Pushing through the 120m altitude

h3045 · May 2, 2025

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 · May 2, 2025

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 · May 2, 2025

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 · May 2, 2025

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

sarahb · May 2, 2025

Welcome!

spacewizard · May 2, 2025

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)

NEO 317 · May 2, 2025

I dont think a sub 249g selfie drone like the NEO is up to the task of a Part 107 certificate flight 400 feet above a 400 foot structure.

.

NeoNeo · May 3, 2025

NEO 317 said:
I dont think a sub 249g selfie drone like the NEO is up to the task of a Part 107 certificate flight 400 feet above a 400 foot structure.

.

+1. Flight tuning in stabilized modes (N and S) would limit your ability to return to home if caught in a moderate breeze with gust. Neo has a limited range both radio and video transmission. Have to remember it is an inexpensive quad by any standards that was designed more or less for LOS and selfie use.

This past winter we had safe ice build up within a mile or so of shore. Flew the Neo at ~5-50 meters above the ice along the shoreline. IIRC, 1.8km was the max distance before either or both the radio, video signal went yellow to red. This Spring flew around the property. From launch down to the mailbox is ~230 meters in a straight line with a few meters drop. Driveway has a few curves. Heavily wooded. Neo goes to yellow by the time I reach the mailbox. Avata2, no issues. Fly too high but not high enough to clear some obstructions is a good way to say good-by to Neo. The problem I have on my property if heading uphill. Why Neo is just a LOS quad.

h3045 · May 3, 2025

Thanks for the warm welcome guys! Looks like the community is as good as the neo!
A few questions and some footage:
q1. People mentioned "manual mode". Can I use manual mode with RC-N3? Or do I need the fpv goggles for that.
q2. Follow up to that: If I get the goggles, is the fpv rc better or the motion controller?
q3. What is FCC mode? I've watched a few videos on it, but what is an indicator that the FCC mode is active?

Here's a footage of a recent flight. I turned around because the RC signal started falling.

spacewizard · May 3, 2025

That's quite a flight!!

NeoNeo · May 3, 2025

You need either the Goggles3 or N3 and the DJI FPV RC3 to fly manual mode.

Manual mode is no stabilization and rate mode vs. N & S DJI stabilized sort of angle modes. Totally different skill sets to fly manual mode. Rate mode is the speed of the rotation. Assuming a linear "curve" profile and max rates set at 360. Push the sticks over to max and you rotate 360degrees a second. And will continue to rotate until you manual compensate. Push the sticks over to 50% of throw and you will rotate at 180degrees per second until you manual compensate. Angle mode is just that. Assuming max stick throw delivers 45 degrees of rotation. Thats what happens and no more. Center the sticks and the quad centers/levels at zero degrees. But if not a stabilized DJI. You will lose altitude without compensating with proper throttle input. If you become dependent on DJI stabilization you will have issues flying other angle mode quads.

Before investing in the hardware. My suggestion is to purchase a 1s micro quad ($25-45) to fly LOS (line of sight) and learn to fly no stabilization angle mode first. Basic skills such as throttle modulation. Understanding and getting the feel for prop backwash. Developing the coordinated movements of two sticks to maneuver without stabilization. Just the 1st step in going manual mode. DJI stabilization masks these basic things. Step 2. Simulation time in manual mode. LiftOff, CurryKitten... inexpensive and functional.

spacewizard · May 4, 2025

Since we were discussing flying the neo real high, I sent mine up to about 390 feet and took about 50 shots which I knit together in a panorama, posted here:

S

Post in thread '360 Panorama'

May 4, 2025

Hey it's 360 pano time again!

This one was taken crazy high -- almost 400 feet above a little park.

I messed around a lot trying to get the colors decent looking in GIMP. The bright side of the sky still kind of looks like crap, if you look in the other direction, but it's not bad facing this way.

20250503-neo-high-pano-shrunk-for-kuula

kuula.co

The stitching process wasn't bad at all. I used Hugin. The "Simple Interface" alignment didn't do a good job for me, so I went to the Advanced interface and used the Optimize Positions button, telling it to optimize...

MS Coast · May 4, 2025

spacewizard said:
Since we were discussing flying the neo real high, I sent mine up to about 390 feet and took about 50 shots which I knit together in a panorama, posted here:

S

Post in thread '360 Panorama'

May 4, 2025

Hey it's 360 pano time again!

This one was taken crazy high -- almost 400 feet above a little park.

I messed around a lot trying to get the colors decent looking in GIMP. The bright side of the sky still kind of looks like crap, if you look in the other direction, but it's not bad facing this way.

20250503-neo-high-pano-shrunk-for-kuula

20250503-neo-high-pano-shrunk-for-kuula

kuula.co

The stitching process wasn't bad at all. I used Hugin. The "Simple Interface" alignment didn't do a good job for me, so I went to the Advanced interface and used the Optimize Positions button, telling it to optimize...

spacewizard

Very nice work. It reminds what a technological wonder the Neo is, particularly at $200.

NEO 317 · May 5, 2025

MS Coast said:
Very nice work. It reminds what a technological wonder the Neo is, particularly at $200.

That's what I thought when I purchased the SPARK years ago.

All of this tech in a little flying brick.

.

DarR-T · May 12, 2025

spacewizard said:
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)

I got it easily unlocked by DJI Flysafe. Reason: clear mountains.
Just make sure your polygon area does not include any aerodromes.