Before you buy a DJI Neo, be warned!

[@jaysonrees738]

A small part of me thought about getting one of these. Thanks for the reminder why I avoided DJI in the first place.

[@terrymurphy562]

Exactly why I don’t buy their Drone products. Take it back and say it won’t activate, I want my money back. Nice T-shirt Bruce.

[@vlfreak]

Bloody nanny state bs, trying to save everyone, but from what!? . It's getting very very tiresome in many areas... Thanks for continuing to fight, Bruce

[@londenard]

"Fight"? He gave them money! Exactly how is DJI losing in this scenario?

[@4DCResinSmoker]

DJI doesn't make consumer friendly products. Instead, they make expensive toys for idiots

[@Zone1242]

I remember seeing a video a while back about a film shoot where the director had all the staff on location and when it came time to start filming he discovered that his two high end DJI drones would not operate until firmware updates had been completed. So, the whole crew just had to wait. He was not impressed since the shoot depended on lighting (time of day, etc.) and he risked losing the whole day and the associated costs were quite significant. He was less than complimentary about DJI......

[@londenard]

He was an idiot. Any competent "professional" does all of those potential updates ahead of time.

[@alasdair4161]

@@londenard Unless as is usual with DJI they are bumped out a few hours (or less) before they started.

[@johnburns5783]

We don’t have the geofence problem here in the UK. We accept responsibility for the flight within certain areas. Used to have to unlock FRZ’s and show such permissions to the Flysafe website, but not now. DJI place the onus on the owner to seek permission, not to show such permission. Blame the NZ CAA rules Bruce. 😉😉

[@xjet]

It's not CAA causing the problem -- it's DJI saying "NO" even when a flight would be totally legal under CAA's regs. Also, I gather that geofencing is still in effect for some areas in the UK (prisons, etc).

[@johnburns5783]

@@xjet Yes certain areas ( prisons mostly) are off limits where permission has to be sought and proof given to Flysafe to get them to unlock that area. Most other limited areas simply ask the operator to accept the risk ( a simple touch on the screen and you’re good to go) I don’t know the situation in NZ, but do know if I want to fly in the EU, I have to unlock certain areas via the Flysafe website, before my drone will take off. Possibly something similar in NZ ? Of course I wouldn’t fly in an FRZ without permission beforehand. 😉😉

[@MrUpchukov]

New Zealand always paying the biggest prices while getting the shortest end of the stick. It's no wonder they're always stomping around doing that angry-face dance. I would too. Then again DJI may well have feared the CAA wouldn't follow their own reg's and went a couple of steps beyond. Or can one assume they might have called and asked? For its size NZ is a hotbed of FPV and they must have known Bruce's critique was coming.

[@JohnBr1234]

I tested out a Neo for a friend. Had to accept resonsibility for the flight as stated above same as UK. My flight location was with in three city blocks of a heliport at a hospital. That being said I did not try to fly any higher than 25 feet over my own house.

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

Ah now there is an honest review I need, The Pocket 3. I have been thinking about upgrading from the Pocket 2.

[@ml11ML]

DJI tech is really cool but all the restrictions and everything being tied to a online account is just too much for me. My only DJI is an old mavic mini 2 that I managed to find used with an old firmware version that still allows you to disable the stupid aeroscope/droneid signal. It's also only used with a tablet that doesn't have internet access at that time just in case it tries to pull an auto update for whatever reason. The original mavics are also pretty cool with all the custom firmware modding you can do to them. Sadly they are now too expensive on the used market in my country to justify buying one just to mess around with it unless you get very lucky. Apparently drone-hacks also offers a custom firmware for the mavic 3 that removes all flight restrictions and disables aeroscope which might be something to consider in a few years when they drop in price.

[@uptowndisco2]

I have quite a few old DJI models from a brand new unflown in the box Phantom 1 the very first one that came with no camera or gimbal , A Phantom 3 Pro , P4 and P4 Pro with screen remote and spare remote with no screen , and even more models from DJI , GoPro Karma , Parrot , Yuneec , they are all virtually worthless here in the UK , pity as they were all good drones in their time .

[@thebigbilltheory4388]

Couldn’t agree more. They’re adding to the rules of the area. I can’t even test mine in my house because I’m in class D air space in the States. I have a part 107 (US commercial) license. So I’m going to build my first drone as soon as I can afford it. Take care!!!

