I installed the dongle today and it works great! I’m from The Netherlands and I’m using the sim card from my phone (Vodafone) and use my WiFi at home as a hotspot just to test it out. 3 km away and still a full 4G connection! 😁
@ReadeRomke drones can be over 249g it only affects where you can fly it? This is a popular mistake I see being made, the drone isn’t suddenly grounded if you go over 249g you just you it further away from people like you do a bigger drone
of all the auditor videos I've seen the police never weigh the drones - so if you say its a mini 3 or 4 pro then doesnt matter if youre using the extended battery lol
@@Matanumi your propaganda commentary makes no sense. Dji is a Chinese brand. The drones that they sell in the west are not "western tech" just like 4G isn't anything revolutionary or advanced. It's just a service that Dji has not offered in other countries for a while, just like Apple for example does that for offering certain services or products or features outside of America sometimes.
@@Matanumicheap labor and immorally stealing every original design and doing a poor job of copying it and producing knock off products. Not miles ahead of anyone 😂🤣
yeah same here dongle 1 works fine on my mavic 3 as well i got one inside my RC Pro and the other sits on the mavic 3 in its mounting cradle,also works with my mini 3 pro
for drones it seems less useful, but for Fixed-wing Drone it seems very useful especially with wings integrated with solar panels, Unlimited power, Unlimited distance and Unlimited range
Imagine you build a network of docking towers like cell phone towers through out the country and automatically dock it when ever battery is low. The practical use cases are endless for large scale delivery drones.
I see the the main benefit as being able to descend to a very low altitude at a long distance without losing the control signal. I doubt it's available in Japan, which is a shame.
Key limit : if you're out of "direct" range (on 3/4g), and you land, you have 3 minutes to take off again, or it will prohibit takeoff. The mobile dongle is more for back / noisy environments, rather than a occusync replacement. IIRC, you need 4mbit/s from the drone all the way to the controller for it to work properly.
I was expecting lag, the literature from DJI even says there could be lag, my HONEST feedback is there was none, the transition from ocusync to 4G was seamless and had full control with immediate response times at all distances, you know by now I’d tell it like it is and if there was issues I’d say, it was flawless.
@@GAVINHR Fantastic news! We were concerned that there might be a second or two delay, this is great. And it'll save people having to apply FCC mods all the time, just to get a decent signal 😁
Excellent work Gavinhr! You are the first to post a clear video about this device. Here in Australia, the official DJI store shows this device as unavailable. Now I`m wondering if I try import and test it here would work. Do you have any extra information about dongle service availability in Australia? Cheers, take care!
Did you happen to test one out in Oz mate? The 4G dongle is currently available on Amazon Australia. I'm looking at buying the new Air 3S. It would be a bonus if we can actually get the dongle to work on an Aldi pay as you go sim or even a Telstra prepaid SIM. I'm in Melbourne 😎🇦🇺
@@sirnikolasI just bought one for my new 3S all the way from DJI Offical China, will see if it works. While researching the data plans, it seems Belong's $15 is the cheapest with sufficient data and flexibility!
@@mikeyang3776 good stuff mate! Also check out Aldi's pay as you go plans. We use their sims on alarm systems. Pretty good value. Can't wait to hear back. Good luck! I hope it works mate! 🤞🤞
Can you go into the transmission tab and turn auto off and lock it to the 4g network only? To avoid any kind of wifi interference in the area if that's the case? Can it be locked to the 4g network?
Hi Gavin , great video as always , just a quick question on the battery side of things , does the dongle connector run off the battery usb connector , does the 4g signal decrease the battery useage compared with the ocusync set up. Cheers buddy all the best.
We need that kid from the a/c commercial , you know ? The one who made this a/c that made the air in his class drop too 65* in 15 minutes that led to his mates being able to concentrate and him being the hero. Now we need him to be ours and engineer a mini nuclear power cell that can be retrofitted onto a DJI.
Now we just need this in the drones by default for the next generation, im curious what the latency will be if it were to be implemented in the next gen Avata.
@GAVINHR might do the paying 3 option then. I have a mini 3 pro at the mo and bought the dongle thinking it might be a chance of it running on the m3p. As the original dongle one from china could work on it. Albeit sone folk were locked out of it outside the Chinese mainland. My guess is it's only a software lockout if it doesn't work. So my options are upgrade to m4p or wait it out for air3 s. Chances are the dongle will be air 3 s compatible too. Or take my chances and get a dongle one from China. Would value your opinion on this thanks Gavin. All the best. Darren.
I did cover in the video but the short answer is you hotspot it to your phone and use your cell service that way or if you are flying from home also connecting it to home WiFi works
@@GAVINHR Ah thank you. That was the missing link. I can understand linking the RC2 with your cell phone as a hot spot but I still don't understand how my home wifi can connects to the cell network.
Oh, my main question. For those of us still rocking an iPhone with unlimited data and with a physical SIM card, assuming the sizes are the same, can you use the SIM card from an already active iPhone or any other phone? And nearly a gig of data…? You should do a video on that and see how much data it takes to pilot the quad normally then get into the Dongleified setup. Thanks for the video!!
I’ve been searching RUclips for a proper British review on this for the past couple of weeks as I know these are now out. I’m about to buy this for my mini 4 pro. I see the mounting kit is about a weeks wait. Please get the mini 4 pro review up when you get the mounting kit
Great video mate thanks! Anyone know if the dongle will work in a country that's not listed? I'm in Australia and the 4G dongle is available to buy on Amazon Australia but will it work...
