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Posted: Yesterday 11:49:43 PM EDT
[Last Edit: SurfinBrass][Edited]
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I've been heavy into multirotors for 15 years. I've built around eight over that time. From FPV racers to attempts at video platforms. I started with multirotors where the skill was similar to holding a basketball with a tennis ball balanced on top. Now. . . . flying multirotors is more "direction" than actually flying. Racing and free-flying IS a subset, but nothing close to letting algorithms fly the craft. I got out of the hobby for over half a decade because of prostate cancer and heart issues. I more or less recovered from those issues and found the hobby has blown far past my experience. In the last couple of years you can purchase tech far below $1K that can fly six or so miles that weighs around a couple packs of playing cards with 4K@60 FPS. The tech is mind blowing. If anyone is familiar, DJI is the Nvidia, the Apple, the Samsung of the commercial "Drone" industry. I grabbed this DJI Mini 4 clone a few weeks ago, the 'SkyRover X1' for 60% the price of a DJI and it's mind-blowing. For sub $600 for the entire quad and controller is stunning. If you have a location for unfettered line-of-sight, you can explore MILES of radius from your house in 4K 60fps. ![]() SKYROVER X1 Range Test in Normal & Sport Modes - HOW FAR will it GO?! |
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Originally Posted By JRambo: If you told someone 20 years ago that this would be consumer level tech today it would blow their minds. Too bad the US manufacturers missed the bus and DJI got so far ahead. Id find ways to defeat them. I also prefer a map and compass vs a gps |
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I started with cheap multi rotor, then went to camera. Kind of boring - FPV was not a real thing yet. Then played with helicopters. Those were vicious beasts. Tried to get into FPV drones - but need to set up the simulator again and start putting in dozens more hours. I have hundreds of RC plane experience. It is rusty, but doubt that will not take more than a few hours to brush off. Got a Neo 2 and some Rayneo glasses - so will start playing with that before I pull out my FVP drones again. |
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Originally Posted By JRambo: If you told someone 20 years ago that this would be consumer level tech today it would blow their minds. Too bad the US manufacturers missed the bus and DJI got so far ahead. DJI is pretty much getting their shit kicked in by the feds here for being too good. It is amazing tech. I got into this stuff a year and a half ago and still enjoy it a great deal even though I don't fly as much as I did at first. The thing that caught me by surprise is how much hate people have for these. Everybody thinks you are spying on them ( news flash, we aren't and you aren't interesting enough to spy on to begin with ). Also, the whole VLOS thing is a joke. Beyond 100 feet or so these things are basically invisible, especially the minis. There is no way that person in the linked video maintained VLOS for miles if that is what is being claimed. |
It takes hatred to compulsively denigrate something.
That’s gayer than Elton John and George Michael dueting on their hit song Don’t Let Your Son Go Down On Me.
That’s gayer than Elton John and George Michael dueting on their hit song Don’t Let Your Son Go Down On Me.
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Originally Posted By glocke12: The thing that caught me by surprise is how much hate people have for these. Everybody thinks you are spying on them ( news flash, we aren't and you aren't interesting enough to spy on to begin with ). Drones are standard issue to police officers around here. They are definitely spying with them. |
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Originally Posted By P400: Drones are standard issue to police officers around here. They are definitely spying with them. Originally Posted By P400: Originally Posted By glocke12: The thing that caught me by surprise is how much hate people have for these. Everybody thinks you are spying on them ( news flash, we aren't and you aren't interesting enough to spy on to begin with ). Drones are standard issue to police officers around here. They are definitely spying with them. Well, maybe cops are. The average drone flyer ? Thats just not the case...sure there is the oddball here and there that does so but most of us just want to fly and capture interesting landscapes in photographs. |
It takes hatred to compulsively denigrate something.
That’s gayer than Elton John and George Michael dueting on their hit song Don’t Let Your Son Go Down On Me.
That’s gayer than Elton John and George Michael dueting on their hit song Don’t Let Your Son Go Down On Me.
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Originally Posted By boolzi: You still have to register them with the ffa or did they drop that drop it? anything over 250 grams needs to be registered with the FAA If you are worried about them tracking you, thats a moot point. Registered or unregistered, remote ID enabled or not, they will know you are up there. I speak from personal experience on that..not saying how I know on a public forum, but I will say it was a pants shitting moment and leave it at that. |
It takes hatred to compulsively denigrate something.
That’s gayer than Elton John and George Michael dueting on their hit song Don’t Let Your Son Go Down On Me.
That’s gayer than Elton John and George Michael dueting on their hit song Don’t Let Your Son Go Down On Me.
