Really glad you did this test. I really had a hard time seeing the lights on camera as the length of time and focus you allowed the viewers to try to find it was so brief. But with that said I can only say firehouse leds were really good. Very much appreciated the test.
Bought the Firehouse Arc "V" based on your recommendation. My retinas will never be the same! Also should be noted the Arc "V" now comes in a tri-color model...which actually has four color modes, three flash patterns for each color as well as steady. The only way this could be any better is if it had a light sensor and turned on automatically.
I received my Firehouse V in the mail last week. Have flown it twice at night. The lights on my Mavic Air 2 plus the Firehouse white light really light up nicely. I just watched the video and was happy to see the strobe I bought did the best AND it's MADE IN THE USA !!!!! I ordered a 2nd one for my motorcycle.
Thanks for doing that test! I bought my Firehouse Arc V after doing some research and looking at options before I got my 107.29 waiver. I have been impressed with it and being made in USA it is a great value. I have been planning on getting a second one for the bottom of my M100 for night flights and during the day to help it to be seen. Once again excellent job on the test.
Thanks, Greg! I gave two Arc V lights, one for the front arm of my Mavic 2 Pro and one for the rear. I use them during the day and they’re excellent! I can see my drone in the sky so much better and so much further away with these lights.
I have 2 of the Arc Vs, one red/blue, and one white, that I run on my MA2. The 3 different colors give me great positional awareness of the aircraft. They also work great during the day to increase the distance of your VLOS. Outstanding equipment.
Thank you all for the test! Been running the FHT Arc 2 the last couple of years. Had one of the arm mount break so am upgrading to the FHT Arc V now. Keep putting out the great videos!
I have the dome (center one) and Im happy with it, its 5 LED in a solid case and the clip works on battery straps as well as undermount gimbal plates on large drones
Is the GPS receiver always located at the center of the unit? As light as these strobes are, it would seem that to remain balanced, the light should be still be centered on the drone. How significant will the GPS signal be affected if the drone light is located over the GPS receiver. (I have a DJI Mavic Mini)
Jim Williams I also fly a MINI. The battery is the main issue, multiple layers of metal. Put the strobe on the very front, above the gimbal or back over the batter to avoid the issue. If the strobe weight gets too great you will notice increased noise as the drone increases power to stay level. I use a 5 LED circuit board on top and the ARC V on the bottom to meet FAA anticolission light requirements and allow me to maintain VLOS at greater distances night and day.
Great review. Very helpful. I was about to purchase the Lume Cube and your review changed my mind. Great pointers on where to place the strobe as well.
I wish I had seen this about 2 weeks ago! Oh well, I bought the Lumicube strobe and it tested pretty well without the red or green covers so, it is legal and works well. If I need a replacement I know which one I should get next.
I got the Lucorb T-T3 on Amazon for $30. It's been nice and I like how it has positional lights that are sectioned off. Makes it easier for manned aircraft to see which direction you're heading.
Thank you for performing such a great test and posting the testing and results for the rest of us to benefit from. Keep up the great videos & once again, thank you !.
Thank you, Greg! Wonderful video! I wondered if the lights were truly visible from 3 statute miles. And, if there was cheaper option than "Lume Cube." Firehouse Arc V is awesome!
Honestly, I couldn't see a single one. I didn't even know where to look, but I'll watch the video another ten or fifteen times to try and figure it out. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for the comparison info Greg. Its definitely helpful. I was unaware of the GPS receiver location on the 2Pro. Good to know. Thanks too, for your reason for mounting the strobe on the battery, and dedicating one battery for that use. Cheers
Great video Greg. Thanks for the test. I fly with three Lume Cubes. Green to Starboard, red to port and white on top. Red lights have the shortest wave length and therefore the shortest range. Underwater, red is the first color to fade the deeper you go. And yes, that is THUMB (some) Butte! LOL
"Red lights have the shortest wave length" Blue light has shortest wavelength at 400 nanometers, red the longest wavelength at 600 nanometers. scied.ucar.edu/image/wavelength-blue-and-red-light-image "Blue light has a higher frequency and carries more energy than red light." Assuming, of course, that you put the same energy into blue or red light in the first place. Your eyes have peak sensitivity at yellow. "It has been established that the maximum spectral sensitivity of the human eye under daylight conditions is at a wavelength of 555 nm, while at night the peak shifts to 507 nm." Or in other words yellowish-green. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectral_sensitivity
Enjoyed the review, especially since the Firehouse Arc V is the one I purchased. They actually sell a “navigation pack” with one red, one green, and two white. They also sell a combination strobe that will cycle between red, green, and white or set it to only one color. There is another company that sell mounts for these strobes that allow mounting on the landing legs in front and arms on the back (I use it on a Mavic Air 2). I have not used them at night yet, and I have not tried mounting all four. I have used on one back arm during the day, and it did help increase visibility of the drone significantly. I also recommend this brand.
Great video! I wish there was some indication on where the drone was when videoing from the garage because I couldn't see any of them until that last one lol
I will give you props for the cold. Here in Texas with the amount of humidity and DFW smog, it is harder to see and enough particulates in the air to wear, at times even sand, to wear on the LED's, covers.
Bought Arc V, White for top, Red Arc V for bottom (actually got a green one too, that way I can see it from below and the bright one is on the top). They work GREAT! I bought a Lume Cube domed also, and true to Greg's reviews, not nearly as bright. I thought it would work on the bottom of my Mavic Air 2 as my "from below" visibility. Problem was, the way to turn on / off the light is by pushing the dome. So you had to have it "off" for it to be "on" when you took off from the ground. The weight of the drone presses the dome enough to turn it on and off. Hence I went back and got the Arc V as they were thinner too. Thanks Greg for the great review.
Man this is a fantastic video. I've been running a Lume Cube on my Mini 1. I just got a new drone and was looking for a light to run on that. My issue with the Lune Cube is that because of the bubble switch sometimes it gets turned on in my bag and when I go to use it the battery is drained. This was a super helpful video.
