Multirotor, multicopter and quadcopter discussion - The Drone thread

darael · 18 May 2025 at 12:21

arknor said:
if you get one without a screen you can use a tablet with a big screen.
with the screen its pretty much impossible to notice power cables etc because the picture is kinda small

You'll notice them after when looking at your videos at home

look on youtube at videos and see how thin the power lines are, now imagine that on a 5.5 inch screen at 1920x1080 res
JkC1FpY9BSs

your basically looking at fishing line that will be a few pixels wide

A few years ago I did a similar thing with my Mini 2, only the spacing between the wires in my case was much bigger. I felt so stupid not seeing the pylons ahead of me and taking them into account. I only realised as I saw what appeared to be fine lines on my screen as I flew threw them.

A change of underwear was needed that day.

arknor · 18 May 2025 at 16:07

doodah said:
Big changes coming ladies and gents....

just ignore and carry on flying..

I see illegal electric scooters and illegal electric bicyles every day, multiple of them at a time even... police just turn a blind eye, only the rental scooters are legal on roads for a start so its obvious... and the ebicycles shouldn't be going 20-25mph up hills (I'm suspect 99% of deliveroo/uber eats bicycles are illegal chinese ebikes)
also hear cars with their engines remapped driving around the city centre outskirts making BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG POP BANG BANG noises you can hear from over a mile away, theres no police presence anymore, people just do what they like.
No one is going to be policing your drone, unless your being an idiot or flying in sensitive areas

Blame those youtube auditor idiots for any rule changes

doodah · 21 Jun 2025 at 10:32

mattyg said:
European road trip sorted
M5 Comp.... Check
GoPRoHero12.... Check
Dji Mini 4 Pro.... Check.
D810 with Starwatcher..... Check

Tripod.......100% Check ( Forgot that in the US last year.. Bought an expensive Peli case and have everything BUT the dang tripod.....)

Only bought the M4P this week so it'll be a baptism of fire whilst on the road. Ordered my ID stickers etc and did my tests.

Anything else I need for France, Spain & Portugal

How did it go in Spain? Planning to go myself and did the test/course yesterday (EASA A1-A3 open), I also need to get liability insurance and stickers by the looks of it (missed that) ^?

The course/test was a lot more involved than the basic £10 UK one, learned a good amount.

mattyg · 21 Jun 2025 at 20:09

doodah said:
How did it go in Spain? Planning to go myself and did the test/course yesterday (EASA A1-A3 open), I also need to get liability insurance and stickers by the looks of it (missed that) ^?

The course/test was a lot more involved than the basic £10 UK one, learned a good amount.

Went really good, Had a blast and leaving to do it all again in a couple of weeks. Maybe I need to sort a video out then of last year....

doodah · 21 Jun 2025 at 21:13

mattyg said:
Went really good, Had a blast and leaving to do it all again in a couple of weeks. Maybe I need to sort a video out then of last year....

Did you have to register your drone(s)? I'm getting conflicting information in regards to Spain/EU.

mattyg · 22 Jun 2025 at 09:53

doodah said:
Did you have to register your drone(s)? I'm getting conflicting information in regards to Spain/EU.

I can't remember now. But i did the UK test and got my stickers, I may have got insurance too as its cheap. But I'm researching again now as were getting ready to do it all over again

doodah · 22 Jun 2025 at 10:13

mattyg said:
I can't remember now. But i did the UK test and got my stickers, I may have got insurance too as its cheap. But I'm researching again now as were getting ready to do it all over again

Thanks. I've been following these two guides:

Spanish Drone Laws

Check here the updated Spanish drone laws for 2025: licences, drones under 250gr, requirements for professional flights, where to fly...

www.grupooneair.com

Flying drones in Spain (or anywhere in the EU) | Sport and Activities

Having debated with myself for some time whether to join the twenty first century and acquire a drone I recently took the plunge and learned a lot in the

www.spainbuddy.com

You have to do the EU test, but when I tried to register for Spain - their site said you don't for the open category yet the guides say you do. And if I don't register for Spain/EU - little point in me getting the relevant stickers. I'll get my UK ones though.

Edit - and get insurance through FPV UK.

mattyg · 22 Jun 2025 at 16:20

doodah said:
Thanks. I've been following these two guides:

Spanish Drone Laws

Check here the updated Spanish drone laws for 2025: licences, drones under 250gr, requirements for professional flights, where to fly...

www.grupooneair.com

Flying drones in Spain (or anywhere in the EU) | Sport and Activities

Having debated with myself for some time whether to join the twenty first century and acquire a drone I recently took the plunge and learned a lot in the

www.spainbuddy.com

You have to do the EU test, but when I tried to register for Spain - their site said you don't for the open category yet the guides say you do. And if I don't register for Spain/EU - little point in me getting the relevant stickers. I'll get my UK ones though.

Edit - and get insurance through FPV UK.

Thanks for the FPV uk heads up..Just registered, Turns out my CAA runs out in 2 weeks.

mattyg · 22 Jun 2025 at 18:58

doodah said:
Thanks. I've been following these two guides:

Spanish Drone Laws

Check here the updated Spanish drone laws for 2025: licences, drones under 250gr, requirements for professional flights, where to fly...

www.grupooneair.com

Flying drones in Spain (or anywhere in the EU) | Sport and Activities

Having debated with myself for some time whether to join the twenty first century and acquire a drone I recently took the plunge and learned a lot in the

www.spainbuddy.com

You have to do the EU test, but when I tried to register for Spain - their site said you don't for the open category yet the guides say you do. And if I don't register for Spain/EU - little point in me getting the relevant stickers. I'll get my UK ones though.

