dude, i don't know why anyone would dislike this video, but it is one of the most daring distance test video I've seen. I wouldn't have gone through those first powerlines the way you did but I'm glad i got to see someone do it. awesome video sir, please keep it up.
You need to be elevated, The earth is round, hills etc. etc. The horizon is at a distance of 2.9 miles. So if you are low under 100 feet etc. you just ran over the limited Horizon. Try again at over 200' and see if you gain more on that distance.
comment not wrong...but sometime we need to see term and condition...when we playing drone, are we always from hi-rise building or on the top of tower?? I dont think so....so this test almost actual condition in average...but the most important also we need check signal interference from other device...such as radio comunication, etc
No, not you fly the drone at 100' or 200'. Most people hold the remotes at waist level. Horizon is normally calculated from the height of the persons eyes. some were between 5'9" to 6'0" just holding the remote at your waist you cut your horizon distance to about 1.5 miles.
I just posted my Spark distance test (just the drone footage, not as nice as your video), and mine went out 4422 feet before I got a Lost Signal message. I'll have to say, I was literally shaking I was so nervous (and I'm not a nervous person at all). Losing the Spark and being out $500 is secondary, I just didn't want to have a rogue drone land on anyone). I'm amazed at how calm and cool you are in this video when you lost signal.
I just watched your video! The camera still amazes me! beautiful! Haha I was nervous but the feed was was only out for 2 or 3 seconds so I didnt have time to freak out. And when it came back on it was already returning to home so crisis averted! Thanks for the watch!
SOLD!!!! This is what I was waiting for!!! Thanks, one video I saw made it seem you couldn't go far. It will work for me since I'm just doing this as a hobby.
The mighty little spark is a badass! I fly mine WAY more than my phantom 4 pro. In a rural area without much interference, I've flown it out just over a mile at a height of 390ft, returned and still had nearly 50 percent battery! Optimum conditions of course.
I didn't go through all 596 comments, so don't know if this was already said, but...The Spark dropped to 22mph when returning so that object avoidance system can work properly. If it was going at max sport speed and it was auto flying back, it could possibly hit something on the way back. At 22mph, it can safely avoid objects.
Thank you very much for making this video. Done nice, straight forward, and you gave me the information I needed. I like that you don't act crazy disappointed that it didn't go the full 1.2 miles. 4800 feet is really amazing for such a small drone. The fact that it came back within a few feet of the takeoff point is also extremely impressive too. Thank you again from Philadelphia PA. When I do my video from NJ to Philly next to the Ben Franklin Bridge, please know your video directly encouraged me to give it a shot. I love people who post to RU-vid for the education and encouragement of others. Have a great day!!!
Thank you for these videos. I'm glad to see some real world videos from an end user rather than the ones from so-called drone experts all the time. I have my Spark on order from Amazon and can't wait to get it and have some fun.
I didn’t view all comments, so perhaps some one already mentioned this: the documentation for the Spark states the maximum distance of approx. 1.2 miles is achieved at an altitude of 150m (approx. 500 feet). If you only flew at around 70 feet, it’s no surprise you didn’t quite make it (still impressive though). Consider repeating the test at a higher altitude and see what happens. Great video BTW!
I just got a spark and have been watching youtubes all day trying to get comfortable with everything before I take it up. I believe it hovered at the end because it has a built in safety feature to keep it from landing in the water, etc., when it returns automatically.
@@gunnerzane5230 Yes, my confidence level is good, although I typically only fly manually and haven't learned any of the automatic route programs. I still like my spark!
Just a rough estimate but if you began your flight at 1:37 in the video, and stopped forward progression at 3:30 (both approximated), a 2 minute flight of that distance 4800 ft., would equal "roughly" 27.2 mph also consider you did climb on the way which may have slowed the speed over ground. In straight flight, with no winds, I could see this unit doing 30mph. Thanks much for your videos, they are helping me decide on my purchase. :)
Love the video. Just got one and still waiting for my prop guards, extra battery and controller to arrive. I am impressed at the "real world" distance test and its Auto mode to return home after signal loss.
Thanks for this video. IT showed me a lot about the Spark, including the video quality. One note on the distance; I don't know if anyone else mentioned it but the power lines that you went under on the way out most likely caused some interference that resulted in some loss of distance. All in all, the Spark seems like an excellent Drone, especially for traveling.I also saw in another video where a professional photographer that normally used a Mavic went to the Spark and just up-scales the video to 4K in editing. It looked extremely good, but then again, yours with the 1080p also looked great to me. Thanks again.
