Thanks for the tips Steeve. I will use them when it's warm enough up here to ride my bike again. I've heard some people saying that colorful clothes help the neo to follow.
I agree with everything you said in this video, I have found the same to be true in my walking test. Knowing how to move in such a way as to lead it away from objects is an art form, LOL. Great video Steve, and thanks for sharing.
Haha! It really is a bit of an art form isn't it? It's kind of amazing how much you can manipulate it. The tracking is surprisingly good too. If it just had a dash of obstacle avoidance we would really be cooking! Thanks for stopping by Ron, cheers!
Nice tips! I can add after my first flight while mountainbiking: hairpins won´t follow if you're not visible all the time. And riding towards the sun makes the Neo blind, so it will stop following.
Okay, so post viewing, this was actually some good tips. Practical, useful. I might challenge the statement that theres zero obstacle avoidance on Neo. Lets agree that theres no avoidance in flight, at speed. It will stop for objects, when flying at "Tripod Mode" speeds. Try flying it into yourself -slowly! Mine stops and will not proceed. Not sure "Avoidance" is the right term. Object Awareness, we'll call it! 😂
Thanks John, I appreciate the detailed comment and the view. The User Manual has some conflicting information on how it deals with obstacles. In the "Flight Operation" section as well as the sections on Follow and Direction Track, it says the Neo does not feature "obstacle sensing". In the Cruise Control section it mentions braking when it "senses an obstacle". The product manuals sometimes feel a bit like copy/paste from other drones and I haven't specifically tested that, so I'll have to put a pin in that one. In my experience there's definitely no "avoidance" happening - haha! I have oodles of footage where it's hitting stuff while following me. It's just really good at handling the bumps and pressing on. I'm not sure if the "sensing" part is just that it senses something between it and me, so it hovers and waits. I do think "awareness" is a good word. PS I just tried what you suggested. Even at super slow speeds using my RC 2 my Neo allows me to pilot directly in to obstacles. No pause. Nothing. Is my Neo just dumb? It does often speak to me in Chinese, maybe a pre-release one snuck out the door - haha!
@SteveCoutts Wow, Steve! That's very different than the way mine behaves (except for the Chinese conversations that I struggle with, but those seem to have been eradicated by the last FW update. You appear to be on the same, latest FW, as you showed vertical shooting option. Come to think of it, yours does have more Kamikaze tendencies, but your testing is way more intense than anything I do. For sure it's a tuff little fella. It doesn't have enough mass to harm itself very much! To be specific, I tested using virtual sticks flight into my chest, I must try with RC-2.
@@BlairAir Mine is still speaking Chinese with all the updates but it doesn't happen that often thankfully. I did a Settings > About > Reset All Settings. This is my go-to for getting rid of quirky issues. Post reset it still has the Kamikaze tendencies. Is that ever weird that your Neo will brake. I'm stumped.
Great practical tips, Steve! Any suggestions for how to deal with other trail users approaching from the other direction? (Unrelated: i duck when im driving my car in parking garages. Just me?!)
Thanks Don! Funny, I didn't think to test riders coming the other way. I guess maybe it's because oncoming is more common. I had a situation where I just got it in the air and I had a group of about 6 riders approaching. While we waited for them to pass four queued up behind us. When the approaching riders were gone I took off and the Neo stayed with me. The whole thing is on video but I didn't think to include that clip - darn it! I have filmed behind my wife Jen while the Neo was following her, I rode beside her at times and went ahead of her. The Neo never wavered. I'm sure someone has done it but it might be funny to dress a couple of people up the same way to see if you can mess with it - haha! I don't duck going in to the garage but I am 100% positive you're not alone. Cheers Don!
I had a fly away situation with mine and it was eventually caught by some tall grass at the side of the track about 20 yards away. It was a nightmare to locate and retrieve it. Totally undamaged though. Someone should make a small beeper that fastens on top or better still a firmware update that makes it beep if it doesn't return to land in your hand.
Oh man!! I totally agree with you on all counts. There should be some kind of built in beep or something when it goes down due to an unexpected condition. It's so hard to find! You could probably just tape a Tile or Apple AirTag to it. Glad you got it back, that really is a nightmare scenario. Cheers!
