Flying into a Valley

[caden1337]

I'd have to look again. I haven't flown mine much but when I was flying over a ski slope I set it higher than 400'. I don't remember what, or if, there was a limit but I know 400' isn't a hard limit. It's a statute limit in the states.

Alright thanks for replying! When you set it above 400', was that sometime recently? Say, within the last 6 months?

 

[MS Coast]

When you say you can update your ceiling manually in the RC2, does that mean you can set the limit to above 120 meters and it will still allow you to operate it? Even now in 2025?I only ask because im reading through threads trying to grasp what the actual situation is after the rule changes since im not currently an owner but am looking into getting a Mini 4 Pro. Is the 120 meter limit a hard limit that cannot be physically overridden no matter what, or can you over-ride it to a higher maximum altitude AGL? I live in the middle of the Appalachians with mountains on all sides so 120 meters would severely limit what im able to do with the drone where I live. Also, you are speaking of the Mini 4 Pro, correct? Thanks.

Yes. Here's a snapshot of the screen of a Mini 4 Pro with the altitude and distance set to their maximum values, 1640 feet and No Limit. (I don't operate with those settings.)

No, the >400' altitude setting is not recent. To my knowledge, it's always been available.

 

[caden1337]

Yes. Here's a snapshot of the screen of a Mini 4 Pro with the altitude and distance set to their maximum values, 1640 feet and No Limit. (I don't operate with those settings.)


View attachment 181781

Awesome! I assume it wouldn't just undo that limit when you tried to use it at that setting?

 

[MS Coast]

Awesome! I assume it wouldn't just undo that limit when you tried to use it at that setting?

No, it uses the values you set.

 

[caden1337]

No, it uses the values you set.

Okay cool! Thanks. Last question: when did you buy that drone? Before the end of 2023 or later?

 

[Bad Santa]

The screen shown above is what I remember seeing on mine. Bought last September or October last year.

 

[MS Coast]

Okay cool! Thanks. Last question: when did you buy that drone? Before the end of 2023 or later?

October 2023. Guessing at what you're fretting about, I'll say, no the newer models don't have stricter altitude limits.

 

[caden1337]

October 2023. Guessing at what you're fretting about, I'll say, no the newer models don't have stricter altitude limits.

Yup that's exactly what I was wondering. Thank you

 

[caden1337]

The screen shown above is what I remember seeing on mine. Bought last September or October last year

The screen shown above is what I remember seeing on mine. Bought last September or October last year.

Nice. Thanks for the information. I'm glad that they don't have the hard limit set to be the 120 AGL because that simply wouldn't work in my area.

 

[Meta4]

Is the 120 meter limit a hard limit that cannot be physically overridden no matter what, or can you over-ride it to a higher maximum altitude AGL?

DJI consumer drones have two height limits.
One is a hard limit of 1640 feet (500 metres), that you cannot exceed.
The other is a user-configurable height limit which is set to 400 feet (120 metres) by default but you can adjust to any height you choose up to 1640 feet.
Unless you are flying in pancake-flat country, the heights are not AGL because the drone has no way to measure how high it is above the terrain below.
Instead, just like real light aircraft, the heights are measured relative to the level where you launch.

 

[caden1337]

DJI consumer drones have two height limits.
One is a hard limit of 1640 feet (500 metres), that you cannot exceed.
The other is a user-configurable height limit which is set to 400 feet (120 metres) by default but you can adjust to any height you choose up to 1640 feet.
Unless you are flying in pancake-flat country, the heights are not AGL because the drone has no way to measure how high it is above the terrain below.
Instead, just like real light aircraft, the heights are measured relative to the level where you launch.

Okay that makes sense. So, for instance, I live in an area where there are large hills and small mountains (small town in the middle of the appalachians). Given what you've just told me, If I purchased a Mini 4 Pro right now, I'd be able to set it to 1,640 feet and fly to the tops of the mountains (assuming they're shorter than 1640 feet), but no higher than that 1,640 foot altitude (from point of takeoff) mark? I wouldnt be limited to 400 feet above point of takeoff, and thus be stuck below the peaks of surrounding small mountains?

 

[Meta4]

I wouldnt be limited to 400 feet above point of takeoff, and thus be stuck below the peaks of surrounding small mountains?

You would be limited to whatever you set in the app here:

 

[caden1337]

You would be limited to whatever you set in the app here:

Alright thank you