From Within the Wheelhouse
Tips & Tricks
DroneStripe’s founder Wes Mossing has compiled a large list of drone-related and drone services tips & tricks during his career as a Drone Surveillance Specialist. There isn’t a doubt you will learn something new here, and if you don’t, please share your insights within the DroneStripe community. DroneStripers will appreciate you for it!
DroneStripe Ltd. currently only provides UAVÂ information specific to Canada. We are currently collecting international UAV information which will be added to the site in future updates.
- Always review the owner’s manual before your first flight. There is crucial information that will help you learn how to best operate your drone PLUS tips to keep your drone damage-free.
- Be aware of your surroundings and avoid obstacles to the best of your ability. Lighting and flight speed are two factors that play into your ability to stay in control of your drone.
Always avoid animals. The ultrasound waves emitted from your drone can cause unease for animals. - Always fly in an open area when you’re learning and avoid crowds. People can be distracting and you need all your focus to fly safely when learning.
- Calibrate your compass before a flight and always charge your battery fully.
- Set a return to home altitude to keep your drone safe from obstacles on the way back.
Check your GPS signal to ensure it’s strong enough for a safe flight.
- Use dimension to your advantage when taking photos. Create a proper foreground, middle ground and background to ensure your photos have depth and movement.
- Avoid jerky movements. To take quality photos and videos you need smooth movements with your drone.
- Always focus on natural shots when snapping photos or videos.
- Utilize natural elements. Fly your drone close to large landscape elements like rocks or trees to add depth.
- Fly backwards instead of forward. Flying backward gives a unique perspective that reveals details in your video instead of focusing on one point.
- You should always fly legally. If you’re in Canada, check out the Transport Canada website for details. If you’re in the US, check out the FAA website for details.
- Be mindful of the weather. If the conditions aren’t right to fly safely, delay until there are more favourable conditions.
- Take the time to protect your drone from hackers.
- Invest in the right product. If you’re a beginner, invest in a beginner-level drone. For more advanced users, focus on a drone that has the features you can handle.
- Practice makes perfect and you’re never too experienced to forgo improving your skills.
Always complete a preflight checklist
- Get familiar with your drone’s settings. There are hundreds of options so by taking the time to familiarize yourself, you will be able to determine the best settings for what you do with your drone and your skillset.
- Establish flight patterns. Once you’ve practiced basic flying techniques, practice circling around objects, flying low to the ground, navigating near obstacles, etc.
- Learn to fly without the use of your GPS first. Once you’ve established your skills, then begin using the GPS tool.
- Use manual mode after you’ve had significant practice flying.
- Practice flying toward yourself. Since the controls are backwards from this standpoint, you will increase your awareness and skills that will help you avoid dangerous situations in the future.
