Drone suggestion

[JerryK]

I have a Yuneec Typhoon H. Went that route because it's controller has it's own screen. I do not own a smartphone. Flys nice, and takes great 4K pictures...

 

[ovrszd]

I have a Yuneec Typhoon H. Went that route because it's controller has it's own screen. I do not own a smartphone. Flys nice, and takes great 4K pictures...

Yep, I've heard good things about those Drones.

Autel talked about a controller with screen. Opens like a Laptop with folding joysticks. I haven't checked with them for awhile to see if they offer it yet. Maybe DJI does, not sure.

 

[Alien]

There is a thread on RC Groups discussing the Yuneec. (can't find it now) The Parrot Anafi also seems popular.

Drone discussions. Multirotor Drone Talk - RC Groups

As far as programming goes, I set my waypoints and altitude and speed, then upload it to the drone. The drone takes off and returns and lands to the exact spot set.
I can leave the program in the drone as long as I like. It retains the memory so I can take it out in a weeks time and tell it to go and it will perform the same mission.
I have a bout 20 different missions saved in my Tablet. It is easy to set up a new mission.

Funny event.
I flew a mission one day and my drone landed. I turned it off and then loaded the same mission in my buddies drone. It completed the mission and then landed square on top of my drone as I hadn't shifted it.

 

[ovrszd]

There is a thread on RC Groups discussing the Yuneec

As far as programming goes, I set my waypoints and altitude and speed, then upload it to the drone. The drone takes off and returns and lands to the exact spot set.
I can leave the program in the drone as long as I like. It retains the memory so I can take it out in a weeks time and tell it to go and it will perform the same mission.
I have a bout 20 different missions saved in my Tablet. It is easy to set up a new mission.

Funny event.
I flew a mission one day and my drone landed. I turned it off and then loaded the same mission in my buddies drone. It completed the mission and then landed square on top of my drone as I hadn't shifted it.

Not very many years ago that would have seemed impossible. The GPS world has advanced at an alarming pace!!!

 

[Alien]

Certainly has. Only damage was that he cut off my WiFi antenna!

 

[Firemanbuck]

I'll chime in with a vote for the Mavic Mini. Great price point, excellent battery life, excellent photo and video quality (adjustable ISO, shutter speed, frame rate) and under 250 grams so no license needed. Also included in the DJI app is video editing software. My only complaint is that it's so small I lose visual track of it in the air. I bought mine as a "starter" but I'm not sure I even need to move up to a more expensive system. If I do move up it will be for a LiDAR payload.

 

[dragoneggs]

To each his own here on drones. I am on my second DJI. First a Phantom III pro and now a Mavic 2 Pro. Easy to sink a lot of money into a drone for occasional use. Some want the ultimate in performance and for sport, others want a simple cheap thing that will take snapshots, others like me want it all but settle for something compact and easy to use. I do like my Mavic because of its compactness. The camera is phenomenal as well. A nice package that is easy to learn.

If I had the time, I would love to build my own but that is my nature to learn and customize. Buying a name brand though is smart from a resale value. I am guessing most use their drone a few times and lose interest and reason to fly... and then it sits. I am borderline on that. Buying one and thinking you will make money with it just cause you have one, is foolhardy.

For most it is an expensive toy, but for the minority it can be an extremely useful tool. I am in the minority but enjoying the luxury.

 

[JerryK]

My drone is kind of like my excavator, or my tractors. They allow me to do stuff, keep active, but they are really just expensive toys for the old guy.....

 

[LouNY]

Well this thread has been inactive for awhile lets wake it up;
I'm a novice at drone flying my wife got me one a couple of years ago a Phantom 3 standard I have flown it a bit and it is impressive as to how easy it can be to fly.
I took a video yesterday at my place just went up a 100 ft and pivoted and then at 200 ft.
This is what my part of upstate New York looks like;Home 100 and 200 ft look arounds - YouTube

 

[dragoneggs]

Well this thread has been inactive for awhile lets wake it up;
I'm a novice at drone flying my wife got me one a couple of years ago a Phantom 3 standard I have flown it a bit and it is impressive as to how easy it can be to fly.
I took a video yesterday at my place just went up a 100 ft and pivoted and then at 200 ft.
This is what my part of upstate New York looks like;Home 100 and 200 ft look arounds - YouTube

Isn't great to get aerial views of your property and surrounding area? I need to pull mine out as it has been grounded for too long. Thanks for resurrecting this thread. As JerryK said they are mostly expensive toys for most of us but it is nice to check out your roof without getting up on a ladder and for those with some property you can do an easy fly by if you can't easily check it from the ground.

