Apple Airtags To Track A Drone

[BossBob]

The only device that I've found that doesn't rely on satellite, cell towers, wifi, or other (apple or Android) users is the Marco Polo. It is self contained so useable anywhere. I velcro the transmitter to my M2Pro anytime I am in an area where I'm concerned about loss. A little expensive but way less than my drone

The Marco Polo device isn’t licensed for use here in the UK. While it would be useful, it isn’t available.

 

[halifax]

The only device that I've found that doesn't rely on satellite, cell towers, wifi, or other (apple or Android) users is the Marco Polo. It is self contained so useable anywhere. I velcro the transmitter to my M2Pro anytime I am in an area where I'm concerned about loss. A little expensive but way less than my drone

One alternative to the Marco Polo is the Communications Specialists, Inc. PR-100A Receiver and RC-HP Transmitter pair. It only operates in the 220MHz Amateur Radio band and it's not cheap, but it is a serious tracking solution. I've been running the Com-Spec RX/TX pair for years, rarely fly without it, and used it most recently to recover a downed fixed wing RC aircraft lost in complex mountain terrain in NW Maine (ESC fire from flying in the rain (I know, I know...)). I also put the transmitters as back-up locators on my two German shepherds when we are working in the woods and they are off-leash and I've found that the Com-Spec pair outperforms the Garmin Alphas that I always use with my dogs. Again, not a cheap solution at $450 minimum and you have to have at least a tech-class ham license to use it, but it's there for those who want it.

RC PLANE, Communications Specialists Inc., RC Plane, Model Airplane Tracking, Model Rocketry Tracking, ELT

Model Aircraft ELT, Transmitters and Receivers for Model Airplane Tracking, Transmitters and Receivers for Model Rocket Tracking

www.com-spec.com

 

[czyzczyz]

The network of apple devices out there is huge, much bigger than the Tile network, so if a drone wearing an airbag went down anywhere that people ever walk by it'd have a pretty good chance at having its location reported. A friend of mine already puts an airtag on his kid when at a big public garden because she has a propensity to run off with a friend and hide, and the location gets updated every few mins. Obviously this would be of little help for drones landing in the ocean or on top of K2.

And the ultra-sideband location tracking when within 30' of the tag would probably be pretty useful when one needed to find a drone in a field of long grass or up in a tree where it's hidden behind stuff.

So it would actually be very useful to know whether sticking one of these on a drone would significantly affect range/transmission. My guess is no, because the airbag has "about a year" of battery life, so it can't be just sending out a very strong signal constantly. I'd bet it's doing some very low energy periodic detection of wireless signals and then only sends out a stronger signal of its own if it detects something.

 

[bkushner]

Can you post a link to this device? Perhaps Apple tags are better than Tiles, but I want to hear someone rave about them first.

I had a lot of success with Trackimo device early on. I don't use it anymore but still have it.

 

[Drbobk]

I feel like I've written this before, but it's not in this thread. so here goes...
I bought several airtags, and have attached them to various and quite different items. We put one in our boat. At the end of the season, I saw that its location had moved from its mooring to the boatyard. (The only weird thing with the boat was that it reported its location along the shore of the harbor rather than its actual location out in the harbor.)
We put one in my wife's car before it was transported from Florida to NY. During the trip, I would query the location and "watched" the car go up Rte 95, the NJ Turnpike, etc. to its final destination. I don't know whose i-devices were providing the fixes - was it cars passing the transport, or maybe the driver of the transport had an iPhone? I don't know, but near real-time location updates were pretty cool. We have since put Airtags in our luggage when we travel, my wife has one in her pocketbook, and I have ones in my drone case and laptop case. I'm a big fan.

 

[MAvic_South_Oz]

We put one in our boat. At the end of the season, I saw that its location had moved from its mooring to the boatyard. (The only weird thing with the boat was that it reported its location along the shore of the harbor rather than its actual location out in the harbor.)

They usually take a while to lock on properly.
I think they also gather more info from towers and / or other i-devices as it may become available to allow it to narrow down the circle location.
The boat was probably relying on one Possibly two towers for triangulation, while the car might have had numerous towers and other peoples devices driving nearby to help keep the accuracy more refined.

I have one on my car key ring now, thinking maybe I will urethane it to my DJI Pocket case, as I've lost 2 of them (yes, with the darn Pockets in them )in the recent past, now on my 3rd !!
Have seen the various airtag holders, something like this, mount stuck to each battery on a drone might be worth having in the field, slip the tag in before each flight / battery change . . . if you use an iphone of course . . .

