Any Drone Enthusiasts?

E

El Rubio

Super Member
I have been thinking about getting a drone, and am looking for suggestions.

Last year I was in Lake Charles surveying some wireless towers after Hurricane Laura came through. One of our contractors hired an airboat just in case we needed to get through some flooded areas. I rode with the airboat guy. I’m definitely up for an airboat ride- anytime. So, we stopped at one of our sites and I’m using binoculars to check antenna azimuths, tilts, cable damage, or anything that will require a tower crew to climb. I heard an odd buzzing sound and the airboat guy just launched his drone. He asked which antennas were mine and made his drone do a circle around the tower and took some hi-res video. When he landed, he air-dropped the full resolution video to my iphone. The quality was awesome. We launched at a couple more sites and didn’t hardly use the binoculars again.

I have tossed the idea around since then. He had a DJI Phantom with a small ipad. He said the Phantom with a tablet ran about $1600. Is this a good option for a beginner? I thought about getting something closer to $200 to start and then move up if I stay interested. Are there any drones that take good photography at that price point? Are there any that aren’t toy-like junk? Any advice/ suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.

The 25 second video is >300MB, so I posted one of the stills. You can see the plastic housing cover on the antenna on the left is damaged. The video is horizontal and the damage is easily seen. The good bews is that antenna belongs to a different carrier.
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2nd the Mavic Mini flight bundle with extra battery and case. For a small drone, the 4K video is amazing. Lots of Youtube videos of drone fottage from that unit. Probably $400 plus your cell phone for viewing. No license required - its under the size/weight limit.
 
Watch out for the new US drone laws requiring them to broadcast their ID. A capability that few if any presently have. You can avoid that by getting one under 250 gm, like the Mavic Mini.

For a first drone, the Tello is a great introduction for $99. It can't fight much wind, but it's very easy to control, and freezes in place if you let go of the controls.
 
I've got the Mavic Air 2 flight package. Got the controller with the screen. So much better than using a phone. Great drone.
 
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Costco runs the Mini kit with 2 batteries for $440 for members.
  • Includes: Extra Battery, Mini Bag and 32GB MicroSD Card
 
Even if under the size limit if you use the drone to make money they want you to get the proper license. Personal/pleasure use only and you are fine without.
 
I'm all for drones at national parks...except they don't allow drone filming. A drone near my house would be time for...

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I am forced to being a 'drone enthusiast' because the FAA considers these to be drones in the nomenclature of their laws.
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SoCal Sam said:
The point I am trying to make while staying within the law is that drone operators (they are not pilots) need to respect the privacy of others. I see one flying in my neighborhood once or twice a year and we are never happy to see it.
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Couldn't agree more, but idiots will be idiots, especially if a frequent occurance. Otherwise, there may be legitimate reasons for a flyover.
 
Friend has been working for some time on a camera carrying RC plane, don't think it's done yet but these things make it so much easier, better, and cheaper. Who hasn't wondered what a bird's eye view of an interesting inaccessible area looks like?
 
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