Going to purchase one (when back in stock) for my Air 3, I sometimes lose signal briefly when filming big ships out in the Sea, It's most likely due to the ships own radar systems(sometimes the radar is off when they are waiting to dock)
I can only imagine the next generation of DJI drone will carry this feature on board without any dongle needed, and expect for a new series of remote too
the dongle sold widely in china for about 75 pounds several months ago, now it is all about out of stock, including the official site. i used in UK, it can reach 8km range with my air3, full signal! with me sitting in door, the battery being the only limiter. now, we are virtually “stretching it” in every sense of the word, but it is a game changer.
@@swcblad Have you used the alientech antenna? I was flying with it yesterday and got no additional range in Urban area compared to using the DJI antenna. Curious if someone else achieved much better performance with the Alientech antenna
I had to make an emergency landing once when it started raining hard on ME, without warning, while the drone was in sunshine. I landed in a friend's driveway. Of course I lost transmission for the last 10 meters or so of the landing. With this accessory, I would have landed on his front porch under cover.
I have yet to purchase a DJI quad or even see one in person. That being said, if I was handed one, I could probably figure it out without much difficulty as thery are designed to be intuitive. That being said, that port where the dongle is installed looks like it’s not just an afterthought for nickel and dime add-ons, there’s purpose that compartment. Are there other “Dongles” ( gotta love that word) in the same form factor as the 4g bit of kit or is this it? And if this is it, these drones have been just cruising around waiting for someone to fill that void. All kinds of cool, weird, etc… Thanks for the video.
At 5:01 u can see a prop and the arm from a drone but the dongle is yet only compatible with mini 4 pro and the air 3 so that means that he has leaked a picture of the mini 5 pro
If I understand this correctly you don’t have to put a SIM card in the 4G dongle in your drone but I use the SIM card from your phone by means of a hotspot. But how can your drone use the SIM card in your phone when it’s let say 500 meters away from you and it looses the RC connection?
Mini 3 pro new firmware out. Can you do the test and see if anything has changed ? Interesting video about the 4g. I think in uk this will be a limited use. (My opinion ) if DJI launch a cloud elimination service I will be the first to sub .
I’ve bought one to try test it on mini 3 pro too. Let’s hope it’s not locked out by the software. I do know there is the Chinese dongle 1 that works on the m3p but wanted to test this out first.
@@haroonvlogs5437I know I’m hoping for a lot. It could be the excuse needed to upgrade as from what I’ve read on forums. Buying the Chinese dongle 1 has its risks of being barred for used outside the Chinese mainland. I know some users have got theirs working but it would be my luck to have a bricked dongle a few days after buying it. 😂
Well if you do please do consider using the affiliate link in the description it really helps! Power consumption is pretty unmeasurable as I wouldn’t be able to replicate exact conditions however I didn’t notice any particular less flight time than what I would normally
I got my dongle last week and have had one flight so far. I flew from my garden but was unable to lose the O4 connection so didn't get the dangle to kick in. I will try again in a couple of days from my local flying site. Good video by the way.
Nice one gavin been checking my phone since you last posted lol great review and literally just ordered, so hopefully, it will be here before i go away. I must say ive been looking, and i think you're the only one in the uk. As far as i can see, that's reviewed this most if what I've seen is from China. Well, as soon as it comes, I'll let you know and better make sure i got my spotters on the way to the moon 😂😂😂.
Well it’s important tech and really is a game changer so I wanted to get it out there as I really see the value in it - please do let me know how you get on !
Hi there. I’m having this 4G dongle for couple of months now, it was impossible to use it until now because there was no ENHANCED TRANSMISSION option. Now when I connect it always says GROUND NETWORK DISABLED and AREAL NETWORK DISABLED, I can not turn on the enhanced transmission from main screen and when I go into transmission menu it turns on (blue) but it turns off when I leave the menu, in short, I can’t turn on the Enhanced Transmission mode.
Great informative video, now I know why I couldn’t get it working the other day, I didn’t have my phone connected to the rc2 controller, just a couple of questions do I need to switch it on or is it automatic and does it use any extra data from my phone
You will need to switch hotspot on and toggle it on the dji fly app then you're good to go, it will use some of your phone data yes I will pick that up in the next video I have missed that
All we need is a change in the laws and then DJI can add inductive charging and private homes can add landing pad and charger on their roof for a discount. We could literally use drones as private mail carriers. Imagine if we could use AI to send light equipment and products unlimited distances for deliveries.
Hi Gavin, great video!! I have one question for you, please: will the dongle be consuming data when the drone has good O4 signal connection? Or does it just start consuming data when the O4 connection is lost? Thank you! Rui, from Portugal 🙂
Hi there, I would love to answer with confidence but unfortunately I’m not 100% sure, I can try monitor data when I use the mini 4 pro, I suspect it is constantly using data but at lesser amounts when using O4
@@GAVINHR Thank very much for your reply. I'm very interested in buying one of those dongles, but unfortunately in Portugal the unlimited mobile data is quite expensive, thus my concern. I look forward for your next test then, hopefully it will be soon. 🙂
Can you explain what the "DJI 1 year subscription" piece is about in the next video. It seems like DJI are holding open the option to bill for their part of the connection after a year..? Also is it possible to launch with only 4G or do you have to start with WifI?