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Yeah, the tech is pretty good. It doesn't have a whole lot of usefullness in my day to day life, though. Oh, and the drones are too loud. Obnoxious, really. Maybe they can put some tech into that. I'm sure there are more quiet models, but the people around you are trying to enjoy the outdoors, not what's on your little screen. |
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Remote Pilot Certificate holder here. Flying BVLOS (beyond visual line of site) will get you in trouble. You must maintain unaided view of aircraft at all times. Flying over people, crowds and traffic will also get you. Sub 250g drones do not need to be registered unless used for any commercial purpose under 14 CFR Part 107. Drones 250g and up need to be registered regardless of use. Drones over 250g and ANY drone used under 107 purposes require Remote ID (beacon for all flight info and base station), many have it built in now. They also need to be registered regardless of use. Skyrover X1 is sub 250g and does not appear to have a remote id module based on reviews I have read. It's easy to check. There are remote ID apps for phones that can scan for drones. The android ones are much better than iOS devices because of the wifi (remote ID looks like an 802.11 packet) flexibility. Always check an LAANC or B4UFly app like Aloft to make sure that you are not in an active NOTAM, a National Park, Washington D.C, TFR (presidential ones get spicy) and that you are in class G Airspace (you will need to apply for permission through the apps to fly in other types of airspace (B,C,D and E). Also it would behoove you to do a quick google/ai search of your state and local laws. Do not fly above 400 ft AGL (above ground level), structure exemption does not apply for recreational pilots. With great power comes great responsibility. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-107 |
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Flying around my house has gotten pretty boring. I do that once a year or less now. I do use it for vacations to get a little different perspective for the family slideshows I put together. I do also use it for intel gathering, how construction projects are going etc around the neighborhood. |
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Originally Posted By rDigital: Remote Pilot Certificate holder here. Flying BVLOS (beyond visual line of site) will get you in trouble. You must maintain unaided view of aircraft at all times. Flying over people, crowds and traffic will also get you. Sub 250g drones do not need to be registered unless used for any commercial purpose under 14 CFR Part 107. Drones 250g and up need to be registered regardless of use. Drones over 250g and ANY drone used under 107 purposes require Remote ID (beacon for all flight info and base station), many have it built in now. They also need to be registered regardless of use. Skyrover X1 is sub 250g and does not appear to have a remote id module based on reviews I have read. It's easy to check. There are remote ID apps for phones that can scan for drones. The android ones are much better than iOS devices because of the wifi (remote ID looks like an 802.11 packet) flexibility. Always check an LAANC or B4UFly app like Aloft to make sure that you are not in an active NOTAM, a National Park, Washington D.C, TFR (presidential ones get spicy) and that you are in class G Airspace (you will need to apply for permission through the apps to fly in other types of airspace (B,C,D and E). Also it would behoove you to do a quick google/ai search of your state and local laws. Do not fly above 400 ft AGL (above ground level), structure exemption does not apply for recreational pilots. With great power comes great responsibility. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-107 I’ll bet you’re a ton of fun at parties ![]() More to OP’s point, anyone who takes the 2A seriously needs to go ahead and get into drones and start learning how to use them. |
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."
-C.S. Lewis
-C.S. Lewis
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Originally Posted By M-231: How big a drone is required to carry a can of spray paint? Asking for a friend This one can carry 130lbs, it is about 6' in diameter. ![]() How I Won $750,000 With this Drone |
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I would like to see a fixed wing version with long term loiter capacity. Flying a thermal camera to track hogs in the under brush would be a winning setup. Are there any solar power drones on the market? |
Ego is the anesthesia that deadens stupidity.
"To every man upon this earth Death cometh soon or late. And how can man die better Than facing fearful odds, For the ashes of his fathers, And the temples of his Gods."
"To every man upon this earth Death cometh soon or late. And how can man die better Than facing fearful odds, For the ashes of his fathers, And the temples of his Gods."
