To drone or not to drone?

Amazon drone update 14,847..

Called Amazon yesterday and eventually got connected to a USA based supervisor.. They are sending a Mini 4 Pro via Prime One Day shipping and it should be here tomorrow.. How, I have no clue since it's not even in stock according to the Amazon website..

They are also sending UPS to pick up the Mini 3 Pro they sent..

She also gave me a $50 Amazon gift card for the troubles.. Golly gee, thanks.. I think! 🤪

As far as the Skyrover X1 goes, she said she would send it to their backend team to figure out and that I would hear something within a few weeks. 🤷

The Amazon drone merry-go-round continues.. Round and round I go, where I'll stop nobody knows.. As of tomorrow, assuming the Mini 4 Pro arrives, I'll have 3 drones.. Welcome to raqball's drone resale emporium.. 😂

What a ride! ✈️

Ok drone peeps..

I was playing with the drone yesterday and had it set to follow me. A few miles down the trail I went to update home to the controller’s location so I could then have it return to home .

I got an error saying I had no internet connection. Well, yeah I didn’t have internet as I am out in the middle of nowhere.

I assumed updating home was based on GPS and not on having an internet connection.

Is there a setting I need to look at or change?

Did you get the Mini Pro 4 and is this the one you were flying? I saw that it was supposed to be delivered but didn't know if it actually came.

The mini gets it's home locked in at take off and uses gps to return. No Internet required.
Note, never use this feature if taking off on a boat that is moving.

Deano Bronc

Did you get the Mini Pro 4 and is this the one you were flying? I saw that it was supposed to be delivered but didn't know if it actually came.

The Amazon one never came. Shocker! I’ll deal with them knuckleheads when I get back.

I see the order that was created by the Amazon supervisor but it does not even have and estimated ship or arrival date. 🤣

Lots O Fords

The mini gets it's home locked in at take off and uses gps to return. No Internet required.
Note, never use this feature if taking off on a boat that is moving.

That’s what I thought but it tells me no internet connection when I try to update Home location. 🤷

It locks home at takeoff but when I try to change it to controller location, it just say no internet connection.

The Skyrover use the same backend as the Mini 4 Pro so I must just have a setting or something that’s not right.

Edit to add: I had WiFi still connected even though there was no service. Turned WiFi off and tested at camp site and it allowed me to update Home.

I guess since I had WiFi active, but not connected, it wanted to use WiFi.. I’ll test it again later on the trail.

Edit to the edit (wait, what?):

Yes turning WiFi off did the trick as I now can update Home to controller location! 👍 😁

Rookie drone mistake..

So I thought one battery would be enough but it turns out it not..

While I can charge the one I have from the 12V in the Bronco, having extra batteries would be nice.

Skyrover still does not have extra batteries for sale so IF my Mini 4 Pro ever comes I’ll order a few extra batteries for it.

The Mini 4 Pro says shipping today with an estimated delivery for Monday.. Time will tell..

Don’t be like me, order a package that comes with extra batteries..

/sad story of battery despair 🤣

Just remember that mini 4 battery extended life battery takes it over 250 g

Lots O Fords

Just remember that mini 4 battery extended life battery takes it over 250 g

Yeah I’ll order a few of the regular batteries for it..

Found an eBay seller who selling new ones for retail and is in the USA so I’ll probably order 2 more for it.

Well, that assuming it actually arrives and is what it’s suppose to be this time.. 🤣

I just ordered the Potensic Atom 2 drone. Been researching and think it's a great beginner drone. About half the price of the Skyrover, just doesn't have the obstable avoidance feature.

Found this cool and unique bridge today so I launched the drone.

It’s a semi truck flatbed trailer.. I called the Ranger station to ask about it and she said the old bridge was washed away several years ago and someone replaced it with this..

Super cool!!!!!

Zoom in on the video if you want to see it closer. I stayed back because I didn’t want to crash and have the drone become a submarine.

broncorob3

I just ordered the Potensic Atom 2 drone. Been researching and think it's a great beginner drone. About half the price of the Skyrover, just doesn't have the obstable avoidance feature.

Awesome sauce! I hope you enjoy it! I am having g a blast playing with mine. Kind of wish I had gotten one earlier

broncorob3

I just ordered the Potensic Atom 2 drone. Been researching and think it's a great beginner drone. About half the price of the Skyrover, just doesn't have the obstable avoidance feature.

nOOb I would think that the obstacle avoidance feature would be something you would want. That way you crash it a lot less until you learn how to fly it better.

