Hello Pilots,

I have been really curious lately how far I could be from the Mavic for taking off. I'm well aware the range is around 4.3 miles away. Does that mean I can set the Mavic down walk 2 miles and then take it off? I know I will have to account for a good path for the signal to reach the drone, but hypothetically it should work in the best conditions. Right?

I often hear pilots losing their Mavic in the water or not having enough battery on the way back etc. So I was thinking of piloting the drone where you want to go not from the starting line if you know what I mean. You could go farther if you put yourself where the drone is going.

It is possible, right?

Has anyone tried?

Am I forgetting some obvious dilemma that would prevent this?

Would love some responses!

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(sorry these emojis are pretty cool)

Well if you turn it on and then walk two miles away your battery will run out on the ground, if you have somebody turn it on when you walk the two miles it should work, you will need to be clear what you want to happen if you loose signal with your aircraft if it gets to almost two miles and you loose signal it would be tight to get back where it took off from.

Well technically it can be done.
As one guy did it the other way around.
He just flown it from a mountain and guided it to his terrace.

Yes, it'll work.

I will have to account for a good path for the signal to reach the drone

Yes, that's the key: as long as your remote and drone can stay connected, you can take off and land regardless of the distance between them.

good question.......

hallmark007 Posted at 2017-5-28 11:26
Well if you turn it on and then walk two miles away your battery will run out on the ground, if you have somebody turn it on when you walk the two miles it should work, you will need to be clear what you want to happen if you loose signal with your aircraft if it gets to almost two miles and you loose signal it would be tight to get back where it took off from.

I have read and watched a lot of people give their advice on how to fly drones safely and efficiently. But I never heard of the pilot strategically positioning himself so the mavic has to do less work.

Like if your going north why not operate the drone a bit north from the take off point. that way you don't need as much battery and you can be able to react way quicker if something were to go wrong.

That makes since right?

RileySmelley Posted at 2017-5-28 22:22
I have read and watched a lot of people give their advice on how to fly drones safely and efficiently. But I never heard of the pilot strategically positioning himself so the mavic has to do less work.

Like if your going north why not operate the drone a bit north from the take off point. that way you don't need as much battery and you can be able to react way quicker if something were to go wrong.

For me I would buy extra battery, but why don't you run trials like maybe 300 m and 500 m, let us you know how you get on.

It can be done, but 4 miles away? No. You could set it on a friends lawn then drive a few thousand feet away then take of but the mavic needs to be high in the air to get any where near the advertised range.

R&L Aerial  Posted at 2017-5-29 02:02
It can be done, but 4 miles away? No. You could set it on a friends lawn then drive a few thousand feet away then take of but the mavic needs to be high in the air to get any where near the advertised range.

My thoughts exactly. Also, not sure what is gained from doing this (apart from it being a theoretical question). There's also the LOS issue, how can you be sure no kid is messing with your Mavic when you try to take off.....apart from leaving a $1000 drone unattended!!

If you use long distance binoculars or scope then you still have line of sight

Do not do that, It is illegal in the USA, you need to flight at least in sight. 2  miles is also huge.

way wrong Posted at 2017-5-29 04:41
If you use long distance binoculars or scope then you still have line of sight

Trees and buildings? I suppose you could possibly get a view of the ne'er-do-well making off with your Mavic!

The Doctor Posted at 2017-5-29 02:21
My thoughts exactly. Also, not sure what is gained from doing this (apart from it being a theoretical question). There's also the LOS issue, how can you be sure no kid is messing with your Mavic when you try to take off.....apart from leaving a $1000 drone unattended!!

Let's say you want to follow a train on a long shot. You're out in the country and you have a friend at the take off site.
You position yourself about a mile down the track.

Once the drone goes up in the air you can follow the train for a mile before passing you.
Now at this point, you can fly the drone even further than you would be able to if you were standing at the take off position. because now you don't have to fly a mile back just to save your Mavic.

I know this is a hypothetical, but given the right circumstances and everything works out. it could be a smart move to get the perfect shot or something of that nature.

don't you agree?

R&L Aerial  Posted at 2017-5-29 02:02
It can be done, but 4 miles away? No. You could set it on a friends lawn then drive a few thousand feet away then take of but the mavic needs to be high in the air to get any where near the advertised range.

my previous comment was for you to lol :  )

RileySmelley Posted at 2017-5-29 06:38
Let's say you want to follow a train on a long shot. You're out in the country and you have a friend at the take off site.
You position yourself about a mile down the track.

I can see the theoretical possibilities, but finding it hard to see this ever being a possibility in real life. For example I live near a railway line and we often get steam trains coming through. Whilst I would be happy to put the Mavic up and get some shots of the train I definitely wouldn't be happy to leave it in my garden, walk a mile down the line (as someone else said - battery?) and then take off to follow the train. Most other scenarios I can think of would require leaving a 'live' Mavic in a public place (probably deserted, but who knows) whilst you walk/drive away from it! Each to his own I suppose, but this isn't for me!

