Hello, Gordie here I'm 66 years old and getting ready to buy my first drone.; I was hoping to get some guidance or recommendations. Budget is $200-300.
Newbie looking for recommendations
- Thread starter Gordie
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2022
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- Age
- 68
- Location
- Birmingham, Alabama, USA
- Website
- digitalphotocreations.co
Greetings from Birmingham Alabama USA, welcome to the forum! We look forward to hearing from you!
LoudThunder
Well-known member
Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA.
A budget is $200 to $300 leaves you with a relatively small market for drones that are not toys… The best thing for you to do is look at lots of YouTube Videos
For the money, I would recommend a Refurbished DJI Drone, but right now, due to the "Chinese Drone Embargo" there are only used ones for sale by individuals, but I do not recommend these due to the fact that many buyers are not getting "Unbound Drones" and that is like buying a car and never getting the title… (google it…)
So, here is option 2… The Holy Stone HS600 Drones with 4K Camera (it is not a toy!), it has a 10,000-foot Range, it has a 2-Axis Gimbal & EIS Anti Shake, 56-Min Flight Time, Brushless Motors, Foldable GPS Drone and a great choice for Beginners.
Or…
The Potensic ATOM SE GPS Drone with 4K EIS Camera, it weighs Under 249g, it has a 62 Mins Flight time, a 4 kilometer First Person Video Transmission, Brushless Motor, it has Auto Return, it is Lightweight and it is a Foldable Drone for Adults Beginners…
Go to YouTube and watch lots of videos on these drones, then you need to make a choice… one of these or find another make or model, or wait out the DJI embargo issue…
However, in the meantime, 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…).
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
Since you live in Minnesota, 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
Once you get your first drone, 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…
