[PlaneMan]

Richard, sorry to hear of all the issues you’ve had, I hope everything improves.

[PlaneMan]

Try ebay.

I used to get unlock codes of there a few years back for a £ or 2.  Use the model number from the settings and ‘network unlock code’. If you don’t know the network it’s locked to you might have problems. Often you need that to generate the right code.

Might be easier to send it back and get an unlocked one?

[PlaneMan]

I had my 3rd vaccination today, Pfizer again. Feel really sore, stiff and exhausted. Same as the last 2 really.

The staff were brilliant, St Johns volunteers doing the shepherding went above and beyond to help anyone that needed it including making sure I had the shortest route all the way through the process which was much appreciated.

[PlaneMan]

I just bung your SIM in and see if it works. There’s a good chance it’s network unlocked unless it was stated as EE/Vodafone/ whatever.

If you need the bands supported bung the model number (from About Phone, in the settings) into google with ‘supported bands’ after it. That should work.

 

I just bagged myself a Galaxy S21 Ultra (16GB RAM/512GB storage) from CEX. As new not a mark on it, £820. Some real bargains out there if you dig deep enough.

[PlaneMan]

My China import drone is now for sale, mine is the top of the range 3 battery, light bar and 4k version. It’s 4k photos, NOT video.

I got it to see if if drone photography would interest me enough, it does. For the money I paid, £120 on a slow boat from China IIRC, it’s very good. It can handle some wind, the return to home is pretty accurate and the photos/videos are fine for things like Instagram. The app is also pretty good. Please don’t hope that the photos/video is anything like that of a DJI, there’s a reason they cost a lot of money.

It’s a Visuo XS812 and there’s a review here.

It’s never been crashed and is very near to ‘as new’ condition. The box isn’t perfect (slow boat from China) but is very good. Everything is still there. It’s a perfect drone to learn with as you don’t have to worry about having hundreds of £ up in the air.

If anyone wants to make a sensible offer please PM me, I can get photos but I’m knackered tonight.

To be 100% legal you’ll need an operator ID and also a flyer ID. It’s really not difficult to pass the test, It’s common sense mostly and I passed with 1 wrong answer after a quick scan through the regs.

I really don’t want to put it on ebay but might if there’s no interest in a few weeks.

[PlaneMan]

There are drones out there now (name escapes me right now) that are being used by people in forests to get fantastic follow-me footage and once it’s locked on to the subject it’s all autonomous.  They can navigate pretty tight gaps very well. Of course they are chuffing expensive, last time I looked they were north of £5K.

[PlaneMan]

After 3 more chat sessions with Amazon they finally admitted that they had the knackered drone and agreed to action the refund. That was Monday.

Tuesday I checked my credit card balance (via phone banking, the app kicked me out many times) to find the refund sat there. So I had to phone them to get them to issue the refund to my current account. That showed up yesterday so I can now put the whole thing behind me. Finally.

As an aside the credit card I used keeps getting blocked, even on small purchases, the app kicked me out several times and says my biometrics  aren’t valid, they are as everything else works on the phone, and I got cut off 3 times when phoning them. It’s an Amazon Credit Card via New Day. Coincidence? Probably but that’s now in bits in the bin never to be used again and I’ll stick with First Direct for credit card, current account and savings and Halifax for my other savings towards my next motability car.

[PlaneMan]

Thanks all. Appreciate the offers.

After thinking about it for a while (without Guinness being involved) I may well just get a display port to HDMI cable and USB hub and let them have my old i5 2540m/8GB/256GB SSD Thinkpad on permanent loan. I only fire it up to make sure it’s still working. It’ll be a big upgrade for them.

At least then if I need to do anything on it it won’t drive me insane waiting for it to catch up!

 

[PlaneMan]

Thanks Ed, not that early, I actually stayed in a bit late as I was up and ready to go at 05:00. Heath Park is about 5 miles away in  a straight line, can take 45 minutes in busy periods. This morning, 15 minutes. All traffic lights were on sensors, only the odd bus/cyclist or bin wagon in the way.

The photos/videos were taken from about 06:50 to 07:15, people started showing up with dogs/golf clubs and kids around then so time to go home.

[PlaneMan]

wasbit, glad your stuff turned up and your happy.

My return has now reached Amazon (acording to the tracking on the carriers website) but Amazon are dragging their heels still. No updates for over a week from them.

[PlaneMan]

JCD, yes, a typo. 🙄

[PlaneMan]

Thanks all.

Still no updates available.

On the upside I’m now fully legal for any drone up to 25 KG. That’s a big lump of weight to be flying around.

I’m also got public liability insurance up to £5 million. Which means I can fly in more places as it’s through a recognised model aircraft flying association. Not that simple, but that’s the basics. Some hoops to jump through but it’s mostly just accepting t&c’s and agreeing to be an rsole.

 

[PlaneMan]

John, if the mobo is farked anyway, try to straighten the pins? It was possible way back but I don’t know about now.

Check before trying!!!!

[PlaneMan]

John, I know how you feel.

My Amazon issues are having the same effect on me.

Nobody died though. 👍

[PlaneMan]

John, don’t panic. Yet.

Can you get a decent photo, maybe a few, of the socket and CPU? Different angles if you can.

I’m sure others with more knowledge of recent stuff will be along.

[PlaneMan]

Damn, that’s a fine photo.

Might have to re-Windoze my Thinkpad and grab a few licensees

[PlaneMan]

Nice one.

I need something interesting to watch. 👍

[PlaneMan]

Most Android tablets don’t have a SIM slot, some do though, generally speaking they cost more than the equivalent WiFi only version.

It depends if your mates controller has a holder for the phone built in/ can be clipped on. Most are designed for phones only. Of course you don’t need to use the holder, it’s just easier as it’s right there in front of you.

I suspect that it could be the app playing up, get him to uninstall it, reboot the phone a couple of times and reinstall it. It might help. Also try pulling the battery from the drone if that’s an option.

My ‘big’ drone, not big but good outside in fairly strong wind takes a bit of faffing about the first time time I fly it after a while, If it wasn’t a complete steal from China I’d be angry.

 

[PlaneMan]

It’s probably 5Ghz wifi he needs.

The mobile network will have nothing to do with it.

I’ve flown my drone with a phone with no SIM in it many times.

As you suspect the phone will connect direct to the drone via wifi directly.

[PlaneMan]

Sounds promising Dave, hope it works out for you.

[Author]

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