So,
It's 2024,  you're in the UK. NOT Europe & bound by CAA regulation.
You decide to buy the Mini 4 Pro drone...
Prior to 1st Jan 2024, if you bought the Mini 4, the DJI software aparrently gave you the option to OVERIDE the rubbish 120m altitude limit from the launch altitude, because in the UK, the CAA states that you can legally fly up to 120m above the CONTOUR of the surface of the earth...
Meaning that you could be in a valley, and providing you stay within 120m virtically from the ground below the drone, you could fly up the side of a hill or mountian. and whist still only having the ground below the drone being 120m or less, the drone might end up several hundred meters above its LAUNCH altitude...
However i'm hearing that from Jan 2024 onwards, the draconian EU rules override the CEE 120m surface contour rule & physically limit how high a UK drone can fly in the UK?
Is this the case and the EU is dictating itself over CAA rules, or if i buy a mini 4 now, Do DJI recognise that the Drone is in the UK, and STILL allow the setting of the 500m max altitude, like before?
What's the current accurate status of this?
Cheers

User Guide (caa.co.uk)

LV_Forestry Posted at 2-9 13:20
User Guide (caa.co.uk)

So, from  the link,  if you buy a new Mini 4 Now, instead of prior to the 31st Dec 2023, you'll basically be screwed and FORCED to keep below 120m from your takeoff point ..  As per EU regs, which will not seriously hinder landscape flight in hilly areas?
This basically sucks, and will create a Two Tier system of Drones prior to 2024 that WILL be able to fly more freely and the SAME make and model bought after Jan 2024 that will be crippled?

PhasedSpaces Posted at 2-9 13:28
So, from  the link,  if you buy a new Mini 4 Now, instead of prior to the 31st Dec 2023, you'll basically be screwed and FORCED to keep below 120m from your takeoff point ..  As per EU regs, which will not seriously hinder landscape flight in hilly areas?
This basically sucks, and will create a Two Tier system of Drones prior to 2024 that WILL be able to fly more freely and the SAME make and model bought after Jan 2024 that will be crippled?

https://youtu.be/OMTJdUWB730?si=MbdEWGdy5D5st8vt

LV_Forestry Posted at 2-9 13:40
https://youtu.be/OMTJdUWB730?si=MbdEWGdy5D5st8vt

This is confusing, i'm not interested in C1
I want to know if i buy the Mini 4 Pro in 2024, will i still be able to remove the C0 category and make it exempt (thus be able to fly as per CAA surface contour rules), which WOULD have been the case just several weeks ago before the new year..

All these rules are just more & more convoluted BS!

PhasedSpaces Posted at 2-9 13:50
This is confusing, i'm not interested in C1
I want to know if i buy the Mini 4 Pro in 2024, will i still be able to remove the C0 category and make it exempt (thus be able to fly as per CAA surface contour rules), which WOULD have been the case just several weeks ago before the new year..

Removing label is now not possible. Your only option is to apply for C1.

PhasedSpaces Posted at 2-9 13:28
So, from  the link,  if you buy a new Mini 4 Now, instead of prior to the 31st Dec 2023, you'll basically be screwed and FORCED to keep below 120m from your takeoff point ..  As per EU regs, which will not seriously hinder landscape flight in hilly areas?
This basically sucks, and will create a Two Tier system of Drones prior to 2024 that WILL be able to fly more freely and the SAME make and model bought after Jan 2024 that will be crippled?

In the UK the 120m limit is not applied,  but if you take the drone into Europe then the drone will change the max value to 120m.       The 120m AGL is of course still in effect here.  

Hi there. The aircraft will identify the country and region where it is located according to the GPS and network operator of the mobile device or the controller and then switch between FCC, CE, and SRRC by local laws and regulations. Have a great day ahead.

UK max height setting on my drone (mini 4 purchased Nov 2023) is 500m. When I take it to Europe, the setting changes to max height 120m. Chill out a bit dude - no one ever took decent photos that high!!!! Focus on your photography and videography not gimmicks like flying high!!!