I also bought a two pack of the ARC V. One had a connection issue...the button to turn on was too recessed. They replaced the unit. Great product and service!!!!!
Great test guys. NEW Pilot here Dji mini 3 pro. For daytime visibility from the ground where would you place the FireHouse Arc V along the bottom of the mini, towards the front, middle or rear?
Just my preference. It I don’t like Velcro attached lights or mounted on the top. I searched and found those Firehouse ARC II strobes and purchased them with arm mounts. One Red on left front arm facing forward and one White right rear arm facing backwards. Works incredibly well. They give me not only the position as required but it’s orientation which means I can tell which way it’s facing just by the lights. Because they are facing at about a 45° angle on the arms it makes it easy to see from the sides and which side is towards you. Extremely happy with the lights and arm mounts which go on and off quickly and easily. This was all good information especially when it comes to the ARC II or even the ARC V strobes which are exceptional. Also I’ve tested straight above me at 400 feet and I can see the lights underneath it which means they can be seen from above. Thanks for the review. Information indicates I made the best choice. Not cheap lights but extremely bright and makes it legal for night time flights with rating at 3 mile visibility. Enjoy......
With you being a manned pilot also, it would be interesting to have some video of these strobe lights from a real-world point of view! From like a mile, then two, then three. I know that would be expensive but if the opportunity ever presents itself...
I got a Lume Cube the other day and put it on my Potensic Dreamer 4K and took it out to the beach the other night. The weather was clear and wind was out of the east about about 10 mph (per my Kestrel). I placed it on both the top and bottom of the drone. I lost sight of the strobe almost immediately when mounted on the top, which I anticipated. When I placed it on the bottom I took it out to about 4500 feet, at which point the drone turned around and RTH because the signal got weak. I saw both the strobe and red and green collision lights all the way out to 4500 feet. I have another one coming so I can place one on both the top of the drone so both I and any pilot flying above it can see it.
Thank you for this video. I am new to drone use and appreciate the information you presented. I would like to know what drone you are using in this video.
Well I got my Firehouse Arc V the other day. Without even putting the strobes on my drone the brightness winner was clear. After testing them at night on my drone in various positions the winner was confirmed. The $14 single LED RCGEEK strobe was definitely brighter than the $34 five LED Firehouse Arc V! The Arc V was a little better when mounted on top and viewed from the side I guess because of the domed beveled clear plastic top but when mounted on the bottom or the side of the drone the RCGeek strobe light was definitely brighter. Needless to say I ordered a few more of the RCGeek strobe from Amazon. The Firehouse has more flashing modes but as a strobe it just wasn't as bright as the RCGeek.
I have a DJI Phantom 3 Advanced, and the only place to mount the strobe is on the top center of the drone. I though this might affect the GPS reception so I did a test. I mounted the Ulanzi DR-02 strobe with velcro, directly above the GPS antenna of my Phantom and a check of the GPS did not show any significant degradation of the signal. I flew my Phantom for about 30 minutes with the strobe on it, and had no problems.
Thanks for taking the time to do this test! It’s really good to know which lights work the best. The majority of the time I fly I run the Ulanzi DR 2 one facing back on one leg with one color and one facing forward so myself or the visual observer can see it clearly and know which way the drones facing at all time. Thanks again and when I upgrade I’ll definitely get the ones you recommend. 🙏🏻
Fly toward your observer. As the drone dips in forward flight the strobe "shows" more surface. Have you tried scuffing the clear covers so it looks like a "soft white" light bulb? You will be able to see the refraction off the dome. We, my club, used to paint the reflectors on our brake lights with flat white paint rather than gloss chrome. You could see, or recognize, the "jack-o-lantern" type light much further away than with a regular reflector tail light. The light is diffused but try the test for what the eye will see!
You should do another video in the mountains in an area with no lights/traffic, if that's even possible :) And maybe circle where the drone is in the video, I didn't see it a lot of times. Would be cool to have the camera mounted on a pole and take a picture of each one same spot, same height and post all the pictures together on a web page or still video shot so we can compare. Whats the FAA requirement for the light. Can it be always on or does it have to flash? Certain flash speed? Does the 3 statute mile light have any regulations on colors? Is there a certain mount point it's supposed to be? Top, bottom, front, back, side? Are there any regulations on colors at this time for any other lights on the drone; not the 3 mile one? Is there any requirement for any other lights on the drone? Whats the spec for regular airplanes? one color in front? one in back? They don't have any of these lights with the led flipped to the side. so it's actually facing an aircraft instead of pointing to the top of the sky? Do you have a page that shows the best place to put the light on each different drone made so as to not block GPS, WIFI, Bluetooth, ETC.? I have the DJI Mav Air 2. Are any of these able to turn on and off with WIFI yet or our controller?
We thought about trying to do photos but weren't sure it would be visible. It's definitely hard to see on the image, that's why we wanted the spotters to explain everything they were seeing. The FAA regs are pretty simple, says it has to be flashing but that's about it. No flashing speed requirements, no color requirements. Because it's an anticollision, it needs to be visible by manned pilots, which leaves only one logical position: the top. No other requirements for other lights. For regular airplanes, there are a few requiremnts, including a flashing white strobe light, steady navigation lights (green on left, red on the right, white on the back), and landing lights. All the Mavic drones have the GPS in the "head" of the drone (sort of on top of the camera) so I would avoid mounting it there. None of the lights we tested had wifi or Bluetooth connections, which wouldnt' be recommended to prevent interference.
I know this is over 2 years old but, as a newbie to drone life, I couldn't see the lights because not enough time was spent on the drone. What I did see was spending 10-20 secs on the crew at the locations and 2-4 secs on the actually drone at 3 miles away. It should be the opposite. Less time on the crew and more time on the drone. All in all, great review. Even 2 years later, your results are still good!!