Was hoping to purchase one these for skiing but I don’t think it will be fast enough for average ski speed? Shame because I tried it once with the Spark, that couldn’t figure out descent tracking.
It depends. If it's a critical update (drone or batteries), it won't let you fly. Most updates are not an issue but as a general rule it's always best to fly with the most up to date software and firmware.
Hey Steve! I admit I haven't watched yet - just reacting to the title. The Neo is the drone you could get away with most without tips, basic instructions and a curious mind. I did enjoy the guy who took it to the roof 3-4 story building & tested wifi range. Flew it out of range 50 feet in the air! Had to let the battery discharge to get it back, lol! Quite amusing!
If you're going to become true dodgeballers, then you've got to learn the five d's of dodgeball: dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge!" - Patches O'Houlihan.
Yeah, for sure. It's certainly not optimal but I think it's pretty darn good, especially considering the entry price. I have a great shot of me biking over a pedestrian bridge and it has me dead centre (bike wheels included) with the symmetry of the bridge and it looks magical. So sometimes it works out really nice.Cheers!
many thanks, just purchased a neo to use for mountain biking along with wild camping
Cool! Thanks for watching and enjoy your Neo!
Thanks for the tips Steeve. I will use them when it's warm enough up here to ride my bike again. I've heard some people saying that colorful clothes help the neo to follow.
You're welcome, thanks for watching! Good point! You, definitely you want to have some contrast between you and your environment. Happy, safe flying!
I agree with everything you said in this video, I have found the same to be true in my walking test. Knowing how to move in such a way as to lead it away from objects is an art form, LOL. Great video Steve, and thanks for sharing.
Haha! It really is a bit of an art form isn't it? It's kind of amazing how much you can manipulate it. The tracking is surprisingly good too. If it just had a dash of obstacle avoidance we would really be cooking! Thanks for stopping by Ron, cheers!
Thanks for sharing! Glad the duck and weave is working. That kind of avoids the problem.
Thanks for watching! It's certainly helped me avoid a few collisions - haha! Cheers!
Nice tips! I can add after my first flight while mountainbiking: hairpins won´t follow if you're not visible all the time. And riding towards the sun makes the Neo blind, so it will stop following.
Good tips!
I added red tape on the drone and batteries, it will pop out if you are looking for it
That's a great idea! I put a piece of pink tape on my gimbal cover because I almost lost it once, I need to do the same for the drone. Cheers!
You are the master ❤
Haha! Thanks Louis!
Super useful.
Thanks very much indeed Steve.
I’m intending to buy a Neo next year.
So these tips really will be of help.
Cheers
Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching! Good luck with your Neo if and when you get it. It's a really fun drone. Cheers!
Great advice Steve. Thank you for the video. I am really looking forward to finding out more about the DJI Flip.
Thanks Bob! I didn't know anything about the Flip until you mentioned it. I try to avoid rumours. Man, DJI needs to slow down - haha! Cheers!
Okay, so post viewing, this was actually some good tips. Practical, useful. I might challenge the statement that theres zero obstacle avoidance on Neo. Lets agree that theres no avoidance in flight, at speed. It will stop for objects, when flying at "Tripod Mode" speeds. Try flying it into yourself -slowly! Mine stops and will not proceed. Not sure "Avoidance" is the right term. Object Awareness, we'll call it! 😂
Thanks John, I appreciate the detailed comment and the view. The User Manual has some conflicting information on how it deals with obstacles. In the "Flight Operation" section as well as the sections on Follow and Direction Track, it says the Neo does not feature "obstacle sensing". In the Cruise Control section it mentions braking when it "senses an obstacle". The product manuals sometimes feel a bit like copy/paste from other drones and I haven't specifically tested that, so I'll have to put a pin in that one. In my experience there's definitely no "avoidance" happening - haha! I have oodles of footage where it's hitting stuff while following me. It's just really good at handling the bumps and pressing on. I'm not sure if the "sensing" part is just that it senses something between it and me, so it hovers and waits. I do think "awareness" is a good word.
PS I just tried what you suggested. Even at super slow speeds using my RC 2 my Neo allows me to pilot directly in to obstacles. No pause. Nothing. Is my Neo just dumb? It does often speak to me in Chinese, maybe a pre-release one snuck out the door - haha!
