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Drones
Apr 7, 2023 21:21:16 GMT -6
Post by Oatking on Apr 7, 2023 21:21:16 GMT -6
What types of drones are you guys flying? So many models to choose from its hard to know which brand or model to buy. What is some of the realistic distance you can fly these drones.
I thought this would help assess crop damage from a hail storm , see water damage or just take some cool videos of the harvest. I have seen some models can fly 5000 meters but most dont say the round trip distance.
Is it better to have a controller or can you use your cell phone? How well do they track back to the return landing spot. How much wind speed can they handle.
Thanks for any info
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Post by OptimallyDismal on Apr 7, 2023 21:26:32 GMT -6
Seriously looking at getting a DJI Mini 3 Pro, about $1250, has the controller with a screen on it.
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Drones
Apr 8, 2023 7:22:59 GMT -6
Post by Oatking on Apr 8, 2023 7:22:59 GMT -6
Optimally, that is the model I was considering. What does the "pro" STAND FOR. Noticed a dji mini 3 model as well. I wondered what model has a good camera on it as well as good flying distance.
Is DJI a well recommended brand.? I see most models come with extra propellers. How prone are these drones to crashing or hitting birds. Maybe a silly question but wondered how reliable they are to returning to the original lift off site?
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Drones
Apr 8, 2023 7:27:59 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by cptusa on Apr 8, 2023 7:27:59 GMT -6
I've got a dji mini 2, have to hook tablet or phone to it, I just use an old phone for it. Amazing resolution. You're supposed to keep it in line of site, I've had it 2 miles away and that is max distance it's allowed to go. Ive got a 150 or 200' ceiling on mine but that is all adjustable.
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BJT
Full Member
Posts: 111
Likes: 41
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Drones
Apr 8, 2023 7:48:25 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by BJT on Apr 8, 2023 7:48:25 GMT -6
Only issue with the mini is it has to be dead calm out almost. We bought a DJ mini for $600 a few years ago. Realized how fun they are then spent some money and bought a mavic model. Not suppose to, but you can fly a long long ways away. Use it for fun and getting crop pics, great for staging at harvest.
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Drones
Apr 8, 2023 9:11:53 GMT -6
Post by hillbillyreefer on Apr 8, 2023 9:11:53 GMT -6
In my opinion DJI is the only drone to get. They’ve been around since the beginning and are still advancing the consumer/commercial drone market. I haven’t researched new drones but in the old days “pro” had a slightly better camera.
I’d recommend choosing a bigger more powerful model (Mavic over a mini), they should have longer flight time and better stability in windy conditions. Ranges are fantastic with the DJI way further than you’d want to walk to retrieve it if it crashed. The cameras on all of them are better than anybody scouting crops will ever need.
Buy an extra battery, that way one is on the charger while you’re flying. Extra props are usually only needed because the operator did something stupid, I’ve been through several. The “return to home” feature on the DJI is very good, your drone will land within a foot of where it left from.
Bird strikes are possible, the only bad crash mine has had was at an altitude of 29.6m, velocity 73.3km/h and it “disappeared” from the controller. The only thing it could have been was a bird. It was easily found using the mapping software. All the laws of flight and physics apply to drones, including icing up. I was looking for cows on a foggy morning with temps just under freezing, by the time my soft brain figured out why the bird wasn’t responding properly it was too late. More broken props, but no trip to California for repairs that time.
The longest flights I’ve made are 23 minutes, and 12km distance, top speed of 99.1km/h(wicked tailwind that day).
The DJI app keeps track of every flight you’ve made.
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Post by OptimallyDismal on Apr 8, 2023 20:23:23 GMT -6
Optimally, that is the model I was considering. What does the "pro" STAND FOR. Noticed a dji mini 3 model as well. I wondered what model has a good camera on it as well as good flying distance. Is DJI a well recommended brand.? I see most models come with extra propellers. How prone are these drones to crashing or hitting birds. Maybe a silly question but wondered how reliable they are to returning to the original lift off site? Not sure about the pro part, the non pro is unavailable and $561 cheaper. I also noticed the controller with the screen is $200 more than the no screen option, but I would rather have the screen. They say there are avoidance measures for hitting obstacles, wonder if they work with birds? A few youtubers use the pro units and they take a very nice looking video, and it seems to be able to handle some wind, but I could see it being a major factor. |
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Drones
Apr 9, 2023 12:12:20 GMT -6
Post by jcalder on Apr 9, 2023 12:12:20 GMT -6
I have a DJI Phantom 4 (I think). Barely ever use it but it goes quite far and takes really nice pictures.
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Drones
Apr 9, 2023 12:33:39 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by slipclutch on Apr 9, 2023 12:33:39 GMT -6
What do you guys think about the DJI M3 multispectacle
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Drones
Apr 9, 2023 12:41:44 GMT -6
Post by Beerwiser on Apr 9, 2023 12:41:44 GMT -6
Dji is the easiest to fly out of the box with next to no learning curve. They were not the first though. If you want to get into some of the fancier sensors look into an ardupilot drone. Also has the ability to fly fixed wing aircraft too. Personally I prefer fixed wing, at least if you prop or something fail you can fly it to the ground.
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tsipp
Junior Member
Spring valley, Saskatchewan
Posts: 98
Likes: 64
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Post by tsipp on Apr 10, 2023 5:23:18 GMT -6
The best one I’ve got is a DJI mini 3 pro, you can fly it out about 9 miles and it always comes home so an 18 mile flight, it’s very stable in 30K winds, have a P4 that was a on a quick flight checking cows and the battery went from almost full to 3% at a hundred feet high, it crashed in a wet spot so it was somewhat soft, is kinda sprung the landing gear and one motor sounds a little rough but it still flys.
I fly the drones mostly checking cows, it sure saves time especially in calving season.
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Post by OptimallyDismal on Apr 13, 2023 21:12:55 GMT -6
I was in Best buy today looking at drones, got talking to a knowledgeable sales guy about the mini3 and mini3pro. Mini 3 ($1108) flies a bit faster, so can buck more wind. Goes about 4 minutes longer on the battery, has down facing collision prevention, has the same smart controller with screen as pro, has 2 extra batteries and spare propellers, and a carry bag. Mini 3pro ($1249) has front, rear, and down collision prevention. He says they don't go on sale very often, but there is usually about $200 discount, they were on sale last year beginning of July for Christmas in July and at Christmas. They have a 30 day price protection. The optics and resolution are the same, the weight is just under 250g for both, so no license required. Mini 3 pro: www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/dji-mini-3-pro-quadcopter-drone-with-camera-smart-controller/16081121Mini 3: www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/dji-mini-3-quadcopter-drone-fly-more-combo-with-smart-controller/16610488I am thinking the mini 3 might be a good value for me. |
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tsipp
Junior Member
Spring valley, Saskatchewan
Posts: 98
Likes: 64
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Post by tsipp on Apr 13, 2023 22:18:33 GMT -6
I almost never fly with my collision prevention on, about the only time is when I’m getting a fence jumper back in.
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Drones
Apr 24, 2023 10:08:08 GMT -6
Post by OptimallyDismal on Apr 24, 2023 10:08:08 GMT -6
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Drones
May 10, 2023 8:03:34 GMT -6
Post by skfarmboy on May 10, 2023 8:03:34 GMT -6
Did anybody buy one of the DJI mini 3 units? if so do you like it? I see Bestbuy still has them on sale.
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