Hi, check it out what is "Fresnel zone" it will help you understand why you did not reach the suggested distance. Also your home point (take off point) is as importance as the flying path you took especially executed a maximum distance test. I hope by now you know how to reset "failsafe RTH" function, you are very lucky did not hit the power line or that chain-link fence.
Thanks for the video! I've already got two scratch built quads but with these impressive changes in tech, I want something that doesn't feel like a grocery cart with props and wires stuck all over it. The Spark seems like a good bet so far.
I'm not sure if your spark has the same feature as the Mavic, but when using the DJI GO4 app and you slide that hmm slider over for take off there is a box that appears above it that ask if you want a precision landing and you have to have that on within the app as well in your settings. if you check that box then slide that slider and fly a distance away and click return to home or if its activated, it will return to almost the exact spot it took off from within inches. I am impressed every time my Mavic does it
I've managed to take my spark out 8,250 ft on yesterday with no range extender or a otg cable . So i went well over the 1.2 advertised mile. i also did it outside the city limits with limited electronic interference. And that very close to the distance record on my Phantom 3 advanced with range extender .
That's what's up haven't done that with mine but I sure will try it. You should do a video on all the different features it has so I don't have to find out the hard way.
Standing near the metal fence would not do the RF any favours, also the power lines... The local mobile network to would not help. I think you might be able to go further than spec if these were not around and holding your controller a wee bit higher.
It's battery life is what triggers the smart return to home. You can cancel it and keep flying if you're able to walk up or drive up and retrieve the drone from wherever it lands
TY for the range test! I just bought one an hour ago as my 1st drone ever “Welcome to the dark side right?” LoL looks like I will have to skip the remote purchase since this will be used up close using my iphone. I will probably have to go with the mavic pro or the P4 Pro when I outgrew this one for our extreme long range target shooting of 1 mile plus!!! It will be our new spotter out in the desert!!! TY!!!
Go on top of the complex and try it again at around 120 feet high and watch. You can always cancel return to home bro that way you have control over it and also when launching from auto launch let it hover for a few seconds then climb to around 30ft and let it hover for 5 seconds so it can read it's take of point, then you take off, otherwise it would not auto land where it take of from. Good stuff bro. Thanks
Thank you for sharing! To improve the automatic landing, you need to enable "precision landing " and take off vertical until 30ft. This allows the drone to record the takeoff area and land within 1 feet of it. Also, usually best range is achieved flying in "position" mode at full speed. Not sport. The portability of this drone is tempting but as a wedding photographer you should test the P4pro 1 inch sensor camera! It's amazing. Best wishes. Safe flights
Good to know! However im incredibly impressed at how close it was to the original landing spot! If I take it to the beach or a cliff I will have to remember that tip! Thanks for watching!
A photographer who bought the drone for his own fun and my be add a small bit of drone footage to a wedding package as free, great idea, don't sell something if your not confident with it. Like the video so much I've hit the subscribe button
With these drones, or anything with 2 way transmission, height is might!! If your goong to fly far, you don't want buildings, trees or anything in your line of sight. If there are things in between your line of sight, you won't get the maximum distance..I have a mavic pro, and I've reached almost 5 miles, but I was on an 880 foot tower and had nothing in my line of sight and I just used those signal maximiser that fit over the stock antennas. I know the spark does not use the same transmission method that the Mavic uses, but you almost made a mile!
The range is GREATLY effected by trees and may also be by elevation. I will be testing this in January where I can fly straight out for miles. In heavy tree cover at 300-400 ft of elevation change I can get about 1,200 ft before I lose signal in a wifi heavy area. Wifi extenders only gained me another 200 ft or so in that scenario. In a free and clear area I suspect I will see the similar results of others going about 2 miles.
Google things like Fresnel Zone and understand what clear LOS , noise floor etc means. This was a perfect example of clear line of sight .Not knowing the noise floor...we can assume 4800' is probably close to maximum in optimal conditions for this drone.
ok, thanks but two things to remember. 1 Power lines cause interference. 2 Find a clear area to take off as gps and glasnost have a degree of error built-in deliberately so will never land exactly on the same spot. Remember, the FAA is watching too.
the distance is btween drone and controller, the distance you measured is the direct road distance, theres height, if your drone is at 1 miles high, you wont even fly out 0.1 mile far
Good point! I didnt take that into account! I wouldnt know how to measure the true distance. The drone was at 70ft or so in height when it reached 4800ft in distance.
