I’ve always wanted a drone, and my wife surprised me with a DJI Mini 3. I’m absolutely blown away by how much tech is packed into this thing, and I’m already addicted! I fly at least three times a day just to explore and take in the stunning bird’s-eye views. Living in the Texas Hill Country, I’m getting some seriously cool shots. Any tips or tricks I should know? I was reading about drone-hacks software and some other mods, but I’d love to hear what everyone else is using! Hope you’re all having a great week—happy flying!
Make sure you complete the TRUST certification before you keep flying! It’s a free online course and exam required since April 2021. Law enforcement can ask for proof, so it’s good to have it on hand.
@Phoenix
Hey, thanks for the heads-up! Had no idea, just took it and passed!
Riley said:
@Phoenix
Hey, thanks for the heads-up! Had no idea, just took it and passed!
Nice! Easy and quick, right?
@Phoenix
I had no clue… appreciate the info!
Freddie said:
@Phoenix
I had no clue… appreciate the info!
No problem! Texas actually has a ton of open airspace, plus it’s leading the way in drone deliveries. Cool place to fly!
Flying three times a day?! You work remotely or something? I’m lucky if I get a flight in once a week!
Vale said:
Flying three times a day?! You work remotely or something? I’m lucky if I get a flight in once a week!
I’m a firefighter/EMT, so I get 72-hour breaks between shifts. That’s when I do most of my flying!
Vale said:
Flying three times a day?! You work remotely or something? I’m lucky if I get a flight in once a week!
I work remotely and don’t even fly that much unless I’m training people for work! OP will either slow down once the novelty wears off or go all in and start flying FPV. I run my company’s drone program, so I have access to a whole fleet, but honestly, backyard flying isn’t all that exciting anymore.
That’s why I’m getting into FPV drones with my teenager—building our own, pushing the limits a bit. Just started a 5” racing drone build with a DJI O4 air unit for that high-speed thrill.
Guess I’m one of those people who went all in. 
Definitely download B4UFLY—it’s a good app to have.
Lex said:
Definitely download B4UFLY—it’s a good app to have.
Appreciate it!
Lex said:
Definitely download B4UFLY—it’s a good app to have.
Appreciate it!
Yeah, either B4UFLY or Aloft. If you ever fly near restricted zones like airports, you can request FAA authorization instantly through the app.
Don’t do anything dumb. If you have questions, feel free to ask—I fly a Mini 4 Pro.
Always watch out for trees and obstacles, and keep an eye on your RC connection and satellite signal.
Ben said:
Don’t do anything dumb. If you have questions, feel free to ask—I fly a Mini 4 Pro.
Always watch out for trees and obstacles, and keep an eye on your RC connection and satellite signal.
Thanks! I mostly fly near my house where the WiFi is strong, but for some reason, my connection gets choppy after a certain distance. I thought I’d get at least a mile of range, but maybe all the trees and houses are messing with it?
@Freddie
WiFi isn’t needed when flying—your controller has its own dedicated signal to the drone. But obstacles like trees and buildings can block that signal, so try to maintain a clear line of sight. Also, legally, you need to keep the drone within visual range to avoid collisions with aircraft.
@Hadi
That makes sense—thanks for clearing that up!
@Freddie
Yeah, the Mini 3 can go way farther, but obstacles like trees and buildings will cut your signal. I lost my Mini 3 in December, so I bought a Mini 4 Pro—same deal.
If you lose connection and have return-to-home (RTH) enabled, it’ll fly back, but if there’s something in the way… well, that’s how I lost mine. 
@Freddie
WiFi signals can interfere with your drone’s connection in residential areas—not a huge issue, but that could be why you’re losing signal strength.
YouTube is your best friend!
Peyton said:
YouTube is your best friend!
Oh, I’ve been down the YouTube rabbit hole already. 