Drone suggestion

[jk96]

DJI mavic mini at $500

Here's video of our farmer taking beans out last fall with the DJ Mavic Spark. This is the previous version of the mini. Has been a great drone for a sub-$500 price point. The new mini has twice the flight time as my spark.


Video - click for link
Combine2

 

[bunyip]

Nice video but tell me, what is the small building on stilts?

 

[civilian]

Nice video but tell me, what is the small building on stilts?

Deer blind possibly. Jon

 

[jk96]

Deer blind possibly. Jon

Yep. I built it for a place the kids could sit with me before we had plans to build the house on the property. The house didn't seem to bother the deer much. This was last falls harvest from that blind.

2020-04-19_09-01-12

 

[ovrszd]

We offroad 4wheel in our timber. The deer use our trails.

Nice one!!!

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Ranchers are using drones to check on their cattle. I suggested it to dad. If I lived closer to dad I definitely would have one to check the cattle.

4 practical applications for drones on the ranch | Beef Magazine

DJI Drones Adopted For Precision Ranching

Guy that hunts on my dads farm uses one to check his traps.

 

[bunyip]

Excellent links, worth a read, I must admit I have looked for diseased trees using the drone, makes them easy to pick out rather than walking under them and like one of the articles states you can look at a large area and get a better perspective too.

 

[japody]

Ranchers are using drones to check on their cattle. I suggested it to dad. If I lived closer to dad I definitely would have one to check the cattle.

4 practical applications for drones on the ranch | Beef Magazine

DJI Drones Adopted For Precision Ranching

Guy that hunts on my dads farm uses one to check his traps.

Don't let breaktrk see this. He'll say they don't need to be raising cattle!

 

[dragoneggs]

I think I might be lazy and have fun checking the embers on my burn pile today with my drone. BRB.

 

[unbidden]

I'm thinking about getting a drone. Just today, a cow had a calf and would not let me get near her. A drone with remote video would have made that easier. Anyway, anyone have ideas, recommendations, suggestions, negative feedback, etc. on drones. Looking to keep it under $500. Thanks in advance.

I'm a little late to this party but if buying your first I'd opt to stay on the cheap side. That being said, I've had a HolyStone HS700D for several months now. Flies like an expensive drone and is super easy to fly even for a beginner. The images are good enough for your purpose.

 

[BigBlue1]

How do drones like that connect to your phone for remote viewing? The distances are obviously beyond wifi or bluetooth. Do they have cell links?

Rob

 

[ovrszd]

How do drones like that connect to your phone for remote viewing? The distances are obviously beyond wifi or bluetooth. Do they have cell links?

Rob

Not sure which Drones you are talking about? My Autel can use a cell phone as a viewer. The Drone's camera view is sent back to the controller and then to your phone screen. The phone is attached to the Drone Controller using the charger cord.

I use a 7x9 tablet as a viewer. It too connects to the Drone Controller using a charger cord.

If you don't connect a device to the Drone Controller you have no visual from the Drone.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I think he’s asking how the video gets transmitted back from the drone. I believe they have their own RF link that they use.

 

[dragoneggs]

Keeping it inexpensive for your first drone is smart. I find it hard to find the time to take it other places than around my property to get a bunch of use with it. It is a toy for most and I really can't. justify the expense but oh well. Thought about trying to make some money with it to offset cost but haven't done it yet. Too many other projects. Having a specific use on your own property, will help with practice and hands on time.

 

[BigBlue1]

Not sure which Drones you are talking about? My Autel can use a cell phone as a viewer. The Drone's camera view is sent back to the controller and then to your phone screen. The phone is attached to the Drone Controller using the charger cord.

I use a 7x9 tablet as a viewer. It too connects to the Drone Controller using a charger cord.

If you don't connect a device to the Drone Controller you have no visual from the Drone.

I was talking about the drone listed in the prior post to mine, but really just curious in general. Sounds like the video is transferred over a bi-directional link between drone and controller and then the phone is linked to the controller via an app on the phone to display the incoming video? How is that done? Bluetooth? Local wifi from controller to phone?

Rob

 

[ovrszd]

I think he’s asking how the video gets transmitted back from the drone. I believe they have their own RF link that they use.

Yes, I'm sorry, I misunderstood.

If flying in hilly areas or heavy timbered areas you may lose signal. It'll warn you, sometimes before it loses signal. If my Drone loses contact with the Controller for more than a few seconds it will activate the "Go Home" mode and come back to you at whatever altitude you have preset.

 

[ovrszd]

I was talking about the drone listed in the prior post to mine, but really just curious in general. Sounds like the video is transferred over a bi-directional link between drone and controller and then the phone is linked to the controller via an app on the phone to display the incoming video? How is that done? Bluetooth? Local wifi from controller to phone?

Rob

Yes to the first two parts.

As to the last part, the phone is wire connected to the Controller and just becomes a viewing screen.

 

[Alien]

I was surprised a couple of days ago when I sent my drone around my property. The Wifi managed to reach the furthest corner which was about 600 meters from where I was. Must be because the trees have thinned out. It dropped in and out a couple of times but rejoins when in range.
It doesn't matter as the drone is pre-programmed and will continue the mission regardless.
I use a Samsung Tablet with QGround Control.
I was only at 40 meters altitude.

 

[cdaigle430]

Hmmmm... Why did my friend have to go find his twice?

Dont know about your friend but my Mavic Air keeps me live informed of battery level and will fly back home if it gets 15% or lower...you can actually disable it or change the threshold.

 

[cdaigle430]

Haters gotta hate right? Ive actually used mine to help mark property lines, get the height of a tree, check chimney conditions and even used it to help an eco lodge advertising in the Amazon of Brazil. I certainly didnt intend to use it for that...but it also gets alot of conversation.

Certainly a toy but also certainly not laughable or scoffable. It also helps to connect me with my Mom and Dad who are in their upper 70s...they have 3 drones....they were the inspiration for me to get one.

I have taken beautiful shots of waterfalls in Maine and Brazil, beaches in Maine and Brazil.

I also use mine for photography-as a hobby. Next year I will be traveling to Argentina with it for some nice glacier shots....once I work out the permissions.