 

[5030]

Fine with me. Richard caused me to get one, I guess. I was going to buy another firearm but my toolbox is pretty full so I bought a drone myself. Bought one like Richard has. Bought an Autel EVO which at 1300 bucks isn't a toy by a long shot. Have to get my FAA Professional Drone Pilots License yet, I plan on using mine for fun and profit as in aerial field mapping and documentaries concerning planting and harvesting.

The Autel's are Kubota Orange unlike the DJI's which are boring grey and the EVO's don't have Geofencing built in. I'm very adverse to Geofencing myself.

Because I've never flown a drone and because the EVO is so expensive, I bought a second less expensive drone, a DJI Tello, to practice flying with. Cheaper to crash a 150 buck drone versus a 1300 plus drone.

Fly both of mine with a Lenovo 10.1HD Android Tablet with the appropriate Apps installed.

Range on the Autel horizontally is 5.5 miles and vertical ceiling is 2600 feet. FAA rules limit the altitude to 400 however. Distance wise is LOS. The Tello is very limited range but is a 'trainer drone'. Both have camera's on board and both do FPV and record.

Fun, but for me useful and I can make a profit with the Autel, main reason I bought it (other than it's Kubota Orange....)...:laughing:

 

[5030]

Yep, I've heard good things about those Drones.

Autel talked about a controller with screen. Opens like a Laptop with folding joysticks. I haven't checked with them for awhile to see if they offer it yet. Maybe DJI does, not sure.

They do Richard, my EVO came with it. It has a OLED screen and you can fly completely with the controller but to access the Autel Explorer App and use all the features, you need to pair the Smartphone or Tablet with the controller.

My EVO is the 'Rugged Bundle' they offer. Aircraft (TSA Approved) case, 2 spare batteries plus the one in the drone, the controller, charging cables for the controller and batteries, spare props and some other incidentals, all in a nice case with room for a tablet in the bottom.

Nice drone btw.

 

[bunyip]

That Richard is a problem, got me into trouble with my missus.........

 

[ovrszd]

That Richard is a problem, got me into trouble with my missus.........

But it was a good kind of trouble.

 

[5030]

Probably should have went all out and bought an Autel EVO 2 Dual with the thermal imaging....lol

 

[Alien]

After I had a few flights with my buddies Mavic and seeing just how clear the view was, I did a lot of research and ordered a drone. It is NOT a DJI mavic but it does everything the Mavic can do for a fraction the price and service backup is excellent.
Range is 8 klm and flight time is up to 35 minutes. Fitted with a 4K 30FPS video cam.
It is the Xaomi FIMI X8 SE 2020. I will probably sell some of my other drones when this arrives. My neighbour is showing an interest in one of them already.
Sale price was $AU720 with free delivery.
My mates Mavic cost him over $3200 with the accessories.
Spare battery for the Ximi is $AU135 and a set of 4 props is only $23
Another mate reckons if I buy one he will as well.

Now I just have to wait....

 

[dragoneggs]

After I had a few flights with my buddies Mavic and seeing just how clear the view was, I did a lot of research and ordered a drone. It is NOT a DJI mavic but it does everything the Mavic can do for a fraction the price and service backup is excellent.
Range is 8 klm and flight time is up to 35 minutes. Fitted with a 4K 30FPS video cam.
It is the Xaomi FIMI X8 SE 2020. I will probably sell some of my other drones when this arrives. My neighbour is showing an interest in one of them already.
Sale price was $AU720 with free delivery.
My mates Mavic cost him over $3200 with the accessories.
Spare battery for the Ximi is $AU135 and a set of 4 props is only $23
Another mate reckons if I buy one he will as well.

Now I just have to wait....

Good luck to you... drones are fun. The hardest thing is using them enough before they become outdated. Resist the temptation to keep up with the technology. I am on my second DJI. First was a Phantom III Advanced, my current is a Mavic 2 Pro which is a great compact and high res photo/video. Time to charge up the batteries and do some more flying now that summer is full on here!

 

[Alien]

Yes dragoneggs. It is always tempting to upgrade. This one is a relatively new release and can be updated. I have had drones for quite a few years now so I'm not likely to get sick of them LOL This one will enable me to do a lot more interesting stuff not to mention checking my property and checking out smoke sources which is always a concern around here.
Can't get a better tool for that job.
My other drones carried a camera but I had to download it to see the video. This one is FPV.

 

[ovrszd]

Never heard of that brand. Anxious to hear a report from you. And see some pics of the drone itself. Thanks for updating us.

 

[pokey1416]

Always interested in following the drone thread. UAS is one of my duties here at work the last 3-1/2 years so most of my imagery is work related. Really enjoyed the view of the upper NY countryside.