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Old 09-01-2015, 09:31 PM   #1
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Using A Drone On The Water

Well, I won a Phantom 3 Advanced drone at a charity event this past weekend. This evening I finally had it all charged up and my (new from Best Buy because my existing weren't good enough) Android device hooked up to the controller.

By the time I had everything ready the missus was in her dressing gown after a shower but said there was no way that she was going to miss my maiden flight - in the dark and without ever having even started the durn thang! She cranked up her cell phone video. I think she thought I was going to crash and burn!

Well the drone was so very easy to start, take off, rotate, get to height, move around, and that was on my driveway in the dark. The missus was heavily disappointed!

Now I plan on getting really comfortable with it over land first, but I see a huge opportunity here. I am a bit of a amateur photo buff. This thing will go out to 2000 meters outdoors when unobstructed and the height is up there with the jets (though limited by FAA rules). It has a Gimbal camera that shoots high def stills and video.

Can't wait until tomorrow and daylight for some aerial shots of the house and lagoon. Then the anchorage this holiday weekend.

Anyone ever use a drone off the boat? I must say I am a bit concerned about using it over water. It will use GPS to return to home in the event it loses signal or starts to run low on battery - but what if the durn thing loses a prop!

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Old 09-01-2015, 09:47 PM   #2
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Anyone ever use a drone off the boat? I must say I am a bit concerned about using it over water. It will use GPS to return to home in the event it loses signal or starts to run low on battery - but what if the durn thing loses a prop!
And how much did you say you paid for it again?
Forget about it, let 'er rip.
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Old 09-01-2015, 09:49 PM   #3
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I started selling Splash Drones in my store. I haven't flown one yet but one of my employees bought one for himself. He loves it. The Splash Drone is waterproof so I feel more comfortable with the idea of flying over water.

The advanced version will follow you without having to be controlled manually.

I look forward to seeing your video.

Have you seen this music video? The whole thing was shot with a drone in one long take. No editing.
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Old 09-01-2015, 10:02 PM   #4
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Menzies,
You got the bug, can't wait to see some video!

Hopcar,
Who would have thought a marine store would be selling RC Drones just a few years ago.
"I'd like to order a 2" brass ball valve, 20 feet of fuel line and oh by the way, is my Splashdrone in yet?"
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Old 09-01-2015, 10:19 PM   #5
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Have you seen this music video? The whole thing was shot with a drone in one long take. No editing.
The "how they did it" video is actually more interesting than the music video itself. I liked how they put the drone on a camera dolly to get it out of the building and into the open where it could fly.

We have been using drones more and more in our video work here. For the really high-quality requirements we hire Copter Kids out of California, but we are using some consumer drones now for some of our lower budget projects.
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Old 09-01-2015, 10:31 PM   #6
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Not a problem Crusty, we can ship it all tomorrow.
I brought them in because we sell GoPro cameras to offshore fishermen. These guys will mount several GoPros on their boat to film themselves catching fish. One selfie stick isn't enough for these guys. I figured they'd buy a drone they could tell to follow the boat from fifty feet back and fifty feet up. They might even be able to land on the water and film underwater.

Ok the real reason I brought them in is that I want one.
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Old 09-01-2015, 11:13 PM   #7
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Yup, we're going to need to see some vids pretty quick. Now get to it!
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Old 09-02-2015, 05:46 AM   #8
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And how much did you say you paid for it again?
Forget about it, let 'er rip.
Well now, regardless of what I paid, it is a $1K unit, so I don't want to be blase about it.

Nor let anyone else be blase about it on my behalf!
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Old 09-02-2015, 07:43 AM   #9
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Here's another one that may work around and in water. Dunno about salt water.

https://www.lily.camera/
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Old 09-02-2015, 07:55 AM   #10
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Well now, regardless of what I paid, it is a $1K unit, so I don't want to be blase about it.

Nor let anyone else be blase about it on my behalf!
But, you know, if you read the other drone threads, you will have little control of it's fate from those who use potato guns, fishing line, kites and RPGs.

Drone hunting will become a bigger sport than drone flying.
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Old 09-02-2015, 04:01 PM   #11
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Here is what DYC did with a drone on July 25th when they brought a band out to a remote dock! My boat is the one with the yellow lights next to the portta potty!!! I think they did a nice job

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Old 09-02-2015, 04:59 PM   #12
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Drone hunting will become a bigger sport than drone flying.

It would be more challenging and fun than skeet or trap shooting, too.
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Old 09-02-2015, 07:32 PM   #13
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But, you know, if you read the other drone threads, you will have little control of it's fate from those who use potato guns, fishing line, kites and RPGs.
and eagles.
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Old 09-02-2015, 07:42 PM   #14
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Anyone ever use a drone off the boat? I must say I am a bit concerned about using it over water. It will use GPS to return to home in the event it loses signal or starts to run low on battery - but what if the durn thing loses a prop!
Two things. First, if it dunks then kiss it goodbye. Lots of stuff on the internet about Phantom 3's that have dunked.

Second, if you are using prop guards, then if the prop even momentarily touches the guard then the drone will flip. Once it flips it will go down. I quit using prop guards after that happened with mine.
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Old 09-02-2015, 11:24 PM   #15
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OK, first real flight after I got everything charged up and compass set, and GPS working and App loaded, and, and, and. I am not confident enough to keep it flying and use the camera head on. I tend to want to hover it and then use the gimbaled camera. So not in anyway smooth.

But I WENT OVER WATER - well for a bit anyway!

More coming.

Bored yet?

http://youtu.be/dlWO7439oQU
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Old 09-02-2015, 11:45 PM   #16
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I heard if you want to use of overwater buy two
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Old 09-02-2015, 11:59 PM   #17
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Looked pretty good to me. Nice choice on the music also.
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Old 09-03-2015, 12:19 AM   #18
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Looked good to me as well and I to liked the music. These drones do have a lot of potential for cruisers if used sensibly. Ive seen people cruising in inland waterways or in places with multiple close spaced island use them to check out whats around the next island or bend and survey areas for good anchorage. I think they are neat but must be flown with due regards to other peoples privacy.
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Old 09-03-2015, 06:57 AM   #19
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It is also very useful for checking tile roofs for loose tiles. We also noted that we are going to have to have our roof cleaned very soon before we get the dreaded POA letter!

We are going out this weekend to a very pretty area and I will be trying it out again. Again over water though, which makes me awfully nervous.

Coming home from dinner last night there was a very active electrical storm to the north of us, with no rain where we were. I am thinking of sending the aircraft up to a couple of hundred feet and taking video next time that is happening - should be interesting! Hey Franklin got away with it!

One thing that does concern me is the irritating buzzing noise these things make. Though I hear the latest models are much quieter that before. I would like to send it up just before sunrise pointing at the sun and create my own sunrise as it goes up. But don't want to annoy the heck out of the neighbors early in the morning. Maybe in December when sunrise will be much later. The missus suggests doing it when we are anchored out alone on a Sunday morning, but that means sending it up over water in the dark - gulp!
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Old 09-03-2015, 07:28 AM   #20
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Here's a very well done drone movie of our lake and marina on the Missouri River. He's got one of those high end Phantom drones too. He does a nice editing job.

https://youtu.be/w63xdIx9C50
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