DJI Mini 4 Pro Drone questions

[riptides]

The Mavic 3 is the only one I have had, so I don't know about any others. Maybe it is time for me to look into the mini. The 3 also has geofencing so I can't get too close to the nearby airport.

You need to be aware of the airport designation classes. Some smaller airports can be off limits. And then you wonder why.

 

[stumblinhorse]

You need to be aware of the airport designation classes. Some smaller airports can be off limits. And then you wonder why.

Mine will not fly into a restricted area. It will not take off if restricted either.

 

[5030]

I've never had a drone. I've never seen a drone in person. I don't know anybody that has a drone. I think it's time that I bought a drone.

From watching YouTube, I think the DJI Mini 4 Pro is what I'm going to buy. Does anybody know anything about this drone? Or do you know of a better drone to look at?

My goal for the drone is to be able to look over my land real fast after a storm, or if we hear something that we can't identify. We seem to live in a pocket that carries sound that doesn't have any explanation, so being able to send a drone out to look around would be nice. We've also started filming stuff around the farm, and posting it on YouTube, TikTok and FB Reels. Being able to get drone footages would improve our videos.

Here is the basic package that I'm looking at for $1,169.

Amazon.com

And here is a bigger package, with more stuff for $1,269.

Amazon.com

So for $100 more, there is a lot more stuff in that package. Do I need any of that stuff? How often do you have to replace the blades? I'm guessing that I'll probably crash it a few times, so having extra blades might be a good idea.

You thoughts?

I won't have any DJI products simply because they come with built in GeoFencing and my Autel drone don't and I'm an adult and hold an FAA drone license so I'm well aware of the rules and regs surrounding drone flight. I use mine for field recon as welOne thing about the Autel is, it has no geo fenced ceiling so I can literally fly it vertically until the air gets so thin that the props cannot grab any for lift. For kicks and grins, one time I tried it and the altimeter said I broached 15, 000 feet. The actual FAA approved ceiling is 500 feet btw.

 

[Cataclysm]

I have a dji mini 4 pro with the fly more package, rc2 controller and replacement warranty. I bought the warranty since this was my first drone.

Its really a 4k camera with wings. Although not a photographer, I have taken some great footage of wildlife including a couple of bucks fighting.

I have also taken some great video of fish, muskrats, ducks and geese swimming in and on ponds. Be aware, too close to the water can/will confuse the DJI mini's sensors and possibly cause it to land in the water. I try to keep 30' above water and haven't had any issues.

All of the safety features work great. The best is the auto return to home with the augmented reality path back to land. Low battery, loss of contact all cause auto return to home.

Don't rely on obstacle avoidance. It can't see wires and bare limbs. I've come close to running into power lines twice even being careful.

Something to be aware of that hasn't been mentioned is "remote ID" or "rid". Some drones broad cast the drone's location along with the operator's location. Anyone can download the "Karen App" on their phone and potentially find your location.

The mini 4 pro is rid capable with the extended run time batteries. With the standard flight time batteries, the mini 4 pro does not broadcast remote id. I have verified this with my drone.

Most larger drones, including DJI, always broadcast rid in flight.

I don't worry about the chinese spy ware stuff and I agree with the above that if a person is that concerned about spying then they should start by deleting all social media.

During my research a year ago Autel drones would have been my second choice. I haven't researched the clone DJI stuff but what little I've seen they look good other than warranty.

Get the drone, you will be glad you did!

 

[buckeyefarmer]

just mapped out the various folders and files DJI keeps on my phone. a lot, including files appearing to be encrypted. some RC files are plain text, can see battery power, rf freq, and stuff like that. can't find the file that shows where you flew, I think you have to be still connected to the drone with the app to get that info. I copied one once, has background map and lines showing the fly route.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I won't have any DJI products simply because they come with built in GeoFencing and my Autel drone don't and I'm an adult and hold an FAA drone license so I'm well aware of the rules and regs surrounding drone flight. I use mine for field recon as welOne thing about the Autel is, it has no geo fenced ceiling so I can literally fly it vertically until the air gets so thin that the props cannot grab any for lift. For kicks and grins, one time I tried it and the altimeter said I broached 15, 000 feet. The actual FAA approved ceiling is 500 feet btw.

You are an FAA licensed pilot, yet you are spreading misinformation.
Let me help you remember your pre-license training a bit, and provide these people with some truth.

https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/small-unmanned-aircraft-systems-uas-regulations-part-107

For those of you flying as hobbyists, not using video for any form of commercial interests, please go here and follow the steps to legally get your airman certificate.
https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/become_a_drone_pilot

You can fly during daylight (30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset, local time) or in twilight if your drone has anti-collision lighting. Minimum weather visibility is three miles from your control station. The maximum allowable altitude is 400 feet above the ground, higher if your drone remains within 400 feet of a structure. Maximum speed is 100 mph (87 knots).

