where to start?
Good morning,
I currently own the following equipment:
- Mavic 2 Pro with Smart Controller and CrystalSky 5.5
- Mavic 3 Mini and Mavic Pro with RC321 and DJI RC, respectively
I have been flying drones and capturing videos for a while now. Additionally, I have a background in GIS, and I am considering venturing into mapping. Since it may take some time for me to learn everything and acquire my first customer, I am thinking of starting with a hobby license.
I have a question regarding compatibility:
- Will the CrystalSky 5.5 apk work with the Mavic 2 Pro, or is it only compatible with the Mavic Pro?
Furthermore, I am interested in mapping capabilities for the Mavic 3 Mini:
- Is mapping available in the Mini 3 beta? I would like to begin by learning how to stitch orthophotos, overlay the results in QGIS, determine appropriate overlaps and altitudes, and so on.
Lastly, I would appreciate your advice on which software plan I should start with. Thank you very much!
Comments
9 comments
A good place to start would be by giving this article a read https://support.dronelink.com/hc/en-us/articles/360025829933-What-are-the-system-requirements-Supported-drones-and-devices-
The only drone out of the ones that you have named that can be flown on a hobbyist plan is the mini3 which is as you say is still in beta, pricing structure can be found here https://app.dronelink.com/pricing/hobbyist/compare
To map with the mini 3 you'd need a premium plan, as for controller compatibility that's covered in the first link i shared
I think you are going to find that the Crystal Sky isn't powerful enough to run DL properly. Assuming you have a modern smartphone, you are probably better off using that.
In terms of tutorials, this is a good place to start: https://support.dronelink.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500006089702-Getting-Started-Tutorials
For mapping, the Mavic 2 Pro is probably better than the mini as it has a larger sensor.
This playlist has good info on getting started with planning mapping missions (3D and mapping are very similar) and options for software that can process those.
If you are looking for video editing software and don't have anything already, start with Davinci Resolve. There are plenty of free tutorials and the free version does more than what 95% of users ever need.
Hope that helps.
My advice.
Navigate through DL site articles & tutorials, 5MF tutorials, mine optionaly.
Then try first easy missions to get confidence, etc etc.
The Smart Controller is also going to be a horrible experience.
Thank you very much for all your assistance. After carefully reviewing everything, I have decided to purchase the Hobby Premium plan. While learning about workflow, I can wait for further developments.
I will begin with attaching the latest android octa-core mini tablets to RC231. If too slow, I will get an airpad. I am assuming that even though mini 3 series have a smaller sensor, the ability to get closer to objects will somewhat compensate for the smaller sensor size. I will start with a parking lot or soccer field, or any area with white lines for better control.
Damian, I use galaxy Tab 7 FE 5G with my mini2 and an RC-N1 controller
If you are mapping with the mini 3, go slower to avoid image blurring and make sure you focus.
Damian. Be aware the Mini 3’s will only work with an Android OS device so buying an AirPad or any other Apple IOS device as you mentioned won’t work with that drone. The other legacy drones will.
My long-term plan is to build my system around RC Pro with 3+protocol and upgrade my drones accordingly. I really love the sensor and weight of the Mavic Air 2S and Mavic 3 Classic drones. Both of these fly and stabilize well in windy conditions. For now, the mini 3 along with an external Android device will suffice. I own a Galaxy S20 Ultra, but I prefer to keep it in my pocket while flying.
I have decided to borrow a Galaxy Note 10, attach it to RC231 and see if it can handle the software, I will also need more batteries, I hope I can get everything sorted out this weekend.
Thank you for the warnings!
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