Olixar Apple AirTags Adhesive Silicone Pocket 4 Pack - Black

This Olixar adhesive pocket case for your AirTag is the perfect accessory for tagging all the things you care about. The strong adhesive & durable silicone housing, keeps your AirTag attached firmly to your iPhone, iPad & other items you want to track.

www.mobilezap.com.au

 

[Skybuyer]

I feel like I've written this before, but it's not in this thread. so here goes...
I bought several airtags, and have attached them to various and quite different items. We put one in our boat. At the end of the season, I saw that its location had moved from its mooring to the boatyard. (The only weird thing with the boat was that it reported its location along the shore of the harbor rather than its actual location out in the harbor.)
We put one in my wife's car before it was transported from Florida to NY. During the trip, I would query the location and "watched" the car go up Rte 95, the NJ Turnpike, etc. to its final destination. I don't know whose i-devices were providing the fixes - was it cars passing the transport, or maybe the driver of the transport had an iPhone? I don't know, but near real-time location updates were pretty cool. We have since put Airtags in our luggage when we travel, my wife has one in her pocketbook, and I have ones in my drone case and laptop case. I'm a big fan.

I've not tried Apple Airtags, but have tried "Tiles" which were absolute failures. Tiles depend on other Tile users to identify locations. Even within the house, trying to find keys they often didn't work.

How do the airtags work exactly? Do they transmit to any iPhone user nearby or does it depend on others who use airtags? For my drones I would be more inclined to use a GPS tracker which would be independent of others. But would those be more effective than find my drone or the flight data?

 

[Drbobk]

I've not tried Apple Airtags, but have tried "Tiles" which were absolute failures. Tiles depend on other Tile users to identify locations. Even within the house, trying to find keys they often didn't work.

How do the airtags work exactly? Do they transmit to any iPhone user nearby or does it depend on others who use airtags? For my drones I would be more inclined to use a GPS tracker which would be independent of others. But would those be more effective than find my drone or the flight data?

I use Marco Polo on my drone when I'm flying, so if it takes off in some weird direction or simply falls in an area with lots of grasses or undergrowth, it can be found rather quickly. But I'm ordering an iPhone 13, which allows close-up location finding of AirTags, so maybe I'll add an AirTag to my M2P. For now I have one in the case. It allowed me to follow it when I shipped the case up to NY and back. If the post office lost it, I should have been able to find its location. And if it somehow gets stolen, I'll know where it is. Recently, I took the drone in its case to a location to shoot, and wandered far from my car where I left the case. I got a notice that had left my drone behind (AirTag doesn't know it's in the case and not on the drone). For $29 I don't see how you can go wrong.

 

[MAvic_South_Oz]

Do they transmit to any iPhone user nearby

Yes, the big advantage.
Though not perfect, a proper tracker like Marco Polo etc would be a lot more reliable, though more kit to take / carry, and probably bigger module ??

Here's rotor riots airtag test (vs beeping type FPV tool), inside a building was a problem, but shouldn't affect most mavic users.

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[Drbobk]

Though not perfect, a proper tracker like Marco Polo etc would be a lot more reliable, though more kit to take / carry, and probably bigger module ??

Here's a size comparison. On my scale, the Marco Polo is 12 grams (with the velcro), and the AirTag (no velcro) is 11 grams. If you're by yourself in a remote area, the Marco Polo will work much better to find your drone. (The AirTag will work well if you somehow get close on your own.) If someone else finds your drone and drives away with it, the AirTag will be much better at tracking it.

Also, the AirTag uses a replaceable battery, and the Marco Polo uses a rechargeable one with a micro USB attachment point.

 

[MAvic_South_Oz]

View attachment 141531
Here's a size comparison. On my scale, the Marco Polo is 12 grams (with the velcro), and the AirTag (no velcro) is 11 grams. If you're by yourself in a remote area, the Marco Polo will work much better to find your drone. (The AirTag will work well if you somehow get close on your own.) If someone else finds your drone and drives away with it, the AirTag will be much better at tracking it.

Also, the AirTag uses a replaceable battery, and the Marco Polo uses a rechargeable one with a micro USB attachment point.

Hey, thanks for that.
Marco Polo would be very easy to work with then, easy to velcro that on for more risky flights, perhaps with a small cheap cable tie as back up.

I've seen the screen part of it on videos and photos, not too bad for excursions from the car, usually reasonably close to that if not talking a decent walk with a drone.

 

[MAvic_South_Oz]

I think this is the best thread for a follow up on AirTags.
Other recent thread have touched on thier use, stolen truck with drone etc.

Someone mentioned can a theif get a heads up on the tracker if hidden in a drone bag (or vehciel etc).
No one was really sure.

An interesting thing started yesterday, recent update in the OS, my wifes phone is coming up with warning on possibly being tracked.
The following messages coming up on her Apple phone.

(Click thumbnails to enlarge)





Now this is for my iPod Pros, and even though my AirTag was on my car keys at home, she doesn't get that warning with that when we are at home.
Maybe my keys have to be moving with her phone close by for a certain amount of time to register . . . if so, that could be an issue if a thief uses and iPhone, and they get a notification an AirTag is nearby.

The iPod Pros are listed as a device on my "Find My" list, the AirTag as an Item.

Interesting too, have read about a few instances in news articles about stalking, where some celebs have found an AirTag in a pocket, or in their bag, someone has slipped them in without their knowledge, and there is quite some concern about nefarious acts using the Airtags in this way.

For now, I am still not sure if AirTags give this sort of notice.