The reason we did it that way is because it was difficult for the camera to pick up the light in the sky, so instead we relied on the crew's narrative. You would have looked at 10-20 sec of dark sky instead. Cheers!
Nice job. I was glad to see the Firehouse ones worked so well - I've been using the old model for a couple of years without any problems. I think I'll grab the Arc 5 upgrade though.
Interesting, Greg, thanks for doing that. On the M2P I’ve been running an ARC-2 on the bottom and an ARC-XL on top. Sounds like the ARC-V must be a successor to the XL.
@@TaniaGail I don’t have the MA2 so can’t be sure. But the ARC-2 is very small, so if there’s a space maybe 1”x1” it should be fine. It does need a bit of vertical clearance to avoid hitting the ground - probably a half inch or so should be OK. I fasten mine with self-stick “hook and loop” fastener.
One correction Greg on dates. The new test didn’t actually start with night material until this past Tuesday April 6th. I tested Monday the 5th, and had no night questions, and was told by the Procter that that night material would be added the following day on the 6th.
I have the DR-01 ULANZI and Lume Cube. The DR-01 ULANZI works if you can get it to turn on. It has a button to turn it on and change modes that works 50% of the time. I don't use it. The Lume Cube works well(white, fastest strobe setting) however, you do have to be careful if you store it in a bag. Any pressure on the Lume Cube may turn it on so it flashes while in your travel bag. By the time you get to the location where you plan on flying the Lume Cube battery may be dead. Storing the Lume Cube in a container or carrying separately would be wise. Otherwise they work well. I put one on top (for manned aircraft to see the quad) and usually use a quad that has a flashing utility light on the bottom. In addition to comply with CBO guidelines I use a quad that has navigation lighting that I can clearly see my orientation visually from the ground. I have 3 arc 5 lights on order.
I also bought multiple brands. I charged when they arrived, put in my office turned on and checked to make sure they were still working at the end of the stated time. All made the limit advertised. I also used my environmental meter to check lumens and as you found, the ARC V is the clear winner by 3 orders of magnitude. I will try with a piece of material or a scuffed lens for reflective or diffused visibility, but why no bottom mounts? No place that works and does not obscure. The drone will "bounce" on landing every time the strobe fires at night and the sensors see the landing surface, so be aware and adapt!
We tried to measure the light from each strobe with a light meter but the flash was too fast for the meter to register. I'm impressed you were able to get measurement.
The meter gives Max, Min, Median, Modal and Standard Deviation. Over a short period of time it records the maximum strobe lumens and the lower flash lumens (as the Modal).
You missed another option in anti collision lighting. The brand is called EasyLight and is sold in sets of three (Red, Green and White). They were developed for Hobbyists model aircraft but also work with any UAS. I haven’t did a proper test with them but they are considerably brighter than the Ulanzi DR-1 that I also own. Amazon pricing compares to the other lights you featured in your video. I have a video on my channel for the EasyLight set. Thanks for sharing this comparison video, it’s answered questions about strobes and their effectiveness.
I have the Firehouse strobe on a DJI FPV Drone (official name). It's very disappointing. Put in on top or bottom, and it can't be seen from the side. When playing FPV follow-the-leader the other drone can't see it. It looks like the strobes you reviewed all have the same problem -- can only be seen if it's pointed directly at you (not from the side). An effective strobe would need to have a translucent half-dome that can be seen horizontally for 360 degrees, and at an up/down angle of at least 20 degrees. Have you come across anything like that?
Wish there was a circle on at least the first one so could tell where I was suppose to look. Not enough time to scope the whole area out. Tnx for the work. You might want to set the camera to manual focus and leave it.
Great video Greg! Always the best from Pilot Institute. Where would you place this? On the battery or on the drone? Is one spot better to not interfere with video or taking pictures?
Great video.... Greg, do you recommend just one strobe on the top of the drone, or should there also be strobes placed on the bottom, and sides? How many do you use, and where are yours placed when you fly at twilight or night time? Please let me know when you get a chance. Thanks
Good question. It depends on the drone. For our larger drones, we have multiple lights to help with orientation. We put steady navigation lights: a red one of the left, a green one on the right, and a white one on the back. For smaller drones, they already have some lights that help you figure out orientation. I would recommend steady light to help with visibility rather than flashing ones.
I actually own 2 Firehouse Arc V's and they are all I have ever used for strobes. And the biggest bonus is that they are manufactured in the USA. I HIGHLY recommend the ARC V...
Watched it on my phone, then when I got home tried again on large screen, still could not see the strobes very well from the Parking garage view. Update: After watching twice I can see where I "think" they are at. I was looking to high in the dark sky.. I am surprised how you Can-NOT see it so well.
I agree. It would’ve been helpful if “creators” indicated where the drones were during the editing process. I had to rewind and still couldn’t see the strobes.
and by "big strobing light" @ J N means the single white pixel that blends in with the other white lights on the horizon that also look like they might be blinking, especially when the camera is held still or in-focus. My eyes were looking around in the dark sky, somewhere in the center of the frame... it wasn't until that brightest strobe test that I was finally able to see their reference point. I realize within FAA legal constraints, they couldn't exactly pop up to 2000' AGL for a more realistic visual test. Manned-aircraft shouldn't be swooping down for nighttime barnstorming runs at
I couldn't see any of them from the garage view either. But what the camera "sees" can be quite different than what the human eye can see in real life.
Velcro is good for mounting lights. You can make pretty much any light fit with it. I also use bicycle lights, camera lights and a headlamp light I use as a spotlight
What if I took and passed my test right on 3/16/2021? Think I'm good to go but just wanted to double check. Thank you very much for this video. Happy flying!
Because I can't take the training yet... is there a significants to Red, White, or Green? Positioning? Also - I'm color-blind (can't tell the difference between Red, White, and Green in lighting) so should I even have to consider a Red or Green? Great video! And - is there any affect on the on-board camera? Does the new light interfere in any way?
