High altitude issue with Neo

[MS Coast]

I recently ran into an altitude limitation with the Neo while flying at about 9000' MSL true altitude in the mountains of Costa Rica. I'd done two brief flights (< 2 minutes each) with a fully charged battery with a maximum absolute altitude of less than 10' AGL. About a minute into the third flight I received a message about inadequate power and the drone immediately began landing. I did another flight to confirm the result.

I'm assuming that 9000' MSL is near the maximum altitude limit for the Neo and that the automatic landing was triggered when the battery charge level declined slightly. If you're flying at that altitude, be prepared.

 

[NeoNeo]

DJI Neo specs do note a maximum take off altitude of 2000 meters/~6500 feet.
USA models have a max of 120 meters AGL. Issue I would have if I ever decide to fly beyond LOS is the ridge I live on has another +120 meters above me and +30 meter trees. Flying downhill beyond LOS I would exceed the 400ft AGL limits for proper/legal flying in the USA. "Natural" geofencing to keep me flying LOS.

 

[Droning on and on...]

Thanks for this heads-up @MS Coast... Air's getting pretty thin up there, so I'll bet the higher RPM is eating the tiny batteries, and taxing the relatively weak, cheap motors.

Did you get a Flip and have it with you? A comparison in those conditions, with its huge props, would be interesting.

 

[MS Coast]

Thanks for this heads-up @MS Coast... Air's getting pretty thin up there, so I'll bet the higher RPM is eating the tiny batteries, and taxing the relatively weak, cheap motors.

Did you get a Flip and have it with you? A comparison in those conditions, with its huge props, would be interesting.

No Flip. I took only the Neo and flew it with the phone - the minimalist approach.

I recently ordered a Flip and the box arrived promptly with no customs delays. Unfortunately, DJI shipped me a Neo instead of a Flip. That's the first such problem from DJI that I've heard of.