Why I would think twice about "droning" as a career...Lightning cable saga...

Harleydude said:
Professional Droning - My journey regarding one small link in a very long chain...

It's funny. But when friends or people in the forums ask about "getting into the drone business," I try not to be too discouraging, but I must warn them that there are a LOT of things to know, lots of equipment to maintain and lots of protocols to fully understand before one can deliver a professional product. From door to door (or sometimes called "portal to portal"), there are 100 things that can go wrong, any one of which can stop you from delivering a product. This short story is about just one cog in a vastly large machine.

An example...

Just today I decided that I was tired of messing around with substandard Apple Lightning cables. Regardless of who makes them or where I buy them, they seem to be saddled with either low data rates, low current ratings (for charging), are flat-out unreliable or are inconsistent. Some are even rejected by Apple peripherals (actual warnings in the app about the cable). I just want a 10' Apple Lightning cable that will carry 2 Amps (the rating of their chargers) and pass data at a rate that won't choke out any of my peripherals or apps (40Mbps seems reasonable). I ASSUMED that OEM factory (or MFi certified) cables would fulfill those specifications. Well, it turns out I was wrong. First off, factory cables never come in lengths over 2 Meters. I need roughly 3 meters for my mapping jobs. Is a 10 ft. USB->Lightning cable really that much to ask?

Second, even the OEM Apple cables sometimes have to be unplugged and replugged to work. Maddening.

My hunt started on eBay. After purchasing well over a dozen very fancy looking cables from Chinese vendors that wouldn't charge OR pass data (received refunds for every cable), I decided to use domestic vendors. I found vendors that sold 10' Lightning cables under the guise of being "OEM." But those cables would either not pass data or would not charge. I need a cable that does both at the same time.

So then I started looking into high-end aftermarket companies like Noyce, Alta, McDodo and Nomad. But first, to cut through the hype, I wanted to see user reviews. So I did a Google search, and stumbled across this ****** "review" of a Noyce 13' cable. This "review" was nothing more than 2.5 minutes of unboxing. Yes, you read that right. 2.5 minutes of opening a ******** box. Jerk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucyBVVeklQ8

Fortunately, I found another, more comprehensive review for this long, FOUR meter Noyce cable from a guy named Jeff Geerling.

https://www.jeffgeerling.com/…/review-noyce-13-4m-lightning…

Unlike the previous ****stick, this guy actually ran tests on the cable.

I checked Amazon reviews, which were good - not excellent, but good. Overall, the reviews were good enough that I decided to pull the trigger on one of these Noyce cables. So I clicked on the Amazon link only to find that the "item is unavailable." No worries. I'll search eBay. Nope. Nothing there. No worries. I'll go straight to the Noyce website. What's this?? NO WEBSITE!??!?!?! Are you ******** kidding me?!?! ARGH!!!

Okay...time to start over. Apparently Noyce either went out of business or is in hiding. Time to move on to Nomad cables, which are available in only 2 lengths; 1.5M and 3M. 10' is long enough, so I decided to move forward.

Unlike the Noyce cable, I could find no comprehensive tests done on the cable. I found plenty of "Macworld" type reviews that, in typical Apple user fashion, talked about "fit" and "finish" and how nice the cable fit in their bag and the pretty color, but not one of those ****sticks actually ran any data or power tests on the thing. ARGH!! And while the "Macworld" community touted this as "the last Lightning cable you will ever need," the Amazon community seemed to take exception to that assertion. Amazon reviews ran the gamut. 75% of users thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. 25% of the users thought it was **** with comments like, "Laster 6 weeks" and "Connector broke off in my iPad" and "Stopped working already" and "Worked for 2 weeks" and "These cords are terrible" and on and on.

So then I moved on to Anker cables, which netted almost identical reviews to the Nomad cables.

So then I moved on to McDodo cables. Those reviews were even worse, but the hype was better.

So $70 later it seems I've purchased one of each + a USB tester and will have to conduct my own reviews and tests.

I've just spent over 2 hours (and $70) researching these lousy Lightning cables. 2 hours! The Lightning cable is just one of many, many components I rely on as a drone professional. Imagine batteries and/or Firmware and/or propellers and/or software and on and on and on. For every paid hour, I spend 2 or 3 on R&D.

Are you SURE you want to get into this business?

L8rz,

Donnie Frank
Click to expand...
So you never said what lightning cable was your final choice? I am looking for longer quality cables and I would appreciate your input on which ones are best.
 
Indeed.... (raises pinkie) sipping hot tea while watching "Rolf" wax the Bentley...
 
Best ones I’ve found are the amazon basics ones: you may get a more solid cable somewhere, but not at that price point. They’ve been really good for me, much better than the factory cables.
 