Thanks for doing this comparison and test! I had been wondering about the Ulanzi DR-02 for a while, and my own research had indicated the Firehouse ARC II and ARC V were among the top performers (though I never tested them personally), so it was good see see both in a real world test. I have a DR-02 that I picked up for around $15, and recently found them in the Ulanzi Store on AliExpress for $12. Now if asked, I can point to your test showing the DR-02 is visible at 3 statute miles (at least when flashing white)! The other strobe I'll be using initially was one you didn't test, the Firehouse "Dual". The manufacturer specs it for 3+ statute miles, so I'm not so worried about compliance on it. But I'd be willing to send you a Firehouse "Dual" for doing a follow up video on more strobes if you returned it when you were done, if you are interested. I have a question to you as a full-size aircraft pilot. Using the lighting for the video cameras destroyed the night vision of the spotters, meaning it was more difficult for them to spot a pin-point flash of light at 3 miles than if they had been night adapted. This is a good thing, IMHO, as it a higher bar these strobes needed to meet. My question is whether a pilot in a manned aircraft would normally be night adapted (at least somewhat) when flying in the dark, making the strobes that much easier to see? Or would they typically not be night vision adapted when flying at night? Thanks!
They would be. Cockpit instruments at night are lit up by red lights. The indicators within the instruments are reflective white and look white even when the red light is hitting them. Of course your instrument panel is 12" from a pilots face. The white city lights are bright but at such a distance that your red cockpit keeps most of your night vision intact. It takes about 20mins to adapt. From pre-flight check to taxi to run up you've typically adapted by take off. I can tell you night vision is not ruined by other strobes because taxiing near other aircraft with strobes is a light source so minimal compared with your whole cockpit area that it's insignificant. These drone strobes would also be insignificant beyond 1000 feet.
Thank you for doing this for us. One question for you. You mentioned that you put the light on the battery and not closer to the front of the drone, why was that? I think you mentioned the GPS. Please explain.
I would be interested to see a light meter test run on these. That would allow you to compare exactly the difference between the brightness. I realize other factors play a part in purchasing decisions but brightness is a pretty good start. None of the many clips I have seen even mention apparent brightness.
So I've been using the Firehouse Tech Arc 2s (4 at a time) on my drones for a couple of years now, but as I was reviewing for my Part 107 recurrency, I was reminded that the regulations say that lithium batteries can only be carried on a drone when used as a power source (you can't carry spares or uninstalled extras). Are we sure the FAA views the strobe batteries as a power source, and as such are in compliance, even though they aren't being used as the drone's primary power source? I would think so, but I'm wondering if the question has ever been asked.
That rule is referring to carrying spares or cargo (any hazardous material). If the battery(s) in question power anything during flight then it's allowed!
Every test: "Yup, yup. I can see it."
Me: "I can't see shhhh." 😂
Really glad you did this test. I really had a hard time seeing the lights on camera as the length of time and focus you allowed the viewers to try to find it was so brief. But with that said I can only say firehouse leds were really good. Very much appreciated the test.
Bought the Firehouse Arc "V" based on your recommendation.
My retinas will never be the same!
Also should be noted the Arc "V" now comes in a tri-color model...which actually has four color modes, three flash patterns for each color as well as steady.
The only way this could be any better is if it had a light sensor and turned on automatically.
By far, this is the most informative RUclips channel on drones ever. Most drone channels don’t have a clue. Thank you!
Thank you, Sam, this means a lot!
I received my Firehouse V in the mail last week. Have flown it twice at night. The lights on my Mavic Air 2 plus the Firehouse white light really light up nicely. I just watched the video and was happy to see the strobe I bought did the best AND it's MADE IN THE USA !!!!! I ordered a 2nd one for my motorcycle.
They also have motorcycle stuff too speaker attachments and other goodies
Thanks for this, Greg! I have been waiting patiently for this video to drop before making a purchase.
Thanks for doing that test! I bought my Firehouse Arc V after doing some research and looking at options before I got my 107.29 waiver. I have been impressed with it and being made in USA it is a great value. I have been planning on getting a second one for the bottom of my M100 for night flights and during the day to help it to be seen. Once again excellent job on the test.
Thanks, Greg! I gave two Arc V lights, one for the front arm of my Mavic 2 Pro and one for the rear. I use them during the day and they’re excellent! I can see my drone in the sky so much better and so much further away with these lights.
I have 2 of the Arc Vs, one red/blue, and one white, that I run on my MA2. The 3 different colors give me great positional awareness of the aircraft. They also work great during the day to increase the distance of your VLOS. Outstanding equipment.
The Arc 5 is the one I purchased for my Mavic3 and never lost visual line of site while flying at night. It’s very bright!
Thank you so much for spending the time to do this demonstration. This makes me share your site to my drone family.
Thank you all for the test! Been running the FHT Arc 2 the last couple of years. Had one of the arm mount break so am upgrading to the FHT Arc V now. Keep putting out the great videos!
Thanks for creating this video. I just purchased my own firehouse arc v anti-collision strobe light. Appreciate your recommendation
Outstanding as usual. I definitely hooked up with the right company to get my Part 107 cert and so much more! Well done Greg and Crew!
I have the dome (center one) and Im happy with it, its 5 LED in a solid case and the clip works on battery straps as well as undermount gimbal plates on large drones
Awesome! Made in the USA...It's Firehouse ARC V for me. Thanks for doing this video!
Thanks for this very informative review, I went with the Arc V and heading out tomorrow for a test flight.
Thanks for the test! Already had the Firehouse Arc 2 and Arc V so I glad to see they both did well.
Well, it's unanimous, just ordered the Firehouse Arc V 4 my Skydio 2. Thx 4 testing all the strobes 4 us newbies, like me. Thx 4 sharing on Utube.
Thanks for the test, Greg. I appreciate it. On the downside, though, I think you caused the Arc V to sell out. LOL
Thanks Greg! As one of your latest graduates I’m ordering the Arc V now.
