I’m at the point of absolutely not recommending any DJI product. They fly well and have some good photo / video capability. But the DJI system for accounts, ownership and updates is absolutely insane and IMHO, onerous.
While waiting for support with our account addled drones, I took out two brand new units. There are firmware updates, it wants login information, it goes on and on. I’ve flown actual f**ing aircraft less complicated! It is simply not possible to just un-box and fly it without having to accede to DJI’s control over everything.
Is this our future? Products that can’t perform their basic goddam functions without a linked email address or phone number? DJI seems to justify all of this for “safety” reasons, which I say is complete BS. At least in the U.S., there are clearly defined rules about how and where to fly and an actual FAA license is required for commercial operations. So “safety” is on the pilot.
Maybe I’m living in a bygone era, but I think that after spending $800 we should be able to take the thing out of the box and use it without all this nonsense.
So… any recommendations on more user-friendly drones?
IME DJI drones have probably the best cameras and tech for the money. In the past I’ve checked out Autel drones, they might not be any easier, but they were less intrusive.
I don’t have first-hand experience with Autel, just pointing out a seemingly viable alternative to DJI. Every other type of copter seemed to not have the distance, flight time, and/or camera capabilities of DJI.
From my research and reading reviews the consensus seemed to be Autel wasn’t as intrusive/restrictive with things like no-fly zones, leaving it more up to the discretion of the pilot. I didn’t have the impression they were overall easier to fly though, just different.
It takes some getting used to things before you’re a good drone pilot. I found it best to have a checklist that I go through before each flight. There is a lot to consider if you want to have a safe and successful flight. This is one such checklist for a DJI Mavic Mini, mine wasn’t as comprehensive as that: Pre Departure and Preflight Checklist . | DJI FORUM
Christmas is approaching, so I just bought The Missus a Potensic ATOM SE GPS Drone with 4K EIS Camera based on the price and 3,500 mostly-positive reviews. I wanted to get her a Bwine F7 because it looks more capable, but it requires registration and a license. So I’ve paid my money and took my pick. I hope it works out.
Question about the FAA license: Is it a separate license? Or would it be added to my Private Pilot Certificate?
There’s no license required of recreational flyers. The only license requirement is if you’re doing your flying for profit. Registration is also pretty trivial. It’s $5 for 3 years and it’s all online.
I doubt your private pilots license has any bearing on the commercial drone license since there are a lot of drone specific rules but you don’t need it.
The FAA license is for commercial operations, but even recreational drone pilots are now meant to have some training in the form of the FAA TRUST exam.
Also, if you’re already a private pilot, the Part 107 license for commercial drone operations is just an online course. But non-pilots have to take the knowledge test in person at a testing center.
No, the drone license is separate. Looks just like any other FAA pilot license.
As for the registration, it depends on weight and / or type of operation. The weight cutoff is .55 pounds / 250 grams and above that the drone must be registered. But if used for commercial ops, the drone must be registered regardless of weight.
Sadly, mine now lies at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, but for different reasons. It was an old Autel Xstar that I used for surf fishing. It got tangled in the line about 100 yards out and plunged into the water (RIP). The video app for it was orphaned and glitchy, and I was on the last battery (stopped making them), so it wasn’t a huge loss.
I’ve ordered a SwellPro, which is salt-waterproof, floats, and supposedly can right itself should it fall upside down in the drink. Manufacturer claims it’s flyable in 40k winds, which is a great improvement over the old one. It has a max loaded weight of 10 lbs., so definitely will need to register this one too.
Looking forward to beach fishing again. Sucks to be droneless right now.
There’s a nearby quarry, the public isn’t allowed into (swim) or on (boats) but they can use the small fishing pier at the near end. Since everyone casts in the same small area all fishing happens in the 30’-ish from the pier.
We pull up one day & start getting our stuff out to dive when a feller walks up to us & asks us if we can recover his drone. Apparently, he got the brilliant idea to use his drone to send his fishing line out further & catch the fish in their ‘safe area’. We already have a training plan for the day & we want a little bit more from him than “over thataway” with a hand waive to even consider searching for it. Just as the first diver gets into the water we hear an anguished cry! He Did It AGAIN! I know this one was a DJI because I saw it, Mavic 2, if I remember correctly, which doesn’t have a release on it. You think he’d learn after one, but nope, he just splashed a second one. (That one we did help him to recover as it was easy in that it was still attached to the line but was under the dock.)