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Expert advice needed on drone registration for m4p

olderrookie

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Here goes-
I understand from folks this drone does NOT have to be registered due to its weight. However Im told by the same folks if I add propellers, it will put it over the weight and I will need to register with FAA and can never fly without the guards bc once registered with a weight over 249 grams has to fly over 249g.
Is this true?
Thank you in advance.
 
Which drone are you referring to?
You have been misinformed about "having" to use prop guards. This applies exclusively to flying over people
If you use the drone commercially you will need to be Part 107 certified.
 
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I understand from folks this drone does NOT have to be registered due to its weight.
True.
However Im told by the same folks if I add propellers, it will put it over the weight and I will need to register with FAA and can never fly without the guards bc once registered with a weight over 249 grams has to fly over 249g.

KindaTrue. You only need to register a drone IF it is over 250G or you are doing something Commercial with it. If you wanna skim down on the weight and fly your registered Drone below 250 G. Go for it No problem at all.
 
Here goes-
I understand from folks this drone does NOT have to be registered due to its weight. However Im told by the same folks if I add propellers, it will put it over the weight and I will need to register with FAA and can never fly without the guards bc once registered with a weight over 249 grams has to fly over 249g.
Is this true?
Thank you in advance.
Once you register the drone, it will always be registered. You cannot technically unregister it; however, you can delete it from your "drone inventory." Once you register the drone, you are free to fly it at any weight you wish whether it is more than 249g or less than 249g. Which means you are free to fly with those guards....or not. It is entirely legal to fly a registered drone which is less than the "required" rate of 249g. But....

You may be referring to the Remote ID (RID) details which is a different conversation depending on how it is implemented in the Mini 4 Pro (which I don't recall at the moment). Let us know if your remote ID is standard or if you have attached an external module.
 
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to clarify-I can register my drone even if it weighs 249g- so when I decide to fly with guards on it already registered -
I plan on flying it with the guards occasionally.
 
Once you register the drone, it will always be registered. You cannot technically unregister it; however, you can delete it from your "drone inventory." Once you register the drone, you are free to fly it at any weight you wish whether it is more than 249g or less than 249g. Which means you are free to fly with those guards....or not. It is entirely legal to fly a registered drone which is less than the "required" rate of 249g. But....

You may be referring to the Remote ID (RID) details which is a different conversation depending on how it is implemented in the Mini 4 Pro (which I don't recall at the moment). Let us know if your remote ID is standard or if you have attached an external module.
Thai is what I was looking for-thank you-problem solved! It had RID I believe? I think ilonly if I use the extended time (plus) batteries-although im not sure- I dont really understand RID
 
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Also, the Mini 4 Pro only stays under 250g if you're using the standard batteries. If you use the extended batteries, it will be over 250g. And if you're going to fly at night, you need a 3SM strobe, even as a recreational flyer. So just register it. It will free you up.
 
to clarify-I can register my drone even if it weighs 249g- so when I decide to fly with guards on it already registered -
I plan on flying it with the guards occasionally.
Yes. As a recreational flyer, you're actually registering yourself and using that same registration number for all the drones you fly recreationally. $5 for three years. Then you can fly with prop guards, the extended battery, and a strobe light.
 
Once you register the drone, it will always be registered. You cannot technically unregister it; however, you can delete it from your "drone inventory."

No. When you delete the drone from your FAA registration inventory, it is no longer registered. If you retain ownership and fly it for commercial purposes or fly it with accessories that put the weight above 250 grams, you are flying an un-registered drone and are in violation.

The drone is not permanently registered to you. You may give or sell it to someone else and they're free to register it.

(Yes, the FAA may retain a record of you having registered in the past, but the drone is no longer registered once you remove it from your inventory of registered drones.)
 
Yes. As a recreational flyer, you're actually registering yourself and using that same registration number for all the drones you fly recreationally. $5 for three years. Then you can fly with prop guards, the extended battery, and a strobe light.
What id I dont use the extended batteries-will I be RID compliant with the guards on if its over 249g?
 