DJI Tony Posted at 2-12 02:20
Hi there. The aircraft will identify the country and region where it is located according to the GPS and network operator of the mobile device or the controller and then switch between FCC, CE, and SRRC by local laws and regulations. Have a great day ahead.

The aircraft will identify the country and region where it is located according to the GPS and network operator of the mobile device or the controller and then switch between FCC, CE, and SRRC by local laws and regulations

And what if you have the RC2 which doesnt have a GPS and network, does the quad work it out from its own GPS location or does it simply assume the last place it flew (UK) is where you are flying now?

MiniManiac Posted at 8-31 09:25
The aircraft will identify the country and region where it is located according to the GPS and network operator of the mobile device or the controller and then switch between FCC, CE, and SRRC by local laws and regulations

And what if you have the RC2 which doesnt have a GPS and network, does the quad work it out from its own GPS location or does it simply assume the last place it flew (UK) is where you are flying now?

Hi, there. Thank you for reaching out.
Could you please tell us what do you mean by "doesnt have a GPS"? Does it mean there is no GPS function or no GPS signal at all? If it is the former, DJI RC 2 do have a GPS module. If it is the latter, normally when you use the remote control to control the drone in one place, the remote control will not have no signal but the drone has signal. Do you have any screenshots of the situation you are talking about? We can help you troubleshoot and analyze it.

MiniManiac Posted at 8-31 09:25
The aircraft will identify the country and region where it is located according to the GPS and network operator of the mobile device or the controller and then switch between FCC, CE, and SRRC by local laws and regulations

And what if you have the RC2 which doesnt have a GPS and network, does the quad work it out from its own GPS location or does it simply assume the last place it flew (UK) is where you are flying now?

The RC2 has obviously an embedded GPS receiver and a network connection can be established using a mobile phone as an hotspot, but this is not necessary for identifying the country.
It seems that your complaints are coming from a misunderstanding from your side about the way the DJI drones are working and they are not supported by real facts.

FabioV Posted at 9-3 02:52
The RC2 has obviously an embedded GPS receiver and a network connection can be established using a mobile phone as an hotspot, but this is not necessary for identifying the country.
It seems that your complaints are coming from a misunderstanding from your side about the way the DJI drones are working and they are not supported by real facts.

It seems that your complaints are coming from a misunderstanding from your side about the way the DJI drones are working and they are not supported by real facts.

Who's complaining??
Fabio i asked a question, with a faulty premise in that i didnt know the RC2 has a GPS chip, no other DJI controller has one, and from looking at teardown videos i dont see one, maybe its a language barrier if so i suggest using google translate

MiniManiac Posted at 9-3 10:10
It seems that your complaints are coming from a misunderstanding from your side about the way the DJI drones are working and they are not supported by real facts.

Who's complaining??

All the DJI RC controllers not requiring a mobile phone connected have an embedded GPS receiver. And also a compass.
At this should be quite obvious, because  without those capabilities embedded, it would be impossible to display the distance between the RC and the drone, to change the home point to the RC location, to show on the RC the direction of the drone.

DAFlys Posted at 2-10 03:51
In the UK the 120m limit is not applied,  but if you take the drone into Europe then the drone will change the max value to 120m.       The 120m AGL is of course still in effect here.

Hey mate. I live in the UK and 120m limit does apply here. I can not change the maximum height limit in the controller settings.

Amrit_Singh Posted at 9-10 01:51
Hey mate. I live in the UK and 120m limit does apply here. I can not change the maximum height limit in the controller settings.

Somethings wrong with your drone then,  it really doesnt apply here.

DAFlys Posted at 9-11 22:54
Somethings wrong with your drone then,  it really doesnt apply here.

I don’t think so. According to CAA, maximum altitude is 120 m in UK and DJI is strictly following it.

Amrit_Singh Posted at 9-12 06:06
I don’t think so. According to CAA, maximum altitude is 120 m in UK and DJI is strictly following it.

DAFly is correct. Mini4pro in the UK can be set to 500 metres maximum height.

