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DJI Let me down and cheesed my melon

Bad Santa

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I haven't flown my drone much in the last few months.
I don't remember reading ANYWHERE that you needed to log into the drone regularly or you get geofenced

Really pissed me off.

Not only does it geofence if it's not "logged in", the drone flies like a $50 toy and not the DJI.

And in the field, there wasn't a way to log in.

On top of that, the batteries were fully charged a week ago and were between 70-80%.

I'm not going to mention that I actually forgot how to take off. That was on me.

I still got a good 25 minutes of the most tame/lame flying, in a 150 foot circle though.
 
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I haven't flown my drone much in the last few months.
I don't remember reading ANYWHERE that you needed to log into the drone regularly or you get geofenced

Really pissed me off.

Not only does it geofence if it's not "logged in", the drone flies like a $50 toy and not the DJI.

And in the field, there wasn't a way to log in.

On top of that, the batteries were fully charged a week ago and were between 70-80%.

I'm not going to mention that I actually forgot how to take off. That was on me.

I still got a good 25 minutes of the most tame/lame flying, in a 150 foot circle though.
It happened to me once a few years ago - I fly where I hike which almost never has cell service so I couldn't login and was pretty much stuck. Its on my checklist now to make sure I do a test flight at home if it has been a while since I flew. I try and fly at home regularly just to practice.

And yes, the batteries will slowly discharge over time - it is part of the BMS I think. If you want full flights, you need to charge them up right before you fly. Another thing on my checklist. I learn stuff the hard way usually....:D
 
It happened to me once a few years ago - I fly where I hike which almost never has cell service so I couldn't login and was pretty much stuck. Its on my checklist now to make sure I do a test flight at home if it has been a while since I flew. I try and fly at home regularly just to practice.

And yes, the batteries will slowly discharge over time - it is part of the BMS I think. If you want full flights, you need to charge them up right before you fly. Another thing on my checklist. I learn stuff the hard way usually....:D
I can't fly at home. That pisses me off too but it's not DJI's fault. I'm 2-3 blocks inside the airport restricted airspace.
 
I can't fly at home. That pisses me off too but it's not DJI's fault. I'm 2-3 blocks inside the airport restricted airspace.
You actually live in a zero grid? That has to suck, I live near the airport too but I'm in a 300 grid so it's restricted but flying from home is OK.
 
I haven't flown my drone much in the last few months.
I don't remember reading ANYWHERE that you needed to log into the drone regularly or you get geofenced

Really pissed me off.

Not only does it geofence if it's not "logged in", the drone flies like a $50 toy and not the DJI.

And in the field, there wasn't a way to log in.

On top of that, the batteries were fully charged a week ago and were between 70-80%.

I'm not going to mention that I actually forgot how to take off. That was on me.

I still got a good 25 minutes of the most tame/lame flying, in a 150 foot circle though.
I think you got lucky; think of all the people who get bricked on a daily basis by this.
 
It's surprising what handy bits of info you can find in the manual.

I haven't flown my drone much in the last few months.
I don't remember reading ANYWHERE that you needed to log into the drone regularly or you get geofenced
I found this on page 3 ...
i-znDMKF7-M.jpg

Really pissed me off.
And in the field, there wasn't a way to log in.
If you don't fly or don't power up at home for about 30 days, you get logged out.
Now you know, if you are only going to fly every few months, you should power up at home and check that all is OK and log in if you need to.
On top of that, the batteries were fully charged a week ago and were between 70-80%.
This was on page 64
i-85SmfM2-M.jpg

 
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Unless I misunderstand how this works.

I'm in this area.

View attachment 184482
Yeah I looked that up based on your zip. ;)

I see an awful lot of 200, 250, 300, and 400 grids (which is good flying) that will let you fly up to that many feet *with* FAA authorization called LAANC using the Air Control app (available to recreational drone flyers). It's controlled airspace but it not a no-fly zone.

I don't see any 0's which would basically be a "no fly zone" for you and me (we can't get waivers). Which airport are you closer to, big to the west or smaller to the east?
 
Yeah I looked that up based on your zip. ;)

I see an awful lot of 200, 250, 300, and 400 grids (which is good flying) that will let you fly up to that many feet *with* FAA authorization called LAANC using the Air Control app (available to recreational drone flyers). It's controlled airspace but it not a no-fly zone.

I don't see any 0's which would basically be a "no fly zone" for you and me (we can't get waivers). Which airport are you closer to, big to the west or smaller to the east?
Yeah, I knew I could fly with approval but that's such a hassle when I get a bug up my butt and want to step outside and fly.
I can always bring out my $50 drones and watch them fly into a tree, I suppose.
I think I'm about 20 feet closer to the big one to the West than the small one to the East.
 
Yeah, I knew I could fly with approval but that's such a hassle when I get a bug up my butt and want to step outside and fly.
I can always bring out my $50 drones and watch them fly into a tree, I suppose.
I think I'm about 20 feet closer to the big one to the West than the small one to the East.
That big one to the west looks like it's in a direct line to the runways at PDX.
 
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Must be quite lovely to sit outside when the Air National Guard is practicing.
Funny you say that.
I used to see them practicing once or twice a day as I was driving to or from work.
One time I didn't realize they were taking off behind me when I was on my motorcycle. They don't do it very often but this time they took off and hit the after burners just as they were going over my head.

Now 'm lucky if I see them once a week. My work path is North/South now.
 
Yeah, I knew I could fly with approval but that's such a hassle when I get a bug up my butt and want to step outside and fly.
I can always bring out my $50 drones and watch them fly into a tree, I suppose.
I think I'm about 20 feet closer to the big one to the West than the small one to the East.
Here are the rules, if you find a few free minutes you can take care of everything for the next month worth of flying right from your couch so whenever you wish to go outside, you already have your authorization:

Notes

  • Authorizations can be made up to 90 days in advance.
  • Each authorization can be made for up to 12 hours in duration and 10 nautical miles in area.
  • All civil twilight operations require anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles that has a flash rate sufficient to avoid a collision.
  • Operators may have up to 5 overlapping approved authorizations within 100 nautical miles of each other.
 
So I would need to schedule 60 - 12 hour windows?
Oh, I thought you said you don't fly very often. Just take a few minutes and plan out a couple dozen sessions and you're good. I've developed a pretty good pattern of when I like to fly so I know in advance when I'm likely to need a session. Just know it's there when you need it should you want to fly one day from home. I could be wrong but I *think* if you have a long-term plan, you can get it done in advance by reaching out the FAA directly but I haven't tried that.
 
Oh, I thought you said you don't fly very often. Just take a few minutes and plan out a couple dozen sessions and you're good. I've developed a pretty good pattern of when I like to fly so I know in advance when I'm likely to need a session. Just know it's there when you need it should you want to fly one day from home. I could be wrong but I *think* if you have a long-term plan, you can get it done in advance by reaching out the FAA directly but I haven't tried that.
I don't fly very often because I have to plan to fly. If I could fly at home, and not have to jump through the hoops, I'd fly a lot more, just for practice and to learn the controller better.
I'll have to get comfortable asking the FAA for permission.

I don't know if it will help in the short term but starting on Sept 9 I will have a contact in the FAA. It might take a bit before he's up to speed, though.
 
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