[@markhoman9403]

Mine works, fine every time 🙂

[@not-a-lot-of-options]

I wouldn't touch a DJI related product with a barge-pole. Love to hear from you, as always, Bruce.

[@MCsCreations]

Go figure, Bruce... Too much complications indeed. Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@audigga4396]

Here in Aus every hospital has a heli pad so if I was to buy one I could not even fly it at my local flying field. Nice work DJI. An another thing why do I need to get a new controller every time you release a new drone. Not buying your products anymore.

[@nonsequitor]

"because people in China say no" shirly you mean 'in America'? 🎯 Tho. You're bang on as usual.

[@Darknynja2]

I'm sure its geo fenced for when people fly it with one of the several controllers it can be connected to. I've seen the Neo flown as far as 2.5 kilometers away from the pilot. Too bad they couldn't make it where the geo fencing was disabled while using as advertised without a remote or controlled by smartphone. I think DJI is walking on eggshells right now due to all the paranoia happening around the world. Great video. Very informative.

[@DirtyPawsProductions]

Idk.. I own 6 drones. I love the Neo for what is.. my quick follow me drone.

[@WelshLad52]

I also love my little Neo I own 4 drones Mavic mini, Mini 2, Mini 4 pro & the Neo.

[@rreiter]

It's just one symptom of the horrible direction manufacturers have gone: the subscription model for things you "bought" and "own". Didn't pay your recurring fee? Your electric seats get turned off. Or maybe your sunroof or the radio. Or maybe your doorbell stops working or you can't even get into your house. It's going to get worse.

[@wordreet]

Wait, control line model aircraft? So something attached to the ground with a human pivot? Yet there are no regulations for kite photography, (in the UK anyway) apart from if you want to go over 60 mtrs with a camera on board.

[@PlanetJeroen]

Thanks for the heads-up .. was thinking about this one and now have a bit more to think about.

[@dorsai]

Thanks Bruce!

[@Optopolis]

Imagine having no phone and having a DJI drone. You would be screwed.

[@deanedeane4318]

Such a shame! But isn't the packaging nice!!! Good job Xjet ❤😉🙃😎

[@441rider]

Dug out my Freeflight 1.3 FCs no registration on those or old Naza gear LOL!

[@MrUpchukov]

There's process where you can call the authority at the airport and ask if they would grant you an exemption and then JDI can unlock you for up to a year at a time. Still very frustrating especially if the geofencing is magnitudes more strict than the actual regulations.

[@xjet]

Why should you have to prove to DJI that you have permission -- they sold the drone to you -- it's YOUR drone!

[@maddercat]

Hmm I think maybe you can cancel all those restrictions if you connect to a phone. DJI requires it for like RID, like you have to plug your dji fpv goggles in before you can even take off.

[@GEHDunedin]

Small thing? Nope, that's not disclosing required equipment for use. Sent it back! Alternatively, can you toss your barphone SIM into the Android tablet as a one-off? As for CAA regs & DJI - pack of numpties!

[@xjet]

My barphone SIM has a plan with no data so that wouldn't work.

[@CrucesNomad1]

I would love that little NEO. But value your input

[@GoncaloRijo]

I agree with you! For the price, it is great! And if you want a clip, don't need goggles, don't need remote... you can use it by itself of even phone (ok ok, i understand not in your case :P)!

[@xjet]

My smartphone (without SIM) works fine for controlling the drone -- it was just the "activation" process that was the problem. Mind you, I think they use the word "control" rather loosely. You don't get much in the way of control with a phone -- it barely moves in response to control inputs.

[@GoncaloRijo]

@@xjet you are a pro fpv pilot :)

[@GEHDunedin]

Any other firmware available for re-flashing & jailbreaking the Neo yet?

[@BadChad-tn3ii]

I use maven app for my mini 2 no geo fence no dji registration

[@londenard]

Insanity- doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result.

[@tigerrat8]

they are building our digital prison

[@ReneNieuwenhuis]

You don't need a SIM card, only WiFi. I almost daily activate DJI drones with a smart controller. There is no sim in it, I have to activate true WiFi with a DJI account.

[@bokusimondesu]

Good one 👍

[@TheM0JEC]

Get an Insta360 X4 and a 3m invisible selfie stick? (More expensive and probably silly money in NZ?) but no geofencing can pan/crop in post so don’t even need to ‘point it’. I know that’s not really an option I’m sad the Neo is no good for you though, does look like a nice bit of tech, I won’t be adding one to my growing drone collection.