Yeah I mentioned it all in this video including the price, on initial take off you need O4, if you lose O4 and land using 4G you have 180 seconds to take back off or you will require an O4 connection again
@@GAVINHR - thanks man, was trying to the the lowdown so was skipping through different videos - Alot of other reviews didn't even really get it going, so your video is gold.. For feedback, the first couple of mins was a lot of introduction without telling us what is coming later in the video - thus my skipping.. however, love what you are doing so have subscribed. Looking forward to the mini review when you get to it as that is what I would be using it for. (Would also love an Avata2 version DJI !). Keep up the good work.
Can we get rid of the government signal blocking devices with this device? In Turkey, the state has ILTER device, and it changes the HOME POINT location of the device to a very far place. It also blocks all input from the RC.
Thank you for the review, it was very very useful. I wonder why only now they did it. The idea was in the air since the the first Phantoms back in 2015. This is perfect for city environment.
Interesting video, well done. When you say you use spotters do you mean you have multiple spotters along the path the drone is going to fly or do you mean something else?
THIS is the regulation... For the purposes of point (2)(b), remote pilots may be assisted by an unmanned aircraft observer. In such case, clear and effective communication shall be established between the remote pilot and the unmanned aircraft observer.
I answered that question in the video. Feel free to watch it again however if it’s using ocusync .. yes you can if it’s using the 4G then no as it’s a safety feature
DJI says no to me buying a Dongle 2, US. Could you do a Power Point drawing/slide about the data routing, I'm not sure but I thought I heard you say from controller -> phone 4G -> 4G network -> China data server -> 4G network -> 4G Dongle 2 ??
Yes both connect to an online server and communicate that way. You can buy the dongle but I don't know if it will work for you, apparently it is working perfectly in California with Tmobile/Verison
my question is, if I am 50 km from the drone, someone turns it on and I have the controller with me and the dongle attached to the drone, would it work?
I was looking for this for some time, but there were no reviews and the Chinese said I have to buy 2 dongles one for the controller and another one for drone. But I see it is working with jist one. Thanks.
Good video overall, but there's a big gap in the SIM card explanation. First you say the dongle needs a SIM, then you show a phone used as the display and say the phone has connectivity to the phone network, then say if you have the RC controller with display you can connect the phone to RC via WiFi. All confusing. 1. Does the dongle need a SIM regardless of the RC you use? And if so, what type? SIM cards change with model of phone, so what are the requirements? 2. If you use your phone, then a SIM card isn't needed for the dongle? Please explain. I had a Parrot (French) drone with cellular capability, but NO ONE at Parrot customer service (or the American dealer of the drone) could explain how to set up that feature. I tried for weeks, then returned the drone.
Dongle needs a sim 100% of the time, a nano sim which is the industry standard size these days. Then your RC / RC2 needs a cellular connection also which it will get from having cell service or in the case of RC2 you will need to hotspot it on location unless you have WiFi access. Hope this clarifies
@@GAVINHR Thanks Gavin. It helps, a little. Next question is what type of SIM to order? Big providers like Tmobile and Verizon state that "The SIM stores your account information and connects your device to the T‑Mobile network." When you buy and activate a SIM, you first have to tell the provider the make/model of your phone and then go through an activation process. Not possible with a dongle. I went through all this - with no results in sight - with the Parrot drone. So, what SIM do you buy and does it have to be on my mobile phone plan or can it be independent? The dongle must use the same 4G network, otherwise your RC cannot "talk" to the drone. This topic is more involved than it appears.
@peterinpensacola any mobile / network sim should work, why don’t you simply try the one out of your phone whilst connected to a WiFi home network? They don’t need to be the same network at all.
@@GAVINHR Gavin, it's not that simple. You can buy any nano SIM, but then how do you activate it? It won't work unless activated on someone's network. Agreed the dongle SIM does not have to be on the same phone plan as the RC phone (just as any mobile phone can call any other mobile phone), but the dongle SIM has to access somebody's network to work. How do you activate a SIM in a dongle? First thing they ask is what make/model of phone is it (they assume you are activating a phone)? When you tell the SIM provider you are activating a drone or a dongle for a drone they will be lost and tell you "not allowed." Been there, done that.
@@GAVINHR Good idea to try the SIM from my mobile phone, but then I'd have no phone for the RC to do a test! My provider will send all the free nano SIMS I want, but activating them (to gain access to mobile networks) is another story. Questions: 1. Does the dongle have an IMEI number? Every m0bile device requires one. 2. What SIM did you buy for your dongle and what was required to activate it? 3. Does the dongle need a voice plan or only data?
With all of the current legal handwringing on DJI and worries of China capturing video without the user's consent I unfortunately doubt this will ever make it to the US. As shown in this video the feed is sent through a DJI proxy service to mirror back to the controller via the Internet. The paranoid will guess that they are capturing and spying on all of the footage.
So an excellent video. A recommendation as well, if going to the EU, Lebara is a good sim and allow 30GB at no extra charge.. enough for hotspots and drone flying especially in those built up areas. I live in an area full of old buildings that block the signal so tgis is perfect. Nothing more irritating than signal loss for a quickshot. Great video Gav.
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
This is incredible. Now I can take a shit in my basement while flying my drone on the other side of the globe.
