Hi,

I haven't flown or updated firmware for awhile so I have been reading about the latest firmware results.  I noticed in a couple places there was reference to 120m, or 400ft. as the max. altitude.  It was 500m.  (still is on my 1.6 firmaware)  Will upgrading firmaware reduce this to 120m?

I have 1.8 firmware on my P3P and i can go up to 500m without issue. I'm doing this as I am following the landscape up terrain, when it hits 1640.42 feet, i get the max alt alert and cannot go any further. It definitely allows going to 500m on 1.08.

Hello Apollo1, the maximum altitude isn't changed.When the drone finishes upgrading, the main controller will set the parameters to default but you still can change them .

So why is is 500m? An arbitrary number, or some regulation that tops off at the least restrictive country?

DJI-Paladin Posted at 2016-5-19 01:18
Hello Apollo1, the maximum altitude isn't changed.When the drone finishes upgrading, the main contro ...

Thank you both for your replies.

gtokarsk Posted at 2016-5-19 14:43
So why is is 500m? An arbitrary number, or some regulation that tops off at the least restrictive co ...

No country has any regulation specifying what height you can go above launch point.
All altitude regulations are based on height above the  ground.

gtokarsk Posted at 2016-5-19 12:43
So why is is 500m? An arbitrary number, or some regulation that tops off at the least restrictive co ...

I don't know if the number is arbitrary, but it certainly seems to me that once you get that high, the scenery is a bit boring, lacking in detail.

Unless I'm not understanding the question, 400 feet is the maximum height allowed by law based on FAA restrictions.

Rex59 Posted at 2016-5-19 17:13
Unless I'm not understanding the question, 400 feet is the maximum height allowed by law based on FA ...

You're correct, and similarly here in the UK as set by the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) @ 400ft, and in the UK if we have a named observer we can go to 1000ft. But of course have to observe any restrictions there may be in any controlled airspace.

And yes, all this is AGL, now - for me a definition of AGL is above take off point, I cannot imagine the AGL here being applied to "agl as relating to the nearest airport"... so if I take off from a mountain top, in the US, am i ok flying 400ft above the peak of this mountain? if not, then technically I cannot even fly at my takeoff altitude.... i think that would get too complex... i think the regulation specifically is 400ft above take off point. Which means 500m possible above take off point, whether it's legal where you are flying, that's another story.

gtokarsk Posted at 2016-5-20 03:30
And yes, all this is AGL, now - for me a definition of AGL is above take off point, I cannot imagine ...

" i think the regulation specifically is 400ft above take off point"

No regulatory authority cares how high you fly above your take off point.
All they are interested in is how far your Phantom is above the ground ... the ground directly below your Phantom.

If you take off from your mountain top, you are legal flying 400 feet above it.
You would also be legal flying in the same place if you had launched from the bottom.
Where you launch from is irrelevant.

gtokarsk Posted at 2016-5-19 12:30
And yes, all this is AGL, now - for me a definition of AGL is above take off point, I cannot imagine ...

Technically, the software will hold you to 400 feet above takeoff point, but the FAA wants you no higher than 400AGL at the location of the aircraft at any given time.  Take off from the peak of a mountain and your maximum altitude will decrease any direction you go.

Someone will chime in and tell you that this is not law yet, only guidlines.  I wouldn't want to test that theory.  We are supposed to see the real laws in the near future, but I haven't seen anything new yet.

labroides@yahoo Posted at 2016-5-20 06:20
" i think the regulation specifically is 400ft above take off point"

No regulatory authority care ...

But if you take off from a mountain top, fly up 400', and then fly out 1000', you are now (most likely) much higher than 400' above the ground. To be able to stay at 400' AGL from your takeoff point, you can only fly straight up 400' and come straight back down. Anywhere else would be more than 400' AGL. Maybe I'm missing something?

Barney

Thx guys, i never did think that way, but you got a point, 400ft above where the drone is, not relative to takeoff point. good point there! Well, If that's the case i may have been border line a few times, but not by much.... but certainly good to take my brain out of the box it was in ;)