Hey pilots, I have a quick question. Can anyone recommend drones under $500 that don’t have restrictions like geo-fencing?
I bought a DJI Mini 2 drone from Costco. There’s an airport 7 miles away from my home, and my house is in an orange zone. I filled a request three weeks ago but haven’t been cleared yet. It’s frustrating because I can’t fly it in my front or back yard. I have to go to either the beach or a park in the next city over to fly it.
If anyone has insight on geo-fencing requirements or requests, I’d really appreciate it.
While geofencing is a feature integrated into many DJI drones, not all of them have it. Geofencing is a system designed to restrict flight in specific areas until the operator acknowledges full responsibility for the flight.
Its purpose is to reduce risks associated with flying in potentially unsafe areas, particularly when operators may not be aware of the hazards.
Consider getting the Autel Nano.
It doesn’t have a geofence and can fly without GPS. Just switch it on and fly it.
It’s small, weighing less than 250 grams, like DJI drones.
It has zoom too!
That’s interesting! So, geofencing is like a virtual boundary for DJI drones, but not all models have it. It makes sense to have this feature to warn pilots about potential hazards. Do you know if there’s a way to check if a specific DJI model has geofencing?
Hey there @Donna, Here are a few drones under $500 that don’t have those restrictive geo-fencing zones:
Holy Stone HS720: This drone is great and doesn’t have the geo-fencing restrictions like DJI drones. I bought one for my nephew, and he flies it everywhere without any issues. The camera quality is pretty decent, and it’s easy to use.
Potensic D85: Another solid choice without geo-fencing. I actually borrowed one from a friend for a weekend trip, and it was a breeze to fly. Plus, the battery life is impressive for the price.
Hubsan Zino Pro: This one is a bit on the higher end of your budget, but it’s fantastic. I had the chance to fly it at a drone meetup, and it performed really well. No geo-fencing headaches, and the video quality is great.
As for the geo-fencing with your DJI Mini 2, I feel your pain. I had to deal with the same thing when I moved near a small airport. The approval process can be slow and annoying. While waiting for clearance, I used to take my drone to a friend’s place in a different area just to get some flying time.
Thank you so much for the recs! I am dealing with DJI right now and I have had 2 instances where I have an approved LAANC through the FAA and I could not get my drone to unlock geofencing because I need to submit “Additional documentation”. No one can tell me what that additional documentation besides a LAANC could be. So frustrating being a responsible pilot and having the DJI drone child lock me out.