4G dongle - "unofficially supported" countries

[Tsun]

Hi everyone,
I'm considering equipping my M3P with 4G dongle, but first would like to figure out how much I'll be able to use it. I know that officially supported countries are China + EU, but it's been reported to also work in Australia, New Zealand and UAE but not in the US. How about other places? I'm mostly interested in asian countries like Japan, Korea and Malaysia.

In a FAQ on DJI's website:
In which countries or regions Enhanced Transmission is not supported?
In Thailand, the United States, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Palestine.

Is it possible that in reality it will work everywhere except those countries?

 

[WanderLost]

Hi everyone,
I'm considering equipping my M3P with 4G dongle, but first would like to figure out how much I'll be able to use it. I know that officially supported countries are China + EU, but it's been reported to also work in Australia, New Zealand and UAE but not in the US. How about other places? I'm mostly interested in asian countries like Japan, Korea and Malaysia.

In a FAQ on DJI's website:
In which countries or regions Enhanced Transmission is not supported?
In Thailand, the United States, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Palestine.

Is it possible that in reality it will work everywhere except those countries?

There's a list on the DJI website about which countries DO support 4G flight. That should answer your question.

 

[Tsun]

There's a list on the DJI website about which countries DO support 4G flight. That should answer your question.

It doesn't. Official list is as I mentioned only includes Europe and China, but I know as a fact that there are countries not included on the list where the dongle still works, like Australia.

 

[WanderLost]

It doesn't. Official list is as I mentioned only includes Europe and China, but I know as a fact that there are countries not included on the list where the dongle still works, like Australia.

Here's a link to the list showing the countries where the dongles can be used for 4G transmission. Yes - I see that Australia is not on the list - but perhaps the list is out of date? You can also contact DJI and ask them about which country(s) you are interested in.

FAQ for DJI Cellular Dongle Enhanced Transmission

FAQ for DJI Cellular Dongle Enhanced Transmission

support.dji.com

 

[tstr14]

It doesn't. Official list is as I mentioned only includes Europe and China, but I know as a fact that there are countries not included on the list where the dongle still works, like Australia.

Is it possible it only works in part of Australia? If so and DJI listed it as working there, they would get into trouble for false advertising.

 

[Tsun]

I don't think it's a technical reason, more likely regulatory - my theory is that they have been approved to use/sell it only in Europe and China, so don't advertise it for other countries, but it still can work. I was hoping a few posts from people who tried it in countries that aren't on either approved or blocked list, which would confirm it.
Technology itself isn't anything new or innovative, it's just a cellular modem no different than included in every smartphone so it should work everywhere where there's strong enough network signal, unless DJI actively blocks the country on their servers. I've reached out to them asking for clarification, but I doubt I'll get any reply other than "check the official list".

 

[WanderLost]

I don't think it's a technical reason, more likely regulatory - my theory is that they have been approved to use/sell it only in Europe and China, so don't advertise it for other countries, but it still can work. I was hoping a few posts from people who tried it in countries that aren't on either approved or blocked list, which would confirm it.
Technology itself isn't anything new or innovative, it's just a cellular modem no different than included in every smartphone so it should work everywhere where there's strong enough network signal, unless DJI actively blocks the country on their servers. I've reached out to them asking for clarification, but I doubt I'll get any reply other than "check the official list".

Each country controls access to the cellular network. That has to happen first. In the US, the relevant bodies have not authorized access yet - so the dongle doesn't work there - same in Canada here. Once that's OK, you will still need to get access to DJI's servers to enable it properly.

 

[Spikemixture]

There's a list on the DJI website about which countries DO support 4G flight. That should answer your question.

Would be nice if you gave a link !

 

[WanderLost]

Would be nice if you gave a link !

I did post the link further up - but just for you, here's the link again.

FAQ for DJI Cellular Dongle Enhanced Transmission

FAQ for DJI Cellular Dongle Enhanced Transmission

support.dji.com

 

[GadgetGuy]

Here's a link to the list showing the countries where the dongles can be used for 4G transmission. Yes - I see that Australia is not on the list - but perhaps the list is out of date? You can also contact DJI and ask them about which country(s) you are interested in.

