Flying anonymously

SanCap · Dec 17, 2015

TC Malker · Dec 17, 2015

SanCap said:

I demand that you remove this picture at once. It is political in nature and violate community rules. You're been warned.

SanCap · Dec 17, 2015

TC Malker said:
I demand that you remove this picture at once. It is political in nature and violate community rules. You're been warned.

It is not political, it is a picture of a man and a cat wearing tin foil on their heads and is fairly humorus.

syotr · Dec 17, 2015

The AMA says not to register yet:

"As we proceed with this process, we suggest AMA members hold off on registering their model aircraft with the FAA until advised by the AMA or until February 19, the FAA's legal deadline for registering existing model aircraft.

Holding off on registration will allow AMA time to fully consider all possible options."

CFoxtrot · Dec 17, 2015

syotr said:
The AMA says not to register yet:

"As we proceed with this process, we suggest AMA members hold off on registering their model aircraft with the FAA until advised by the AMA or until February 19, the FAA's legal deadline for registering existing model aircraft.

Holding off on registration will allow AMA time to fully consider all possible options."

I don't think that the AMA will be fighting hard for the "drone" pilots, they are most concerned with the club fliers, fixed wing, pilots. Here is a quote from the AMA's statement, "While we continue to believe that registration makes sense at some threshold and for flyers operating outside of a community-based organization or flying for commercial purposes"

Might as well register when its free...

GadgetGuy · Dec 17, 2015

syotr said:
The AMA says not to register yet:

"As we proceed with this process, we suggest AMA members hold off on registering their model aircraft with the FAA until advised by the AMA or until February 19, the FAA's legal deadline for registering existing model aircraft.

Holding off on registration will allow AMA time to fully consider all possible options."

What does the AMA even have to do with it?

Holding off until at least February 19th, 2016, is advisable for everyone, completely independently of the AMA!
If the inducement of a $5 credit for giving up your personal credit card info is really the deciding factor for you, you really don't fully understand all the risks. Take some time to do your research, and then make up your mind. Read the full report. Here is one of the many gems!

"Additionally, as provided in the SORN, the general public will be able to search the part 48 registry database by the unique identifier. The name and address associated with that unique identifier will populate in accordance with that search." (Page 148 of 211 in the FAA document released Monday)

msinger · Dec 17, 2015

GadgetGuy said:
"Additionally, as provided in the SORN, the general public will be able to search the part 48 registry database by the unique identifier. The name and address associated with that unique identifier will populate in accordance with that search." (Page 148 of 211 in the FAA document released Monday)

Do you really believe someone is going to spend time cracking your unique identifier? Do you worry about someone figuring out your SSN too? Or, don't you have one of those either? I'm assuming you were smarter than to allow the government to brand you with an SSN.

Mako79 · Dec 17, 2015

WetDog said:
No, you have it ALL WRONG. The aluminum foil goes on the Phantom.

Really, and this is supposed to be tech site.

And, everything in America is optional. You only have to do exactly what you want. Otherwise your a sheep (or a Nazi or something else unpleasant).

ON or INSIDE the phantom?
My sat counts went from 9 to 11 indoors

yawnalot29 · Dec 17, 2015

TC Malker said:
As some of you know, my fear of flying drones is that it will land in a backyard of a drone-hating serial killer who will find out where I live and come kill me and my family. That's the reason I don't put any contact info (name, email, phone #, etc.) on my drone. I'm also not going to register with the FAA (which is completely optional btw) or put any registration # on the drones. That's because the serial killer will be able to find out where I live from that registration # since it will be completely searchable, name, address and all. Also the serial killer could have friends in the FAA, who knows?

Ok, let me take this one.

I think, it is far more likely ( I meant MUCH MORE ) that this happen.

You are flying.
The drone-hating serial killer sees you.
Secretly follows you home

Every time you fly, you can be seen by MANY or anyone that care to look. Compare that to how often you crash (much less crash into drone-hating serial killer's home) each time you fly?

Assuming this is a constant:
- there is a drone-hating serial killer near where you fly.

The chance of you being seen while flying vs. your drone accidentally crash into the drone-hating serial killer's home is astronomically larger.