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I remember my uncle David, peace be upon him, years ago standing under my first DJI Professional 3 on a straight-up launch He had served on board a US Navy carrier as an A&P mechanic then went straight to work for American Airlines where he got his engineering degree and worked as an engineer for almost 50 years before he retired He told me "you have no idea what it took to do what you just did" as I took it to 400' like a bottle rocket and he marveled at the technology ETA: I saw the comment above about spying on people. DJI type drones are great for mapping and accident reconstruction...but totally worthless for mobile surveillance. I teach for Oklahoma CLEET |
| Huh, so recreational people actually do register the things and still have the ID feature enabled. I figured most never bothered. I keep saying I'm going to buy one but I've never owned one and only know a couple of people who do, but I've never asked them about it. Several of them built their own drones including some large octocopters, but that was overseas, not here. |
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Originally Posted By rDigital: Remote Pilot Certificate holder here. Flying BVLOS (beyond visual line of site) will get you in trouble. You must maintain unaided view of aircraft at all times. Flying over people, crowds and traffic will also get you. Sub 250g drones do not need to be registered unless used for any commercial purpose under 14 CFR Part 107. Drones 250g and up need to be registered regardless of use. Drones over 250g and ANY drone used under 107 purposes require Remote ID (beacon for all flight info and base station), many have it built in now. They also need to be registered regardless of use. Skyrover X1 is sub 250g and does not appear to have a remote id module based on reviews I have read. It's easy to check. There are remote ID apps for phones that can scan for drones. The android ones are much better than iOS devices because of the wifi (remote ID looks like an 802.11 packet) flexibility. Always check an LAANC or B4UFly app like Aloft to make sure that you are not in an active NOTAM, a National Park, Washington D.C, TFR (presidential ones get spicy) and that you are in class G Airspace (you will need to apply for permission through the apps to fly in other types of airspace (B,C,D and E). Also it would behoove you to do a quick google/ai search of your state and local laws. Do not fly above 400 ft AGL (above ground level), structure exemption does not apply for recreational pilots. With great power comes great responsibility. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-107 I'm getting HAM radio parallels from this post. |
"I said,'I don't know how to vomit softly.' That's like telling someone to shit perfume."
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Originally Posted By fortydelta: I'm getting HAM radio parallels from this post. Originally Posted By fortydelta: Originally Posted By rDigital: Remote Pilot Certificate holder here. Flying BVLOS (beyond visual line of site) will get you in trouble. You must maintain unaided view of aircraft at all times. Flying over people, crowds and traffic will also get you. Sub 250g drones do not need to be registered unless used for any commercial purpose under 14 CFR Part 107. Drones 250g and up need to be registered regardless of use. Drones over 250g and ANY drone used under 107 purposes require Remote ID (beacon for all flight info and base station), many have it built in now. They also need to be registered regardless of use. Skyrover X1 is sub 250g and does not appear to have a remote id module based on reviews I have read. It's easy to check. There are remote ID apps for phones that can scan for drones. The android ones are much better than iOS devices because of the wifi (remote ID looks like an 802.11 packet) flexibility. Always check an LAANC or B4UFly app like Aloft to make sure that you are not in an active NOTAM, a National Park, Washington D.C, TFR (presidential ones get spicy) and that you are in class G Airspace (you will need to apply for permission through the apps to fly in other types of airspace (B,C,D and E). Also it would behoove you to do a quick google/ai search of your state and local laws. Do not fly above 400 ft AGL (above ground level), structure exemption does not apply for recreational pilots. With great power comes great responsibility. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-107 I'm getting HAM radio parallels from this post. It's sad ham syndrome. Same sad guys same sad channel! |
Be a hard-ass. Every day should be like his first day in prison, and he's all alone in the yard without a shiv.
| The government has taken active steps within the past month to make it harder for the average person to get into drone flying. |
Never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be. - Adm James Stockdale
USPSA Master Race
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I have a Mini 3 or 4, can’t remember which. It’s nice for taking aerial photos. Otherwise I don’t really use it. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By glocke12: anything over 250 grams needs to be registered with the FAA If you are worried about them tracking you, thats a moot point. Registered or unregistered, remote ID enabled or not, they will know you are up there. I speak from personal experience on that..not saying how I know on a public forum, but I will say it was a pants shitting moment and leave it at that. @glocke12 Where might one go look for such information. For education purposes only. |
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Originally Posted By Never_A_Wick: I have a Mini 3 or 4, can’t remember which. It’s nice for taking aerial photos. Otherwise I don’t really use it. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/578900/IMG_0064_jpeg-3830543.JPG Those bridges are more fun when they are white!!! |
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Originally Posted By Zeke725: @glocke12 Where might one go look for such information. For education purposes only. Originally Posted By Zeke725: Originally Posted By glocke12: anything over 250 grams needs to be registered with the FAA If you are worried about them tracking you, thats a moot point. Registered or unregistered, remote ID enabled or not, they will know you are up there. I speak from personal experience on that..not saying how I know on a public forum, but I will say it was a pants shitting moment and leave it at that. @glocke12 Where might one go look for such information. For education purposes only. They can easily detect the radio signals between the drone and the device controlling it and have other methods I am sure to see what's flying. One has not lived until their residence is overflown by a large, wide wing spanned military aircraft with a slender body with top mounted engine towards the rear flying low and slow in a grid pattern. |
It takes hatred to compulsively denigrate something.
