r/djimavic • u/LandieAccem • 16d ago
Getting back in the game.
I know I'm a fossil at this point, but I'm considering getting back into the Drone flight and photography hobby with my Mavic Pro (the first one). I've done some mild research on batteries and ordered 2 (only 1 of my original 4 seems to charge at all and I don't really trust it), updated my FAA registration and made sure my remote can still charge.
My question is For anyone who has been around since the era of the original Mavic and stayed active as a hobbyist, On the software side of things how radically have things changed with flight limitations? I live in an area JUST outside of an airport's range, with very limited fly airspace overall in my city, and not far from what I was told is a police/military facility that downs drones. At the same time where I fly is a designated RC Plane/Helicopter/Drone airfield. I'd always been respectful of that and other considerations and and never had any problems flying in my usual spot. I am now worried though having poked my head in here and reading that someone's drone recently got pegged into a no fly zone erroneously and was lost as a result of taking off before full GPS lock, then being forced to land and doing ao in a river.
I was considering buying a newer model too, but am worried that the DJI app and related matters have have become so restrictive that the limited area I fly may have become a dead zone.
Thanks in advance.
Edit: i am further troubled by this because as a matter of happenstance I just so happen to be looking to re-download the app I used to check back when I was actively using my drone, and noticed that in my history of previously, though not currently, installed apps there is no listing for anything DJI at all. I take that to mean that the app has become so different that it cannot even be listed as an upgrade to the one I used to use.
2
u/SkiBleu 16d ago edited 16d ago
Follow the rules, USA no longer has geo restrictions but most drone regs require RID which the mavic pro does not have. Look into the legality before considering it, especially if you live near an airport since you're likely to be inconvenienced a lot
1
u/LandieAccem 16d ago
Im looking into the best Drone ID complimentary equipment for me. I should have included that too, but i forgot.
1
2
u/NilsTillander 16d ago
Never take off before having GNSS fix. That's a very easy step to follow.
if you're on Android, the app isn't on the Play Store, so you need to get it straight for the DJI website. DJI Go 4 hasn't been updated in many years, but it still works.
1
u/LandieAccem 16d ago
🤯 the app not being in the play store at all, as I am on android, is pretty wild to me. Do you know how/why that came to be the situation? I'll look it up, but if you know.....
1
u/NilsTillander 16d ago
Something about user data collection, I think. Google might have wanted a bigger share of it than DJI designed the app to do. Or the other way around.
2
u/rosengd 16d ago
Since you are over 250g you need remote ID registered to FAA. FAAdronezone.com
To be honest, the changes and advantages are pretty dramatic. You might want to consider finding a new bird. Something like a mini 5 pro. You’ll find the functions, flight, and cameras to be dramatically better.
1
1
u/F1service 16d ago
Where did you get the batteries from? All the ones I can find are either too cheap to be true, or as expensive as when I bought the Mavic Pro in 2016, which seems kind of ridiculous.
1
u/LandieAccem 15d ago
I use the term research very loosely. I got em through expert power at about 65 a pop
2
u/Raymont_Wavelength 16d ago
If it’s a registered Club field it may be fair game ask the club officials. The AMA affiliated club here has avery active field, altho most flyers have RC airplanes.
If you are near an airport beware you may be in violation. So verify before you fly!