Mini 2 Range Test

[KentMichael]

I think that the Mini 2 did quite well compared to the Mavic Mini here. 15,000 ft is great range compared to my old Mini 2 that barely made 10,000 ft. However, I average around 12,000 feet with my Mini 2 before having to fly back. A respectable distance, but I want to squeeze every single feet that my drone can fly. I know that factors such as wind can affect the flight time, and I know that the battery is the one that is actually limiting this. Is there any way to be able to reach or even smash that 10km barrier by supplying more power to the drone or maybe some flying strategy that I don't know about?

 

[dirkclod]

Insane range on the Mini 2

18,000 ft = 5.5km. I think that it's a respectable range for the Mini 2 considering that these aren't near perfect conditions when flying. I think that it says a lot abovut how much the Mini 2 has improved. I'd love to see someone test out the 10km range, however, but that would take maybe...

mavicpilots.com

DJI Mini 2 Range test under windy conditions - with Telemetry

I range test my DJI Mini 2 yesterday under 12mph winds and 18 Mph wind gust. The Wind direction was headwind. I used as always my spotters (thanks my wife and my brother) from the ground to keep maintain VLOS. The Occusync signal is very strong and this is a big improvement from the MM1. I...

mavicpilots.com

Heres just a few more for ya.

 

[GlenM]

I think that the Mini 2 did quite well compared to the Mavic Mini here. 15,000 ft is great range compared to my old Mini 2 that barely made 10,000 ft. However, I average around 12,000 feet with my Mini 2 before having to fly back. A respectable distance, but I want to squeeze every single feet that my drone can fly. I know that factors such as wind can affect the flight time, and I know that the battery is the one that is actually limiting this. Is there any way to be able to reach or even smash that 10km barrier by supplying more power to the drone or maybe some flying strategy that I don't know about?

Flew my Mini 2 yesterday in near perfect conditions, got to 12,000 ft when decided to come home for battery considerations, got home with 6% left. Also flew in sport mode entire time, I think sport mode takes more battery.

 

[iMini II]

Since I’m still waiting for my Mini II I don’t have any practical experience but I wonder why people so obsessed with how far away one can fly their drone?

 

[GlenM]

Since I’m still waiting for my Mini II I don’t have any practical experience but I wonder why people so obsessed with how far away one can fly their drone?

Good question, if you fly from one location all the time, you soon grow weary of seeing the same landscape again and again. Flying out and watching your battery gives an extra dimension to your drone experience, especially to seeing landscape you've never seen from 200+ altitude.

 

[DanMan32]

Since I’m still waiting for my Mini II I don’t have any practical experience but I wonder why people so obsessed with how far away one can fly their drone?

Because it's the challenge that makes it fun.

Why do people drive souped up cars as fast as they can in an oval track?

 

[spsphotos]

Because it's the challenge that makes it fun.

Why do people drive souped up cars as fast as they can in an oval track?

Personally, I don't care about range till BVLOS is legal. Otherwise...1500-2000ft is way more than I need.

 

[iMini II]

Because it's the challenge that makes it fun.

...and then they complain when they crash and lose their drone. Sounds like a plan.

 

[DanMan32]

I'm sure it isn't without risk. One taking that risk should accept that, just as a racer in my analogy takes the risk he might crash.

The complaints often come from thinking it's a fault of the system, until experts here analyze the logs and determine it is pilot error.
Personally I find I'm just as likely to make a mistake VLOS as I am FPV. My first major crash with my P3A was VLOS depth perception where I thought I was past the overhead utility wires crossing my driveway when in fact I was under them. FPV wasn't any better or worse.

 

[Thomas B]

I'm sure it isn't without risk. One taking that risk should accept that, just as a racer in my analogy takes the risk he might crash.

The complaints often come from thinking it's a fault of the system, until experts here analyze the logs and determine it is pilot error.
Personally I find I'm just as likely to make a mistake VLOS as I am FPV. My first major crash with my P3A was VLOS depth perception where I thought I was past the overhead utility wires crossing my driveway when in fact I was under them. FPV wasn't any better or worse.

Yes, but your situational awareness is much better VLOS than that gained from the limited FPV offered by the camera.

 

[GadgetGuy]

Yes, but your situational awareness is much better VLOS than that gained from the limited FPV offered by the camera.

That's the claim. My only M2P drowning came during VLOS at night while trying to film bioluminescence in the surf, after turning off the FPV to avoid night blindness, and simultaneously forgoing the FPV telemetry that would have made it obvious that I was far closer to the surface of the water than was apparent relying solely upon VLOS! An optical illusion was created flying VLOS that only the FPV telemetry could have saved me from.

 

[DanMan32]

By situational awareness, he means with other aircrafts. I get that, but even then I needed FPV to determine altitude and distance relative to me of a helicopter flying near shore. Up until I saw the helicopter in FPV, I didn't know which way I should go. Even descending was in question as I wasn't sure if he was higher or lower than me, or if he was heading towards my position.

 

[Thomas B]

Just beware of the tendency of the M2P to lose altitude when moving over water at low altitudes.