To drone or not to drone?

Lots O Fords

I did a lot of research too. My first drone was bought so I could use when I made a training video. The DJI phantom is a huge drone.

I'm sure with all your research you have also added the "air aware" app.
For those who don't know it let's you know if you are in an area that you can fly. It will tell you if you can or can't.

I follow the rules too. At least close enough I can see em.. LoL

If you're flying in approved air space, under weight and following the rules of the test you took I would hope your good, because that's how I fly mostly. I did register with FAA because of batteries.

I would like to think that those who get nailed are doing stupid stuff like posting video of flying over a crowd or "look at this heard of buffalo I shot in Yellowstone"

Yeah that is my thought as well.. But I always try and dig deep into stuff like this to understand it. The entire purpose of these sub 250 gram drones is to make it easy for people like me to recreationally use one within established, easy to follow guidelines..

They are anything but.. Numerous 107 certified pilots have given me a wide range of responses to what should be a simple to answer question.

I am not hating on them for the different opinions, it just shows the complexity of trying to navigate the rules and regs..

TechnicalDisaster

@raqball has littered this thread with hyberbole and stubborn misinformation - be careful of what you think you gleaned from his rants. The drone hobby wouldn't exist if it was half as difficult as he is making out.

If someone is interested in the hobby - please seek advice elsewhere. Let this thread be an example of what happens when you stubbornly refuse to use resources that are designed to help you. Find a drone enthusiast group and work from there. A part 107 study guide can be found for $20-30 on amazon. It is not expensive to pick up a copy and learn a fact or two. Even if you don't apply for your license, you will at least know how to operate your drone safely and legally.

Peace out.

I don't want to put out the wrong impression, nothing that was said by anyone here has swayed my desire for a drone. In fact, all this talk has fueled my desire for one even more. But as I mentioned previously, buying a $1000 worth of stuff and only using it a few times a year has kinda put a pause on the purchase just like its done in the past and will in the future. Still batting around the same thing on a new GoPro. Use it several times a year and make awesome videos that I'll only watch once and then get archived. 😆

As I see it, here are the issues and possible solutions for my use:

• Buy a study guide for the part 107 test
  • Prices range from $30 on Amazon to $150 at most other places. The higher priced ones guarantee passing or they refund you. The Amazon ones look to be paper guides while the others are videos with practice test etc.
  • Pay $150 to take the part 107 test

Okay cool, you've studied and passed the test now what?

• Your sub 250 gram drone does not broadcast a unique ID
  • The Skyrover X1 does not - now you need buy and install a remote ID module
  • The DJI Mini 4 Pro will only broadcast a remote ID with a larger battery or a remote ID module. Now you need to either buy a larger battery or buy a remote ID module
  • No clue about other sub 250 drones. If they do not broadcast a remote ID then you'd need to buy a remote ID module

Okay cool, you've done all that and now have a remote ID:

• Register the drone with the FAA
• Put a marking of some sort on the outside of the drone with the registration #
• Take another test every 2 years to keep the license.. The renewal test are free, for now, best I can tell.

If I wanted to do all of the above just so I could simply check trail conditions ahead while recording a GPS track for onX then I would have just purchased a larger drone, with more battery life, a better camera and that might be more stable to fly.

I dunno, this is where my research and questions have led me to thus far..

I sent the FAA an email through their online contact form with my question. We will see if they respond and what they respond with.

Contact the FAA here: (you can also call them but I want a written response)

https://uas-support.faa.gov/s/

My personal plan, until I hear back from the FAA, will be to: Stop recording the track >> Delete the track >> Launch drone to scout ahead.

It's not the end of the world if I do not capture the track. I can always circle back and get it another time.

Here is my question to the FAA and their response.. Based on the FAA's response, I am going to stick with my original plan of:

If I need to launch the drone to check trail conditions ahead AND I am recording a GPS track for onX at that time:

1. Stop recording for onX
2. Delete the track from onX system
3. Launch drone to check trail conditions ahead

But ---> I actually think that I might be okay to do both at the same time. Why?

