BAD DCM Heading error with AC 3.2

I have a F450 quad with APM 2.6 AC3.2. Recently I'm getting BAD DCM Heading error and the copter goes into LAND mode. This is happening very frequently. I have mounted my GPS Compass on a mast. I didn't face this problem earlier. Compassmot showed mag interference of 3%. So what is causing this? Pls help me in identifying problem.

Bad Heading.jpg

2014-12-24 12-00-29.log

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  • It's probably worth checking simple things like prop balance, motor alignment - I think those things will remove normal high frequency vibs but not more pathalogical mechanical vibs

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  • Some time ago I had problems with little bolts inside the cage, they were magnetized by a screwdriver and give me many headhache up I discover, here You have a compass discussion look if something is usefull for you. http://diydrones.com/group/arducopterusergroup/forum/topics/compass...

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    • Sorry for replying late. Yes! I have solved the problem by raising the height of GPS by few inches and with proper compass & compass mot calibration. Now it flies fine.

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        • I also which I knew what caused your flyaway. I had a similar thing which resulted in a nasty crash. I'm guessing in my case that perhaps it gave up on the compass heading and switched to the GPS, but who knows...

        • So I had a look at the code, as your situation is fairly similar to mine. ErrYaw is determined by comparing the compass heading with the inertial solution (unless you are going over a certain speed in which case GPS might get used). Ergo ErrYaw increasing is either because your compass is giving bad readings or because the inertial solution is wrong (determined via IMU readings). So the things to check are compass interference and vibrations. Neither of these look bad to me from your logs, so I'm not sure what to suggest. I would definitely try 3.1.5 to see if that's any better and I would definitely look at the mounting of your APM - is it mounted suitably? I wish there was an easy way of determining what's wrong! I had a patch accepted for 3.3 which allows you to see the compass health - which would have caught my issues, but I'm not sure what else could be checked.

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            • I think the zip ties will be a problem - your logs are not showing obvious vibs, but you must certainly have some. See whether the foam makes a difference.
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                • I'm not convinced lifting the copter is a valid test, but I don't know for sure.

                  However, in this latest log you have vibration problems - look at IMU->GyrY. It's going up to 10 at times. It needs to be generally less than 3. On my pixhawk the vibs are down at 1 or so, spiking to 2. Have a look at other things than the APM mounting - are the motors pointing up, are they running smoothly etc, etc.

                  One other thing I notice is that the copter looks underpowered. Look at RCOUT 1-4 - there is clipping in the output as it goes to maximum. I'm not sure this would cause your issues, but it might be contributing.

                  Did you try 3.1.5

                  • Sorry my my bad - IMU->AccY, NOT IMU->GyrY

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      • Likely culprit is the compass (bad compass, loose wire, poor calibration). But you should post a log.

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