Altitude Hard-Coded Limit - Any mod to increase it?

[marwan_zakaria]

I have been flying a FLIP for a few months, and I love it. I have just acquired a Mavic 3 (and will acquire a Mavic 4 soon). I have seen that all drones can reach an altitude of 6km or 20,000 ft above sea level. However, the RC has a hard-coded max of 500m. Has anyone been successful in applying a hack or a mod to increase this limit?

 

[Meta4]

I have seen that all drones can reach an altitude of 6km or 20,000 ft above sea level.

They can't reach 20000 ft or 6000 metres.
Some can fly at 6000 metres, but other models have service ceilings of 4000 metres.
And if you are thinking of flying from low levels to those altitudes, that's just asking for trouble.

 

[Mavy3-CJW]

I have been flying a FLIP for a few months, and I love it. I have just acquired a Mavic 3 (and will acquire a Mavic 4 soon). I have seen that all drones can reach an altitude of 6km or 20,000 ft above sea level. However, the RC has a hard-coded max of 500m. Has anyone been successful in applying a hack or a mod to increase this limit?

I have been flying a FLIP for a few months, and I love it. I have just acquired a Mavic 3 (and will acquire a Mavic 4 soon). I have seen that all drones can reach an altitude of 6km or 20,000 ft above sea level. However, the RC has a hard-coded max of 500m. Has anyone been successful in applying a hack or a mod to increase this limit?

Marwan, with due respect, why do you want to tempt fate? The FAA sets limits: 400 AGL, higher if you're operating under 107 with an approved waiver (edited). Attempting to fly at high altitude is dangerous or deadly to manned aircraft and people/property on the ground. The drone industry is under a lot of attack, as I'm sure you are aware. We don't need to add fuel to the fire. Please fly lawfully and safely.

 

[Meta4]

The FAA sets limits (200' AGL for recreational pilots

Check again.
There is no 200 ft AGL limit for recreational flyers.

 

[moldorf]

I have been flying a FLIP for a few months, and I love it. I have just acquired a Mavic 3 (and will acquire a Mavic 4 soon). I have seen that all drones can reach an altitude of 6km or 20,000 ft above sea level. However, the RC has a hard-coded max of 500m. Has anyone been successful in applying a hack or a mod to increase this limit?

you seem to be talking about 2 different things. The theoretical ceiling of a drone vs the max allowable altitude above home point

I've seen a video, of a Mavic 3 Pro IIRC, actually flying over Mt. Everest

the 500M/1640ft is a restriction of the Fly app. However, if you are, IIRC, 50km from any airport, that restriction is increased to 1000M/3280ft. I fly in very remote parts of Eastern Oregon and Northern Nevada and sometimes when I'm at the base of a mountain/cliff/plateau etc. I can get over 3000 ft above home point; and still maintain the 400ft AGL limit

 

[marwan_zakaria]

Marwan, with due respect, why do you want to tempt fate? The FAA sets limits: 400 AGL, higher if you're operating under 107 with an approved waiver (edited). Attempting to fly at high altitude is dangerous or deadly to manned aircraft and people/property on the ground. The drone industry is under a lot of attack, as I'm sure you are aware. We don't need to add fuel to the fire. Please fly lawfully and safely.

Thanks for the advice. I will be traveling to some very remote areas this summer, and I am wondering if the 500-meter Fly App hard-coded limit is applicable globally. The Mavic 3 specifications say it can fly to 20,000 ft. I am trying to get educated about the possibilities (art of the possible). Make sense?

 

[marwan_zakaria]

you seem to be talking about 2 different things. The theoretical ceiling of a drone vs the max allowable altitude above home point

I've seen a video, of a Mavic 3 Pro IIRC, actually flying over Mt. Everest

the 500M/1640ft is a restriction of the Fly app. However, if you are, IIRC, 50km from any airport, that restriction is increased to 1000M/3280ft. I fly in very remote parts of Eastern Oregon and Northern Nevada and sometimes when I'm at the base of a mountain/cliff/plateau etc. I can get over 3000 ft above home point; and still maintain the 400ft AGL limit

Correct. The "theoretical" ceiling or "advertised" capability of the Mavic 3 drone (i.e. 20,000 ft or 6,000 meters) vs the hard-coded ceiling in the Fly App (500 meters). I recall seeing a note about a team who were able to mod the code to remove this 500-meter ceiling. Also, please elaborate about the IIRC (what does it mean) and the 50 km zone around airports (I could not look it in the FAA rule book). Thanks.

