Pushing through the 120m altitude

h3045 · 2025-05-02T07:49:28-0400

Hi,

New pilot here. Loving the neo.

I want to take this drone higher than 120m.

Does something like drone-hacks help?

I think I have FCC enabled through a some patching solution (not sure if it works)

NeoNeo · 2025-05-02T11:42:57-0400

Multiple days flying below 30 meters in calm to light breeze (F0-2). Push it too high and high wind warning kicks in. Neo is relatively underpowered in N and S mode. You really need to fly in M mode and have the skill to deal with the wind if flying in F4 or greater. The max IIRC 8m/sec in S mode is too low. Something to consider in your quest for higher altitude.

Home is located half way up a ridge overlooking L. Superior. If I fly towards the Lake at 30 meters relative to launch pad my altitude over ground is reaching the 400ft ceiling. Bummer is heading uphill. +100 meters to the top plus some 30 meter tall trees.

Not sure if aware regarding the Neo. In high winds when flying M mode it "kites" with a strong tail wind. You sort of have to reduce the pitch and modulate the throttle to maintain a level flight. Opposite heading into a strong head wind. Increasing the throttle and speed over ground (SOG) push Neo downwards. If hitting a specific combination of altitude and distance the Neo auto switches from M mode to N until you reduce altitude. Real pita if you need to fly back down in a strong cross or tail wind. I can imagine hearing the ESCs and motors screaming to maintain the built in stability parameters.

bbteach · 2025-05-02T13:21:08-0400

As you probably know, in the United States the max legal altitude is 400 feet. 120 meters is just under 394 feet. I assume that is why DJI limits it. I do wish companies would not pretend to be my nanny. I don't mind if they warn me I am about to break the law but, don't stop me if I want to. I was very happy when they removed the geofence. Now remove altitude limit to. Set the default limit to 120 meters but, let me set it to unlimited if I want.

GFields · 2025-05-02T13:59:59-0400

Greetings from Birmingham Alabama USA, welcome to the forum! We look forward to hearing from you!

sarahb · 2025-05-02T14:00:22-0400

Welcome!

spacewizard · 2025-05-02T19:03:52-0400

Has it got a hard 120m limit? Really? I guess I hadn't tried to fly it higher.

That's a bummer, since the law doesn't limit you to 400' above launch point, it limits you to 400' above the *ground* which isn't the same thing if your ground isn't level! (Not to mention the exception if you have a part 107 and are flying it within 400' of a structure, where you can fly it up to 400' higher than the structure)