DJI Neo Drone

[Aushiker]

The DJI Neo and second battery arrived today. AU$335 delivered.

Had a bit of fun getting it connected to the phone. Had to reinstall the DJI Fly up and restart the drone to get a good connection The error message I was getting initially was this one. The only problem being that the setting referred to was not in the app!

Once I got it working, I did a quick tryout in the backyard. It failed, the track the dogs test, but otherwise, it was all good. Oh, the other little niggle was that it did not like charging from the computer.

 

[Chargeride]

I find it has to lock onto a face in palm mode, maybe human only, once that is done it will follow anything connected.
If youre using the app you can just click a square around thay you want to follow.
I guess thats a good thing, you wouldnt want it locking on to a passing seagull when you have no way to stop it.

Mine charges fine from the computer

 

[Chargeride]

The DJI Neo and second battery arrived today. AU$335 delivered.

Had a bit of fun getting it connected to the phone. Had to reinstall the DJI Fly up and restart the drone to get a good connection The error message I was getting initially was this one. The only problem being that the setting referred to was not in the app!

View attachment 182447

Once I got it working, I did a quick tryout in the backyard. It failed, the track the dogs test, but otherwise, it was all good. Oh, the other little niggle was that it did not like charging from the computer.

Have you just posted your wifi password.

 

[Aushiker]

Have you just posted your wifi password.

No, not mine, but the one for the drone only. Not too worried about that.

 

[Aushiker]

I find it has to lock onto a face in palm mode, maybe human only, once that is done it will follow anything connected.

It picked up the greyhound's face initially, but then when she turned away, it lost the connection.

If youre using the app you can just click a square around thay you want to follow.

I will give that a go.

Mine charges fine from the computer

I was using a hub. It not like that, but will charge if directly connected the computer.

 

[Chargeride]

There is an update, you might have it.

 

[Aushiker]

There is an update, you might have it.

Yes installed the firmware update.

 

[Chargeride]

Took it out for three hours today, kept it charged with a power bank in my backpack.
You slowly become much quicker at launches as you time the button presses perfectly.
I actually started to see it as a living thing, it lost lock on me as I went over a small hill in the woods, I could hear it had stopped so I jumped off the bike and walked back, as it came into view I could see the camera was looking up and down with a very slow turn.
It suddenly looked straight at me and shot towards me with a full emergency stop, it then followed me to the bike and carried on.
It was like finding a lost dog , the squeal of the props as it accelerated and braked.
Only crashed once, but did lose lock and hovered at 15ft , I had to lasso it with a usb cable .

 

[February]

Anti drone guy here putting in my two cents. I don't like them because they are dangerous. Even the one you have becomes a projectile, if something goes wrong and it falls from say 50 ft. Youtube has a large supply of videos of people getting hurt, birds of prey being endangered and way bigger self builds falling out of the sky and crashing into people's cars. Great for clicks, but it just demonstrates the vast potential for harm. I really hope most people into drones on here fly them at air fields designed for rc planes and copters, that's where they belong. Another thing is that it's only a matter of time until some dipsh!t here or there pulls a Ukranian special and then no more civi drones. As much as I don't like them, they do look like fun and I hope you guys get to have them for as long as they are available.

 

[Chargeride]

My worry for the Neo is people not appreciating that its an 'aircraft' and that even for such a light drone you need to take training, the app does take you through your legal responsibilities before letting it fly, in the UK thats an online course that covers where you can fly, how high etc and wether you can fly near or over people, I think the rules are different in the States, but you are effectively a pilot when in control.of it, but just like self driving cars the latest DJI 3s has auto smart return to home that can fly back across a city, steering around buildings...whos flying it then?
It also has gps and warns you of height restrictions where you are flying even without any controller connected.
I pay ten pounds a year to be registered as a drone pilot.

My response is to fly it nowhere near people, but I got caught out once by an unexpected cyclists blasting into a remote area I was flying.

But yeah, its only a matter of time and US drone pilots are reporting shipments being held of the latest DJI3 by customs for weeks.