Thanks for the comment on not placing the strobe on top of the GPS receiver. I had not even considered the location of it!
You got it!
Is the GPS receiver always located at the center of the unit? As light as these strobes are, it would seem that to remain balanced, the light should be still be centered on the drone. How significant will the GPS signal be affected if the drone light is located over the GPS receiver. (I have a DJI Mavic Mini)
Jim Williams I also fly a MINI. The battery is the main issue, multiple layers of metal. Put the strobe on the very front, above the gimbal or back over the batter to avoid the issue. If the strobe weight gets too great you will notice increased noise as the drone increases power to stay level. I use a 5 LED circuit board on top and the ARC V on the bottom to meet FAA anticolission light requirements and allow me to maintain VLOS at greater distances night and day.
@@dennisbrooks240 thanks for the feedback
Thank you for this. I ordered the Firehouse Arc V today for my Mini 2 to help me with daytime flight.
Great review. Very helpful. I was about to purchase the Lume Cube and your review changed my mind. Great pointers on where to place the strobe as well.
I wish I had seen this about 2 weeks ago! Oh well, I bought the Lumicube strobe and it tested pretty well without the red or green covers so, it is legal and works well. If I need a replacement I know which one I should get next.
That's the one I got too, been using the green filter cap but I think going forward I will remove it. Had mine for several months.
Lumecube is "legal" ??
I got the Lucorb T-T3 on Amazon for $30. It's been nice and I like how it has positional lights that are sectioned off. Makes it easier for manned aircraft to see which direction you're heading.
OMG, that was such a cool experiment on testing the various strobe 4 drone. So nice 2 have a team getting back w/ the results. Thx 4 sharing Utube.
Great test. I was pleased to see the ARC V placed first. Also, the Firehouse ARC V comes with documentation regarding visibility testing.
Awesome information video Greg! I really appreciate you and your crew taking time to do this! Thank you!
Just bought the firehouse arc V based on your recommendation. Thanks for the review
Thank you for performing such a great test and posting the testing and results for the rest of us to benefit from. Keep up the great videos & once again, thank you !.
Thank you, Greg! Wonderful video! I wondered if the lights were truly visible from 3 statute miles. And, if there was cheaper option than "Lume Cube." Firehouse Arc V is awesome!
Honestly, I couldn't see a single one. I didn't even know where to look, but I'll watch the video another ten or fifteen times to try and figure it out. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for the comparison info Greg. Its definitely helpful. I was unaware of the GPS receiver location on the 2Pro. Good to know. Thanks too, for your reason for mounting the strobe on the battery, and dedicating one battery for that use.
Cheers
Great practical info for the user. Thanks, Greg!
This was great. I bought the Arc V for my DJI Mini 2 and love it.
Great video Greg. Thanks for the test. I fly with three Lume Cubes. Green to Starboard, red to port and white on top. Red lights have the shortest wave length and therefore the shortest range. Underwater, red is the first color to fade the deeper you go. And yes, that is THUMB (some) Butte! LOL
"Red lights have the shortest wave length" Blue light has shortest wavelength at 400 nanometers, red the longest wavelength at 600 nanometers. scied.ucar.edu/image/wavelength-blue-and-red-light-image
"Blue light has a higher frequency and carries more energy than red light."
Assuming, of course, that you put the same energy into blue or red light in the first place.
Your eyes have peak sensitivity at yellow.
"It has been established that the maximum spectral sensitivity of the human eye under daylight conditions is at a wavelength of 555 nm, while at night the peak shifts to 507 nm."
Or in other words yellowish-green.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectral_sensitivity
@@thomasmaughan4798 I got it backwards. But red light is the first to “fade” at a distance.
Nice and thorough! Howdy from North Phoenix!
I fly my drone with a Firehouse ARCV using red and white lights and I always use the flash+triple flash mode. Love it
Enjoyed the review, especially since the Firehouse Arc V is the one I purchased. They actually sell a “navigation pack” with one red, one green, and two white. They also sell a combination strobe that will cycle between red, green, and white or set it to only one color. There is another company that sell mounts for these strobes that allow mounting on the landing legs in front and arms on the back (I use it on a Mavic Air 2). I have not used them at night yet, and I have not tried mounting all four. I have used on one back arm during the day, and it did help increase visibility of the drone significantly. I also recommend this brand.
Good and informative video for drone strobe lights. The comparison between different type models is very helpful.
Great video! I wish there was some indication on where the drone was when videoing from the garage because I couldn't see any of them until that last one lol
Yes, sadly it was very difficult to film and even show the brightness.
@@PilotInstitute oh well, still good information. Thanks!
I will give you props for the cold. Here in Texas with the amount of humidity and DFW smog, it is harder to see and enough particulates in the air to wear, at times even sand, to wear on the LED's, covers.
Finally a real world test for all these brands, THANKS! Going for the firehouse V's when they come back in stock.
Check on their website directly too, I think they are available there.
@@PilotInstitute SUBSCRIBED, Thanks!
Bought Arc V, White for top, Red Arc V for bottom (actually got a green one too, that way I can see it from below and the bright one is on the top). They work GREAT! I bought a Lume Cube domed also, and true to Greg's reviews, not nearly as bright. I thought it would work on the bottom of my Mavic Air 2 as my "from below" visibility. Problem was, the way to turn on / off the light is by pushing the dome. So you had to have it "off" for it to be "on" when you took off from the ground. The weight of the drone presses the dome enough to turn it on and off. Hence I went back and got the Arc V as they were thinner too. Thanks Greg for the great review.
Thanks, Greg. I've been looking at lights, and have been looking for a trustworthy source for recommendations.
Thanks for the test! I have been flying 2 LumeCubes which have been good but will definitely get a few Arc V’s to add to the kit.
Thanks for conducting this test. Very helpful in making my decision. I recently signed up and can’t wait to get started on the course.
Man this is a fantastic video.
