I was practicing (4th or 5th) time a week or so ago and got  me to thinking.  I was going pretty high, for some footage and got to 400ft.  From what I remember, since it was a week ago, the app stopped me from going higher, as there was a 400ft limitation. Assuming enforced by the FAA?  Can you go higher at your own risk, if so, how?  Lets say just another 100 ft higher.  


Assuming I'm a responsible adult, know that there arnt any airports around, other aircraft, balloons, etc etc.  If I quickly wanted to jump up higher for a moment of footage, can I do that somehow?  Thanks in advance spark folks!!

You can fly up to 500 meters over top of the takeoff pointing by increasing the maximum altitude setting in the following section of DJI GO:

There's a loophole too, you can fly 400ft over a structure so if the structure is 200ft you could legally fly up to 600ft providing you're over the structure.

If in the United States, if flying recreationally only, you are covered under Section 336 and there is no height restriction.  However, with that said, there is a visual line of sight (VLOS) restriction so you can fly it as high as you can see it.  It's a good "rule of thumb/advise" to remain below 400' though to ensure you don't interfere with low flying aircraft.  I've personally only taken mine above 400' twice and then only to 500'.  If flying under Part 107, there IS a 400' height restriction.

BrandonW77 Posted at 2018-8-13 08:47
There's a loophole too, you can fly 400ft over a structure so if the structure is 200ft you could legally fly up to 600ft providing you're over the structure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUXLTMFxsV4

This is true for Part 107.  For Section 336, there is technically no height restriction.

To answer the question I think you're really asking...if you set 0 in the Set Max Flight Altitude window, you can fly higher than 500 meters.  The Spark won't stop at a limiting altitude since one has not been set.  The only limitation will be signal strength which should be no problem if you remember to aim the antennae perpendicular to the drone...or aerodynamic issues with wind... or thinner air as you climb (which I don't think would be a factor).

Rustic17 Posted at 2018-8-13 10:30
To answer the question I think you're really asking...if you set 0 in the Set Max Flight Altitude window, you can fly higher than 500 meters.  The Spark won't stop at a limiting altitude since one has not been set.  The only limitation will be signal strength which should be no problem if you remember to aim the antennae perpendicular to the drone...or aerodynamic issues with wind... or thinner air as you climb (which I don't think would be a factor).

Pretty sure there is a vertical limit, I've seen videos where they tried to send it up as high as possible and it eventually hit a software limit just past 1,000 feet high.

BrandonW77 Posted at 2018-8-13 11:01
Pretty sure there is a vertical limit, I've seen videos where they tried to send it up as high as possible and it eventually hit a software limit just past 1,000 feet high.

I've read somewhere that the software limit is 500m (1640 ft).

Hddeuce Posted at 2018-8-13 11:39
I've read somewhere that the software limit is 500m (1640 ft).

I may or may not be able to verify that 1,643 feet high...

warubikku Posted at 2018-8-13 16:05
I may or may not be able to verify that 1,643 feet high...

When you may or may not have reached 1643', did you have 500 or 0 set in the Set Maximum Altitude window???

Yes it could be done!

I’ve gotten mine 700 feet, but I wouldn’t recommend it. I went straight up and down, took one pano picture and almost ran out of battery (10%). The Spark doesn’t do elevations quickly

Noble797 Posted at 2018-8-13 20:18
I’ve gotten mine 700 feet, but I wouldn’t recommend it. I went straight up and down, took one pano picture and almost ran out of battery (10%). The Spark doesn’t do elevations quickly

Yeah, if you´re recording video on the way up, and then try to make pano, it just takes way to much time. It´s better if you just turn around and make a video.
I only tried once the 500m, took almost 5 minutes to reach that, and another 6 to land so I had about 2 minutes to take some pictures Definitely looks good there up, but the Spark has limitations

You can probably go as high as you have signal.   Not legally tho.   Then you risk losing control if it does funny things and flying off into Space    ** Assuming you enough Batt power **

Greg F Posted at 2018-8-13 23:49
You can probably go as high as you have signal.   Not legally tho.   Then you risk losing control if it does funny things and flying off into Space    ** Assuming you enough Batt power **

That’s true, my drone did get a little squirrelly that high up, haven’t tried it again since. While it was descending, I was starting worry about running out of battery.

