RC Pro Cellular Dongle / LTE USB Modem Notes

mxrz · Nov 3, 2022

Received mine today. Works fine here in Montreal, Canada, on the Rogers network. Added a second line to my account for 10$ a month, it shares my main account data. Shows up as ROGERS ROGERS on the RC Pro screen:

FlySkyJumper · Nov 4, 2022

Apologies if this has already been answered. I'm good with the fact that I can get my RC Pro connected to a cellular network, that's easy for me.

My question I have for those in this discussion has anyone had this work in the US, specifically, have they been able to get it to work with their Mavic 3 in the United States? If so, how did you do it?

FlySkyJumper · Nov 4, 2022

mxrz said:
Received mine today. Works fine here in Montreal, Canada, on the Rogers network. Added a second line to my account for 10$ a month, it shares my main account data. Shows up as ROGERS ROGERS on the RC Pro screen:

Did you have to have the dongle for both your RC Pro as well as the Mavic 3?

mxrz · Nov 4, 2022

FlySkyJumper said:
Did you have to have the dongle for both your RC Pro as well as the Mavic 3?

I purchased only one dongle, for the RC Pro, to have live maps. I don't foresee the need to have LTE communication between the RC Pro and the M3, so no second dongle.

mobilehomer · Nov 4, 2022

FlySkyJumper said:
Did you have to have the dongle for both your RC Pro as well as the Mavic 3?

The ability to use LTE for control is China only at the moment.

pspec · Nov 26, 2022

I purchased one DJI LTE dongle for the RC Pro, to have live maps.
It works with the cellular network in Switzerland.

AnzacJack · Dec 17, 2022

mobilehomer said:
The ability to use LTE for control is China only at the moment.

It has been reported to also work in Australia

Hauptmann · Jan 22, 2023

GadgetGuy said:
It does. However, the real benefit of the 4G dongle is when it is installed on the M3, and supported. It allows 4G to replace OcuSync 3+ during signal obstructions, like behind buildings in urban areas, preventing loss of signal RTH, and maintaining full control with FPV.

Hi, GG,
I hope to used the dongle to help maintain contact while flying in the "canyons" of urban environments. I'll be using the RC Pro controller and the MP3 and Mini 3 Pro. I live in the US. Do I need a dongle for the controller and each drone, and will should it work in the US?

rexster1505 · Jan 22, 2023

Hauptmann said:
Hi, GG,
I hope to used the dongle to help maintain contact while flying in the "canyons" of urban environments. I'll be using the RC Pro controller and the MP3 and Mini 3 Pro. I live in the US. Do I need a dongle for the controller and each drone, and will should it work in the US?

You'll need a dongle for each device. I haven't seen anyone that is using that setup in the US, just one dongle on the RC Pro which is plugnplay

GadgetGuy · Jan 22, 2023

Hauptmann said:
Hi, GG,
I hope to used the dongle to help maintain contact while flying in the "canyons" of urban environments. I'll be using the RC Pro controller and the MP3 and Mini 3 Pro. I live in the US. Do I need a dongle for the controller and each drone, and will should it work in the US?

Sadly, the DJI 4G drone-side dongle won't currently work in the US. A single drone-side dongle can be used with all supported drones. Just move it from drone to drone with the appropriate external mount. RC Pro only needs the dongle inside if you won't be hotspotting the RC Pro to your phone, which replaces the internal dongle, when used with a drone-side dongle that works. The internal RC Pro dongle still works in the US for map downloading and such, as a replacement for hot spotting. Currently, that's all it is capable of!

If traveling to Aussie land and China, you'll have more 4G success among the "canyons" of urban environments.

GadgetGuy · Jan 22, 2023

rexster1505 said:
You'll need a dongle for each device.

Not unless flying more than one drone simultaneously. 4G Dongle and mount should work with any supported drone that it is attached to, and it can be easily moved from one drone to another.