Amrit_Singh Posted at 9-12 06:06
I don’t think so. According to CAA, maximum altitude is 120 m in UK and DJI is strictly following it.

UK rules as DAFlys has already covered restricts max height to 120m but this limit  moves as you climb a hill & for this reason the 4 pro can be set to max height of 500m in the UK to enable this.  The EU rule is 120m from take off point specifically so you cannot climb a hill maintaining 120m from ground level without landing anfter climbing 120m unlike in the uk hence the 120m hard limit on eu versions.  If you take a UK based drone to Europe the EU rule applies & your drone will be subject to the hard 120m limit with controller only allowing that height.

BaynhamPhoto Posted at 9-12 08:56
UK rules as DAFlys has already covered restricts max height to 120m but this limit  moves as you climb a hill & for this reason the 4 pro can be set to max height of 500m in the UK to enable this.  The EU rule is 120m from take off point specifically so you cannot climb a hill maintaining 120m from ground level without landing anfter climbing 120m unlike in the uk hence the 120m hard limit on eu versions.  If you take a UK based drone to Europe the EU rule applies & your drone will be subject to the hard 120m limit with controller only allowing that height.

Okay. Thanks for the information. So how can I update altitude to 500m from 120m in my RC controller? Because at this moment I can’t change it. It is locked to maximum 120m.

Amrit_Singh Posted at 9-12 09:35
Okay. Thanks for the information. So how can I update altitude to 500m from 120m in my RC controller? Because at this moment I can’t change it. It is locked to maximum 120m.

Where was the drone purchase is it new or used?  Are you using an RC controller or phone based controller? Did you allow location access/ information for the app at setup?  You need to provide more detail on such things so forum users can better advise/assist simply stating you cannot adjust the setting is not helpful. Confirm you have the drone connected when attempting the change and also that GPS location is being shown correctly on the app for your location in the UK.

Can you verify location access is turned on in profile, settings, notification & privacy & that local data mode is turned off on the controller from the Home Screen.  This issue suggests your location is not seen as uk based.

Amrit_Singh Posted at 9-12 09:35
Okay. Thanks for the information. So how can I update altitude to 500m from 120m in my RC controller? Because at this moment I can’t change it. It is locked to maximum 120m.

Amrit_Singh Posted at 9-12 09:35
Okay. Thanks for the information. So how can I update altitude to 500m from 120m in my RC controller? Because at this moment I can’t change it. It is locked to maximum 120m.

What is your usual uk location when attempting the change (region, city)?  Have you checked an app like drone assist for localised zones/restrictions. Is your fly safe database up to date have you checked for any updates?

Amrit_Singh Posted at 9-12 06:06
I don’t think so. According to CAA, maximum altitude is 120 m in UK and DJI is strictly following it.

Thats not how it works with a DJI drone,  the altitude is taken from the take off point,    so if you then fly up a hill the drone will report you climbing, but in reality your height above ground may not be changing.   Thats why they allow 500m here so that you can fly up hills etc.  

BaynhamPhoto Posted at 9-12 10:13
Where was the drone purchase is it new or used?  Are you using an RC controller or phone based controller? Did you allow location access/ information for the app at setup?  You need to provide more detail on such things so forum users can better advise/assist simply stating you cannot adjust the setting is not helpful. Confirm you have the drone connected when attempting the change and also that GPS location is being shown correctly on the app for your location in the UK.

Can you verify location access is turned on in profile, settings, notification & privacy & that local data mode is turned off on the controller from the Home Screen.  This issue suggests your location is not seen as uk based.

Thanks for your comment. I have checked my RC2 Controller again and checked the settings. I can change the altitude to 500m now. I don't know what happened previously but now the altitude settings can be changed. Thanks again.

DAFlys Posted at 9-13 04:58
Thats not how it works with a DJI drone,  the altitude is taken from the take off point,    so if you then fly up a hill the drone will report you climbing, but in reality your height above ground may not be changing.   Thats why they allow 500m here so that you can fly up hills etc.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tml7fehpIRA

Thanks for the video mate.