Dorset oldie but newby

[Camerart]

Hi,
I've been making/flying my drones for 5 ish years, no gimmicks just simple Drone/controller combination.
I would like to by a 'proper' drone now.
I'm on the Mavic pilots forum, but I'm happy to buy a different type if it isn't tied to the manufacturer, and prefer a controller over phone control.

I'll start a thread.
C

 

[LoudThunder]

I would like to by a 'proper' drone now.

I am also on MavicPilots and I welcomed you there and I welcome you here… Whether you go DJI or another brand, I wish you the best…

The one important thing is that you are happy with your purchase and do not have reason to look back and say, "I should have gotten (fill in the blank…).

Whatever drone you go with, remember, going cheap is not usually the best choice; you need support in the future, props, batteries, technical support, etc…

I've seen some "really great deals" but that is only true if there are no problems… Some of these drones do not come with any real support, do go with a name brand and YouTube videos often give a pretty complete story, but also remember, some of the endorsements are provided by "influencers" who got the drone for free so they post rave reviews…

So, as the 1989 movie 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,' the old Grail Knight tells Indiana Jones "You must choose but choose wisely…"

 

[Camerart]

I am also on MavicPilots and I welcomed you there and I welcome you here… Whether you go DJI or another brand, I wish you the best…

The one important thing is that you are happy with your purchase and do not have reason to look back and say, "I should have gotten (fill in the blank…).

Whatever drone you go with, remember, going cheap is not usually the best choice; you need support in the future, props, batteries, technical support, etc…

I've seen some "really great deals" but that is only true if there are no problems… Some of these drones do not come with any real support, do go with a name brand and YouTube videos often give a pretty complete story, but also remember, some of the endorsements are provided by "influencers" who got the drone for free so they post rave reviews…

So, as the 1989 movie 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,' the old Grail Knight tells Indiana Jones "You must choose but choose wisely…"

Hi L,
I understand, and agree, but I'm used to repairing my stuff, and would like to be able to repair crashes.

Can you clarify, something that I almost recall? I read that DJI camera/gymbols need to be updated by DJI so they aren't completely owned by the owner. Do you know of anything like this?
C.

 

[LoudThunder]

Can you clarify, something that I almost recall?

I am sorry but I have no knowledge on this. I have read numerous postings on this subject and if you search the subject on the MavicPIlots web site, you will probably still wonder what is the answer. I heard that numerous folks have had no problem replacing the gimbal with one off eBay and I've heard probably just as many stories where they had to give up and send the drone in to DJI to be repaired and just eat the loss on the gimbal they bought on ebay…

As I wrote in your welcome note on MavicPilots, 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… And I do not remove the cover until I am ready to turn the drone on and fly… My drone has over 200-miles on it. And I always use a landing pad so I do not get dirt or dust in it from prop wash by flying from the ground…

And as Yoda said, "Your path you must decide…" (be your path one of DJI or another make, you must decide Padawan…)

 

[Camerart]

I am sorry but I have no knowledge on this. I have read numerous postings on this subject and if you search the subject on the MavicPIlots web site, you will probably still wonder what is the answer. I heard that numerous folks have had no problem replacing the gimbal with one off eBay and I've heard probably just as many stories where they had to give up and send the drone in to DJI to be repaired and just eat the loss on the gimbal they bought on ebay…

As I wrote in your welcome note on MavicPilots, 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… And I do not remove the cover until I am ready to turn the drone on and fly… My drone has over 200-miles on it. And I always use a landing pad so I do not get dirt or dust in it from prop wash by flying from the ground…

And as Yoda said, "Your path you must decide…" (be your path one of DJI or another make, you must decide Padawan…)

Hi L,
Ok, maybe the gimbol thing was misunderstood?

I can imagine that the camera/gymbol is very delicate.
With mine I just veloed one of my cameras onto it and flew around, nothing clever like FPV, just look at what the camera produced later. I was quite happy with this, and buying a new one is a whim.
Mostly my footage was lying sideways in the gras, because I had to crash land it, due to my eyes not being able to tell which direction it was going, in case it went in the wrong places
C

 

[LoudThunder]

Mostly my footage was lying sideways in the gras, because I had to crash land it, due to my eyes not being able to tell which direction it was going,

May I suggest mounting some LED navigation lights to indicate what direction the drone id headed...

VIFLY Strobe - FAA Drone Strobe Light

VIFLY Drone Strobe Light, Anti Collision Light for FAA Drone Night Flying, Fits DJI Mini 3 Pro/Mini 2/Mini SE/Air 2S/Mavic Air 2/Mavic 3/Mavic 2

viflydrone.com

They also make little key ring LED flashlights that are really small and light and can be picked up at hardware store for just a few dollars...

 

[Camerart]

May I suggest mounting some LED navigation lights to indicate what direction the drone id headed...

VIFLY Strobe - FAA Drone Strobe Light

VIFLY Drone Strobe Light, Anti Collision Light for FAA Drone Night Flying, Fits DJI Mini 3 Pro/Mini 2/Mini SE/Air 2S/Mavic Air 2/Mavic 3/Mavic 2

viflydrone.com

They also make little key ring LED flashlights that are really small and light and can be picked up at hardware store for just a few dollars...

Hi L,
Do you mean like this?
It didn't work.

I tried but failed to develop a personal transmitter received system to suit me, including a 'quadrature encoder' so I could dial the 'drone' aim direction.
C

 

[LoudThunder]

Hi L,
Do you mean like this?
It didn't work.

I tried but failed to develop a personal transmitter received system to suit me, including a 'quadrature encoder' so I could dial the 'drone' aim direction.
C

I am not sure what your image is but it looks too large. The various LED Lights thata are for sale on the internet are more like small flashlights or just a small lens of plastic that you would fasten to the front of your drone so when you turn it (yaw) and the light would indicate if it is facing you.

Worse case, I would put a WHITE LED on the Front that is only visible from the front and a RED on the Left Side that is only visible on that side and a GREEN on the Right Side that is also only visible on the Right side.

You might have to construct a small hood that allows the lights to only shine the specified direction.