Noble797 Posted at 2018-8-14 02:48
That’s true, my drone did get a little squirrelly that high up, haven’t tried it again since. While it was descending, I was starting worry about running out of battery.

Well if you fly straight up as far as you can go, then come back down.  If it runs out of power you can Catch it...!!! lol.

Noble797 Posted at 2018-8-14 02:48
That’s true, my drone did get a little squirrelly that high up, haven’t tried it again since. While it was descending, I was starting worry about running out of battery.

The squirrely flight might have been due to winds...there's been a recent video post of hiking in the Alps so I imagine the air thinness due to altitude was much more than what you experienced.  Sport Mode and flying forward will also increase rate of climb and descent...descending straight down puts you in your own prop wash.

Rustic17 Posted at 2018-8-13 18:55
When you may or may not have reached 1643', did you have 500 or 0 set in the Set Maximum Altitude window???

500 of course.

Again here is the if Req flying you can go over 400 foot.  I have been told this and then in other threads told that's not correct.

warubikku Posted at 2018-8-15 03:39
500 of course.

But since the range offered is 20-500 which is what the software will give you if you select in that range, I wonder if you set 0 you take the software out of the equation and then your ceiling is not restricted by the software...only by aerodynamics.

Remember boys and girls, once you are out of VLOS Anything can happen...with that said you will be in RLOS at 500 meters but BLOS so you will need to fly by the maps

If you have a compass, or ATTI mode drop, and cant activate the RHT button you are going to graduate from drone user to a beginner drone pilot in a hell of a hurry, and you don't want to test your lack of skills in ATTI out of VLOS.  

This is where people get FLY OFFS lets just substitute the words Fly offs for USER ERROR in this next example.

EX. "I only flew my drone once and wanted to go really high with it but I lost It due to a user error.."

Don't be that guy

Carmenvail Posted at 2018-8-15 08:23
Remember boys and girls, once you are out of VLOS Anything can happen...with that said you will be in RLOS at 500 meters but BLOS so you will need to fly by the maps

If you have a compass, or ATTI mode drop, and cant activate the RHT button you are going to graduate from drone user to a beginner drone pilot in a hell of a hurry, and you don't want to test your lack of skills in ATTI out of VLOS.  

1400 feet, on the flight log.  Almost lost it due to signal drop.  0 on the height limit,  WILL NOT DO THAR AGAIN

1400 feet on the flight log, height limit  set at 0, almost lost the aircraft, never again.

Cliff Ulam Posted at 2018-8-15 16:49
1400 feet on the flight log, height limit  set at 0, almost lost the aircraft, never again.

Not sure where you are from but not over 400' here in the USA, Thats Feet Boys and Girls.

Carmenvail Posted at 2018-8-15 08:23
Remember boys and girls, once you are out of VLOS Anything can happen...with that said you will be in RLOS at 500 meters but BLOS so you will need to fly by the maps

If you have a compass, or ATTI mode drop, and cant activate the RHT button you are going to graduate from drone user to a beginner drone pilot in a hell of a hurry, and you don't want to test your lack of skills in ATTI out of VLOS.  

Couldnt agree more

Yeah if you live in a high area.. I got up to almost ft 3600 without problems..

Carmenvail Posted at 2018-8-15 08:23
Remember boys and girls, once you are out of VLOS Anything can happen...with that said you will be in RLOS at 500 meters but BLOS so you will need to fly by the maps

If you have a compass, or ATTI mode drop, and cant activate the RHT button you are going to graduate from drone user to a beginner drone pilot in a hell of a hurry, and you don't want to test your lack of skills in ATTI out of VLOS.  

Whats RLOS mean again? lol

againt some say 400 foot in USA, some say req it does not matter.... I wish I knew.

I know 500M is 1640 feet... but does putting it at 0 really make it not have a limit?  betting not.

chugger93 Posted at 2018-8-16 04:18
Whats RLOS mean again? lol

Radio Line Of Sight

Mittens Posted at 2018-8-16 05:35
againt some say 400 foot in USA, some say req it does not matter.... I wish I knew.