[@driewiel]

You can launch the Neo in a no-fly zone before it gets satellites.

[@changeagent228]

Just wait till more people catch on their Goggles 3 have dead pixels and were shipped with them. There's a reason the Goggles 2 were £700 and the Goggles 3 are £579.

[@harmonic75]

I don't know if it's a thing but a phone with dual wifi? And alternative idea can you give the phone internet access through a USB tether or bluetooth? Still too much fuss...

[@pacospete4299]

i left the hobby...... why ? because my understanding was " Remote ID" required a cellular phone that needed to be connected to the internet. Is this true ?

[@tymoteuszkazubski2755]

If you are operating the DJI Neo without any remote then it is a free flight model, just a bit smarter than average 😁.

[@xjet]

If that's the case -- according to the rules, you can't fly it upwind within 4Km of an active runway :-)

[@Dennis-uc2gm]

To DJI on these issues I say NO. Wouldn't buy for all the reasons mentioned. To have to activate from a smart phone would be the primary deal breaker. I hate smart phones just for trying to be a phone and way too small to seriously do any computer type stuff.

[@Oldgreycowboy]

I want to find out the brand of drones flying over New Jersey. NO ONE is concerned about them flying around !!!

[@Axiomatic75]

Certainly not DJI 😂

[@lleston8927]

I was djied once. No more

[@davidgeyer1929]

I'm no fan of DJI's geofencing. I loathe it. But I haven't found a better. more reliable brand overall. Had high hopes for Autel. Have several of them. They just aren't as reliable, and the customer service is spotty at best, and that's being kind. If you have other DJI products you must know that you can unlock DJI Authorization zones without a lot of trouble. If you buy a controller for the Neo it will be like any other DJI drone in that respect. I've done it. I guess you can't do that with the Neo without a controller. I haven't tried it, but I would guess that once you unlocked an Authorization zone using a controller, you would then be able to fly it in the same zone in its autonomous modes. I think that most people who buy this drone will eventually buy a controller of some kind. Even if you already have a one of the Mini series, as I do, the Neo is just so handy for work in the field that one will prefer it as long as it isn't windy.

[@kwikflikzyakadventures3795]

Omg, some gaming platforms I’m on the Drone sightings are off tap, they’re catching on fire and falling out of the sky, People being abducted by drones, what a load of 🐖💩!!!

[@mgflyer8066]

That would piss me off if that happened to me to that's just not right

[@skysurferuk]

That's the main reason I haven't bought any DJI products, as much as I'd love a drone. I don't trust them. And they do. Suck.

[@Adam-kb2mn]

$336 for neo in nz

[@richmccay-read6389]

😂😂😂 love my neo, DJI is the best

[@vonSchwartzwolfe]

The DJI in the name makes it a no sale to me

[@AAronFpv]

I blame the governments for the restrictions on DJI's. They're just trying to appease the idiot regulators

[@SeaSide420]

🙂👍

[@wdavie27]

you have been robbed brucy boy 😣

[@Tetty22]

bla bla bla as a first time drone user no problems using activation what do you expect you could can activate with a tablet and wifi at home then use a phone put your sim in it. it can fly 2km with controller. i am a drone user fpr 1 month and your views and the actual capabilities fall well short of this device capabilities and user function to ignore such warnings

[@alasdair4161]

Good luck with your DJI product then... and don't cry foul when they decide to end your fun.

[@Tetty22]

@@alasdair4161 Don't cry foul when they decide to end your fun.? sorry is this your dooms day speech or actual fact?

[@johnburns5783]

The worst drone DJI ever made. 😉😉

[@julianpalmer4674]

Bruce, sounds like your next electronics project is going to be GPS location spoofing to allow you to fly your DJI Neo around your garden!

[@xjet]

Plans are afoot :-)

[@jamesturncliff5960]

I will not buy a DJI drone. But I do have DJI goggles and third party video units. IFly fpv radio controlled airplanes and I will be getting into cars because airplanes have too many regulations nowadays. Everybody calls him a drone😢

[@londenard]

You were well aware of all the restrictions DJI places in their products, for better or worse, before you purchased the Neo. I can not believe you keep buying DJI products just to complain about them. Bruce, I've literally begged you to stop buying their crap and to go be happy with what you have. You are NEVER happy with DJI!!! It's such a waste of time and energy.