Oman · Feb 5, 2023

How much added battery usage is there , if any?
Thanks Oman

FlySkyJumper · Feb 5, 2023

rexster1505 said:
You'll need a dongle for each device. I haven't seen anyone that is using that setup in the US, just one dongle on the RC Pro which is plugnplay

rexster1505 said:

You'll need a dongle for each device. I haven't seen anyone that is using that setup in the US, just one dongle on the RC Pro which is plugnplay

Click to expand...

It will not work in the US. Because our cellular infrastructure is incompatible with the dongle that fits on top of the drone .

FlySkyJumper · Feb 5, 2023

mxrz said:
I purchased only one dongle, for the RC Pro, to have live maps. I don't foresee the need to have LTE communication between the RC Pro and the M3, so no second dongle.

The reason folks want the cellular dongle for the drones is really practical. For better connectivity in cities flying around buildings and flying in canyons (mountains).

You can get the same benefit of the dongle for maps and laanc approval from the RC remote by simply tethering your phone to it. As it does not require very fast connectivity to take advantage of this. However, the point of having the two and why two would be required (one for the RC Proo and the dongle that connects to the top of the Mavic 3, is listed above.

You can get the dongle that you put inside the RC Remote to view the Mavic 3 and see each other, it simply won't fly or connect to the LTE networks in the US. (the dongle that attaches to the Mavic 3) If that makes since.

Other than that imo until the capability is available in the states it's somewhat useless to put a dongle inside the RC Pro just to have map downloads, or data connectivity... teathering to your phone produces the same result at the speeds needed.

Don Testme · Feb 5, 2023

marshvet said:
For those of us not in the know, what is the purpose of said cellular dongle? Thanks.

With cellular, you can fly as low as you like and never lose signal. Without cellular, wifi makes you have to climb higher and higher the further away the drone is from you in order to keep a signal.

Don Testme · Feb 5, 2023

marshvet said:
For those of us not in the know, what is the purpose of said cellular dongle? Thanks.

I just thought of something else. If you're flying with a cellular dongle on the back of the M3 and in the RC would RID still work?

FlySkyJumper · Feb 5, 2023

Don Testme said:
With cellular, you can fly as low as you like and never lose signal. Without cellular, wifi makes you have to climb higher and higher the further away the drone is from you in order to keep a signal.

We aren't talking wifi. It allows for you to fly around buildings in cities with ease so you don't lose signal. That's the main purpose. It also allows you to fly in Canyons (if there is a cellular service available) without losing signal to your drone and remote.

Check DJI china's website for the full specs and video.

FlySkyJumper · Feb 5, 2023

AnzacJack said:
It has been reported to also work in Australia

Yes, it does. It's because Australia has the the same cellular frequency's as China does.

Don Testme · Feb 5, 2023

FlySkyJumper said:
We aren't talking wifi. It allows for you to fly around buildings in cities with ease so you don't lose signal. That's the main purpose. It also allows you to fly in Canyons (if there is a cellular service available) without losing signal to your drone and remote.

Check DJI china's website for the full specs and video.

I understand that. But when I'm flying down a street with houses, I want to stay low. I can't do that without having cellular comms.

Anyway, HAS ANYONE TRIED THE M3 RC AND M3 DRONE CELLULAR DONGLE IN THE USA? ANYONE? I'd love to have the setup, but I would hate to waste the money on a product that DJI denies the operation of said equipment.

FlySkyJumper · Feb 5, 2023

To help those of you out as to why the LTE dongle will not work on your Mavic 3. Per the owner's manual that can be viewed on China's DJI's website. It requires a TDD-LTE Operating Frequency Band that US Cellular networks do not support.

It won't work in the US ever until DJI makes one that works with US cellular networks. The LTE dongle requires certain frequencies to work which US cellular infrastructure does not support. No network in the US supports the required frequencies.

I provided a photo of the manual for your viewing if you don't want to go to the website and check it out yourself. Places like Australia, South Korea, etc will support this frequency bandwidth. US Carriers do not.

Hopefully, this helps clear up any confusion.

I provided a photo of the manual for your viewing if you don't want to go to the website and check it out yourself. Places like Australia, South Korea, etc will support this frequency bandwidth. US Carriers do not.

Hopefully, this helps clear up any confusion.