what is the minimum number of gps satellites acquired to safely fly a Mavic Air?  I’m using UAV Forecast app and they have a minimum of 12. Seems like a lot but I don’t know.

I wait for 12 and home point set notification. If I don't get both I move to a different location.

Minimum 9 but better over 10. Ensure home point recorded correctly before takeoff.

I wait for 12 and HP fixed

That is a loaded question.  You could have 14 Satellites, and fly into an area that causes reflection of some of GPS Sats, and lost of other GPS Sats to point, your drone drop GPS.  Fly under thick canapoy of trees, and you might loose nearly all GPS Sats.  

Number sounds good, but 5 bars for quality is just as important

9 or more + home point

10 to 12 will be enough + wait for RTH command which is read out before flight

Eleven or greater

I make sure GPS ready mode is set and RTH point is set before lift off. I figure as long as this info is there,  number of satellites is arbitrary. As was mentioned above, different flight situations can change number of GPS locks to vary throughout the flight.

Signal QUALITY is more important than number of satellites.

If the geometry is bad or a large area of the sky is blocked it doesnt matter if you can "hear" 14.

Aways wondered why not use VPS to maintain position when GPS is lost

It works very well, but only when low in altitude:

I normally have no less than 16 but most of the time i have 18 at most of the places i fly.

I try to fly 10-12 satellites at all times but it's more important that your home point is set before taking off. If I don't get that message, I don't fly.

I wouldn't worry too much about what UAVForecast has to say.  It is good to take a look at it so you can be a bit more cautious keeping an eye out for something.  However, I would suggest turning your aircraft on and seeing how many it can lock in.  

As many have already said, most people wait for 10-12, but it really is the signal quality.  Look at the bars next to the number to see how your signal quality looks.  If you are in an area with an open view to the sky (i.e. no tall buildings/mountains/trees), then you'll probably get a good signal strength indication starting in that 10-12 range.

Hi
I am puzzled that the necessary number is said to be  so high, up to 14, what is the  reason for that? Is it a gut-feeling or what are the arguments. Does anyone know how the GPS signal strength is measured is it  PDOP (Position Dilution of Precision) or what is indicated. I have not seen this explained in the manual.

KlooGee Posted at 2018-8-10 06:18
I wouldn't worry too much about what UAVForecast has to say.  It is good to take a look at it so you can be a bit more cautious keeping an eye out for something.  However, I would suggest turning your aircraft on and seeing how many it can lock in.  

As many have already said, most people wait for 10-12, but it really is the signal quality.  Look at the bars next to the number to see how your signal quality looks.  If you are in an area with an open view to the sky (i.e. no tall buildings/mountains/trees), then you'll probably get a good signal strength indication starting in that 10-12 range.

I would believe UAV Forecast before i would believe DJI Go 4 app but you do have to use your brain also.
It's a man thing. Me man, i can fly umgawa. Who needs a stinking manual? I'll use it to start a fire this winter. There's a lot of that mentality here i think.

fans92f6af90 Posted at 2018-8-10 06:27
Hi
I am puzzled that the necessary number is said to be  so high, up to 14, what is the  reason for that? Is it a gut-feeling or what are the arguments. Does anyone know how the GPS signal strength is measured is it  PDOP (Position Dilution of Precision) or what is indicated. I have not seen this explained in the manual.

Seems to be the subject of debate but the "bars" do seem to indicate PDOP or similar as opposed to just an RF strength (which makes sense).

You need a minimum of 6 satellites to fly, with good hold locked gps, your aircraft receiver receives both glonass and gps , you need at least 6 of one type, so 11 is the magic number, that number guarantees a minimum of 6 of either glonass or gps .

Wait for the Home point to update and take to the sky...

fans92f6af90 Posted at 2018-8-10 06:27
Hi
I am puzzled that the necessary number is said to be  so high, up to 14, what is the  reason for that? Is it a gut-feeling or what are the arguments. Does anyone know how the GPS signal strength is measured is it  PDOP (Position Dilution of Precision) or what is indicated. I have not seen this explained in the manual.

See the explanation at post 19# here above.

Sometimes, when starting or taking off and hovering you hear the home point updated while there is 7 or 8 Sat. This is not a solid home point record just like (easy come, easy go!) you need to wait for more satellites if you used to return to home auto RTH.

hallmark007 Posted at 2018-8-10 08:12
You need a minimum of 6 satellites to fly, with good hold locked gps, your aircraft receiver receives both glonass and gps , you need at least 6 of one type, so 11 is the magic number, that number guarantees a minimum of 6 of either glonass or gps .

DagNAMMIT

I was just going to post that....... 3 stooges ... 2 fingers to the eyes...NYAAA  

Ahmed Hussain Posted at 2018-8-10 12:07
Sometimes, when starting or taking off and hovering you hear the home point updated while there is 7 or 8 Sat. This is not a solid home point record just like (easy come, easy go!) you need to wait for more satellites if you used to return to home auto RTH.

Once your aircraft receives gps signal homepoint will be recorded, best indicator of when it’s safe to fly is checking your signal bars, 4/5 is good gps and safe to fly.