Read the third and last paragraphs in their response.

I am not posting the video, or photos, taken by the drone to or for onX. I have no intention of using the media from the drone anywhere to promote onX or generate revenue for onX..

Here are the email screenshots: I really wish they would have just answered questions 1 and 2 in my email. Instead they danced around those direct questions and gave me a rather vague and ambiguous response. Even with the FAA chiming in, I am no closer to knowing or understanding IF I can do both at the same time as a recreational user, so I surrender..

My original email question: (screenshot)



The FAA's response: (screenshot)

Don't worry , if you land in jail we'll get you out. Do they take crypto?
Don't drop the soap.

My Skyrover X1 purchase gets weirder.. I sent them a message asking for a return label and they asked why I wanted to return it. I tell them because they refunded me out of the blue but the drone still arrived and was delivered.

They tell me to contact Amazon about the refund so I do.. Amazon says Skyrover refunded me and to contact them.. It was not a ships from Amazon purchase..

Round and round I go....

I guess I will just take it to a FedEx Store and write 'return to sender' on the box with a sharpie and see if they will accept it, and mail it back to the address that's on the original shipping label... 🤷

DJI is definitely the brand to go with .. I have been flying them for over 10 years, starting with a Phantom... now, I have a Mavic 2 Pro (with the Hasselblad lens) and a Mini 3 Pro .. honestly, I use the Mini 3 Pro more - it's super small, great battery life, images are good when you shoot in Raw ... it's very transportable, I've taken it to Italy, Scotland, Ireland and Spain. It's a ton of fun to get different perspectives when off-roading, and adds a lot of variety to your videos.

Calgecko

DJI is definitely the brand to go with .. I have been flying them for over 10 years, starting with a Phantom... now, I have a Mavic 2 Pro (with the Hasselblad lens) and a Mini 3 Pro .. honestly, I use the Mini 3 Pro more - it's super small, great battery life, images are good when you shoot in Raw ... it's very transportable, I've taken it to Italy, Scotland, Ireland and Spain. It's a ton of fun to get different perspectives when off-roading, and adds a lot of variety to your videos.

Yeah, the overall consensus is DJI or bust.. The issue right now is there are very few available here in the US and the ones that are, the scalpers are selling them for twice the price.

Apparently there was a Specta Air that was basically a DJI Air 3. It was thought to be an officially licensed DJI drone. Specta sold a bunch of drones then vanished, never to be seen again.

Now there is the Skyrover X1 that is basically a DJI Mini 4 Pro. It is also thought to be an officially licensed DJI drone but will they do the same thing that Specta did?

I have the Skyrover X1 here, in hand, that is still BNIB. Skyrover refunded me, for some unknown reason, but the drone was still delivered.

Thinking that the Skyrover X1 package would be recalled, I found and ordered an official DJI Mini 4 Pro at retail pricing. It was a 3rd party seller but said it ships from Amazon. The DJI has not officially shipped yet but It said delivery by Saturday so I'll see how that goes.

Apparently, DJI Care has also been axed in the US. The best I can tell, DJI Care in the US is no longer available to be purchased even if you were to buy a brand new DJI drone today. I read a reddit post where someone said DJI Care actually shipped them a replacement drone for their lost one but that it had been sitting in US customs for 3+ months.

The US drone market appears to be a mess right now. I have been interested in them for a few years but never purchased because I didn't think I'd use it much. I finally decide to buy one at the worst possible time..

Sorry, but I am back on this line of the discussion.. Maybe for the last time (???)..

I do realize the situation I previously described is unique and that others may not encounter such issues but I believe my scenario of wanting to GPS track a trail for onX and use a sub 250 gram drone to scout trail conditions ahead could be useful for other situations.

Something like: Did you get free gear, or even a discount on that gear from a company. You then take aerial footage that shows the gear and you post that footage to that companies website, on social media where you tag them or whatever.