I have seen it fly 2 miles out. You had it return due to low battery. Btw signal lost at close range is between controller and phone. Common flaw with dji. Get cable to connect controller to phone.
Just got my spark today. Cancelled my order and ordered a mavic a month ago and a spark showed up today with no charge to my card. It's like I hit the lottery. Thanks DJI
The true test would be around obstacles. With trees in front of you or standing in front of building, fly drone over building and see when signal fails. But still a great test. I still will buy me one that's for sure.
My top distance so far is 15,938 feet...so just over 3 miles. That's round trip. I still had battery power to go further but I lost signal. I have the parabolic range booster now but haven't given it a proper range test yet.
I’m sure you’ve figured out how to make it land just inches away from where you took off. Hover above a landing pad about 12 feet high until it tells you that precision landing is activated
Thanks for the brave distance test. The Spark is capable of precision landing, but you must take off vertically to at least 7m for it to 'see' the terrain below. If it is like the Mavic there is a precison landing checkbox when you do the auto-takeoff. It should have landed a lot closer than 12 feet. My mavic landed within a couple inches on a RTH/auto-landing.
My spark lands within inches of the take off point. But I always reset the home point before I take off. I don't fly up to 7m or anything. I just fly off.
You may have the Max distance set at 4800 feet. Just need to change that like you did the altitude and it will go further. Great video, looking forward to seeing what it will do after you change that setting.
I have been flying the Spark for a year almost and the one thing I have learnt is that you Do not trust the sparky for distance as it varies drastically based on where you are flying it, the wifi connection is its biggest problem it is otherwise a very solid bird and does what you ask of it rather well and gets some decent shots.
Losing the video feed can be a problem especially if you do not know where the bird is headed and lose orientation. Loosing the radio signal will make it return to home and its always a bit scary as for those few moments you have no control over the drone, i best try to avoid getting it in that situation.
dude if you tired you can see that you can grab full control of the drone and try another direction testing if something was interfering with the frequencie. also test higher in the air like 3 times the hight you was and make sure the battery wasn't the cause of return to home. the statement of "their no other way to turn it backaround with out it doing it again" is wrong. DJI is a great company. I've yet to own anything of dji where advertising was wrong. if they said it goes 1 mile it goes more then 1 mile. never own anything yet that went under any of advertising specs.
Great Video! Thanks for doing this. I think that you reached that distance because you flew in sport mode and the battery reached the "return to home limit" I guess that is you fly in regular mode, you will reach a greater distance. Thanks
The Beginner Photography Podcast There are 3 ways the drone decides to return to home: Failsafe RTH If the Home Point was successfully recorded, GPS signal is strong and the compass is functioning normally, Failsafe RTH will be automatically activated if the wireless signal is lost for a specified amount of time (three seconds when using the remote controller and 20 seconds when using Wi-Fi). Smart RTH Initiate Smart RTH when GPS is available. Low-Battery RTH Low-Battery RTH is triggered when the DJI Intelligent Flight Battery is depleted to a point that may affect the safe return of the aircraft. So maybe you did lost connection for 3 seconds and the return to home was activated.
For all those of you who are wondering: The drone turned around because the battery ran low. It calculates the distance from where it departed and the time it needs to return safely and doesn't crash. And the battery ran low that quickly as he used the sport mode for the entirety of the flight.
Can not that still be a battery RTH? I have the Battery alarm set for 30% but that alarm only looks at how much battery you have left. There is another feature that also looks are distance and how long it will take to get back home, that could be 50% or maybe even higher since you do not want to get back home with 0% battery left.
Good video, thanks! Watching the start of your vid, I have a feeling the reason the Spark missed it's return to home spot slightly is that you did not fly quite high enough straight up when you took off initially. I saw another vid (I think it may've been a Mavic, but I'm sure technique is the same) saying you need to fly up to about 15-20ft and hover steady for a few seconds for it to get a really good RTH lock - you only went to about 6ft then shot off laterally. Worth remembering.
*** H E L P P L E A S E *** Just got my Spark. Very excited. I noticed you were able to put an ipad mini into the Spark RC... for the life of me, I can't make mine fit.... can you do a short video on how to get the ipad mini into the controller for the Spark. A friend as a Mavic, and mini fits fine in that... but I can't get it to fit in my new Spark. thank you... keep up the great videos
Sport mode will not get the range that standard mode will. Thus the return flight at 22 MPH. I would assume DJI knows that's optimal for range per amp hour.
