Things we thought would be more popular that they are- # 7:Drones (Page 2/3)
williegoat SEP 13, 01:48 PM

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Originally posted by FieroSTETZ:

If you're new to it - a few words of advice. As you "spread your wings" and start roaming further and further... remember to only fly over places that you can get to if you experience a sudden failure lol. While it even happens with higher end UAVs, inexpensive UAV battery failures happen and having to retrieve a several hundred dollar drone from a brush filled canyon is not fun.


Yeah, I plan on going "low and slow" for awhile.


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Also, a few friends that started playing with these devices kept forgetting at the beginning that you need to factor in round-trip flights when looking at battery life. It sounds basic and dumb but a ton of people forget about that while they're having fun with their new doodad.


This thing is supposed to automatically return to home when the battery level gets low or it looses communication with the controller.


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They make these thingies for model rocketry that start beeping loudly after an impact, might not be a terrible idea to attach to your drone if you start flying it places that are outside line-of-sight


It has a "find my drone" feature. I think it will display the last known position on the map.
Also, for recreational use, flying beyond line of sight is illegal; and lord knows I would NEVER do anything illegal.


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Ah - also, flying over water takes huge balls, as a battery failure over water would never turn out great!


That is why I bought a cheap drone.
Jake_Dragon SEP 13, 02:14 PM
If I was to get one it would have to support a VR head set.
I do not get motion sick (easily) and it would be an experience to fly one with a view from the drone.
williegoat SEP 13, 02:20 PM

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Originally posted by Jake_Dragon:

If I was to get one it would have to support a VR head set.
I do not get motion sick (easily) and it would be an experience to fly one with a view from the drone.


From what I have seen, most do. They have what is called "first person view" (FPV) which displays on your phone through WiFi and will also connect to a headset.

[This message has been edited by williegoat (edited 09-13-2021).]

OldsFiero SEP 14, 08:12 AM
Sounds like a cool way to scout for game. Lets see now.............
maryjane SEP 14, 09:42 AM
My brother's son in law had one and it had a 'return home' function which brought it back in a direct line. Twice on the return trip, it crashed into the same utility pole about 100 yards from where he was standing.
williegoat SEP 14, 10:21 AM

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Originally posted by maryjane:

My brother's son in law had one and it had a 'return home' function which brought it back in a direct line. Twice on the return trip, it crashed into the same utility pole about 100 yards from where he was standing.


That's what I call accuracy.
williegoat SEP 14, 11:04 AM
I have been doing my homework and I have found that there are a lot of places where drones are not allowed. One may not fly in National Parks, Arizona State Parks or City of Phoenix Parks. Glendale does allow them in our city parks but much of Glendale is in controlled airspace because of Glendale Municipal Airport or Luke AFB. All of this means that finding an interesting place to fly will not be a casual endeavor. If I had know this before I placed the order, I might have changed my mind.

Here is a useful resource for those who might be interested: https://b4ufly.aloft.ai/
williegoat SEP 17, 01:57 PM


Jake_Dragon SEP 17, 03:43 PM
Well that explains why I never see anyone flying drones where I live.
Long Beach is close to an airport and you have to get a permit to fly them and are restricted to how high you can fly them.

Guess I will take it off my Christmas list.
Notorio SEP 21, 12:40 AM

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Originally posted by maryjane:

My brother's son in law had one and it had a 'return home' function which brought it back in a direct line. Twice on the return trip, it crashed into the same utility pole about 100 yards from where he was standing.



I guess a proximity sensor is too expensive to put into low-end drones but I would expect them to be present on more expensive ones, along with some simple collision-avoidance programing. Is that too much to ask?