So a couple days ago I was messing around with my P4 and my neighbor  came out to see what the buzzing sound was. they started asking a ton of questions so I decided to give a little demo. so showing off I took it to the legal height of 400 feet. latter that night it had me thinking about the height. so now I'm curious about how high would this thing go (if it was not illegal and dangerous). how high have you taken it to? how high will it go?  I'm not planning or ever will take it beyond but I'm sure a few people have. thanks in advance.

I'm sure others will give a much more detailed answer but the highest is about 1624 feet.

man, that is way up there. I would like to see pictures/videos of that. thanks

With recent firmware versions, the max altitude is limited to 500 meters, or 1640 feet.  Prior to that the only limit was the service ceiling of over 19,000 feet.

Think I saw a ytuber taking a DJI copter 1000 feet (AGL) or probably more can't recall. Insane height and filmed in another country.  Folks have to be completely nuts to do it but I guess some would. Wouldn't want the Feds knocking on my door.

Due to Big Bro DJI restricting their products by SW lock and as stated you can go no higher than 1640 feet period, "above the takeoff altitude."
Now a P4P has a stated range of 4 miles and 1846 feet; extend that vertically and you could potentially reach an altitude of 22966 feet.  However, the P4P max operating altitude is stated as 19685 feet.  So potentially you can fly very high...

^^^ wow, mind boggling that the P4P can go to that altitude. Insane !

Lots of aircraft flying around 2000  ft too.    Couldn't even see the drone  from the ground either I bet.

Genghis9 Posted at 2017-12-12 15:28
Due to Big Bro DJI restricting their products by SW lock and as stated you can go no higher than 1640 feet period, "above the takeoff altitude."
Now a P4P has a stated range of 4 miles and 1846 feet; extend that vertically and you could potentially reach an altitude of 22966 feet.  However, the P4P max operating altitude is stated as 19685 feet.  So potentially you can fly very high...

There are a few minor problems with that projection.
If you were to ascend to 22966 feet (7000 metres), the climb would take 23:20 leaving very little battery for the descent which would require an extra 39 minutes.
The battery would give up well before that due to freezing temperatures and there's no way you could get a good signal straight up at that height due to the antenna geometry.
But if you could overcome those hypothetical obstacles, you'd never see the Phantom again because wind velocity up that high would carry it far away.

Ignoring all other issues above, the theoretical max height you could get up to and back with one battery would be around 3000 metres / 9800 feet.

Labroides Posted at 2017-12-12 17:41
There are a few minor problems with that projection.
If you were to ascend to 22966 feet (7000 metres), the climb would take 23:20 leaving very little battery for the descent which would require an extra 39 minutes.
The battery would give up well before that due to freezing temperatures and there's no way you could get a good signal straight up at that height due to the antenna geometry.

Your assumptions are correct from an average or standard factors application standpoint.
I agree with the time distance travel calculations completely, as I was simply considering a hypothetical situation in the purest sense.  I also agree with your antenna geometry factor for the same reasons stated, although it could be mitigated rather easily if you wanted.
While temperature might be a factor, however, if DJI says this bird is good to 19 thousand plus feet then I would assume they took in to account temperature factors otherwise you won't get much past the critical temp level whatever altitude it is at, at the time.
Lastly, the jet is not always a factor, first in the winter in North America the jet dips fairly far south but in the summer it stays north well up in to Canada most of the time.  There are places in the desert SW where winds aloft are very low and even calm at times.  YouTube is full of examples of folks launching WX balloons that release a parachute that lands well within 10 miles of the launch point (assuming you overcame the other factors then this would be minimal at best).  
I greatly appreciate your attention to detail and preciseness

rwcreigh@comcas Posted at 2017-12-12 13:35
man, that is way up there. I would like to see pictures/videos of that. thanks

Altitude just tell half the story. It can be more risk to go up to 400 ft on flat land than 1000 ft in a narrow wally where planes can't go. Most of my flights today where close to 1200 ft but AGL was newer more than 300 - 400 ft.
Few pictures.

Labroides Posted at 2017-12-12 17:41
There are a few minor problems with that projection.
If you were to ascend to 22966 feet (7000 metres), the climb would take 23:20 leaving very little battery for the descent which would require an extra 39 minutes.
The battery would give up well before that due to freezing temperatures and there's no way you could get a good signal straight up at that height due to the antenna geometry.

Saw a video where they initiated AC shut down at height to conserve power on the decent, it worked to , stated it back up and brought it home, think it was a mavic

wow thanks for all the post, I find it amazing.  I still would love to see the videos.

Bashy Posted at 2017-12-13 00:02
Saw a video where they initiated AC shut down at height to conserve power on the decent, it worked to , stated it back up and brought it home, think it was a mavic

I have been wondering if this is possible, I'd love to see that video. (I don't think I would ever actually try it.  Purley as an entertainment value.)

Walk The Dog Posted at 2017-12-13 09:24
I have been wondering if this is possible, I'd love to see that video. (I don't think I would ever actually try it.  Purley as an entertainment value.)

this one from about 11:20

Hey there, the maximum altitude is 500 meters if there is no limitations.

Bashy Posted at 2017-12-13 09:46
this one from about 11:20

Wow, landed with 3% of battery remaining.
Thanks for the share!

Would never do that .no need to risk collision with aircrafts

So much could have gone wrong, very lucky indeed...

I went 1000 ft. once...stayed there about 5 seconds and started descent.  I had visibility for several miles in all directions as I was on a large hill, so I wasn't worried about a plane.    Doesn't take long to get there, but takes a few minutes to get down.    Called the local tower beforehand and the guy told me to go for it.  He said there was nothing in the area at the time.  Wind warnings is the main concern.
Also, the specs on the P4A say it will go 3.2 miles.  I guess thats in a perfect setting, in the desert with no obstacles or power lines.  I flew 1.7 miles when it disconnected from the RC and initiated RTH.  I do have quite a few trees and power lines.  

cool info, thanks for the replys

Nice

How do get past the 500m limitation?

Thanks

Svanen Posted at 2018-1-2 08:34
Nice

How do get past the 500m limitation?

You can't it's embedded in the drones firmware so that it can't go higher than 500M from where   it took off.

Svanen Posted at 2018-1-2 08:34
Nice

How do get past the 500m limitation?

You can't get an answer to that in here, depending of the FW level it can be as easy as change the limit with DJI SW to installing customized FW.

"Bashy Posted at 2017-12-13 09:46
this one from about 11:20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbweOvZjr-o&t=44s"




I hope the police in Bundaberg, Queensland nail is sorry a** to the wall.

What a complete tool.

He's not only broken the Oz rules on drone flying, but he is glorifying it too.  Flying with 5Km of airport controlled airspace.  Flying in a built up area.  Flying way way way higher than 120m.

My immediate concern is what if he wasn't able to recover the drone in mid-air and it hit someone on the ground?  The risks outweigh the rewards.

My secondary concern is that even more restrictive rules will come into force for those of us obey the rules in out local areas.