Keep drone forever offline?

[timonoj]

Hi!

So I am wondering, is it possible to keep flying this drone forever offline without the need to check-in or connect to your account after the first setup? I'd like to have the DJI app on a phone without data, and hopefully without the need to connect to a random wifi.

Thanks!

 

[Conservative Nihilist]

My religion forbids me from accepting any DJI firmware updates, therefore I avoid those annoying reminders to update with religious zeal. Kidding aside, it is a good policy to steer clear of those firmware updates because they almost always introduce limitations to where you can fly your drone, while in some instances hobbling the drone's flight performance.

Since Litchi hasn't yet completed beta testing and debugging of their Litchi Pilot app that will be compatible with your Mini 4 Pro, you won't be able to avoid using DJI Fly entirely just yet, but you can reject all firmware upgrade prompts that appear when you open DJI Fly. God bless Antarctica.

 

[Kilrah]

The app does need to be logged in and may occasionally need to login again.

 

[Vic Moss]

Hi!

So I am wondering, is it possible to keep flying this drone forever offline without the need to check-in or connect to your account after the first setup? I'd like to have the DJI app on a phone without data, and hopefully without the need to connect to a random wifi.

Thanks!

The only times you need to log in is if you're updating, and on occasion it needs to be logged into your account. But you can do that over wifi, you don't need to have a cellular connection.

 

[msinger]

I'd like to have the DJI app on a phone without data, and hopefully without the need to connect to a random wifi.

Before heading out to fly, double-check that you're still logged into the DJI Fly app. Logging in is typically the only reason you'd need to connect to Wi-Fi. Once you're logged in, you can safely disconnect from Wi-Fi before flying.

Firmware updates are technically optional but generally recommended. There is rarely any downside to installing them. Even if there were, DJI's firmware update notes are usually too vague to reveal specific concerns. That said, DJI is not known for releasing controversial or problematic updates, so you're unlikely to encounter issues.

 

[timonoj]

That's my concern. I saw a bit of a frightening warning, saying i might need to login again soon or i might get restricted flying. It sounded a bit threatening/finger waggling. I think it might be closing to 90 days offline soon. Is there a mandatory check-in? What happens if the app gets logged off?

 

[Conservative Nihilist]

That's my concern. I saw a bit of a frightening warning, saying i might need to login again soon or i might get restricted flying. It sounded a bit threatening/finger waggling. I think it might be closing to 90 days offline soon. Is there a mandatory check-in? What happens if the app gets logged off?

A recent firmware "upgrade" that was sneaked in the back door on DJI Fly drone owners whose IP addresses showed they were in the EU, forever disabled the capability of their drones to complete waypoint missions beyond the signal range of the RC controller.

There was a fair bit of wailing and gnashing of teeth when the irreversible nature of that DJI subterfuge dawned on DJI's EU customers, but since they did fall for the Trojan Horse, the deed was done to them and they are as a result plucked like so many Thanksgiving turkeys.

If the tone of DJI's urgings is urgent and demanding that you "upgrade" despite your politely declining the invitation in the past, you can bet there is a toxic payload in that upgrade that DJI is determined to impose on as many people as possible by trickery or by force. My philosophy on these matters remains, "If it ain't broke, then don't fix it

 

[Kilrah]

What happens if the app gets logged off?

You're limited to flying within 50m of the home point and a max height of 30m.

 

[timonoj]

You're limited to flying within 50m of the home point and a max height of 30m.

So...a home toy like the ones I can on aliexpress for 20 bucks. Thanks.

Edit: I just got a second warning.



What's the difference between renewing the login, and just letting it expire and then logging in just the day I'm going to fly?
Also, what kind of data is synced back to DJI? Are your flight logs and records sent back to them?

 

[Meta4]

Also, what kind of data is synced back to DJI? Are your flight logs and records sent back to them?

No data is synched back to DJI unless you choose to.
And if you are in the USA, you can't.

 

[timonoj]

No data is synched back to DJI unless you choose to.
And if you are in the USA, you can't.

Thanks! Is the "Device Hardware Info" and "Approximate Location Info" needed to be on?

 

[Beet]

I have a Mini, started flying in March 2020, have never updated anything, have had one message to login, nothing recently..

 

[timonoj]

I have a Mini, started flying in March 2020, have never updated anything, have had one message to login, nothing recently..

Thanks for the detail! I'm afraid I'm a bit more...aggressive. I took away the app's network permission. Maybe that's why it started bitching so soon.

 

[Meta4]

Thanks! Is the "Device Hardware Info" and "Approximate Location Info" needed to be on?

Sorry .. I have no idea what those are.

I'm not sure what you are so paranoid about.
Hundreds of thousands of users have been flying DJI drones in the last ten years and they haven't found any reason to be paranoid.

 

[drone away]

Then you would have missed the recent update that allows you to fly in areas that would have required waivers prior.

 

[Felix le Chat]

Thanks! Is the "Device Hardware Info" and "Approximate Location Info" needed to be on?

Those two settings are part of the LDM (Local Data Mode) function which cuts the drone off from being able to connect over the internet with any external data sources or servers. You can disable them: but if you do you lose certain specific functions (such as the live map amongst other things). Ensuring the security of your flight data is exactly what LDM was designed for.

If you don't want your drone having contact with third party sources, just engage LDM alone and then switch your flight screen to airplane mode.

If you want an accurate breakdown of what the deactivation of the different LDM sub-sections causes: tap each one and a text box opens with all the relevant information.

Don't forget that DJI FLY also uses your mobile devices own GPS positioning hardware to determine the location of the controller.

 

[msinger]

No data is synched back to DJI unless you choose to.
And if you are in the USA, you can't.

There are some exceptions to this rule. Flight Reader can retrieve flight logs stored in the DJI Cloud, even for users located in the US.

 

[Frank Dracman]

Then you would have missed the recent update that allows you to fly in areas that would have required waivers prior.

You can just update the flysafe database.