FAQ for DJI Cellular Dongle Enhanced Transmission

FAQ for DJI Cellular Dongle Enhanced Transmission

support.dji.com

I couldn’t find any list showing the countries where the dongles can be used for 4G transmission in your link above.

Can you post a screenshot of where within that lengthy link, that it appears, if it does?

Thanks!

 

[WanderLost]

I couldn’t find any list showing the countries where the dongles can be used for 4G transmission in your link above.

Can you post a screenshot of where within that lengthy link, that it appears, if it does?

Thanks!

I'm not sure what you're looking at - but the list is not lengthy, there's one table and a box showing the countries where the dongle can be used - at the time of printing. Are we talking about different things?

 

[GadgetGuy]

I'm not sure what you're looking at - but the list is not lengthy, there's one table and a box showing the countries where the dongle can be used - at the time of printing. Are we talking about different things?
View attachment 184794

Thank you. The screenshot really helps.
I clearly missed that top section, while scrolling through the long webpage, searching for what was right at the top! LOL!

It would appear that it hasn’t yet been updated to include the Mavic 4 Pro, but it must fall into the lower group of countries which includes the OS4 drones.

Also of note is that none of the countries in the first group of the countries is included in the second group. Any idea why that might be?

 

[WanderLost]

Thank you. The screenshot really helps.
I clearly missed that top section, while scrolling through the long webpage, searching for what was right at the top! LOL!

It would appear that it hasn’t yet been updated to include the Mavic 4 Pro, but it must fall into the lower group of countries which includes the OS4 drones.

Also of note is that none of the countries in the first group of the countries is included in the second group. Any idea why that might be?

All of the drones listed there can use 4G in the countries listed. The difference is in the dongles - the first dongle is for the Mini 3 Pro and the Mavic 3 series and the second dongle - "dongle 2" is made specifically for the Air 3s, Air 3 and Mini 4 Pro. There is only one cell in the table for the list of countries/regions not 2 separate lists.

 

[GadgetGuy]

All of the drones listed there can use 4G in the countries listed. The difference is in the dongles - the first dongle is for the Mini 3 Pro and the Mavic 3 series and the second dongle - "dongle 2" is made specifically for the Air 3s, Air 3 and Mini 4 Pro. There is only one cell in the table for the list of countries/regions not 2 separate lists.

Thanks for the explanation and clarification. Makes sense now.
Missed that the light gray horizontal line separating the two dongles didn't extend all the way across in the chart into the countries.

So the Mavic 4 Pro should be included in the Dongle 2 list?

 

[WanderLost]

Thanks for the explanation and clarification. Makes sense now.
Missed that the light gray horizontal line separating the two dongles didn't extend all the way across in the chart into the countries.

So the Mavic 4 Pro should be included in the Dongle 2 list?

Well, it's not on the list, so I would contact DJI for clarification. Just use the chat function on their webpage - they've always been very forthcoming when I talked with them.

 

[GadgetGuy]

Well, it's not on the list, so I would contact DJI for clarification. Just use the chat function on their webpage - they've always been very forthcoming when I talked with them.

Mavic 4 Pro is, in fact, supported, based upon pilot reports from NZ.
I suspect the list just hasn't yet been properly updated to reflect the newest aircraft.

Sadly, more of a curiosity than relevant to me.
No 4G service in the USA at all, on any DJI drone.

 

[WanderLost]

Mavic 4 Pro is, in fact, supported, based upon pilot reports from NZ.
I suspect the list just hasn't yet been properly updated to reflect the newest aircraft.

Sadly, more of a curiosity than relevant to me.
No 4G service in the USA at all, on any DJI drone.

Yes - ditto in Canada here. And it's too bad since the new rules allow for sheltered operations BVLOS around buildings for inspections and for EVLOS up to 2 nm for mapping/surveying. 4G would be a really handy thing to have for these operations.

 

[tstr14]

Yes - ditto in Canada here. And it's too bad since the new rules allow for sheltered operations BVLOS around buildings for inspections and for EVLOS up to 2 nm for mapping/surveying. 4G would be a really handy thing to have for these operations.

But that "may" be changing. Operative word "may".