No, you cannot take off using 4K only.
Link to extended battery plz 😅
@@jakobergson My drone can =)
That is the most visceral, yet concise insight into the potential of this technology!
@@jakobergsoncan I take off with 1080P?
I installed the dongle today and it works great! I’m from The Netherlands and I’m using the sim card from my phone (Vodafone) and use my WiFi at home as a hotspot just to test it out. 3 km away and still a full 4G connection! 😁
Fantastic stuff! It’s certainly impressive kit - i appreciate you taking the time to feedback positive results
@@GAVINHRyou’re welcome!
Is there a way to get this to work in the United States??
Sorry for the neophyte question but how does your home WIFI connect to the cellular service?
hey Ron waar kocht je die, bedankt alvast
Sitting in my living room with the drone's video output on my TV would be incredible.
Let's be honest: you're gonna use the extended battery on the mini4 pro with this device anyways, so the weight limit is already out the window.
the irony is even sticking the operator ID on a drone can put it to 250g and thats a legal requirement
@GAVINHR Yeah, that's funny how that works. Gov is gonna force DJI to sell smaller batteries, too, just to have a compliance option.
And not allowed in Europe, it has to be under 250gram.
@ReadeRomke drones can be over 249g it only affects where you can fly it? This is a popular mistake I see being made, the drone isn’t suddenly grounded if you go over 249g you just you it further away from people like you do a bigger drone
of all the auditor videos I've seen the police never weigh the drones - so if you say its a mini 3 or 4 pro then doesnt matter if youre using the extended battery lol
Geez finally. This existed in China for awhile
Now we just need solar panels on our drones
Oh?
It's gross how far ahead Asia is from. Western tech
@@Matanumi your propaganda commentary makes no sense. Dji is a Chinese brand. The drones that they sell in the west are not "western tech" just like 4G isn't anything revolutionary or advanced. It's just a service that Dji has not offered in other countries for a while, just like Apple for example does that for offering certain services or products or features outside of America sometimes.
@@Matanumicheap labor and immorally stealing every original design and doing a poor job of copying it and producing knock off products. Not miles ahead of anyone 😂🤣
@@Matanumi jikes you're dumb
@@ryngrd1 are you a time traveler from the 90's recently arrived in 2024?
Well informed video Gavin - Fantastic piece of kit - no more panicking anymore when starting to loose signal
Yep, 4G takes over, Ocusync is amazing but this is incredible
That is awesome. Im upgrading to the mini 4 now. The trees always get me. But not with that. Thanks for the video
I have also been using the enhanced transmission mode with my Mavic 3 and the Dongle 1, works very nicely
yeah same here dongle 1 works fine on my mavic 3 as well i got one inside my RC Pro and the other sits on the mavic 3 in its mounting cradle,also works with my mini 3 pro
Great, concise video. First I’ve seen on the tech piece so far.
Thanks again!
Just wanted to say good video!
Thank you very much
First video of yours I've watched. Well done subscribed, keep them coming.
@@BDrechsel thank you kindly 👍
for drones it seems less useful, but for Fixed-wing Drone it seems very useful especially with wings integrated with solar panels, Unlimited power, Unlimited distance and Unlimited range
Yea I always utilize spotters too 😉
Got to be responsible eh! 😀
Doesn't everybody 😂
Imagine you build a network of docking towers like cell phone towers through out the country and automatically dock it when ever battery is low. The practical use cases are endless for large scale delivery drones.
I see the the main benefit as being able to descend to a very low altitude at a long distance without losing the control signal. I doubt it's available in Japan, which is a shame.
Yes indeed, Not sure about JPN maybe check with DJI support they may be able to advise :)
great video gavin i was wondering about real world testing of this dongle and youve just answered all my questions top man and of course top channel
Thank you very kindly! I tried to cover everything I could think of
Key limit : if you're out of "direct" range (on 3/4g), and you land, you have 3 minutes to take off again, or it will prohibit takeoff.
The mobile dongle is more for back / noisy environments, rather than a occusync replacement.
IIRC, you need 4mbit/s from the drone all the way to the controller for it to work properly.
Yes all correct, 3 minutes is enough though but I think DJI could extend that in an update
it's must have in Europe... regulations here crippled signal strength... even the eye sight distance is hardly achievable
Given the data and connection between drone and controller is being routed through servers based in China, what's the lag like Gavin?
I was expecting lag, the literature from DJI even says there could be lag, my HONEST feedback is there was none, the transition from ocusync to 4G was seamless and had full control with immediate response times at all distances, you know by now I’d tell it like it is and if there was issues I’d say, it was flawless.
@@GAVINHR Fantastic news! We were concerned that there might be a second or two delay, this is great. And it'll save people having to apply FCC mods all the time, just to get a decent signal 😁
I think it is connecting through China DJI servers but transmision is directly p2p between drone and cellural phone.
Well this is legal so nobody can complain I guess !
I wonder if the servers are actually in the UK or Europe.
Brilliant video. Looking forward to mine on Wednesday.
Does it definitely only use data? Doesn't ever send a text?
Nope just data !
Excellent work Gavinhr! You are the first to post a clear video about this device. Here in Australia, the official DJI store shows this device as unavailable. Now I`m wondering if I try import and test it here would work. Do you have any extra information about dongle service availability in Australia? Cheers, take care!
