I'm doing my homework for an April trip to Japan this spring. In communicating with Japanese drone operators, I am told I will need to obtain a radio license for my P4P.

According to the table listed on the Japanese authority for radio transmission, the 2.4 and 5.8GHz controllers require radio license to operate in Japan.

On radio equipment used for drone etc.

For those that have flown a P4P in Japan, how did you go about this process?

from the link you posted, translated by google Chrome, it appears that for drones you just need that your setup fullfils the technical specifications...
Note 2* :
"It is necessary to be a conformity display radio equipment that has received technical standard conformity certification etc. (technical standard compliance certificate and construction design certificate)."

Just ask DJI where you can find the conformity certification for Japan, print it and keep it with your drone...

Antonio76 Posted at 2018-10-26 01:53
from the link you posted, translated by google Chrome, it appears that for drones you just need that your setup fullfils the technical specifications...
Note 2* :
"It is necessary to be a conformity display radio equipment that has received technical standard conformity certification etc. (technical standard compliance certificate and construction design certificate)."

From what I can read, that Note 2 allows you to use up to 10mW of power. How much power output is the controller for the P4P? I was under the impression is was about 3 watts. 10mW would have a range of about 100' or less. So I think P4P comes under the third section where note 3 applies.

Mark Weiss Posted at 2018-10-27 11:38
From what I can read, that Note 2 allows you to use up to 10mW of power. How much power output is the controller for the P4P? I was under the impression is was about 3 watts. 10mW would have a range of about 100' or less. So I think P4P comes under the third section where note 3 applies.

you can see the output power  in dBm in the specs of the P4P on DJI website and the convert it to mW here: http://rfcalculator.mobi/convert-eirp-dbm.html
I have looked around for drone rules in Japan, and have found several websites saying that there are actual limitations in where you can fly, but nothing on RC power limitations... I would think any DJI drone would be legal in Japan...  http://dronelawjapan.com/

Antonio76 Posted at 2018-10-28 09:13
you can see the output power  in dBm in the specs of the P4P on DJI website and the convert it to mW here: http://rfcalculator.mobi/convert-eirp-dbm.html
I have looked around for drone rules in Japan, and have found several websites saying that there are actual limitations in where you can fly, but nothing on RC power limitations... I would think any DJI drone would be legal in Japan...  http://dronelawjapan.com/

It simply would not make a lot of sense to require licensing of the radio controller to use the radio spectrum, when the more safety oriented issue would be licensing the pilot to fly. Plus, I've seen tourist drone videos filmed in Japan. I can't imagine those tourists applied for a radio license to operate the controller before their trip. Or perhaps they took their chances but didn't get caught?

Mark Weiss Posted at 2018-10-28 09:15
It simply would not make a lot of sense to require licensing of the radio controller to use the radio spectrum, when the more safety oriented issue would be licensing the pilot to fly. Plus, I've seen tourist drone videos filmed in Japan. I can't imagine those tourists applied for a radio license to operate the controller before their trip. Or perhaps they took their chances but didn't get caught?

The whole point of the 2.4 and 5.8GHz part of the spectrum is that it is an internationally agreed band that is dedicated to non-regulated radio applications. I cannot see why Japan would regulate it any differently than any other country in the world.

Geebax Posted at 2018-10-28 13:56
The whole point of the 2.4 and 5.8GHz part of the spectrum is that it is an internationally agreed band that is dedicated to non-regulated radio applications. I cannot see why Japan would regulate it any differently than any other country in the world.

Me either, which is why I find that Japanese telecommunications website information baffling. And the Japanese residents on the Japanese drone page on Facebook are the ones that told me I may need a license for the radio controller.

Hi! I just found about this as well, but very little useful information on the internet.
Did you find out more?

Just wanted to let you know, I just found this, stating that if the device (drone) has the Technical mark, it's okay to use:link

And upon further search, I found this on the Telecommunications Bureau site. This states that radios should have the Technical mark to be used legally in Japan. But then item 5 & 6 states that there are radios with the Technical mark but still requires licensing for legal use. Sadly, there's no specific informations about drones here, so I'm assuming that the link you posted first is still overruling this.
link

But since the drone school says that the Technical mark is sufficient enough, I will ask them or look more into this.
If I find anything, I will post here.

wtf the link-functionality is not working for me. Links for previous post:

first link:
https://drone--nest-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/drone-nest.com/blog/radio-waves-of-drone/amp/?usqp=mq331AQCCAE%3D&amp_js_v=0.1#referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fdrone-nest.com%2Fblog%2Fradio-waves-of-drone%2F

second link:
https://www.tele.soumu.go.jp/j/adm/monitoring/summary/qa/giteki_mark/

I guess in a case like this, if the technical mark is on the drone/remote (mine has it), then it's okay to assume it's okay to fly it. The main issue remains where to fly. Apparently, it's considered rude to fly over private property without permission of the owners. The only drone footage I see online is over water and usually coastal monuments.

Anyway, due to a huge increase in air fair and short term rental housing, the cost of our trip doubled and exceeded our budget, so we had to cancel this year. I'm hoping that if the costs come down after the Olympics, that it's still legal to own and fly a drone in Japan and the US.