Edit - and get insurance through FPV UK.

Also just seen this on Facebook

If its done with CAA no, you can only use this in the uk. You need to register with EASA to use in a european country. You can register in any European country eg, ireland, france. Once registered in 1 european country you canfly in all of Europe. I suggest registering with irelands iaa association. Here's link to their website - https://www.iaa.ie/general-aviation/drones/drone-register

doodah · 22 Jun 2025 at 19:59

mattyg said:
Also just seen this on Facebook

If its done with CAA no, you can only use this in the uk. You need to register with EASA to use in a european country. You can register in any European country eg, ireland, france. Once registered in 1 european country you canfly in all of Europe. I suggest registering with irelands iaa association. Here's link to their website - https://www.iaa.ie/general-aviation/drones/drone-register

Legend, thanks. I've got my UK Flyer ID card and stickers on the way. I'll register through Ireland and get an EU sticker on the way.

Klunt Bumskrint · 23 Jun 2025 at 08:40

Might be useful knowledge for someone but just sent my Mini 3 Pro in for repair. Hadn't been dropped or crashed or damaged in anyway but the gimble failed. Been quoted £114 and they are replacing the drone. Bit annoying but it's really quite fair in my opinion. I've had it a couple of years and had no warranty.

doodah · 24 Jun 2025 at 09:37

mattyg said:
Also just seen this on Facebook

If its done with CAA no, you can only use this in the uk. You need to register with EASA to use in a european country. You can register in any European country eg, ireland, france. Once registered in 1 european country you canfly in all of Europe. I suggest registering with irelands iaa association. Here's link to their website - https://www.iaa.ie/general-aviation/drones/drone-register

Damn, 50 Euros to get certification of your test.

HoneyBadger · 8 Jul 2025 at 11:38

I got a drone as part of my birthday present and have just tried it. Very difficult! 3 attempts, 3 crashes!!

Dano · 8 Jul 2025 at 11:44

HoneyBadger said:
I got a drone as part of my birthday present and have just tried it. Very difficult! 3 attempts, 3 crashes!!

Not a GPS camera drone such a DJI Mini of some description I assume? You'll be better off spending some decent amount of time on a simulator before destroying your drone if it's a FPV drone.

nsmalley · 8 Jul 2025 at 11:48

Some good dji drones on sale in the prime day sale.

HoneyBadger · 8 Jul 2025 at 12:45

Dano said:
Not a GPS camera drone such a DJI Mini of some description I assume? You'll be better off spending some decent amount of time on a simulator before destroying your drone if it's a FPV drone.

It’s a 4K camera GPS drone.
This one in fact. G9 GPS Drones with Camera 4k Professional for Kid & Adults, Under 249g, RC Quadcopter, Brushless Motor and Follow Me, 45-Min Flight Time, 5G FPV Transmission and Auto Return (Dark Gray) https://amzn.eu/d/90yXoSv

Simulator in terms of PC sim, on steam?

I did a calibration on the drone which passed, my issue is that as soon as it takes off, it slowly veers off to one side rather than what I thought would happen, which is it just hovering in position.

Dano · 8 Jul 2025 at 12:50

Send it back would be my advice, there is a reason the likes of DJI dominate the market.

HoneyBadger · 8 Jul 2025 at 12:53

Dano said:
Send it back would be my advice, there is a reason the likes of DJI dominate the market.

Thanks but it was a present so returning it isn’t really an option.

Rexxar · 8 Jul 2025 at 14:51

Lots of deals at the moment. Dji Mini 4 pro with the Rc2 remote coming in at £579. It is jot however, the fly more kit.

For those with or without the extra batteries and hub, do you think you really need it? I suppose I can always buy the hub and extra batteries as and when needed, probably wouldn't touch the knockoff ones though.

34 minutes on a full charge, is that realistic or am I going to need those extra batteries?

Don't remember what I got out of my old mavic 2

darael · 8 Jul 2025 at 15:03

Rexxar said:
Lots of deals at the moment. Dji Mini 4 pro with the Rc2 remote coming in at £579. It is jot however, the fly more kit.

For those with or without the extra batteries and hub, do you think you really need it? I suppose I can always buy the hub and extra batteries as and when needed, probably wouldn't touch the knockoff ones though.

34 minutes on a full charge, is that realistic or am I going to need those extra batteries?

Don't remember what I got out of my old mavic 2

I can't imagine going out with just one battery for my DJI Mini 2, especially it lasts ~15-20 minutes on a good and warm day. The wind and air temperature will play a lot in for how long how your battery will last when you're actually out and about.

If I'm flying against the wind, I can get away with turning around at around 40% to get the drone back, as the wind will be behind the drone on the return journey, the amount of power needed to get back will be much reduced. Just remember that if you're flying against the wind at the start of the journey, you'll need about twice as much battery to get home, if not more. Practice and experience will soon teach you.

HoneyBadger said:
Thanks but it was a present so returning it isn’t really an option.

From what I've seen of the drone, I'd honestly ask whoever gifted it you if returning the drone is possible. From what I've seen on YouTube, I wouldn't expect that drone to last too long.