Ive never mentioned this, but some idiot flew his mini dji right over my families head on a beach in Wales, like hovering it 30ft above us, I could see him holding the controller, so I walked over to confront him and he just kept walking away ignoring me, we walked in a circle till the wife called me back.
I watched him flying it slowly at low height over kids and everything, eventually his wife and kids returned and he quickly stuffed it in a bag, proper oddball.
He was a real creepy acting guy, constantly flicking his eyes around
and ignoring his family.
You can buy the things in Costco with no ID and just ignore the warnings.

But yes, at full speed even the Neo could give a toddler a very nasty smack in the face.

 

[rob feature]

The Hover is slightly more portable and doesnt use gps, so its free from geofencing.
They are also bringing out two new models very soon

Something to consider. I live in an exception zone - close to a regional airport. Every time I wanna fly the DJI from here, I gotta ask permission. Sometimes I can get it done in a few minutes; sometimes I wind up not flying it takes so long. Play store software fiasco also cost me several sessions and hours of searching, then hours of tech support interaction before I could fly again. This is my last DJI. Gonna try something less restrictive next time.

 

[Chargeride]

We are lucky in the UK, dji has dropped all restrictions to fly, I live near an raf base!
The neo actually speaks when you turn it on in that ares and warns you to observe height restrictions, only does it once while youre there, it pointless using it in palm mode as it cant fly high anyway.

 

[February]

Here in the USA, the regulations are different by state and local municipality, but as long as you aren't bothering people, you can fly them almost anywhere, almost. In the area I live, you can't fly them within 5 miles of an an air port(even rinky dink tiny ones) or within 150 ft of historic land marks. It is also illegal in my state to fly them over occupied state beaches. You're not supposed to fly them over private property and fortunately I have yet to see one buzz my house. The first time I do, it's murica time! I'll take care of the the problem with bird shot. It's all just safety stuff. There are real useful applications for drones, from hobby photography to search and rescue, but we don't have any kind of licensing yet, so it's the wild wild west here. I wish we had a pilot certification system of some sort.

 

[6zfshdb]

You're not supposed to fly them over private property and fortunately I have yet to see one buzz my house. The first time I do, it's murica time! I'll take care of the the problem with bird shot.

I'm not sure if you're joking or not, but you do not own the airspace over your property. It's a federal offense to shoot down a drone in the US. You are responsible for damages even if the drone is flying illegally.

Drone Shot Down: What to Do If Someone Shoots Your Drone

Drone shootings seem to be more and more common these days—here's what to do if your drone is shot down, and legal facts you should know.

www.dronepilotgroundschool.com

 

[February]

Guys I'm as liberal as it gets, until you fly a drone over my property putting my life and that of my family in danger. I'm too old to argue with those with no regard for my safety. I am not joking at all. Don't care if its Amazon, a hobbyist or a realtor, my property is a no drone zone, no exceptions and it's the law. I live within 5 miles of an airport, no civi is legally allowed to fly a drone over my air space, but if they do.... one less drone in the world. And I'm not the only one who feels this way. I should also mention it's been a hell of a time bringing certain birds of prey back from the brink of extinction. We have all manner of eagles, hawks and owls here. I don't know about the owls, but the larger birds of prey like bald and golden eagles will actively try to take drones out of the air.

 

[February]

I'm not sure if you're joking or not, but you do not own the airspace over your property. It's a federal offense to shoot down a drone in the US. You are responsible for damages even if the drone is flying illegally.

Drone Shot Down: What to Do If Someone Shoots Your Drone

Drone shootings seem to be more and more common these days—here's what to do if your drone is shot down, and legal facts you should know.

www.dronepilotgroundschool.com

I don't know what the laws in Pennsylvania are, but I know what they are in my area of Michigan. Also, I don't grow ganja, but it's legal for anyone over the age of 21 to grow 12 plants a piece here in the high five state. Every other one of my neighbors has a grow going. Chances are my neighbors would take out a drone before I could. Look, I want all you guys to have whatever drones you want and to be able to fly them where appropriate. At the same time, if you are not willing to understand that no one is going to put your hobby before their own personal safety, well, best of luck to ya, you'll have an uphill battle on that one and most likely won't win. Yeah, pretty sure the feds got bigger fish to fry than going after people shooting down illegal drones in bfe Michigan. I'm also pretty sure Both the feds and the coast guard would side with the property owner on this one, Local law enforcement certainly would.