In the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) caps recreational drones at 400 feet (approximately 122 meters) above ground level.

 

[mikester]

I have a DJI Mavic 3, use an old tablet to run it, which in bright sunlight makes it difficult to see the image. I hate the fact that I have to log in to my DJI account to fly the drone more than 30ft high and 50ft away from me. To me, that is saying that DJI is recording/monitoring my use. I'm looking for a different drone manufacturer to use. Maybe I am just being paranoid. The other issue is that I bought the DJI M3 drone when it first came out. I bought the one year extended coverage, I crashed it 14 months later. DJI wouldn't cover the damage under the extended warranty. Which I expected, but what I didn't expect was a note saying that the drone was obsolete and no longer supported!!

So you need a live internet connection to fly these? So if I install on an old phone or tablet without a data connection I can't fly DJI?

If you can't fly your device because it's considered "obsolete" or if you need a live internet connection I would never buy a product from that POS vendor.

 

[EddieWalker]

I ordered it this morning. Amazon says it will be here on Wednesday, a week from today. Seems like a long time to get something from Amazon, but it is what it is.

I did the 12 months, zero interest option for about $115 a month. I'll probably pay it off in a couple months, but it's nice to not have to spend it all at once.

Amazon.com

 

[plowhog]

I ordered it this morning.

Congratulations Eddie. I'm sure you will get some great pix from it!

 

[EddieWalker]

Thank you. My wife is really excited for it. She wants to watch the animals, check the fences and explore more then I do. She keeps coming up with more things that she can do with it!!!!

 

[newbury]

About time!
And don't disregard the value of the prop guards.
My "fly area" in Mississippi is essentially forest with a few open areas for a few buildings. I kept the prop guards on continually with what I considered an acceptable limit on flight time. I also got in the habit of flying in to trees with no damage. Used it a few time to drop "throw" lines over limbs for pulling up rope when felling trees.

 

[5030]

You are an FAA licensed pilot, yet you are spreading misinformation.
Let me help you remember your pre-license training a bit, and provide these people with some truth.

https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/small-unmanned-aircraft-systems-uas-regulations-part-107

For those of you flying as hobbyists, not using video for any form of commercial interests, please go here and follow the steps to legally get your airman certificate.
https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/become_a_drone_pilot

They revised the height ceiling since I got mine some years back then and I don't have an 'air mans' license, I hold the professional 'for hire' license anyway. Sorry about what I posted as I don't usually post anything about the certificate I hold.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Yes, I flew mine over the hill the other day to check on things...
It will scare the deer... And birds don't like them, larger birds might attack.

 

[riptides]

Good move on the purchase as there is legislation moving to ban sales from that company. Sigh.

 

[stumblinhorse]

So you need a live internet connection to fly these? So if I install on an old phone or tablet without a data connection I can't fly DJI?

If you can't fly your device because it's considered "obsolete" or if you need a live internet connection I would never buy a product from that POS vendor.

No, it actually requires Wi-Fi to be shut off to fly.

And I would not use a phone. The controllers have a screen.

Also the remote comment is misleading above. All drones have to have remote id now. So any newly purchased will by default have it, any older ones must be retro fit with transmitters. I don’t remember if the 250 gram weight matters to remote id or not.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

without signing in, I'm limited to 30m up and 50 m away....

the flight map is part of "find my drone" on the DJI.

 

[LittleBill21]

all the login in stuff is for legalities if you hit some one or something, they can go and look. with Remote ID both the drone AND the pilot can be identified remotely, as it broadcasts a siginal out on wifi to devices looking for the drone serial number.

you do not need a internet connection to fly, once the account is logged in, it can be months before it needs it again.

the drone does record the entire flight path, there are 3rd party software packages that you can run against the files and it will do an entire simulated flight showing controller input and everything.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

you mean it can see i hit reverse instead of down?

 

[LittleBill21]

you mean it can see i hit reverse instead of down?

yep!

 

[Cataclysm]

No, it actually requires Wi-Fi to be shut off to fly.

And I would not use a phone. The controllers have a screen.

Also the remote comment is misleading above. All drones have to have remote id now. So any newly purchased will by default have it, any older ones must be retro fit with transmitters. I don’t remember if the 250 gram weight matters to remote id or not.

Its a new FAA rule for anything over 249g. Earlier production drones and many drones today do not have remote id regardless of weight.

They currently do not have to have remote id 249g and under. The mini 4 pro is under 249g with standard battery so no rid broadcast. Over 249g with extended battery hence rid is broadcast. Confirmed with my DJI M4P.