I would love to be able to say yes but sadly I do not have that info, Maybe check with DJI support and see what they can advise ? thanks for watching
Did you happen to test one out in Oz mate? The 4G dongle is currently available on Amazon Australia. I'm looking at buying the new Air 3S. It would be a bonus if we can actually get the dongle to work on an Aldi pay as you go sim or even a Telstra prepaid SIM. I'm in Melbourne 😎🇦🇺
@@sirnikolasI just bought one for my new 3S all the way from DJI Offical China, will see if it works. While researching the data plans, it seems Belong's $15 is the cheapest with sufficient data and flexibility!
@@mikeyang3776 good stuff mate!
Also check out Aldi's pay as you go plans. We use their sims on alarm systems. Pretty good value.
Can't wait to hear back. Good luck! I hope it works mate! 🤞🤞
DJI needs to release a Wing now.
That would be so cool like the parrot one
Brilliant bit of kit nice review mate looking forward to seeing the mini 4 with it on
Thanks mate hopefully soon!
Every time I watch your video I end up needing to spend money on new tech 😂
Yeeeeaaaahhhhh Sorry about that! use my link though yeah? :P
Can you go into the transmission tab and turn auto off and lock it to the 4g network only? To avoid any kind of wifi interference in the area if that's the case? Can it be locked to the 4g network?
Hi Gavin , great video as always , just a quick question on the battery side of things , does the dongle connector run off the battery usb connector , does the 4g signal decrease the battery useage compared with the ocusync set up. Cheers buddy all the best.
Hi John, yes runs off the drones battery, I saw no noticeable dip in battery life using it mate so certainly not a deciding factor
We need that kid from the a/c commercial , you know ? The one who made this a/c that made the air in his class drop too 65* in 15 minutes that led to his mates being able to concentrate and him being the hero. Now we need him to be ours and engineer a mini nuclear power cell that can be retrofitted onto a DJI.
Or even just a way to land on a tall building and recharge with solar until the mini nuclear power cell is perfected 😂
Thanks for the great video. It arrived in my feed shortly after you published it so the RUclips algorithm worked well.
I’ll take that! Thanks for watching
so as there has a 4g connection there can still fly no matter the distance right?
Now we just need this in the drones by default for the next generation, im curious what the latency will be if it were to be implemented in the next gen Avata.
That would be nice, latency seemed fine for this, would it be enough for a fast FPV? would love to try it!
Great video. Would this work with the Goggles 3 / RC2 / Air 3 combo?
Awesome! i need to save up for a mini 4 pro or the air 3 with this dongle attached.
Argos do 0% finance over 12 months
Yep! Or the best thing is open a very credit account and get 20% off!
@@GAVINHR at 44.9% APR I think I'll pass on that discount. 😅
@@CaledonianCoins you pay it off before the interest starts :)
@GAVINHR might do the paying 3 option then. I have a mini 3 pro at the mo and bought the dongle thinking it might be a chance of it running on the m3p. As the original dongle one from china could work on it. Albeit sone folk were locked out of it outside the Chinese mainland.
My guess is it's only a software lockout if it doesn't work. So my options are upgrade to m4p or wait it out for air3 s.
Chances are the dongle will be air 3 s compatible too.
Or take my chances and get a dongle one from China.
Would value your opinion on this thanks Gavin.
All the best.
Darren.
Thanks for providing the super information.
Sorry for the neophyte question but how does the RC2 controller connect to the cellular service?
I did cover in the video but the short answer is you hotspot it to your phone and use your cell service that way or if you are flying from home also connecting it to home WiFi works
@@GAVINHR Ah thank you. That was the missing link. I can understand linking the RC2 with your cell phone as a hot spot but I still don't understand how my home wifi can connects to the cell network.
@@DarR1299 Drone 4G data --> Online server --> Your WiFi or second sim.
Oh, my main question. For those of us still rocking an iPhone with unlimited data and with a physical SIM card, assuming the sizes are the same, can you use the SIM card from an already active iPhone or any other phone?
And nearly a gig of data…? You should do a video on that and see how much data it takes to pilot the quad normally then get into the Dongleified setup.
Thanks for the video!!
Yep you sure can 👌
I’ve been searching RUclips for a proper British review on this for the past couple of weeks as I know these are now out. I’m about to buy this for my mini 4 pro. I see the mounting kit is about a weeks wait. Please get the mini 4 pro review up when you get the mounting kit
Of course! Apparently it’s coming Thursday, I ordered it on the 30th June so already been quite a while 🕣
@@GAVINHR interesting, on the dji store it’s saying estimated delivery is 23rd. Where have you got yours from?
Got it from the DJI store it’s the only place you can get it at the moment I believe
@@GAVINHR hello mate! Did the mounting kit turn up?
@paulhiggins5266 yes finally! Puts the mini 4 pro to 292g and works as expected !
Hi Gavin great review, can I ask what sim you used. Thanks
incredible technology, holy shit
It's just a 4g/lte dongle lol
Great video mate thanks!
Anyone know if the dongle will work in a country that's not listed? I'm in Australia and the 4G dongle is available to buy on Amazon Australia but will it work...
Great video mate!
You could test the Dongle with the new update that came out today. V00.02.0023 and let us know if you felt any improvement in performance?
