Is the Mini 4K drone good for checking my land?

Buying Advice Forum
1

I’ve got people cutting through my property a lot. I don’t really care when it’s just kids, but I’ve had folks tear stuff up, dig for ginseng, even steal mushrooms. I’m watching the area more closely now.

The part they’re messing with is about 1000 to 1200 feet away from my house. Would the Mini 4K have enough battery to fly out there, look around, and get back?

My last drone barely flew a minute, but that was over 10 years ago. I’m also open to other ideas — I just wish the Boston Dynamics dog wasn’t so expensive!

2

Nah, you really need something serious like an Inspire with a shotgun gimbal mount :joy:

3

Joss said:
Nah, you really need something serious like an Inspire with a shotgun gimbal mount :joy:

Got a link? Asking for a friend lol

4

Aza said:

Joss said:
Nah, you really need something serious like an Inspire with a shotgun gimbal mount :joy:

Got a link? Asking for a friend lol

Not today, FAA :sweat_smile:

5

Joss said:
Nah, you really need something serious like an Inspire with a shotgun gimbal mount :joy:

They want $16.5k and still try to upsell you on stuff… wild.

6

My Mini 4K gets about 30 minutes of flight time and can fly up to 3 miles. You’ll be totally fine using it to check out that part of your property.

7

Are you set on using a drone for this? There might be easier ways, but drones are definitely more fun.

8

Mini 4K should be perfect. Since you’re not doing it for money, it counts as recreational flying — no Part 107 needed. It can fly way farther than you need, and it’ll come back no problem. Just grab a spare battery. You’ll get close to 30 minutes hovering. Go buzz those trespassers (kidding… mostly lol)

9

@Aza
Don’t forget the FAA can read minds now — they’ll know it wasn’t really recreational! :joy:

10

Foster said:
@Aza
Don’t forget the FAA can read minds now — they’ll know it wasn’t really recreational! :joy:

Exactly why I keep a roll of foil in my flight bag :laughing:

11

@Aza
Actually, whether or not you charge money doesn’t matter. If you’re flying for anything besides fun, you legally need a Part 107 license in the U.S.

You can check here: https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_flyers

12

@Micah
Good to know! I’ll dig into that link, thanks!

13

Aza said:
@Micah
Good to know! I’ll dig into that link, thanks!

The key is your intent when you take off. If you’re flying for any reason other than fun, you need Part 107. Also, the Mini 4K doesn’t have Remote ID built in, so you’ll need to attach a module if flying under 107 rules.

14

@Zephyr
Thanks for explaining that clearly, appreciate it!

15

@Zephyr
If you switched to something like the Air 3S, you’d get more flight time and Remote ID built-in.

16

The Mini 4K handles this easily. I use mine to do similar checks and sometimes even set up a patrol path. It’s almost silent when you fly above 30 meters, too.

17

I flew my Mini 4K about a mile out yesterday and only used 25% of the battery. No obstacles, though, so keep that in mind.

18

Battery life on mine is around 20–25 minutes. Just remember — the Mini 4K has no obstacle avoidance. If you’ve got trees around, maybe consider the Mini 4 Pro instead.

19

You’ll get a solid 20–30 minutes of flight. Just make sure to keep the drone in your visual line of sight, depending on your country’s laws. In the U.S., checking your property like this isn’t considered recreational, so technically you’d need Part 107.

Also: if you’re in the U.S., even though it’s a small drone, you’d need to register it and slap a Remote ID module on it for non-recreational flights.

20

@Zephyr
Yeah, it’s mostly pasture so it’s all visible from my spot. I’ve been using an old scope to peek around, but honestly I just want an excuse to upgrade gear.