I've been running a Lume Cube on my Mini 1. I just got a new drone and was looking for a light to run on that.
My issue with the Lune Cube is that because of the bubble switch sometimes it gets turned on in my bag and when I go to use it the battery is drained.
This was a super helpful video.
Thanks, Greg and team. You always put out great, useable material.
Thanks Greg for testing and sharing this video, much appreciated!
Awesome video, thanks! My ocd couldn’t stop staring at the shelves in the back lol
I also bought a two pack of the ARC V. One had a connection issue...the button to turn on was too recessed. They replaced the unit. Great product and service!!!!!
Great video and great information for all of us! Thank you for doing this. Very thorough!!
Great test guys.
NEW Pilot here Dji mini 3 pro. For daytime visibility from the ground where would you place the FireHouse Arc V along the bottom of the mini, towards the front, middle or rear?
I bought the Firehouse ARC V for my DJI Mini 4 Pro. It's Super Bright! Testing how long it lasts on Strobe now.
Just picked up the Firehouse V, great video thank you
Just my preference. It I don’t like Velcro attached lights or mounted on the top. I searched and found those Firehouse ARC II strobes and purchased them with arm mounts. One Red on left front arm facing forward and one White right rear arm facing backwards. Works incredibly well. They give me not only the position as required but it’s orientation which means I can tell which way it’s facing just by the lights. Because they are facing at about a 45° angle on the arms it makes it easy to see from the sides and which side is towards you. Extremely happy with the lights and arm mounts which go on and off quickly and easily. This was all good information especially when it comes to the ARC II or even the ARC V strobes which are exceptional. Also I’ve tested straight above me at 400 feet and I can see the lights underneath it which means they can be seen from above.
Thanks for the review. Information indicates I made the best choice. Not cheap lights but extremely bright and makes it legal for night time flights with rating at 3 mile visibility. Enjoy......
I also have an Arc II in an arm mount on my Autel. Facing the rear and it is ungodly bright... no problems seeing it! Will get the Arc V for the top
With you being a manned pilot also, it would be interesting to have some video of these strobe lights from a real-world point of view! From like a mile, then two, then three. I know that would be expensive but if the opportunity ever presents itself...
Or he could just stand on a hill and have someone, from 1, 2, 3 miles away, hold the stobe, and use walkie talkies to confirm visual.
Did my own test in arizona desert , 1. Lumecube, 2. Firehouse Arc V and Ulanzi, craft used Inspire 11
I got a Lume Cube the other day and put it on my Potensic Dreamer 4K and took it out to the beach the other night. The weather was clear and wind was out of the east about about 10 mph (per my Kestrel). I placed it on both the top and bottom of the drone. I lost sight of the strobe almost immediately when mounted on the top, which I anticipated. When I placed it on the bottom I took it out to about 4500 feet, at which point the drone turned around and RTH because the signal got weak. I saw both the strobe and red and green collision lights all the way out to 4500 feet. I have another one coming so I can place one on both the top of the drone so both I and any pilot flying above it can see it.
Thank you for this video. I am new to drone use and appreciate the information you presented. I would like to know what drone you are using in this video.
Glad to see this review. I bought the Lumecube, but I’m always skeptical of manufacturer’s claims.
I had the lumecube too. It's technically visible from 3SM but there are better options out there.
@@PilotInstitute I just ordered the Firehouse ARC 5 two pack. I’ll use the Lumecube on something else or in daylight.
Well I got my Firehouse Arc V the other day. Without even putting the strobes on my drone the brightness winner was clear. After testing them at night on my drone in various positions the winner was confirmed. The $14 single LED RCGEEK strobe was definitely brighter than the $34 five LED Firehouse Arc V! The Arc V was a little better when mounted on top and viewed from the side I guess because of the domed beveled clear plastic top but when mounted on the bottom or the side of the drone the RCGeek strobe light was definitely brighter. Needless to say I ordered a few more of the RCGeek strobe from Amazon. The Firehouse has more flashing modes but as a strobe it just wasn't as bright as the RCGeek.
I have a DJI Phantom 3 Advanced, and the only place to mount the strobe is on the top center of the drone. I though this might affect the GPS reception so I did a test. I mounted the Ulanzi DR-02 strobe with velcro, directly above the GPS antenna of my Phantom and a check of the GPS did not show any significant degradation of the signal. I flew my Phantom for about 30 minutes with the strobe on it, and had no problems.
Any reason you did not include the FireHouse Arc XL?
Great video! Thank you for the effort. Now, time to go shopping. Thanks again .
Excellent review! Just what I needed to help me choose the right model. Well done and thanks!
Thanks for taking the time to do this test! It’s really good to know which lights work the best. The majority of the time I fly I run the Ulanzi DR 2 one facing back on one leg with one color and one facing forward so myself or the visual observer can see it clearly and know which way the drones facing at all time.
Thanks again and when I upgrade I’ll definitely get the ones you recommend. 🙏🏻
Fly toward your observer. As the drone dips in forward flight the strobe "shows" more surface. Have you tried scuffing the clear covers so it looks like a "soft white" light bulb? You will be able to see the refraction off the dome. We, my club, used to paint the reflectors on our brake lights with flat white paint rather than gloss chrome. You could see, or recognize, the "jack-o-lantern" type light much further away than with a regular reflector tail light. The light is diffused but try the test for what the eye will see!
You should do another video in the mountains in an area with no lights/traffic, if that's even possible :) And maybe circle where the drone is in the video, I didn't see it a lot of times. Would be cool to have the camera mounted on a pole and take a picture of each one same spot, same height and post all the pictures together on a web page or still video shot so we can compare.
Whats the FAA requirement for the light. Can it be always on or does it have to flash? Certain flash speed? Does the 3 statute mile light have any regulations on colors? Is there a certain mount point it's supposed to be? Top, bottom, front, back, side?
Are there any regulations on colors at this time for any other lights on the drone; not the 3 mile one?