Alternatively, Hello officer, why yes I did shoot down that drone. I was just shooting skeet as people are like to do in my neck of the woods when all the sudden something flew through my line of fire...... Inner Carl intensifies.

 

[6zfshdb]

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't criticizing. I echo your sentiment. I was merely quoting the law. BTW, it's federal, not state.

 

[February]

Sorry all, my inner Carl got triggered. I don't like drones, but I know I am in the minority on that. I do seriously hope you all have fun with drones. This world can be hard and cruel and I don't want someone else to lose something that brings them joy. I'm sure most people are responsible with them, I've just been around so long and seen so much dumb@ssery, It's hard for me to trust people with these things. I should probably hang out with drone people more often. I apologize for going full Carl mode.

Put almost 100 miles on new ebike. On the way home tonight stopped and talked to some folks on rail trail overlooking a creak; they let me get a toke and I was back on my way. It was a great ride. Thought I saw a pack of dogs that turned out to be 6 yearling white tail dear. one of which got confused and ran directly in front of me for a minute then turned left to regroup with his buds. There were enough cotton tail rabbits to feed a small army, but they all knew to stay still on the side of the trail. Felt like a new man when I got home. For some of us these ebikes are real game changers, not just for physical health, but for mental health too. If you drone guys get that out of piloting drones, then I don't want you to lose that. Sorry for abusing my Carl Card.

 

[mschwett]

Sorry all, my inner Carl got triggered. I don't like drones, but I know I am in the minority on that. I do seriously hope you all have fun with drones. This world can be hard and cruel and I don't want someone else to lose something that brings them joy. I'm sure most people are responsible with them, I've just been around so long and seen so much dumb@ssery, It's hard for me to trust people with these things. I should probably hang out with drone people more often. I apologize for going full Carl mode.

Put almost 100 miles on new ebike. On the way home tonight stopped and talked to some folks on rail trail overlooking a creak; they let me get a toke and I was back on my way. It was a great ride. Thought I saw a pack of dogs that turned out to be 6 yearling white tail dear. one of which got confused and ran directly in front of me for a minute then turned left to regroup with his buds. There were enough cotton tail rabbits to feed a small army, but they all knew to stay still on the side of the trail. Felt like a new man when I got home. For some of us these ebikes are real game changers, not just for physical health, but for mental health too. If you drone guys get that out of piloting drones, then I don't want you to lose that. Sorry for abusing my Carl Card.

the bottom line is that whether you ”like” them or not, you do not own the airspace over your property. imagine if everyone did - how could we have aviation, whether for passengers, freight, civil defense, meteorology, science, whatever. United airlines would have to get permission from 100,000 people for every flight. if I choose to fly my drone over your house, that’s my choice, not yours, and as long as I’m following FAA regs, not violating your privacy in a place you have a reasonable expectation of privacy (like taking photos and posting them on the internet), I’m not doing anything wrong.

the real safety issue with drones is related to other aircraft, and it’s being addressed with better hardware, software, and procedures. in 10+ years of flying them, talking to people who fly them, and seeing them all over the place I have never heard of or met anyone in real life who even heard secondhand of a drone injury. it could be one in a million and you’ll see it on YouTube….

 

[DaveMatthews]

I flew drones (prefer the word quadcopter) for years.
Just for sport/fun/acrobatics. Never cared about photography at all, but could add a camera if desired. Neither unit had one built in.
I would always go to a large school or sports field when they were not being used, and very few people were around. If I saw someone in the vicinity I would land and let them pass, then carry on. Always respecting the surroundings and people.
Then the laws changed in Canada. It made it almost and/or virtually impossible to fly in my usual locations.
I could have spent the time and money to get a license, but the restricted areas remained, so what's the point?
Anyway... I still have them boxed up and ready to go if I want, but it seems they may stay in the box...