Beware that DJI's software to control these craft is super sketchy to install and use. It doesn't exist in the Google Play Store, to avoid inspection.
also, the software will run fine w/o internet...
DJI Mini 4 Pro
211–220 of 452 posts
Re: DJI Mini 4 Pro
#212Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm not sure if you're joking. Apple's business depends on them bending the rules for China.
I’m not sure how that is any more true for Apple vs Google? Every tech company relies heavily on China for business.
Google is banned in China while Apple is not (because they bend their own rules to get that sweet Chinese cash).
Re: DJI Mini 4 Pro
#213battery life good everything else idk might make drone LED shows easier though, those are probably a bigger use case than the one off drone enthusiast
LED shows use custom built drones, not commercial/recreational ones. You can’t program these, and you can build similar hardware for 1/5th of the cost.
Re: DJI Mini 4 Pro
#214Earlier quoted context omitted.
DJI is fully compliant with China's policy of civil-military fusion. Anyone flying anywhere sensitive should not use them. They're beaming back home whatever they want, and China is using both tech and data to give an asymmetric advantage to allies like Russia in the Ukraine war.
How do Ukrainian operators avoid exposing their own positions? Do they install custom firmware on their drone?
Yes they root the device and set operator coordinates to 0,0 so they are not picked up by aeroscope, etc
Re: DJI Mini 4 Pro
#215Earlier quoted context omitted.
But yet it exists on the Apple App store where I am sure Apple has inspected it. I guess the Android version could be a lot different, but why?
I'm not sure if you're joking. Apple's business depends on them bending the rules for China.
Is there actual evidence that Apple is bending the rules for them? If true, that would be quite a scoop!
Re: DJI Mini 4 Pro
#216Earlier quoted context omitted.
First off, those numbers are a huge asterisk for perfect atmospheric conditions. In reality you will see about a 2km max in relatively clear conditions, and as few as half a km in even normal suburban/urban conditions.
This is my experience with the mini 3. It’s incredible for sure, but once some trees and/or structures are in the way, it falls apart in a hurry.
Is there any system that works for at least 10-20km without line of sight, supporting a video feed usable for guidance, without cell phone network coverage?
Maybe something where there are two drones, and one flies high with line of sight to both the user and the low-flying drone so that it can act as a relay like a satellite would?
Or something that uses radio frequencies that bounce over the atmosphere, and if bandwidth is not enough uses an automated pilot plus the ability to send photos every few seconds so the user can tell it in which general direction it should fly?
Or something that uses Starlink/Iridium/etc. to relay data?
Re: DJI Mini 4 Pro
#217Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm not sure if you're joking. Apple's business depends on them bending the rules for China.
I’m not sure how that is any more true for Apple vs Google? Every tech company relies heavily on China for business.
Google Search, Alphabet's main business, doesn't exist in China.
Re: DJI Mini 4 Pro
#218I always look at these and think I want one but also can't think of what i'd actually use it for. I just picture it sitting in a closet next to my GoPro and Oculus after about 3 days of messing around. Anyone own one? What do you use it for?
I really wish the tiny whoop scene would take off more to lower the barrier to entry.
It's for extremely small drones (65-85mm from diagonal motor posts) which are great for flying indoors or in small areas.
The main issues being:
1. It's still very much a "hobby" hobby. You can get some ready to fly kits, but even then it can wind up more technical than you expect.
2. They're spec'd for the niche market, meaning quite powerful and very short fly times, which is a shame. One of my favorite drones is the Potensic A 20. A durdly little thing that can fly easily for 10 minutes on brushed motors, but it's not really built to last (or god forbid crash). I'd KILL for a "A20+" which is just low power brushed motors and nicer controls. It's on my todo list to see if i can cobble something together whenever I have real life time again.
To be clear, it's still pretty easy to get into. I have the beta cestus as a decent rtf kit, although beta has some battery connectors that sorta lock you in (they are supposedly better than others though and you can convert things...but there's the hobby part again), and there's been other half decent ready to fly kits over the years.
Re: DJI Mini 4 Pro
#219Earlier quoted context omitted.
would love to get an alternative but it doesn't seem like anyone else is getting anywhere near the flight times that dji has. all the non dji drones I've seen list 8 min while dji is saying 15-20 min.
There are lots of them like the Explorer LR that are under the 250g limit, and get 30-40 minute runtime. That said in the hobbyist community power is more interesting than range. I have a DJI mini 2 and the technology is impressive but honestly, it puts me to sleep compared to my 100MPH mini quad. Every time I use it (once every few months) I have to update the app, use a trash remote, and install all this spyware on…
>"install all this spyware on my phone"
You do not need to install spyware on your phone. It is a spyware on it's own. So are Alexa, "smart" TVs and many other things.
Re: DJI Mini 4 Pro
#220Earlier quoted context omitted.
There are lots of them like the Explorer LR that are under the 250g limit, and get 30-40 minute runtime. That said in the hobbyist community power is more interesting than range. I have a DJI mini 2 and the technology is impressive but honestly, it puts me to sleep compared to my 100MPH mini quad. Every time I use it (once every few months) I have to update the app, use a trash remote, and install all this spyware on…
That’s almost exactly what my friend says. He has this tiny little quad, about half the size of the DJI, that does about 90. He has pretty fancy video gear. He uses a VR-style headset. It’s pretty cool.
Ask him how long it can fly at 90. Few minutes at most.