That’s gayer than Elton John and George Michael dueting on their hit song Don’t Let Your Son Go Down On Me.
That’s gayer than Elton John and George Michael dueting on their hit song Don’t Let Your Son Go Down On Me.
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Originally Posted By Zeke725: @glocke12 Where might one go look for such information. For education purposes only. https://www.dji.com/aeroscope This is commercially available, and a little bit dated. The airforce probably has much better devices. |
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I occasionally fly mine around the house, its an autel. I mostly use it for flying out to 600 yards to see how my rifle group is. I also have it for shtf, just incase, but for now its great for checking group sizes. |
"I am gonna laugh my ass off looking out the air vent of the box car watching some of you shot in the head in a ditch when you finally realize it's time to resist." stolen from RR_broccoli
USPSA Master Race
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Posts:
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EE: 100% (49)
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Originally Posted By sandboxmedic: FIFY Originally Posted By sandboxmedic: Originally Posted By M-231: How big a drone is required to carry a can of FIFY I'd take one that handles a spot sprayer of roundup no matter how small. |
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I actually just got an Avata 360 with the FPV goggles and motion controller, and flew it for the first time this weekend with my girlfriend. It's simply AMAZING. The sheer intuitiveness/ease of flying and the crash prevention means anybody can fly it and see anywhere. I haven't looked at the 360 degree videos yet, but the ability to fly the thing around and look anywhere I wanted by turning my head is sci-fi level fun. Originally Posted By StaccatoC2:I occasionally fly mine around the house, its an autel. I mostly use it for flying out to 600 yards to see how my rifle group is. I also have it for shtf, just incase, but for now its great for checking group sizes. Why buy a spotting scout even your can have a drone? |
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Originally Posted By 67Firebird: I remember driving an R/C truck in my living room, and hitting the coffee quite a bit. I don't think drones would be a good fit for me. ![]()
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Award: 24/365 Most likely to be an appendix.
"Dealing with Congress is like trying to have an adult conversation about the credit card with your alcoholic bi-polar Ukranian import wife."
"Dealing with Congress is like trying to have an adult conversation about the credit card with your alcoholic bi-polar Ukranian import wife."
| I got a Skydio 2 and a part 107 license in 2021. It’s definitely cool technology, but I have to admit that I expected it to be a lot more useful and/or fun than I actually found it to be. The Remote ID thing took effect shortly thereafter, and I didn’t feel like it was worth the hassle to get it, or worth the risk of flying without it. I never renewed the 107 license, and probably haven’t even taken it out of its case in about 3 years. |
On the day shift at the Utility Muffin Research Kitchen
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I can think of no better way of pissing off everyone in a two mile radius. Our realtors have started using them, and there's nothing like a screeching wasp to shatter a peaceful afternoon on the deck. I understand that shooting one down is now a felony, which is a damn shame. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. |
Je suis prest
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Originally Posted By SurfinBrass: I've been heavy into multirotors for 15 years. I've built around eight over that time. From FPV racers to attempts at video platforms. I started with multirotors where the skill was similar to holding a basketball with a tennis ball balanced on top. Now. . . . flying multirotors is more "direction" than actually flying. Racing and free-flying IS a subset, but nothing close to letting algorithms fly the craft. I got out of the hobby for over half a decade because of prostate cancer and heart issues. I more or less recovered from those issues and found the hobby has blown far past my experience. In the last couple of years you can purchase tech far below $1K that can fly six or so miles that weighs around a couple packs of playing cards with 4K@60 FPS. The tech is mind blowing. If anyone is familiar, DJI is the Nvidia, the Apple, the Samsung of the commercial "Drone" industry. I grabbed this DJI Mini 4 clone a few weeks ago, the 'SkyRover X1' for 60% the price of a DJI and it's mind-blowing. For sub $600 for the entire quad and controller is stunning. If you have a location for unfettered line-of-sight, you can explore MILES of radius from your house in 4K 60fps. Cool drone, and very affordable. Is this a good entry model for a new drone user? |
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Originally Posted By TxRabbitBane: I was thinking exactly the same thing Originally Posted By TxRabbitBane: Originally Posted By JVD: Would be a great way to scout deer. ![]() I was thinking exactly the same thing |
Ego is the anesthesia that deadens stupidity.
"To every man upon this earth Death cometh soon or late. And how can man die better Than facing fearful odds, For the ashes of his fathers, And the temples of his Gods."
"To every man upon this earth Death cometh soon or late. And how can man die better Than facing fearful odds, For the ashes of his fathers, And the temples of his Gods."
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