So you got these working against you:

- certainty of being seen for each flight
- certainty of being seen by MANY at once
- certainty of being easily follow home (you do go home at some point?)

vs.

- uncertainty of a crash for each flight
- uncertainty of crashing specifically into a drone-hating serial killer
- uncertainty of you registering (or even using your real address)

Come on, do the math. If I were a betting man.....

bobmyers · Dec 17, 2015

yawnalot29 · Dec 17, 2015

CFoxtrot said:
I don't think that the AMA will be fighting hard for the "drone" pilots, they are most concerned with the club fliers, fixed wing, pilots. Here is a quote from the AMA's statement, "While we continue to believe that registration makes sense at some threshold and for flyers operating outside of a community-based organization or flying for commercial purposes"

Might as well register when its free...

Seems to me you exclude yourself.

AMA statement, as I read it, exclude "none member" or "people outside of a community-based organization".

That doesn't say drone flyers. Many drone flyers are AMA members. Many fix-wing flyers aren't in AMA.

gunslinger · Dec 18, 2015

This is yet again another hot topic on the Forums... We need to all keep a clear head and NOT bash fellow members or make personal attacks. There has been a lot of this type of activity since the FAA published their registration plan... We understand that two camps have formed regarding compliance with this edict... and that's fine. We expect to see lucid arguments coming from both camps, which is a healthy and expected development. Just be aware that our cumulative fingers are already on the trigger regarding bashing, so please think before you type. This forum is not going to turn into a free for all brawl...

Thanks...
-slinger

BigAl07 · Dec 18, 2015

This one is also being derailed *shakes head*

TC Malker said:
*disclaimer*
please fly responsibly and take responsibility for your actions

Isn't this a direct contradiction to your whole first post? Removing all ways to identify the operator is in fact removing accountability should something go wrong and you lose control of the aircraft. Am I missing something?

Pete Leare · Dec 18, 2015

WetDog said:
No, you have it ALL WRONG. The aluminum foil goes on the Phantom.

Really, and this is supposed to be tech site.

And, everything in America is optional. You only have to do exactly what you want. Otherwise your a sheep (or a Nazi or something else unpleasant).

My taxes? I wish... [emoji17]

TC Malker · Dec 18, 2015

SanCap said:

SanCap said:
It is not political, it is a picture of a man and a cat wearing tin foil on their heads and is fairly humorus.

Impartial moderators, I demand a ruling on this. A moderator took my avatar of Obummer down citing political content. I want this picture taken down immediately.

barefootbeachcombing · Dec 18, 2015

TC Malker said:
Impartial moderators, I demand a ruling on this. A moderator took my avatar of Obummer down citing political content. I want this picture taken down immediately.

Stop. Just stop. Sheesh.

mirrorimage · Dec 19, 2015

TC Malker said:
As some of you know, my fear of flying drones is that it will land in a backyard of a drone-hating serial killer who will find out where I live and come kill me and my family. That's the reason I don't put any contact info (name, email, phone #, etc.) on my drone. I'm also not going to register with the FAA (which is completely optional btw) or put any registration # on the drones. That's because the serial killer will be able to find out where I live from that registration # since it will be completely searchable, name, address and all. Also the serial killer could have friends in the FAA, who knows?

So, you would think that would be safe enough, but you would be wrong! Dead wrong. That's because inside the Phantom is a secret, hidden micro SD card that acts like a black box, recording everything that you do. I am very alarmed that DJI has now made it very hard to delete the data on micro SD. Since the update from GO 2.4 to 2.4.1, DJI has remove the option to "format data recorder" from the app. Why, you wonder? Read on.

You may not realize this, but the micro SD can hold 100s of all your flights. Anybody with access to the micro SD can view all your flights and see how high you flew (over 400ft?) or how many times you flew over a serial killer's house, spying on him. But it's just not the flight. The moment you turn your bird on, the GPS data is recorded. So, if you turn your bird on at home, the serial killer will able to pinpoint your exact location and come kill you and your family.