I am probably overthinking all this but it's what I do especially when potential FAA fines can reach ginormous amounts of money..

Here is a pretty good response that I received elsewhere from another part 107 licensed pilot.. Identities (they are real names) have been blacked out so they are not accused of providing hyperbole and misinformation. I'm sharing it because in my mind, it's a well reasoned take to the FAA's response that I received.



I know, I know, stop beating a dead horse but I just can't..

The anti fun police have been attacking radio control for years.
Just go have fun and don't worry about the Karens.

Foxtrot Bravo

The anti fun police have been attacking radio control for years.
Just go have fun and don't worry about the Karens.

I agree but the FAA fines are no joke!

I am not worried about the Karens as I am generally solo and out in the middle of nowhere..

I really blame the irresponsible people that came before me.. If they didn't think it would be cool a to drag race a 747 at an airport then perhaps all these rules and regs would be less than what they currently are.

The same holds true for trail slobs and people who decide to make their own path, causing damage and destruction in their wake when off-roading..

The question was previously posed, why not buy a study guided take the part 107?

• Study guide that guarantees passage or refund = $160 (there might be cheaper options)
  • Pilot Institute Study Guide
• FAA part 107 test fee = $175
  • FAA Testing Centers for Part 107
• *A larger battery for a sub 250 gram drone so it can broadcast the drones remote ID = $145
  • Larger Battery so Mini 4 Pro can broadcast a remote ID

Total = $480 (plus tax) additional dollars.

*Some sub 250 gram drones do not have an option for a larger battery that will enable it to broadcast a remote ID, or they simply do not offer remote ID as a function. The Skyrover X1 is an example of that but I am sure there are plenty of other sub 250 gram drones that do not / will not broadcast a remote ID. In that case you'd need to purchase a remote ID module and install it on the drone.

If I can comply with the recreational use laws and rules then why spend the extra time, effort and money?

So I went to FedEx yesterday in an attempt to have them send the Skyrover X1 back to the return address on the shipping label.. No dice.. They initially said they could / would but when inputting the address into their system it came back as non-existent..

I sent Skyrover one last message asking for a return label. If they provide then it cool, it'll be on the way back. If they don't then I guess I just got a free drone as I am not interested in spending any more time on trying to return it to them..

I did not ask for the refund, they just issued it out of the blue. A glitch? Perhaps and I understand that mistakes happen but I am almost to the point of begging them to take it back and they won't..

They only responding the middle of the night here so that tells me their customer support is probably in Asia. Maybe there is a language / translation issue?

🤷 🤷 🤷

raqball

So I went to FedEx yesterday in an attempt to have them send the Skyrover X1 back to the return address on the shipping label.. No dice.. They initially said they could / would but when inputting the address into their system it came back as non-existent..

I sent Skyrover one last message asking for a return label. If they provide then it cool, it'll be on the way back. If they don't then I guess I just got a free drone as I am not interested in spending any more time on trying to return it to them..

I did not ask for the refund, they just issued it out of the blue. A glitch? Perhaps and I understand that mistakes happen but I am almost to the point of begging them to take it back and they won't..

They only responding the middle of the night here so that tells me their customer support is probably in Asia. Maybe there is a language / translation issue?

🤷 🤷 🤷

Maybe you could charge it up. Then set it up to fly. Put it outside and see if it'll return itself.
If it doesn't, then you were meant to have it

Lots O Fords

Maybe you could charge it up. Then set it up to fly. Put it outside and see if it'll return itself.
If it doesn't, then you were meant to have it

Yeah, I honestly do not get it..

I'll just keep it as unused in the box since I have a DJI Mini 4 Pro on the way. I would not be surprised if a few months from now they'll figure it out and I'll get an Amazon message saying I have been re-charged for it.. My guess is I will then have a mini mess on my hands as they'll say the return period has passed.. This is why I always try to get written responses and documentation.

Same with my question to the FAA.. I could have called but I wanted something in writing...