@SteveCoutts Wow, Steve! That's very different than the way mine behaves (except for the Chinese conversations that I struggle with, but those seem to have been eradicated by the last FW update. You appear to be on the same, latest FW, as you showed vertical shooting option. Come to think of it, yours does have more Kamikaze tendencies, but your testing is way more intense than anything I do. For sure it's a tuff little fella. It doesn't have enough mass to harm itself very much! To be specific, I tested using virtual sticks flight into my chest, I must try with RC-2.
@@BlairAir Mine is still speaking Chinese with all the updates but it doesn't happen that often thankfully. I did a Settings > About > Reset All Settings. This is my go-to for getting rid of quirky issues. Post reset it still has the Kamikaze tendencies. Is that ever weird that your Neo will brake. I'm stumped.
Great practical tips, Steve! Any suggestions for how to deal with other trail users approaching from the other direction? (Unrelated: i duck when im driving my car in parking garages. Just me?!)
Thanks Don! Funny, I didn't think to test riders coming the other way. I guess maybe it's because oncoming is more common. I had a situation where I just got it in the air and I had a group of about 6 riders approaching. While we waited for them to pass four queued up behind us. When the approaching riders were gone I took off and the Neo stayed with me. The whole thing is on video but I didn't think to include that clip - darn it! I have filmed behind my wife Jen while the Neo was following her, I rode beside her at times and went ahead of her. The Neo never wavered. I'm sure someone has done it but it might be funny to dress a couple of people up the same way to see if you can mess with it - haha!
I don't duck going in to the garage but I am 100% positive you're not alone. Cheers Don!
I had a fly away situation with mine and it was eventually caught by some tall grass at the side of the track about 20 yards away. It was a nightmare to locate and retrieve it. Totally undamaged though. Someone should make a small beeper that fastens on top or better still a firmware update that makes it beep if it doesn't return to land in your hand.
Oh man!! I totally agree with you on all counts. There should be some kind of built in beep or something when it goes down due to an unexpected condition. It's so hard to find! You could probably just tape a Tile or Apple AirTag to it. Glad you got it back, that really is a nightmare scenario. Cheers!
I’m finding direction track to work better than follow mode.
Interesting. I think I've only tried Direction Track one time thus far. I kind of worm my way slowly through the features - haha! Cheers!
@ I’m still pretty new to it, but I guess it has more of an AI tracker with that feature.
Was hoping to purchase one these for skiing but I don’t think it will be fast enough for average ski speed? Shame because I tried it once with the Spark, that couldn’t figure out descent tracking.
No, I don't think it would be a good choice for skiing. Too bad though, it's so portable and easy. Cheers!
once i set the follow distance will it remember it or do i have to break out my phone every time? Thanks!!
Follow parameters remain set until you change them. Cheers!
@SteveCoutts awesome, omw to pick up my drone at target now
What happens if you get to the trailhead and your firmware isn't up to date? Does it not fly?
It depends. If it's a critical update (drone or batteries), it won't let you fly. Most updates are not an issue but as a general rule it's always best to fly with the most up to date software and firmware.
Hey Steve! I admit I haven't watched yet - just reacting to the title. The Neo is the drone you could get away with most without tips, basic instructions and a curious mind. I did enjoy the guy who took it to the roof 3-4 story building & tested wifi range. Flew it out of range 50 feet in the air! Had to let the battery discharge to get it back, lol! Quite amusing!
Haha! Hey John!
If you're going to become true dodgeballers, then you've got to learn the five d's of dodgeball: dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge!"
- Patches O'Houlihan.
I find that the Neo cuts off feet and bottom of bike wheels. It centers your head in the frame, which is crappy cinematography.
Yeah, for sure. It's certainly not optimal but I think it's pretty darn good, especially considering the entry price. I have a great shot of me biking over a pedestrian bridge and it has me dead centre (bike wheels included) with the symmetry of the bridge and it looks magical. So sometimes it works out really nice.Cheers!
hey steve how did you get the option for 1080p vertical video on your dji neo? I just updated the firmware and I dont see that option :(
Make sure the DJI Fly app is updated too. 👍
@@SteveCoutts thanks! That did the trick 😊