Lost another drone

[Rchawks]

I’ve have two mishaps with planes and trees in my lifetime. First time was in a tree on the Blvd and I noticed that someone who looked like he was in his 20’s watching from a rest area when it happened. So I found a tie down strap from the back of my car and threw it up and over the bottom branch which was about 15 ft from the ground. I doubled it over and pulled myself up hand over hand until I could grab the branch to pull myself up. I climbed up the tree to the point where I could shake the branch and it dropped to the ground. While climbing back down to lower myself to the ground was the scariest thing you could imagine for someone in their early 40’s. The risk of falling is very high with something like that but it was all adrenaline at the time.
The second time was on Christmas day and bitter cold. I’d just launched and was gaining altitude when it caught the top of a tree (I was at the bottom of a hill). I was messing with my gloves when it happened. I tried for hours to get it down. I tried everything I could to reach it to no avail. This was on Christmas day and needless to say my wife wasn’t very happy about spending the day without me while I was doing all this.
I ran into the Director of the parks dept. and told him what happened and the next week he got it back for me, great guy.
Long story short DON’T RISK YOUR LIFE OR HEALTH trying to retrieve something that can be replaced! One mishap could change your life forever.

 

[fatback68]

The lord never takes more drones than you can afford.

But seriously, it happens. Sorry man.

What does a man do when his drones are taken what I have figured out there hitting my drones 3 now so far with jammer spoofer whatever it sends them adrift in attitude mode leaving you with a last known gps position at altitude of the flight smh sorry for this man I feel your pain plus some anger

 

[jwilson]

I'm trying to get a replacement Mavic 3 Pro. I started out using email, but they weren't replying. So I switched to chat. I've chatted 3 days now. Yesterday they said they would send me an email. I didn't get one. So chatting today, the women said maybe my inbox is full. Well, I get 10 emails a day, so I don't think it's full. They must think we're stupid. Every time I say something, it takes 3 or more minutes for her to reply. Yesterday I was chatting for almost an hour. They say I'm talking to a human, but it sure doesn't sound like it. They always use the same phrases, like we understand your concern. I booked marked their chat site but now everything I said is gone.

 

[Droning on and on...]

Understand that if a real human, they're managing several conversations at the same time... they're not just sitting there waiting for your next response.

However I'm pretty sure it's an AI bot, no matter what they say.

 

[jwilson]

Understand that if a real human, they're managing several conversations at the same time... they're not just sitting there waiting for your next response.

However I'm pretty sure it's an AI bot, no matter what they say.

I agree. It's interesting. They said I was talking to a women, and showed a picture of a women. But when the switched me to a man, Danny, they still showed the picture of a woman!

 

[jwilson]

So after three days of chatting with them, I've more less given up on getting a replacement drone while I'm here in Siargao. The last guy I chatted with, Danny, said I would get an email within 24 hours on the cost of the replacement drone, and a link to pay. But no such email has arrived. I just found out that that drones warranty is till June 2026. But I'm confused about what the warranty covers. When I lost my drone in April, they gave me a new one for free, even though the loss was totally my fault. I also lost a drone on a waypoint mission which they replaced for free. I would think if you lost your drone through pilot error, it wouldn't be covered by warranty. DJI is a strange company. Also there's supposedly no global warranty.
I've now flown my mini 3 pro over surf for 5 days with no problems. So if I had just paid attention to the wave height on the first day, I wouldn't have lost my Mavic 3 pro. It's also been raining a lot, and on the internet it says you shouldn't fly your Mini in the rain. It's not waterproof, unlike the Mavic.

 

[Daniel NZDF]

So after three days of chatting with them, I've more less given up on getting a replacement drone while I'm here in Siargao. The last guy I chatted with, Danny, said I would get an email within 24 hours on the cost of the replacement drone, and a link to pay. But no such email has arrived. I just found out that that drones warranty is till June 2026. But I'm confused about what the warranty covers. When I lost my drone in April, they gave me a new one for free, even though the loss was totally my fault. I also lost a drone on a waypoint mission which they replaced for free. I would think if you lost your drone through pilot error, it wouldn't be covered by warranty. DJI is a strange company. Also there's supposedly no global warranty.
I've now flown my mini 3 pro over surf for 5 days with no problems. So if I had just paid attention to the wave height on the first day, I wouldn't have lost my Mavic 3 pro. It's also been raining a lot, and on the internet it says you shouldn't fly your Mini in the rain. It's not waterproof, unlike the Mavic.

I'm sorry for your loss

 

[PINEBARON]

It's not waterproof, unlike the Mavic.

Far as I'm aware, Mavic is not waterproof either

 

[jwilson]

Far as I'm aware, Mavic is not waterproof either

You're right. I thought it was. But I normally would never fly in rain anyway because the video wouldn't be good.


No, the DJI Mavic 3 Pro is not waterproof, and like most DJI drones, it's designed for clear, dry conditions and should not be flown in rain, snow, or fog, as water can cause serious internal damage, even if some users have had limited success flying in light drizzle with protective measures.

 

[ChristianPFC]

For boat owners, there are key tags that inflate on contact with water and make the keys float. Something similar should exist for drones?

Or even better, make drones waterproof, or even better water repellent (like a lotus leaf).

 

[PINEBARON]

For boat owners, there are key tags that inflate on contact with water and make the keys float. Something similar should exist for drones?

Or even better, make drones waterproof, or even better water repellent (like a lotus leaf).

All this is possible however there needs to be a significant demand for it. I believe Aeroo drones, as per their website, have a weather resistant shell, corroision resistant coating and sealed mechanics.