Going to purchase one (when back in stock) for my Air 3, I sometimes lose signal briefly when filming big ships out in the Sea, It's most likely due to the ships own radar systems(sometimes the radar is off when they are waiting to dock)
Yep, I film vessels also and have the same problem although often I’m on board taking off from them :)
Great video! Just one question. The data use is starting when you turn on enhanced mode or when 4G signal is only available?
I believe it uses a little data for the connection when it’s turned on then of course fully when it’s using 4G only
9:35 I like that bit about the spotters 😉
I can only imagine the next generation of DJI drone will carry this feature on board without any dongle needed, and expect for a new series of remote too
Yeah well hopefully they don’t cokkkblock certain countries like they’re doing now
Not for mini series for sure, due to weight issues.
@cantkeepitin it fits the mini 4 pro, DJI sell a mounting kit
Fantastic video, I've been waiting for someone to cover this 👍👍👍
Thank you !
Great review Gavin! So does this mean I can fly farther away to a greater distance bec of its 4G connectivity?
Yes essentially that’s the case !
the dongle sold widely in china for about 75 pounds several months ago, now it is all about out of stock, including the official site. i used in UK, it can reach 8km range with my air3, full signal! with me sitting in door, the battery being the only limiter. now, we are virtually “stretching it” in every sense of the word, but it is a game changer.
Yep! Incredible range!
@@GAVINHRit makes FCC hack obsolete, and the much more expensive alien tech antenna so as well.
Wooooow! Incredible!👌👌👌👌
@@swcblad Have you used the alientech antenna? I was flying with it yesterday and got no additional range in Urban area compared to using the DJI antenna. Curious if someone else achieved much better performance with the Alientech antenna
@@MiguelGarciaNaude nope, because the price is too much for me, plus the size is also off putting...
I had to make an emergency landing once when it started raining hard on ME, without warning, while the drone was in sunshine. I landed in a friend's driveway. Of course I lost transmission for the last 10 meters or so of the landing. With this accessory, I would have landed on his front porch under cover.
Yep that would have been the case providing 4g coverage. I’ve tried it and it works exactly like that
I have yet to purchase a DJI quad or even see one in person. That being said, if I was handed one, I could probably figure it out without much difficulty as thery are designed to be intuitive. That being said, that port where the dongle is installed looks like it’s not just an afterthought for nickel and dime add-ons, there’s purpose that compartment.
Are there other “Dongles” ( gotta love that word) in the same form factor as the 4g bit of kit or is this it? And if this is it, these drones have been just cruising around waiting for someone to fill that void. All kinds of cool, weird, etc…
Thanks for the video.
At 5:01 u can see a prop and the arm from a drone but the dongle is yet only compatible with mini 4 pro and the air 3 so that means that he has leaked a picture of the mini 5 pro
he used it with his Air 3 as he does not have the mini 4 holder for the Dongle 2 yet .
If I understand this correctly you don’t have to put a SIM card in the 4G dongle in your drone but I use the SIM card from your phone by means of a hotspot. But how can your drone use the SIM card in your phone when it’s let say 500 meters away from you and it looses the RC connection?
My question is, could the air 3 use a rtk module using the same slot if a third party make it and custom firmware?
Great review buddy. It's amazing the difference the 4g connection made 😮👍
Thanks matey!
great review 😎👍
I'm guessing when starlink brings out the 4G to standard phones soon, that this will be an even bigger game changer. 🤔
Superb info - I agree, a game changer - no doubt! Thanks mate
You’re welcome thanks for watching!
Mini 3 pro new firmware out. Can you do the test and see if anything has changed ?
Interesting video about the 4g. I think in uk this will be a limited use. (My opinion ) if DJI launch a cloud elimination service I will be the first to sub .
I’ve bought one to try test it on mini 3 pro too. Let’s hope it’s not locked out by the software.
I do know there is the Chinese dongle 1 that works on the m3p but wanted to test this out first.
@@CaledonianCoins I don’t think it works with mini 3 or mini 3 pro .
@@haroonvlogs5437I know I’m hoping for a lot. It could be the excuse needed to upgrade as from what I’ve read on forums. Buying the Chinese dongle 1 has its risks of being barred for used outside the Chinese mainland. I know some users have got theirs working but it would be my luck to have a bricked dongle a few days after buying it. 😂
Doesn't work with the mini 3 😊
Unreal. I am buying this today
Fantastic im tempted to buy the mini 4 & dongle how much power does it drain
Well if you do please do consider using the affiliate link in the description it really helps! Power consumption is pretty unmeasurable as I wouldn’t be able to replicate exact conditions however I didn’t notice any particular less flight time than what I would normally
Freakin sweet dude!!! Mine is otw!!
I got my dongle last week and have had one flight so far. I flew from my garden but was unable to lose the O4 connection so didn't get the dangle to kick in. I will try again in a couple of days from my local flying site. Good video by the way.
O4 is about as good as they come, I was surprised it lost connection so soon on this flight but hey at least its a solid back up!
Yes, once you use o4, very hard to go back to say, o2
Hello, works on DJI Avata 2?
Very good and informative Video and the first Video RUclips shows me about it. Good work 💪🏽
Thank you very kindly !
Nice one gavin been checking my phone since you last posted lol great review and literally just ordered, so hopefully, it will be here before i go away. I must say ive been looking, and i think you're the only one in the uk. As far as i can see, that's reviewed this most if what I've seen is from China. Well, as soon as it comes, I'll let you know and better make sure i got my spotters on the way to the moon 😂😂😂.
