Hi, I have an Atom but want to upgrade. Where I live transmission distance is only about 1.5 Miles each way, I'd like to possibly double that. Any recommendations for a model with a little better range? TIA
Atom upgrade?
- Thread starter redelheit
- Start date
Greetings from Birmingham Alabama USA, welcome to the forum! We look forward to hearing from you!
The Air 3 has a great range. What are you trying to film that far away? Please keep the VLOS rule in mind.
The Air 3 has a great range. What are you trying to film that far away? Please keep the VLOS rule in mind.
LoudThunder
Well-known member
Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA.
Like @GFields has already done, you cannot legally, let alone intelligently fly you’re a drone that far away and maintain visual line of sight…
As a New Drone Pilot, there are a couple of Legal Things you may need to do…
If you have not already done so, you will need to get your TRUST Certificate. You can get that at the Pilot Institute Web Site (FREE…). If your Drone weighs less than 250-grams (0.55 pounds), and while you are flying under The Exception for Recreational Flyers, you are not required to register your Drone.
Link to the TRUST Certificate at the Pilot Institute Web Site (FREE…)
FAA TRUST Online Portal for Recreational Drone Operators - Pilot Institute
Get your FAA TRUST Certificate of Completion to legally fly drones for recreational reasons in the United States.
trust.pilotinstitute.com
FAA TRUST Online Portal for Recreational Drone Operators - Pilot Institute
Get your FAA TRUST Certificate of Completion to legally fly drones for recreational reasons in the United States.
trust.pilotinstitute.com trust.pilotinstitute.com
Link to the FAADroneZone (Optional Registration for Drones under 250-Grams…)
FAADroneZone
If you are considering acquiring your Part 107 License, here is a link to get you going…
Online Ground School: Aviation Classes - Pilot Institute
Pilot Institute offers courses on drones and airplanes from world-class experts. Pass the Part 107 or Private Pilot exam and take to the skies.
pilotinstitute.com
Since you live in California, there are specific laws and rules for you to follow, please check the link below for all the Rules and Laws that are in effect in your neck of the woods and it also links you to some of the Best Places to Fly in your area… Also, if you travel on vacation, visit friends, and relatives in other parts of the country, check back here so you do not run afoul of the law.
Federal Drone Laws in the United States (FAA) - Pilot Institute
44809 is an exemption from Part 107 drone laws. This means that drone pilots fly under Part 107 drone rules by default unless they meet all 9 of the requirements to fly under 44809, the exception for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft. You can read more about these requirements...
pilotinstitute.com
Even if you have flown Drones before, here is some Good Old Fashion Advice…
You paid a lot of money for that Drone, put your phone number on it. If your drone gets lost or stuck in a tree and it finally comes down when you are not around, give the finders an opportunity to contact you so it can be returned.
Now, for the Fun Part, But do not let the excitement of the moment get the best of you. When you are going out to fly, do it slowly and deliberately. Get used to a set procedure and even practice it.
There are so many things I could write but these are the highlights that I feel need mentioning.
Plug in your phone/tablet into your controller; turn on the Controller and DJI Fly App (if it does not start on its own…). On the Drone, open the front legs, then open the back legs, then remove the Gimbal Cover.
The Gimbal is the most delicate item on the Drone and banging or bumping can damage it. I also fastened a short "Remove Before Flight" ribbon to the cover so it's more noticeable and I do not forget to remove it…
Turn on the drone and watch it come to "life." Watching the Gimbal go through its self-check is almost like watching a puppy or kitten opening its eyes for the first time…
Place the drone down (preferably on a Landing Pad) while it finishes its self-test (collecting satellites, etc…).
Check your battery status (Phone, Drone, and Controller), check the Signal Strength, by now the Controller should have reported it updated the Home Point.
Lift off, 6- feet (2-meters) or so, hover a bit, check the controls (move the drone a bit forward, back, left, right, yaw left and right). By now, your Controller will probably report again, Home point Updated.
If you go out in a rush and race thru your start up and take off before the drone has finished it prep, it may update its Home Point over that pond or that old tree you are flying over and in your excitement, you'll fly the drone long past it Low Battery point and when it engages Return to Home and lands in the pond or in a tree; it will be all on you…
Now go have fun, learn to fly the drone by sight before you try to fly it out a distance depending on the video feed, FPV.
I would also advise you to use YouTube and watch a lot of the Videos on flying and setting up the Drone. When it is too dark, too cold, or too wet, you can "fly it vicariously" through YouTube. Also watch some of the Blooper Drone Videos and learn how not to fly your "New Baby."
Fly On and Fly Safe…
I was hoping to find one better than the Atom, and less than 250 grams.
I have a Mini and I've seen videos of it flying 3 miles out with good signal. I also have a FIMI X8 Pro. I've seen videos of the X8 Pro flying over 5 miles out. In both cases you run out of battery before you run out of control range. Take VLOS seriously, the FAA is getting serious about prosecuting or fining people who operate over 400 AGL and beyond any reasonable VLOS distance. A large white UAV with bright lights, flying against a dark background (such as a mountain) 1 mile is a stretch. The FAA is reviewing it's BVLOS policy so send in your feedback and let's hope that limited BVLOS gets approved someday soon.
I haven't tried either of the two FIMI Minis but, particularly for the money, Fimi seems to offer mostly high quality products. Even with a couple of issues initially that I later resolved, I still feel my FIMI X8 Pro and X8 2022 v2 were a great value. Once FIMI upgrades their cameras a bit and develops a better service and QC, I believe FIMI could become a serious contender with some DJI products. Particularly for those looking for the most feature rich quality drone but at a substantially lower price point. Always a popular category.