Crap... I sprained my pinkie typing with a British accent...
 
  • Like
Reactions: deltamike
Anyway happy days, if a bloody USB cable dilemma is keeping you awake at night I’m sure you’ve got bigger problems than that.

Chuck half a dozen in the glovebox and rock on. I hope you actually made a video though? I’m sure it’d be very enlightening...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Like
Reactions: Ripper7620, Cabarfeidh and Dwilliams35
I've had repeatedly bad luck with Monoprice cables and extremely bad experiences with their support. This includes entries into their ticketing system (with repeated emails to bump the issue) only to be told by support on the phone that "oh, nobody's really monitoring those". So if they're not tracking their support issues (by not using their structured ticketing system), then it's no wonder that their support remains bad over time, as I've experienced.

Responses with individual anecdotal examples to the contrary will not weigh heavily with me. Keep using them and your time will come.

Chris
 
randaljds said:
Anyway happy days, if a bloody USB cable dilemma is keeping you awake at night I’m sure you’ve got bigger problems than that.

Chuck half a dozen in the glovebox and rock on. I hope you actually made a video though? I’m sure it’d be very enlightening...
Click to expand...
I have a hard time chucking a half a dozen beers in the glovebox, and they’ll get hot in there anyway.
 
Weston Ney Photography said:
BTW, it is VERY ILLEGAL to drink and fly. I don't drink at all (because I am too young,) and I NEVER will. Sorry, but I get angered by alcohol. It is very bad. I had many family members and friends who have died from drugs and alcohol. Also, the FAA is very clear about doing drugs and alcohol before or during flight. (Maybe it's time to read that chapter in the small uas Remote Pilot manual again...)
Click to expand...
Stop preaching to people whom you know nothing about. You sound like a self righteous 80 year old lady. Your post was off topic and inappropriate for this forum.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Flydawg, Ripper7620 and Dwilliams35
EA3F1829-27E4-4331-9A86-5DE74238BA91.gif


Here we go...
 
  • Like
Reactions: deltamike and Indiana_pyro
GrammatonxXXxCleric said:
I'd do it and be successful.... 'cept I work at night and sleep in the day (When the really good stuff happens). You'd have to be one that fits the scenario and want to make it your full time thing. The "107" part limits what I can do as a "regular Joe" and it'll only get worse as "Adam Henry" units ruin it for all. But It sounds like a blast doing what you already like to do and cash those $$....
Click to expand...

That's kind of my point. Unless you're ready to pursue "droning" full time, you might as well not pursue at all. Some aspects of droning can be done part-time. "Real Estate photos" comes to mind. But honestly, there's no money there. For any facet that requires "remote shooting," one REALLY has to have one's ducks in a row...right down to the granular level of which components to trust to work consistently out in the middle of nowhere...away from stores, Internet and Cell service.

With the exception of roughly a dozen years, I've always worked for myself. It just so happens that the demand for drone services coincided with the ebb or my other businesses. So I dove in. And, admittedly, a good dose of luck was involved. I've always had a passion for RC (both ground and air) and photography. Who knew they would come together someday?

Funny....as of today, the last of the Lightning cables trickled in. Time for testing and video making...<;^)

D
 
BigAl07 said:
I'm glad I'm not the only person who can't find a dependable lightning cable. I carry no less than 4 different cables in my "Drone Case" and several more in other cases in my vehicle. My only saving grace is that my current processes don't require anything more than 1M so my options are greatly increased over Donnie's needs.

Thus far I have found ANKER to be the ones I trust the most and to date (knocks on wood) my ANKER has performed flawlessly and requires the least amount of "unplug/replug".
Click to expand...

The last of my Lightning cables just showed up. In the shootout will be the following:

Apple
Anker
Monoprice
McDodo
Nomad
Chinese generic

I already have a few comments that I'll save for the video.

D
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ripper7620

Similar threads

J
Usb - C to Lightning Cable adapter for P4 V1
Replies
2
Views
678
General Discussion
JeremyGrixti
J
P
Career Advice Needed
Replies
3
Views
2K
General Discussion
Phantom_Reaper
P
S
lost charging cable for phantom 3 std controller.
Replies
7
Views
1K
General Discussion
RodPad
RodPad
J
Phantom 4 Pro V1 / I Pad 10th Generation - Disconnected
Replies
1
Views
736
Phantom 4 Help
MassGuy
MassGuy
M
Phantom 3 adv + DJI Goggles HD (white) video feed issue
Replies
4
Views
1K
General Discussion
marce002
M

Recent Posts

Members online

Total: 272 (members: 1, guests: 271)

Forum statistics

Threads
143,085
Messages
1,467,525
Members
104,963
Latest member
BoguSlav