Well it’s important tech and really is a game changer so I wanted to get it out there as I really see the value in it - please do let me know how you get on !
Definitely. Thanks for the video
Great video mate, Im guessing the dongle would be interchangeable between the Mini4P and the Air3 if i have both?
Yep!
Can i use the data on my phone if i use rc n2 for this?
Hi mate great content. I have just bought this hope it's not a waste of money lol. How much of a date plan do you think would be needed?
It’s around 850 mb per battery based on pretty much the full flight using 4g
@@GAVINHR so close to 3gig a flight if ur using it all the time with 3 batteries 🔋
@slhk5848 potentially yes 👍
6 euro is unlimited 4G and 5G tho..
Vert useful video. It would be good if DJI inbuilt the 4G module in future drones
I think that will come in due course, or the drone will have a direct sim slot or ESIM capabilities
Hi there.
I’m having this 4G dongle for couple of months now, it was impossible to use it until now because there was no ENHANCED TRANSMISSION option.
Now when I connect it always says GROUND NETWORK DISABLED and AREAL NETWORK DISABLED, I can not turn on the enhanced transmission from main screen and when I go into transmission menu it turns on (blue) but it turns off when I leave the menu, in short, I can’t turn on the Enhanced Transmission mode.
Would this be backwards compatible with the mini 3 pro in the eu or will the 1st gen still have to be used?
Could you use it for live streaming from the drone?
Great informative video, now I know why I couldn’t get it working the other day, I didn’t have my phone connected to the rc2 controller, just a couple of questions do I need to switch it on or is it automatic and does it use any extra data from my phone
There is already documentation on dji website
You will need to switch hotspot on and toggle it on the dji fly app then you're good to go, it will use some of your phone data yes I will pick that up in the next video I have missed that
So can this be turned on mid flight or do I need to set it up pre-flight? I would be using my phone’s hot spot
*Can you do a city test please?*
Yes that’s already completed I just need to put the video together
All we need is a change in the laws and then DJI can add inductive charging and private homes can add landing pad and charger on their roof for a discount. We could literally use drones as private mail carriers. Imagine if we could use AI to send light equipment and products unlimited distances for deliveries.
Hi Gavin, great video!!
I have one question for you, please: will the dongle be consuming data when the drone has good O4 signal connection? Or does it just start consuming data when the O4 connection is lost?
Thank you! Rui, from Portugal 🙂
Hi there, I would love to answer with confidence but unfortunately I’m not 100% sure, I can try monitor data when I use the mini 4 pro, I suspect it is constantly using data but at lesser amounts when using O4
@@GAVINHR
Thank very much for your reply. I'm very interested in buying one of those dongles, but unfortunately in Portugal the unlimited mobile data is quite expensive, thus my concern. I look forward for your next test then, hopefully it will be soon. 🙂
Does it work in australia? Im thinking of getting one when u return to the uk as you cant purchase in Australia.
Get one on Aliexpress
Can you explain what the "DJI 1 year subscription" piece is about in the next video. It seems like DJI are holding open the option to bill for their part of the connection after a year..?
Also is it possible to launch with only 4G or do you have to start with WifI?
Yeah I mentioned it all in this video including the price, on initial take off you need O4, if you lose O4 and land using 4G you have 180 seconds to take back off or you will require an O4 connection again
@@GAVINHR - thanks man, was trying to the the lowdown so was skipping through different videos - Alot of other reviews didn't even really get it going, so your video is gold.. For feedback, the first couple of mins was a lot of introduction without telling us what is coming later in the video - thus my skipping.. however, love what you are doing so have subscribed. Looking forward to the mini review when you get to it as that is what I would be using it for. (Would also love an Avata2 version DJI !). Keep up the good work.
@@matchalance yeah I just wanted to make it a full comprehensive video from the beginning, glad you found it useful and thanks for the sub
Can we get rid of the government signal blocking devices with this device?
In Turkey, the state has ILTER device, and it changes the HOME POINT location of the device to a very far place. It also blocks all input from the RC.
A sneaky shot of Helsinki 😊 Nice one Gavin
Thank you for the review, it was very very useful. I wonder why only now they did it. The idea was in the air since the the first Phantoms back in 2015. This is perfect for city environment.
Thinking of buying DJI Air 3s, does the drone need registration to fly around outside of No-Fly zones?
Generally most countries will require registration for a drone that size yes 👍
Interesting video, well done. When you say you use spotters do you mean you have multiple spotters along the path the drone is going to fly or do you mean something else?
THIS is the regulation... For the purposes of point (2)(b), remote pilots may be assisted by an unmanned
aircraft observer. In such case, clear and effective communication shall be
established between the remote pilot and the unmanned aircraft observer.
@@GAVINHR Aha okay I see now. Thanks.
This is marvelous! I have the Air 2S currently. I'm guessing this is not an option for that drone? I am however getting the Air 3S when it comes out
Your spotter has good eyesight if he can see your drone that far away. As per CAA rules spotter has to be stood next to you.
wrong... read the law rather than guidance.
www.caa.co.uk/publication/download/17981?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR25XLd44Uc9k3g8Kux45zBcSkhpiSL12jSDbl4d6hj8h3y3RceRU8cQDxw_aem_5afdDigrRadUolkT5akHaQ
so does it work on the mavic 3 pro
Hello, I wonder if is it possible to switch on/off "4g" during the flight?