JoergH

nOOb I would think that the obstacle avoidance feature would be something you would want. That way you crash it a lot less until you learn how to fly it better.

For me, it was a must have and very few under 250 gram drones have it..

raqball

For me, it was a must have and very few under 250 gram drones have it..

I can tell you from experience. Some small stuff like our desert bushes with slender branches, the avoiding is not 100%

Lots O Fords

I can tell you from experience. Some small stuff like our desert bushes with slender branches, the avoiding is not 100%

I was reading that small branches, electric power grid cables etc are problematic..

But still better to have it then not was my line of thinking..

raqball

I was reading that small branches, electric power grid cables etc are problematic..

But still better to have it then not was my line of thinking..

I guess if you just keep it at like 1000 ft in the air you don't have to worry about that! LOL

JoergH

I guess if you just keep it at like 1000 ft in the air you don't have to worry about that! LOL

The max elevation you can fly recreational drones without a part 107 license is 400 feet... That's high enough to get above trees so all good!

I made it back, I didn't crash the drone, I didn't lose the drone and I didn't turn the drone into a submarine when over the river.. I am going to call that a win!

Image not to scale: 😂

Lots O Fords

I can tell you from experience. Some small stuff like our desert bushes with slender branches, the avoiding is not 100%

raqball

I was reading that small branches, electric power grid cables etc are problematic..

But still better to have it then not was my line of thinking..

Thats why you sharpen the blades...😛

Anytime you get it back in one piece is a good flight.

I have an old DJI drone, which I have used, maybe a handful of times. What I also have is a "selfie" drone from Hover what allows me to take the kind of pictures I want and do a few drone like things. I have found that since I'm not a Bronco influencer, I really don't need one. However, your idea of using it to scout the trail ahead @raqball seems interesting, maybe I'll break out the old DJI for that purpose as well. How well does your drone work in windy conditions such as those high Colorado passes @raqball ??

JoergH

I have an old DJI drone, which I have used, maybe a handful of times. What I also have is a "selfie" drone from Hover what allows me to take the kind of pictures I want and do a few drone like things. I have found that since I'm not a Bronco influencer, I really don't need one. However, your idea of using it to scout the trail ahead @raqball seems interesting, maybe I'll break out the old DJI for that purpose as well. How well does your drone work in windy conditions such as those high Colorado passes @raqball ??

Yeah, I think a great use case for a drone will be for scouting ahead on a trail..

I tested it out yesterday when on my trip and it worked great. I already knew the trail and didn't need to scout ahead but I tossed the drone up anyways to scout a known problem area of the trail. It worked fantastic!!!

I also used it to scout a potential dispersed camping spot that I saw on the map. After a quick fly over with the drone, the spot looked great and usable so I drove to it to get eyes on. It ended up being fantastic so I marked it in onX and will be hitting it up for dispersed camping on my next trip to the area...

I might not be the best person to comment on wind. My research found that most say you can safely fly the Mini 4 Pro / Skyrover X1 in 20+ mph winds. The one day where it was really windy on my trip had gusts up to 24 mph so I didn't fly. A few other days the wind was 15+ and it did fine. It sucked / breezed through battery when flying into the wind but I guess that's expected..

I assume the size and power of the drone would dictate the wind level it can fly in but I honestly have no clue..

For anyone interested the Mini 4 Pro, shipped by Amazon, is back in stock at retail (non scalper) price. How long they last is anyones guess.

DJI Mini 4 Pro with Reg Controller - Ships by Amazon $759 (edit: back out of stock - only 3rd party scalper pricing left)

DJI Mini 4 Pro with RC2 Controller - Ships by Amazon $959 (edit: back out of stock - only 3rd party scalper pricing left)

Also, the Skyrover X1 (both versions) are back on sale at 15% off..

Skyrover X1 - Base $644 (sale over)

Skyrover X1 - Fly More Bundle $763 (sale over)

For the extra $100, I'd suggest getting the Mini 4 Pro due to the availability of batteries and spare parts. There are still none available for the Skyrover X1.. But once the Mini 4 Pro's are sold out the Skyrover becomes a very attractive option.