Like your drone that launched, and then flew itself back to the motherland in China, this one might do the same but then I'd have no proof of return.. 😂

In other news, the RC2 I ordered is out for delivery today and the DJI Mini 4 Pro from Amazon says shipping soon...

Have you flown your DJI yet? Or waiting for the controller?

Lots O Fords

Have you flown your DJI yet? Or waiting for the controller?

The RC2 controller comes today and the Mini 4 Pro shipped and is scheduled for delivery on Sunday..

The RC2 I ordered was an open box from Amazon resale. It was the only reasonably priced one I found as all the other sellers were tacking on a hefty scalper up-charge... Hopefully the Amazon resale one is fine.. If not I can use the regular controller that comes with the Mini 4 Pro.

I have a 5 day - 4 night camping and off-road trip planned for next week so I will test it all out then.. Well, assuming it all arrives on time that is..

Gonna squeeze this longer trip in before my entire face gets drilled for dental implants... Depending on how that goes, I might not make it out on a trip next month...

I am close to a small airport and it's a no fly zone (says I am in a restricted zone) so I'll just wait for my trip to test it all out.. I'll update the app, the drone and the controller before I head out..

raqball

The RC2 controller comes today and the Mini 4 Pro shipped and is scheduled for delivery on Sunday..

The RC2 I ordered was an open box from Amazon resale. It was the only reasonably priced one I found as all the other sellers were tacking on a hefty scalper up-charge... Hopefully the Amazon resale one is fine.. If not I can use the regular controller that comes with the Mini 4 Pro.

I have a 5 day - 4 night camping and off-road trip planned for next week so I will test it all out then.. Well, assuming it all arrives on time that is..

Gonna squeeze this longer trip in before my entire face gets drilled for dental implants... Depending on how that goes, I might not make it out on a trip next month...

I am close to a small airport and it's a no fly zone (says I am in a restricted zone) so I'll just wait for my trip to test it all out.. I'll update the app, the drone and the controller before I head out..

Well, The DJI RC controller came today that was the open box from Amazon.. Someone did a switcharoo on them as they sent me the RC and not the RC2..

The struggle is real.. LOL

raqball

Well, The DJI RC controller came today that was the open box from Amazon.. Someone did a switcharoo on them as they sent me the RC and not the RC2..

The struggle is real.. LOL

Good grief Amazon....

In addition to the above mentioned incorrect controller being sent, I received my DJI Mini 4 Pro today from Amazon... Well, not really.. It's new in box so that's good news but they sent a Mini 3 Pro...



I now surrender to the Amazon gods..

I am just going to keep the Skyrover X1 and figure out a way to pay them for it since they previously refunded me.....

Amazon has been going downhill.. About half of my packages are never delivered on time, and now, they can't even properly fulfill orders..

The universe is sending me a message that I am just not suppose to have a Mini 4 Pro... 😂 So I guess the Skyrover X1 it is..

I'da never thunk that buying a product, then actually getting what you ordered would be this hard.. 🤷

That is unbelievable. When it comes to Amazon and drones, If it wasn't for bad luck you wouldn't have any at all.

Normally it's the flying part that can be a challenge, not the buying part.

Lots O Fords

That is unbelievable. When it comes to Amazon and drones, If it wasn't for bad luck you wouldn't have any at all.

Normally it's the flying part that can be a challenge, not the buying part.

Yeah, I absolutely surrender..

I sent Amazon a message asking them to recharge me for the Skyrover so I guess I'll see how that goes. I assume they will tell me I need to contact Skyrover and Skyrover will tell me to contact Amazon ---> just like they did when I was trying to get a return label... 🤷

I have the Skyrover X1 in hand, and it was actually delivered.. I have not cracked open the box yet so I better do that and take a peak at what's inside.. LOL

Edit to add: Yay, it's a Skyrover X1 and a controller!!!!! Why do I feel like I just won the lottery? 😂

On a positive note, I had ordered this little case for the Mini 4 Pro and it fits the Skyrover X1 like a glove.. I'll call that a win!