So what you have to do to protect you and your family is:
1. don't put any contact info on your bird
2. don't register with the FAA
3. do something about the micro SD card

I can help you with #3. It's hidden in the battery compartment and is glued in so it will be complicated to remove and you'll probably have to remove the shell. But there's an easier way. All you have to do is enter the flight data mode and erase everything there. Then, fill the card with a dummy file. Make sure it's completely filled so that NO data can be written. You will get MC Data error, but don't worry, it doesn't affect anything, just no data can be written on the card and you're safe from the serial killer and fly wherever you wish with no consequences whatsoever. No serial will ever be able to track you if you crashed into his yard or car.

*disclaimer*
please fly responsibly and take responsibility for your actions

Where is the invisible flight data stored on my MicroSD card? There is nothing, no hidden files that I see.

mirrorimage · Dec 19, 2015

TC Malker said:
As some of you know, my fear of flying drones is that it will land in a backyard of a drone-hating serial killer who will find out where I live and come kill me and my family. That's the reason I don't put any contact info (name, email, phone #, etc.) on my drone. I'm also not going to register with the FAA (which is completely optional btw) or put any registration # on the drones. That's because the serial killer will be able to find out where I live from that registration # since it will be completely searchable, name, address and all. Also the serial killer could have friends in the FAA, who knows?

So, you would think that would be safe enough, but you would be wrong! Dead wrong. That's because inside the Phantom is a secret, hidden micro SD card that acts like a black box, recording everything that you do. I am very alarmed that DJI has now made it very hard to delete the data on micro SD. Since the update from GO 2.4 to 2.4.1, DJI has remove the option to "format data recorder" from the app. Why, you wonder? Read on.

You may not realize this, but the micro SD can hold 100s of all your flights. Anybody with access to the micro SD can view all your flights and see how high you flew (over 400ft?) or how many times you flew over a serial killer's house, spying on him. But it's just not the flight. The moment you turn your bird on, the GPS data is recorded. So, if you turn your bird on at home, the serial killer will able to pinpoint your exact location and come kill you and your family.

So what you have to do to protect you and your family is:
1. don't put any contact info on your bird
2. don't register with the FAA
3. do something about the micro SD card

I can help you with #3. It's hidden in the battery compartment and is glued in so it will be complicated to remove and you'll probably have to remove the shell. But there's an easier way. All you have to do is enter the flight data mode and erase everything there. Then, fill the card with a dummy file. Make sure it's completely filled so that NO data can be written. You will get MC Data error, but don't worry, it doesn't affect anything, just no data can be written on the card and you're safe from the serial killer and fly wherever you wish with no consequences whatsoever. No serial will ever be able to track you if you crashed into his yard or car.

*disclaimer*
please fly responsibly and take responsibility for your actions

On the way to the place where you fly your drone you were filmed at least 30 times. Your license plate, your face. A government can easily figure this out. I highly recommend you remove your plates. But before you even leave the house, take all the tags out of your clothes. Also to not leave DNA evidence take a shower, and vigorously scrub all of your body. Make sure you wipe down the drone. You're going to need to remove the serial number. Oh whoops too late, you bought that drone with your credit card. You've been caught.

Seriously, your concerns are valid, but I'm a paranoid nut, and you are taking it way too far…

TC Malker · Dec 19, 2015

mirrorimage said:
Where is the invisible flight data stored on my MicroSD card? There is nothing, no hidden files that I see.

Not the SD card in the gimble, there's another card inside the battery compartment. The file is not hidden.

TC Malker · Dec 19, 2015

mirrorimage said:
On the way to the place where you fly your drone you were filmed at least 30 times. Your license plate, your face. A government can easily figure this out. I highly recommend you remove your plates. But before you even leave the house, take all the tags out of your clothes. Also to not leave DNA evidence take a shower, and vigorously scrub all of your body. Make sure you wipe down the drone. You're going to need to remove the serial number. Oh whoops too late, you bought that drone with your credit card. You've been caught.

Seriously, your concerns are valid, but I'm a paranoid nut, and you are taking it way too far…

Not worry about that. I take off in my backyard in secret and fly miles away. No one is none the wiser.