I answered that question in the video. Feel free to watch it again however if it’s using ocusync .. yes you can if it’s using the 4G then no as it’s a safety feature
DJI says no to me buying a Dongle 2, US. Could you do a Power Point drawing/slide about the data routing, I'm not sure but I thought I heard you say from controller -> phone 4G -> 4G network -> China data server -> 4G network -> 4G Dongle 2 ??
Yes both connect to an online server and communicate that way. You can buy the dongle but I don't know if it will work for you, apparently it is working perfectly in California with Tmobile/Verison
my question is, if I am 50 km from the drone, someone turns it on and I have the controller with me and the dongle attached to the drone, would it work?
I was looking for this for some time, but there were no reviews and the Chinese said I have to buy 2 dongles one for the controller and another one for drone. But I see it is working with jist one. Thanks.
Good video overall, but there's a big gap in the SIM card explanation. First you say the dongle needs a SIM, then you show a phone used as the display and say the phone has connectivity to the phone network, then say if you have the RC controller with display you can connect the phone to RC via WiFi. All confusing. 1. Does the dongle need a SIM regardless of the RC you use? And if so, what type? SIM cards change with model of phone, so what are the requirements? 2. If you use your phone, then a SIM card isn't needed for the dongle? Please explain. I had a Parrot (French) drone with cellular capability, but NO ONE at Parrot customer service (or the American dealer of the drone) could explain how to set up that feature. I tried for weeks, then returned the drone.
Dongle needs a sim 100% of the time, a nano sim which is the industry standard size these days. Then your RC / RC2 needs a cellular connection also which it will get from having cell service or in the case of RC2 you will need to hotspot it on location unless you have WiFi access. Hope this clarifies
@@GAVINHR Thanks Gavin. It helps, a little. Next question is what type of SIM to order? Big providers like Tmobile and Verizon state that "The SIM stores your account information and connects your device to the T‑Mobile network." When you buy and activate a SIM, you first have to tell the provider the make/model of your phone and then go through an activation process. Not possible with a dongle. I went through all this - with no results in sight - with the Parrot drone. So, what SIM do you buy and does it have to be on my mobile phone plan or can it be independent? The dongle must use the same 4G network, otherwise your RC cannot "talk" to the drone. This topic is more involved than it appears.
@peterinpensacola any mobile / network sim should work, why don’t you simply try the one out of your phone whilst connected to a WiFi home network? They don’t need to be the same network at all.
@@GAVINHR Gavin, it's not that simple. You can buy any nano SIM, but then how do you activate it? It won't work unless activated on someone's network. Agreed the dongle SIM does not have to be on the same phone plan as the RC phone (just as any mobile phone can call any other mobile phone), but the dongle SIM has to access somebody's network to work. How do you activate a SIM in a dongle? First thing they ask is what make/model of phone is it (they assume you are activating a phone)? When you tell the SIM provider you are activating a drone or a dongle for a drone they will be lost and tell you "not allowed." Been there, done that.
@@GAVINHR Good idea to try the SIM from my mobile phone, but then I'd have no phone for the RC to do a test! My provider will send all the free nano SIMS I want, but activating them (to gain access to mobile networks) is another story. Questions: 1. Does the dongle have an IMEI number? Every m0bile device requires one. 2. What SIM did you buy for your dongle and what was required to activate it? 3. Does the dongle need a voice plan or only data?
Интересно если на большом удалении снизится до низкой высоты сигнал не будет потерян?
Amazing video - I have not had a chance to test it my self yet
Thank you Henrik you need to !
Hello Gavin, as I understood, besides, do you have to subscribe the dongle in your DJI account?
Yes I covered it in the video, the first year is free then you pay to renew
@@GAVINHR thanks
This is an excellent video. Thank you so much👏👏👏👏
Thank you for watching!
That’s one of the best reviews I’ve seen in awhile you’ve done a great job thank you
I really appreciate that thank you
I hope DJI brings the dongle to America soon!
With all of the current legal handwringing on DJI and worries of China capturing video without the user's consent I unfortunately doubt this will ever make it to the US. As shown in this video the feed is sent through a DJI proxy service to mirror back to the controller via the Internet. The paranoid will guess that they are capturing and spying on all of the footage.
I'm not sure when this video was posted, but it looks like I can get it here in California…
@Magicinstalls oh that’s nice! Thanks for letting me know
As of 10/24, can NOT get it in California (at least from DJI's site). ;(
So an excellent video. A recommendation as well, if going to the EU, Lebara is a good sim and allow 30GB at no extra charge.. enough for hotspots and drone flying especially in those built up areas. I live in an area full of old buildings that block the signal so tgis is perfect. Nothing more irritating than signal loss for a quickshot. Great video Gav.
@@donology funnily enough I just got one. MSE doing £1 a month for 7 months, 15 gig. Monthly rolling contract.
Thanks for that feedback my friend! hope yours arrives soon!
How come I can not find this dongle for sale on DJI store ?. I can't find it anywhere 😢😢
store.dji.com/uk/product/dji-cellular-2
So it basically allow you fly further and have better transmission but you’re still limited by the battery?
Yes indeed, we need drones with solar panels!