Using the 7th channel on the DJI Phantom 2 Vision

The DJI Phantom 2 Vision is a fun to fly, but there are a few frustrations. One of them is the fact that you have to use your phone to move the pitch of the camera. It is fiddly and feels unnatural given that all the other flight controls are on the transmitter. If only I could move the camera by means of a control on the transmitter. Now I can, and this is how I did it.

On the back of the transmitter there are two holes that provide access to a couple of potentiometers. The bottom potentiometer switches the transmitter power between CE compliance and FCC compliance. The unit comes with CE compliance set, but a minute with a screwdriver changes that to FCC compliance which gives more range; so that’s something I did when I first received the unit. You can tell which mode is set when you turn on the transmitter, one beep means CE, two beeps means FCC.

The top hole provides access to a potentiometer that controls the mysterious seventh channel. It’s mysterious because it apparently changes the camera pitch; but is disabled on the Phantom Vision 2. If only there was a way of initialising it. There is, but first we need to install a lever to move the potentiometer.

There are a number of offerings out there; but I thought it best to go with the official DJI switch.

I bought mine from Helipal for $9.90 and their service was excellent. Dispatched immediately and I then received regular mails advising me of the tracking status.

Installation is simple. Remove the back of the transmitter (you have to pull the back down to slide it out from the collar around the antenna); and then insert the metal rod into the upper potentiometer hole in the back panel. Replace the back panel, making sure you haven’t trapped any wires. Remove the double sided tape cover from the small plastic plate and stick it on the cover, place the lever on the rod and screw it in place. Finished!

There, wasn’t that easy? Problem is, nothing happens when you move the lever because you still have to enable that elusive 7th channel. For this you will need a PC (not a Mac) and a utility.

Being a Mac user, I had to head off into the unpleasant world of Windows 7 on Bootcamp; and then I download this file. Unpack the file and you are ready to run the utility. Plug your Phantom into your PC via a USB cable and then turn it on (Transmitter and repeater first, as usual). Once the Phantom is turned on, you can run the utility. The utility presents you with two options, “Vision” and “H3 2D”; and the Vision box is ticked. Click to change the selection to H3 2D and that will turn on the 7th channel. Close the utility, you are finished with it (you can use it again to turn off the 7th channel in future should you wish to do so, just select “Vision”).

Almost done, but you need to calibrate the lever before you can use it. With the Vision still connected, start up the Phantom 2 Vision Assistant Software V1.08. If you don’t already have this, you can get it here; Windows users also need to download a driver.

Click the Basic tab and then the button to start X1 calbration:

Move the lever across the full range of travel a few times to calibrate, then turn off the Assistant and close down your Phantom. You now have a working camera pitch lever (and the camera pitch controls on your phone will no longer operate).

One of the unexpected benefits for me was an increased range on the camera pitch. It now moves further, both up and down, than it did before. Maybe I could have achieved this by playing around in the software; but having more range is very useful.

Now I need a modification that will allow me to take photos via a control on the transmitter; but that is probably going to have to wait for an upgrade in functionality.

Comments 🔗

2014-03-30 | bruce says

What if i do not have x1 on my assistant software where you showed us with the red circle

2014-03-30 | Spike says

Are you in Naza mode? I think that may make a difference.

2014-03-30 | bruce says

Yes, but I think i might have found the problem, I have P2V, someone told me that it is shut off on the P2V. i did try it in both phantom and naza mode.

2014-03-30 | Spike says

As you will see from the photos above; I have a P2V…. But you have to download the utility and change mode from Vision to H3 2D, as described in the article. Did you do that?

2014-03-30 | bruce says

Thanks for the help, got it going.

2014-03-31 | Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) says

I’m impressed with all the extra things you have been doing with the Phantom 2 Visions. I’m still using it straight out of the box. A bit nervous about playing around with it like you have.

2014-03-31 | Spike says

And I am impressed with all the great photos you have taken. I should spend less time dicking around with the machine and more time using it! The 7th channel thingie is a nice to have, but moving to NAZA mode and the Home Lock feature might save you from a loss one day.