Is there any requirement for any other lights on the drone? Whats the spec for regular airplanes? one color in front? one in back?
They don't have any of these lights with the led flipped to the side. so it's actually facing an aircraft instead of pointing to the top of the sky?
Do you have a page that shows the best place to put the light on each different drone made so as to not block GPS, WIFI, Bluetooth, ETC.? I have the DJI Mav Air 2.
Are any of these able to turn on and off with WIFI yet or our controller?
We thought about trying to do photos but weren't sure it would be visible. It's definitely hard to see on the image, that's why we wanted the spotters to explain everything they were seeing.
The FAA regs are pretty simple, says it has to be flashing but that's about it. No flashing speed requirements, no color requirements. Because it's an anticollision, it needs to be visible by manned pilots, which leaves only one logical position: the top.
No other requirements for other lights. For regular airplanes, there are a few requiremnts, including a flashing white strobe light, steady navigation lights (green on left, red on the right, white on the back), and landing lights.
All the Mavic drones have the GPS in the "head" of the drone (sort of on top of the camera) so I would avoid mounting it there. None of the lights we tested had wifi or Bluetooth connections, which wouldnt' be recommended to prevent interference.
I know this is over 2 years old but, as a newbie to drone life, I couldn't see the lights because not enough time was spent on the drone. What I did see was spending 10-20 secs on the crew at the locations and 2-4 secs on the actually drone at 3 miles away. It should be the opposite. Less time on the crew and more time on the drone. All in all, great review. Even 2 years later, your results are still good!!
The reason we did it that way is because it was difficult for the camera to pick up the light in the sky, so instead we relied on the crew's narrative. You would have looked at 10-20 sec of dark sky instead. Cheers!
Great video as always from Pilot Institute. The only thing I didn't hear was any interference from the strobe lights onto photos or video.
Is there any more of the led footage in the air? I kept trying to look for it, but then the scene would cut away
Nice job. I was glad to see the Firehouse ones worked so well - I've been using the old model for a couple of years without any problems. I think I'll grab the Arc 5 upgrade though.
Thanks so much for doing these tests! So helpful!
Interesting, Greg, thanks for doing that. On the M2P I’ve been running an ARC-2 on the bottom and an ARC-XL on top. Sounds like the ARC-V must be a successor to the XL.
Can you add the ARC-2 the MA2?
@@TaniaGail I don’t have the MA2 so can’t be sure. But the ARC-2 is very small, so if there’s a space maybe 1”x1” it should be fine. It does need a bit of vertical clearance to avoid hitting the ground - probably a half inch or so should be OK. I fasten mine with self-stick “hook and loop” fastener.
One correction Greg on dates. The new test didn’t actually start with night material until this past Tuesday April 6th. I tested Monday the 5th, and had no night questions, and was told by the Procter that that night material would be added the following day on the 6th.
Yes, they delayed the exam from March 16 until April 6 after we published the video. Glad you got the exam done before!
I have the DR-01 ULANZI and Lume Cube. The DR-01 ULANZI works if you can get it to turn on. It has a button to turn it on and change modes that works 50% of the time. I don't use it. The Lume Cube works well(white, fastest strobe setting) however, you do have to be careful if you store it in a bag. Any pressure on the Lume Cube may turn it on so it flashes while in your travel bag. By the time you get to the location where you plan on flying the Lume Cube battery may be dead. Storing the Lume Cube in a container or carrying separately would be wise. Otherwise they work well. I put one on top (for manned aircraft to see the quad) and usually use a quad that has a flashing utility light on the bottom. In addition to comply with CBO guidelines I use a quad that has navigation lighting that I can clearly see my orientation visually from the ground. I have 3 arc 5 lights on order.
I also bought multiple brands. I charged when they arrived, put in my office turned on and checked to make sure they were still working at the end of the stated time. All made the limit advertised. I also used my environmental meter to check lumens and as you found, the ARC V is the clear winner by 3 orders of magnitude. I will try with a piece of material or a scuffed lens for reflective or diffused visibility, but why no bottom mounts? No place that works and does not obscure. The drone will "bounce" on landing every time the strobe fires at night and the sensors see the landing surface, so be aware and adapt!
We tried to measure the light from each strobe with a light meter but the flash was too fast for the meter to register. I'm impressed you were able to get measurement.
Pilot Institute Expensive meter from back in the days when I worked and wrote evaluations for multiple countries and international magazines.
The meter gives Max, Min, Median, Modal and Standard Deviation. Over a short period of time it records the maximum strobe lumens and the lower flash lumens (as the Modal).
You missed another option in anti collision lighting. The brand is called EasyLight and is sold in sets of three (Red, Green and White). They were developed for Hobbyists model aircraft but also work with any UAS. I haven’t did a proper test with them but they are considerably brighter than the Ulanzi DR-1 that I also own. Amazon pricing compares to the other lights you featured in your video. I have a video on my channel for the EasyLight set.
Thanks for sharing this comparison video, it’s answered questions about strobes and their effectiveness.
I have the Firehouse strobe on a DJI FPV Drone (official name). It's very disappointing. Put in on top or bottom, and it can't be seen from the side. When playing FPV follow-the-leader the other drone can't see it. It looks like the strobes you reviewed all have the same problem -- can only be seen if it's pointed directly at you (not from the side). An effective strobe would need to have a translucent half-dome that can be seen horizontally for 360 degrees, and at an up/down angle of at least 20 degrees. Have you come across anything like that?
Wish there was a circle on at least the first one so could tell where I was suppose to look. Not enough time to scope the whole area out. Tnx for the work. You might want to set the camera to manual focus and leave it.
Great video Greg! Always the best from Pilot Institute. Where would you place this? On the battery or on the drone? Is one spot better to not interfere with video or taking pictures?
Battery works fine. If you put it on the drone, try to avoid putting it on top of the GPS chip.
Hey Greg best place to put it on a DJI Air 2s
@@kn20jackass closer to the front.
