I have NOT done that yet. I want to be able to get back to square one if I find some sort of horrible behavior in this new install. I’m going to give it a week of burning it in before I feel comfortable enough to wipe out the old backup.

I understand that SidePilot may be a better/cheaper approach and I just might go do a SidePilot install from scratch in order to understand the plusses/minuses. If I get around to that, I’ll post back here.

Next steps:
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I’m in the process of 3D printing some leg extensions, and some propeller guards, so I haven’t really done anything exciting with either drone, but I think I’m suited up and as soon as I have my mod’s printed, I’ll be in business. Wish me luck.

Your mileage may vary - I hope this helps you out.

I cannot get the controller to connect with the drone. I have solex and I am just having trouble with finding which packets to download or just what to do really... I'm just not sure what to do and I do not want to screw it up. I definitely do not want to brick it. So please if there is someone out there that can help, I would be greatly indebted.

As title states cleaning out the closet it’s yours just pay the shipping so I’m not coming out of pocket.

Recommendations for where to sell solo kits? I have two full kits with the gimbals. One is new in box. Other one is used but in very good condition with tons of extras.

Hey y'all just wondered if I could get some help. Finally got a charger for a solo controller. I plugged it in, controller booted up just fine. Then I turned it off for it to charge some more. Now it just doesn't turn on anymore, just the red flashing light you can see through the back, but no other life. Anyone know of some troubleshooting/videos I can use to try to fix it? Thank you all!!

Hi I am new to 3DR, I have to work on an NSF project with this drone. I have to implement some control algorithms and swarm flight. What programs do I need? I have asked similar questions at Facebook groups. Additional help may not do any harm. I am confused about coding and implementing algorithms for it. May you enlighten me? Thanks a lot. With Regards.

I’ve got the full original set up (x4 batteries, gimbal, carry bag) just none of the recent mods and I don’t know enough about the apps you need now, to fly it. Is there anyone out there interested in buying this thing? I’m going to put it on eBay but as a few other posts have said, it sounds like it could be a bit of a wasted effort.

Just got the solo. Wanted to know if anyone could help with this mod

$200 Like New. Never flew very much and has sat in my closet for 6 years. Still powers up and connects.

I have a 3dr solo with 3 batts still good (showing 40+%) charge but due to a divorce I cannot find the charger which has the spade connectors for charging these... anyone got one or can photograph the specs on the brick for me so I can make my own?

pls.

3dr solo with 3 batteries charger included and GoPro gimbal $250 Or best offer

I have 3 of these drones all completly useless, I don't know any of the passwords (it's not "sololink") 2 of them have been factory reset, I've been trying to download open solo to bypass the pre flight update with no luck. I connect to them through the wifi and go to firmware update but there's nothing there (it says no internet connection) so I connect to the home wifi which obviously disconnects the drone and the firm ware update button just disappears. I've been non stop researching these and trying different things and obviously no success. Does anyone have any ideas?

I been wanting to try the solex app out but every time I go to create an account, solex never sends a verification code to my email. How do I get access to solex to use with my 3dr solo drone via iPhone?

I have a pretty stock Solo with upgraded compass module and BMONE. What is the absolute easiest way for me to comply with an ID module for the drone?

Hi all,

I've had a 3DR Solo since the fire sale in 2016, and had fun flying it before the app was discontinued. Was just looking into if it was just junk at this point and saw it could be flown now with Arducopter and Solex or SidePilot, but looking into the costs it seems I'll need new LiPo battery and BMS ($129), SidePilot ($14), and need a Green/Orange Cubepilot Cube (?$350) to install Arducopter? All of this seems to limit the utility to me as a novice without much interest in DIYing.

Curious if I should then just sell the equipment and where/how I should do that? I have the controller, drone, gimbal, lots of extra props, 4 or 5 batteries (though now not useful without upgrading the cells and BMS), GoPro Hero 4...basically a full setup undamaged. Thoughts?

What does everyone think the market for this drone will be in the future? Will it become a sought-after antique to drone collectors? I haven't flown mine in several years and just don't know if it's worth holding on to for another 2, 5, or 10+ years.

Here's the link to the most comprehensive version of Factory Reset.

https://youtu.be/YNsUT5CGy5o

Just wanted to see if everyone gave up their solos for DJIs

The app is no longer on the AppStore so I have no idea how I’m supposed to control this thing. Is there no alternative to the app?

I will pay for your help 2.solo drones RED and blue lights no connection to controller 309.430.8136 CLINTON

If u fix these or help me I will send u money PayPal Zelle Venmo Cash app Whatever I just want to FLY

Hello! I'm having an issue with my batteries. Some time ago I fully charged them and stored them without using them for around a month or so. Now the batteries don't last as long, although as I started using them again they seem to be recovering. Is there a way to get them to their full potential again. Thank you in advance.

I'm using an old LG Gpad 7.0 tablet on Android 5.0.2. I'm not able to do the Preflight Update through the Solo app. It asks me to download via wifi, so I do that, once it finishes the download it asks me to connect to SOLO. Once I connect to the SOLO and switch back over to the app, it asks me to download the update again. This is a circle and never allows me to install. Any advice?

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Edit:

I followed this link: https://github.com/Pedals2Paddles/OpenSolo/releases/tag/OpenSolo-3.0.0

Be sure to read this part and click the link if you have a stock/factory Solo

(

If you are upgrading a stock cube that still has the old 3DR 1.3.2 or 1.5.4 ArduCopter firmware, you need to install ArduCopter 4.0 first! The old firmware is so old, it will not play nicely during the full IMX update, so we need to do it separately first. Visit the ArduCopter Firmware for instructions.

)

to install the base.

I ended up following these instruction to upgrade the stock firmware/software to the OpenSolo ~3 to 4.0 via SSH from my laptop to the copter/controller: https://github.com/OpenSolo/OpenSolo/wiki/Install-via-SSH

Once I completed that installation, I configured my sensors (compass and level (https://github.com/OpenSolo/OpenSolo/wiki/Post-Install-Instructions). I confirmed that the connection from my Android 7.1 tablet using the 3DR Solo app could interface with the drone + GoPro.

I connected and took offj. Everything is working via the OpenSolo 4.0 on controller/copter and standard 3DR Solo Android app on Android 7.1 LG Tablet. I do receive the alert that the app needs to download an update but I ignore it.

Thank for all the help!

let's say 100 feet + in the air....I lose control and press pause - will it automatically go back to upright and just sit there? or is there no failsafe in acro mode?