The Doctor Posted at 2017-5-29 06:54
I can see the theoretical possibilities, but finding it hard to see this ever being a possibility in real life. For example I live near a railway line and we often get steam trains coming through. Whilst I would be happy to put the Mavic up and get some shots of the train I definitely wouldn't be happy to leave it in my garden, walk a mile down the line (as someone else said - battery?) and then take off to follow the train. Most other scenarios I can think of would require leaving a 'live' Mavic in a public place (probably deserted, but who knows) whilst you walk/drive away from it! Each to his own I suppose, but this isn't for me!

This is so simple, it is silly.  I did similar when I was up in a cherry picker and my wife was on the ground on the other side of the house.  She knew how to power it up and down and I told her when to do it.  She started it, I flew it to where I was working, and then landed it again, where she shut it off.  Same thing.  Have a friend start it for you (phone or radio) and then fly it to you.

AG0N-Gary Posted at 2017-5-29 14:05
This is so simple, it is silly.  I did similar when I was up in a cherry picker and my wife was on the ground on the other side of the house.  She knew how to power it up and down and I told her when to do it.  She started it, I flew it to where I was working, and then landed it again, where she shut it off.  Same thing.  Have a friend start it for you (phone or radio) and then fly it to you.

Thanks for sharing. lol

I didn't know how many people would just turn down this idea like its the worst idea ever.
I didn't think anyone would argue if we should do this or not because I thought everyone would see the beneficial possibilities.

AG0N-Gary Posted at 2017-5-29 14:05
This is so simple, it is silly.  I did similar when I was up in a cherry picker and my wife was on the ground on the other side of the house.  She knew how to power it up and down and I told her when to do it.  She started it, I flew it to where I was working, and then landed it again, where she shut it off.  Same thing.  Have a friend start it for you (phone or radio) and then fly it to you.

Thanks for sharing. lol

I didn't know how many people would just turn down this idea like its the worst idea ever.
I didn't think anyone would argue if we should do this or not because I thought everyone would see the beneficial possibilities.

AG0N-Gary Posted at 2017-5-29 14:05
This is so simple, it is silly.  I did similar when I was up in a cherry picker and my wife was on the ground on the other side of the house.  She knew how to power it up and down and I told her when to do it.  She started it, I flew it to where I was working, and then landed it again, where she shut it off.  Same thing.  Have a friend start it for you (phone or radio) and then fly it to you.

Hi everyone,

I am encountering a similar problem with my DJI Mini 3 Pro and would appreciate any insights or assistance. I attempted a remote takeoff where a helper held the drone at the launch site while I was about 2.5 kilometers away, positioned at the destination point. Both of us were roughly at the same elevation with direct line of sight, and there were no interferences from aircraft or cables.

Despite these conditions, when my helper turned on the drone and I activated the remote controller, the drone failed to connect or show any video feed, even after waiting several minutes.

Has anyone faced a similar issue or does anyone know why this might be happening and how to solve it?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Google " distance to the horizon" and enter the relevant heights into the calculators that you find.
I suspect that either the controller was below the drone's horizon or the drone was below the controller's horizon or both.

Besides which, with the control signal's path bring so close to the earth I would guess that the signal strength was significantly reduced.
Try this with successively less distance between the drone and controller until you find a distance at which it will work or significantly raise either or both the controller and/or the drone.

These scenarios are so non-sequitur that is causes headaches..

TonyPHX Posted at 4-20 15:19
These scenarios are so non-sequitur that is causes headaches..

To whom are you speaking ?

RileySmelley Posted at 2017-5-29 19:13
Thanks for sharing. lol

I didn't know how many people would just turn down this idea like its the worst idea ever.

Worst idea ever?  Nah.  Flying your drone in your shower while standing naked in your shower with the water on...I think that one might win, even if it doesn't break FAA regulations.

I definitely recognize the benefitial possibilities, but I also recognize that placing your drone where you can't see it then launching it violates FAA regulations, and increases risk.  The FAA says, quite plainly, in its Recreational Flyers page, that you cannot fly beyond visual line of sight. You can employ an observer, but there are rules about how that must be done (like he must be standing next to you).  Part 107 licensed pilots can apply for a BVLOS waiver, but it's very complex, and difficult to obtain.  

Now, in practice, sure you could do this, and probably won't have an issue.  But if you do and something does go wrong (and doing a BVLOS launch increases the chances of something going wrong dramatically), you're just adding fuel to the already burning anti-drone community that will eventually ground us all if not cooled off.  Just another of those darned scofflaw drone pilots, endangering the public (or fill in whatever arguement is popular that hour).  And for what?  Isn't the public view of drones bad enough already? You'll eventually have to calm someone down about your drone flying even if you comply with the rules, and if you do comply, the rules work in your favor.
Just fly by the rules and have fun.  

Sean-bumble-bee Posted at 4-20 21:03
To whom are you speaking ?

Just to the whole concept of the original post.  I'm not sure what it buys.

It takes a strong/clear signal to make the connection. Not near as much to maintain the connection. You can fly several miles easily. Making the connection at any distance, not so much.