Once you register the drone, it will always be registered. You cannot technically unregister it; however, you can delete it from your "drone inventory." Once you register the drone, you are free to fly it at any weight you wish whether it is more than 249g or less than 249g. Which means you are free to fly with those guards....or not. It is entirely legal to fly a registered drone which is less than the "required" rate of 249g. But....

You may be referring to the Remote ID (RID) details which is a different conversation depending on how it is implemented in the Mini 4 Pro (which I don't recall at the moment). Let us know if your remote ID is standard or if you have attached an external module.
Can u help me understand RID-
I think if the drone weighs over 250g with the guards on-I must be RID compliant.
On this drone-RID is only triggered if I use the extended batteries which puts it over 250g. So I guess if I use the light batteries and fly with the guards, I will not be RID compliant?
 
Can u help me understand RID-
I think if the drone weighs over 250g with the guards on-I must be RID compliant.
On this drone-RID is only triggered if I use the extended batteries which puts it over 250g. So I guess if I use the light batteries and fly with the guards, I will not be RID compliant?
I don't know the Mini 4 Pro well enough to know if the RID is turn ON and OFF along with the battery type. If it were up to me, once you trigger it ON it should stay on for good but I guess I really don't know; someone else would have to chime in.

If in fact RID turns OFF when you switch back to the light battery, you will need to attach an external RID module if you plan to stay RID compliant while over 250g.
 
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I dont really understand RID
First off I would simply go ahead and register the Drone You never know when you will need it so might as well just do it The FAA won't mind and you need to do that to use it commercially anyway. 5 bucks is cheap for piece of mind.
RID is simply a number that is broadcast by your Drone. It is never seen by anyone and can only be read in a few ways.
IF you have a reportable accident an FAA official (maybe) will use a device he has to read your RID number. The number read from the Drone will be placed on file so that all incidents with this Drone can be seen together. RID is simply a license plate your Drone Broadcasts....nothing more. It is NOT a transponder and Air Traffic Control CANNOT see your Drone in flight...Those poor people have enough on their screens already without the Government adding more Blips.
 
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If I use an extended battery (which is heavier) it will enable RID- what happens if I switch back to a lighter battery making it 249 grams- will I no longer be RID compliant and get in trouble?
 
If I use an extended battery (which is heavier) it will enable RID- what happens if I switch back to a lighter battery making it 249 grams- will I no longer be RID compliant and get in trouble?
If you switch back to the lighter battery and your drone is under 249g then there is no RID requirement in the US if you are flying recreational.
 
So I guess if I use the light batteries and fly with the guards, I will not be RID compliant?
You raise a good point. Adding prop guards or even a strobe would put the Mini 4 Pro with standard battery above the 250 gram threshold for needing RID. But the drone broadcasts RID only with the extended battery installed.

There's an extensive discussion of this on the DJI Forum. Many participants have requested that DJI implement a software switch that allows RID to be enabled with the standard battery. In the mean time, the simplest solution is to use an extended battery when prop guards, strobes or other accessories are installed.

 
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Thank you. I guess I will have to buy a couple of extended batteries for use with the guards-then use the lighter batteries without the guards.
 
Thank you. I guess I will have to buy a couple of extended batteries for use with the guards-then use the lighter batteries without the guards.
Hopefully, DJI will include an RID-on switch in a future firmware/software update. It's absurd to produce a drone capable of broadcasting RID and then prevent the owner from using it when they want.
 
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I purchased the Mini 4 Pro Combo Plus, all batteries are large, making the Mini 4 Plus over 250. I fly for work, regardless of what the Mini 4 Pro (M4P) weighs I must have it broadcasting RID hence the Plus batteries. I purchased the DJI Neo as a learning tool for my Avata 2 since I didn't want to screw that drone up, there is a big difference between $200 and $1,200 drone. I ended up registering the DJI Neo along with a Dronetag BS Remote ID module, seems you can self-classify the DJI Neo as a Category 1 and add a RID module for OOP operations, that will save several thousand dollars on a drone with a parachute. I don't think the FAA will allow DJI to add a software switch, that is not their nature.
 

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