Great test, Greg. Thanks for sharing!
ruclips.net/video/m8ngVPq7OBg/видео.html - mini with lights
really helpful. Approximately where are we supposed to see the VLOS test when the screen cuts to the night view?
Sadly it is hard to see the lights for the VLOS test.
I'm a new student, and I love that you operate out of Prescott, which I'm familiar with.
Great video.... Greg, do you recommend just one strobe on the top of the drone, or should there also be strobes placed on the bottom, and sides? How many do you use, and where are yours placed when you fly at twilight or night time? Please let me know when you get a chance. Thanks
Good question. It depends on the drone. For our larger drones, we have multiple lights to help with orientation. We put steady navigation lights: a red one of the left, a green one on the right, and a white one on the back. For smaller drones, they already have some lights that help you figure out orientation. I would recommend steady light to help with visibility rather than flashing ones.
I actually own 2 Firehouse Arc V's and they are all I have ever used for strobes. And the biggest bonus is that they are manufactured in the USA. I HIGHLY recommend the ARC V...
Watched it on my phone, then when I got home tried again on large screen, still could not see the strobes very well from the Parking garage view.
Update: After watching twice I can see where I "think" they are at. I was looking to high in the dark sky.. I am surprised how you Can-NOT see it so well.
I agree. It would’ve been helpful if “creators” indicated where the drones were during the editing process. I had to rewind and still couldn’t see the strobes.
its the big strobing light above the trees, there not going to 400 ft
and by "big strobing light" @ J N means the single white pixel that blends in with the other white lights on the horizon that also look like they might be blinking, especially when the camera is held still or in-focus. My eyes were looking around in the dark sky, somewhere in the center of the frame... it wasn't until that brightest strobe test that I was finally able to see their reference point.
I realize within FAA legal constraints, they couldn't exactly pop up to 2000' AGL for a more realistic visual test. Manned-aircraft shouldn't be swooping down for nighttime barnstorming runs at
I couldn't see any of them from the garage view either. But what the camera "sees" can be quite different than what the human eye can see in real life.
Looks like it's a no-brainer for the firehouse. Question: Do the lights affect videography? Photography?
Fantastic video and test of strobe lights. During my research of strobes, I decided to purchase the ARC ''V" also. Not sorry. GREAT product!!
Thanks for the very thorough and excellent review!
Velcro is good for mounting lights. You can make pretty much any light fit with it. I also use bicycle lights, camera lights and a headlamp light I use as a spotlight
What if I took and passed my test right on 3/16/2021? Think I'm good to go but just wanted to double check. Thank you very much for this video. Happy flying!
You’re good but if you want to fly at night just do the FAA’s online training.
Because I can't take the training yet... is there a significants to Red, White, or Green? Positioning? Also - I'm color-blind (can't tell the difference between Red, White, and Green in lighting) so should I even have to consider a Red or Green? Great video!
And - is there any affect on the on-board camera? Does the new light interfere in any way?
Thanks for doing this comparison and test!
I had been wondering about the Ulanzi DR-02 for a while, and my own research had indicated the Firehouse ARC II and ARC V were among the top performers (though I never tested them personally), so it was good see see both in a real world test. I have a DR-02 that I picked up for around $15, and recently found them in the Ulanzi Store on AliExpress for $12. Now if asked, I can point to your test showing the DR-02 is visible at 3 statute miles (at least when flashing white)!
The other strobe I'll be using initially was one you didn't test, the Firehouse "Dual". The manufacturer specs it for 3+ statute miles, so I'm not so worried about compliance on it. But I'd be willing to send you a Firehouse "Dual" for doing a follow up video on more strobes if you returned it when you were done, if you are interested.
I have a question to you as a full-size aircraft pilot. Using the lighting for the video cameras destroyed the night vision of the spotters, meaning it was more difficult for them to spot a pin-point flash of light at 3 miles than if they had been night adapted. This is a good thing, IMHO, as it a higher bar these strobes needed to meet.
My question is whether a pilot in a manned aircraft would normally be night adapted (at least somewhat) when flying in the dark, making the strobes that much easier to see? Or would they typically not be night vision adapted when flying at night?
Thanks!
They would be. Cockpit instruments at night are lit up by red lights. The indicators within the instruments are reflective white and look white even when the red light is hitting them. Of course your instrument panel is 12" from a pilots face. The white city lights are bright but at such a distance that your red cockpit keeps most of your night vision intact. It takes about 20mins to adapt. From pre-flight check to taxi to run up you've typically adapted by take off. I can tell you night vision is not ruined by other strobes because taxiing near other aircraft with strobes is a light source so minimal compared with your whole cockpit area that it's insignificant. These drone strobes would also be insignificant beyond 1000 feet.
Thank you for doing this for us. One question for you. You mentioned that you put the light on the battery and not closer to the front of the drone, why was that? I think you mentioned the GPS. Please explain.
I would be interested to see a light meter test run on these. That would allow you to compare exactly the difference between the brightness. I realize other factors play a part in purchasing decisions but brightness is a pretty good start. None of the many clips I have seen even mention apparent brightness.
We tried to test brightness with a light meter but the burst of light was too fast to register.
But I can tell you from having all of them in a room on at the same time that the ArcV was by far the brightest.
@@PilotInstitute Thank you. I enjoy your clips. Very easy to understand and insightful.
So I've been using the Firehouse Tech Arc 2s (4 at a time) on my drones for a couple of years now, but as I was reviewing for my Part 107 recurrency, I was reminded that the regulations say that lithium batteries can only be carried on a drone when used as a power source (you can't carry spares or uninstalled extras). Are we sure the FAA views the strobe batteries as a power source, and as such are in compliance, even though they aren't being used as the drone's primary power source? I would think so, but I'm wondering if the question has ever been asked.
That rule is referring to carrying spares or cargo (any hazardous material). If the battery(s) in question power anything during flight then it's allowed!