I know 500M is 1640 feet... but does putting it at 0 really make it not have a limit?  betting not.

Zero sets no limit, only as high as you want to go. It's 400' here and in my area you do not want to enter "E" airspace ( 700' here) I have too many videos of plains passing so low (500' AGL in my area ) throught "E" that they are in "G" with me and I need to decend or turn the other way. I always have my altitude set for a max of 375' AGL so I stay compliant. It's also hard to see your AC past that distance..Also for my compliance, I need to notify tower and identify myself and flight path when flying in my town because I'm 4.91 miles NNE of the airport so I don't want the tower to see me on RADAR above 400' AGL if that is infact possible.

IF zero sets no limit, then why is there other threads about the 500m limit being a problem?..

Descending with a quadcopter in GPS, or ATTI mode,  is a real problem since they have to slow the props to come down.  It can only slow the props so much while maintaining stability.  The speed coming down is very slow compared to the drone's climb rate.  Makes it difficult to get it down safely or avoid other aircraft.

Carmenvail Posted at 2018-8-16 06:59
Zero sets no limit, only as high as you want to go. It's 400' here and in my area you do not want to enter "E" airspace ( 700' here) I have too many videos of plains passing so low (500' AGL in my area ) throught "E" that they are in "G" with me and I need to decend or turn the other way. I always have my altitude set for a max of 375' AGL so I stay compliant. It's also hard to see your AC past that distance..Also for my compliance, I need to notify tower and identify myself and flight path when flying in my town because I'm 4.91 miles NNE of the airport so I don't want the tower to see me on RADAR above 400' AGL if that is infact possible.

If Zero sets the limit to unlimited surely it hasn't been that easy all along to go fly as high as you need? I'm an idiot if that is true lol

Air is thinner the higher we go.  That means less control the higher we go!

Couple that with gusting wind, it could create a disaster.

rolling56 Posted at 2018-8-16 07:43
If Zero sets the limit to unlimited surely it hasn't been that easy all along to go fly as high as you need? I'm an idiot if that is true lol

Well, if that's what you really wanted to do all along, why haven't you tried it??? Keeping in mind it exceeds the FAA limit....

Carmenvail Posted at 2018-8-15 17:53
Not sure where you are from but not over 400' here in the USA, Thats Feet Boys and Girls.

In the U.S. if recreational flying only, we are covered under Section 336 and there is NO height restriction.  There is a VLOS restriction though.  If flying under Part 107, there is a 400' height restriction.

Blellow Posted at 2018-8-16 07:55
Air is thinner the higher we go.  That means less control the higher we go!

Couple that with gusting wind, it could create a disaster.

If you are flying from a ground elevation of less than 3000 above sea level which the majority of the US is, and you climb 2000' above ground putting you at 5000' above sea level, you still aren't in the thinner air that people in certain Colorado locations fly in day in and day out.  I think the winds are a greater problem than thin air when flying to altitudes above 400'.

Gunship9 Posted at 2018-8-16 07:41
Descending with a quadcopter in GPS, or ATTI mode,  is a real problem since they have to slow the props to come down.  It can only slow the props so much while maintaining stability.  The speed coming down is very slow compared to the drone's climb rate.  Makes it difficult to get it down safely or avoid other aircraft.

Keeping forward motion and using Sport Mode will increase rate of descent.

Cliff Ulam Posted at 2018-8-15 16:45
1400 feet, on the flight log.  Almost lost it due to signal drop.  0 on the height limit,  WILL NOT DO THAR AGAIN

The biggest thing to remember as far as signal loss goes when climbing high is to keep the antennae perpendicular to the drone.  If you hold the RC like you normally do with the RC parallel to the ground or slightly raised, at some point during the climb the antennae will be pointing at the drone versus perpendicular to it and signal strength will be reduced.

Rustic17 Posted at 2018-8-16 08:54
Well, if that's what you really wanted to do all along, why haven't you tried it??? Keeping in mind it exceeds the FAA limit....

I have a similar thread here but on the Mavic Pro and the DJI Go 4 app. If i had known this did work i would never have posted it. I have no reason to fly that high right now or i would try it. Have you? or did i miss that