2014-04-09 | **** says

Do you have a solution to make the 7th channel work with the new version 3.00 firmware?

2014-04-10 | Spike says

Yes, don’t install the firmware. It seems to be causing a number of problems; I am not going near it.

2014-04-11 | sawatdee67 says

I just flew the quadcopter for the first time since the app on the iPhone updated. Now I’m seeing a noticeable time lag between what the camera on the quadcopter is pointing at and what i see on the iPhone. Do you have this problem? I haven’t updated the firmware yet. I notice on the app there is an extra icon for the WiFi extender. i think it is supposed to show % of battery used. But it doesn’t. I presume I have to update the firmware to see that. I was about to do that when I noticed your comment.

2014-05-08 | Milco says

I almost got it working… however……; If I check H32D, and in the app I calibrate is, it works like a charm……

When I turn of the Phantom, and then back on again, it is reset to " vision…."

I did upgrade to firmware 3.02. Is there any way to get it permanently working….?

regards, Milco

2014-05-08 | Spike says

I think you need to have both the phone and the Phantom updated for them to work together. I have not installed the updates due to the problems people are having.

2014-05-08 | Spike says

My understanding is that it just won’t work with the new firmware. Maybe DJI will produce another firmware update that will resolve this. Meantime I am staying with the old firmware.

2014-05-14 | Keith says

Spike; which firmware are you using. My p2 vision should be here tomorrow and I do not want problems. prpk78@gmail.com

2014-05-15 | Spike says

If your Phantom comes with the latest version firmware; then you will not be able to use this fix. If you have the older firmware; just don’t upgrade and you should be OK.

2014-05-17 | anomac says

Great article. Can I apply it to my P2V+? Question, I just fired up my Mac version of the PT2 software and it shows the X1 Calibration. Does this mean that it should take the switch? Not sure if this will display but here is the screen shot. http://blueskydesign.net.au/images/img/x1Calib.jpg

Yes i am in Phantom mode. Absolute Newbie. After some confidence runs I will switch over. Box arrived last night and today it’s blowing a gale here in Bali.

FYI. Tried the helipal.com link and it’s dead.

2014-06-15 | Jerry says

Question repeat… does this work with the Vision +? Thx

2014-07-04 | Christopher says

Yes, it works with the Phantom 2 Vision Plus the same way. I have also all software updated to the newest version and I am using the Phantom in NAZA mode. All works as described here.

Without calibration, there is much greater range of movement of the lever. I have modified the lever so that it can move full 180 degrees for increased sensitivity of controlling the camera tilt.

2014-07-07 | Carlos says

It works with Vision Plus just until you turn on the DJI Vision app! Or buying the (expensive) DronExpert 7th channel activation kit…

2014-07-27 | Huett Gary says

So…does it work with the Phantom 2 Vision + in Phantom mode and/or NAZA mode? Does the DJI Vision app override it and inhibit it? What software are you running?

2014-07-28 | Bill says

Christopher, can you give some details on how your modified the lever, I’m assuming the pot, without checking it, will move 180.

2014-08-02 | Glen says

Do you know if this will work on the P2 Vision plus?

2014-08-11 | Alwyn says

Hallo guys.

Have anyone tested this on the latest version of the firmware? (3.06)

Would LOVE to get this function working, but if this is not supported on the later version, it might not be worth it.

Thanks! :)

2014-08-13 | John says

It won’t work on v3.06, darn it!

2014-08-21 | Martín La Rosa (@MartinLaRosa) says

What about Phantom 1? I see the X1 in the calibration, but when i turn the dial with a screwdriver it doesn’t move. It is always in -1000 until I get to the most right where it starts jumping all the way from -1000 to 1000 and vicevesa very quickly.

2014-09-26 | Bård Hansen says

Hi. Great info! Do you know if it is possible to use the 7th channel when the gimbal from rotorpixel is installed?