 

[AMann]

you seem to be talking about 2 different things. The theoretical ceiling of a drone vs the max allowable altitude above home point

I've seen a video, of a Mavic 3 Pro IIRC, actually flying over Mt. Everest

the 500M/1640ft is a restriction of the Fly app. However, if you are, IIRC, 50km from any airport, that restriction is increased to 1000M/3280ft. I fly in very remote parts of Eastern Oregon and Northern Nevada and sometimes when I'm at the base of a mountain/cliff/plateau etc. I can get over 3000 ft above home point; and still maintain the 400ft AGL limit

What is IIRC? Did you mean the RC2 controller?

 

[tstr14]

What is IIRC? Did you mean the RC2 controller?

IIRC = If I recall correctly.

 

[AMann]

IIRC = If I recall correctly.

?? I don’t understand, are you talking about this controller? DJI doesn’t call it that.

 

[tstr14]

?? I don’t understand, are you talking about this controller? DJI doesn’t call it that.

View attachment 183040

It is an internet acronym that has been use for about 25 years. Like LOL = Laughing out loud.

 

[moldorf]

?? I don’t understand, are you talking about this controller? DJI doesn’t call it that.

View attachment 183040

maybe I forgot a comma:

"I've seen a video, of a Mavic 3 Pro, IIRC, actually flying over Mt. Everest"

sorry for the confusion...

 

[moldorf]

Correct. The "theoretical" ceiling or "advertised" capability of the Mavic 3 drone (i.e. 20,000 ft or 6,000 meters) vs the hard-coded ceiling in the Fly App (500 meters). I recall seeing a note about a team who were able to mod the code to remove this 500-meter ceiling. Also, please elaborate about the IIRC (what does it mean) and the 50 km zone around airports (I could not look it in the FAA rule book). Thanks.

it was just fast way to say 'if I recall correctly'. I was thinking it was a Mavic 3 Pro, but I wasn't sure

 

[AMann]

I just googled it and saw that. But looked like it was a model distinction or name the way it was originally written in the post. Thanks for the correction. I’ll just go back to happily flying my MIIP now…

 

[danwnz]

The biggest problem with attempting to fly above 500m is the you have no idea what the wind strength would be up there vs the ground, often much higher. Your drone also does not have anywhere the same performance already due to the thin air. I have flown the mini pro 3 at 4000m on a windless morning that is the limit of this drone with the more powerful battery, it performed well but you could definitely see the degradation of the lift performance little more laggy.

 

[marwan_zakaria]

Thanks. But how did you bypass the Fly DJI App limit of 500 meters?

 

[danwnz]

Thanks. But how did you bypass the Fly DJI App limit of 500 meters?

I did not override the 500m max limit, got to 400m before I chickened out due to the already highish altitude and the wind could have changed at any point during the sunrise.
I can't find the log data for the over 4000m flight, but you do not have to override anything, it gives you a warning on the remote that you are at high altitude, and then the maximum height you can go up from there is 500m for the take off altitude.
Here are the highest takeoff stats that I can find.


Here is the 400m flight above the take off altitude of 2400m above sea level.



And the corresponding photo I was taking

 

[marwan_zakaria]

I've done 5000 feet in my Inspire 2 to get a mountain shot. Only once though...I've done the same in remote Alaska with the Mavic 3 Pro.

There was some hacking involved

Thanks. Do you mind sharing some of the hacking info and recipes? I am a techie and can handle it. ;-)

 

[Meta4]

I have flown the mini pro 3 at 4000m on a windless morning that is the limit of this drone with the more powerful battery

Thanks. But how did you bypass the Fly DJI App limit of 500 meters?

You seem to not understand the difference between climbing 4000 metres and flying at 4000 metres.
They aren't the same thing.

 

[GadgetGuy]

Thanks. But how did you bypass the Fly DJI App limit of 500 meters?

In the U.S., with the removal of GEO, the Mavic 3 AGL limit is now 1000m everywhere in the U.S., except for San Diego County, where the 50 Km radius around the Tijuana airport, from GEO in MX, still bleeds across the U.S. border.