Feeling Stuck in Your Drone Flying Hobby? Mount a Speaker!

Have you reached a point in your drone flying hobby where it’s just not as exciting as it used to be? Perhaps you’ve seen all there is to see in your town, and it’s becoming the same old routine over and over again. You might find that you’re not flying as much as you used to or as much as you’d like to.

Well, I think I may have found a little cure for your boredom. Even if you’re not bored and just want another fun way to use your drone, this gadget is great. Introducing the UN1 Megaphone Speaker from Start RC.

A New World of Fun and Utility

This device opens up a whole new world of fun with your drone. Not only that, but it provides another option for assisting your community in various tasks such as Search and Rescue, situational awareness, and many other tasks that only drone users can perform.

When I first opened the box from Start RC, they didn’t ask or reach out to send me this. They just sent it, as they often do, with no expectations. So, when I get a package from Start RC, I go through it and decide if it’s worth trying out. This one seemed interesting enough to try, and here we are. Initially, it looked and felt like a child’s toy walkie-talkie, but after using it with my DJI Mini 4 Pro, I realized it has potential.

Specifications and Features

Let’s go through some quick specifications. The speaker, with the mount and screw, weighs about 113 grams or 4 ounces. This means that no matter which drone you use in the United States, it will need to be registered, as this addition will push it over the registration limit. Both the speaker and the transmitter are charged via USB-C, which is convenient.

• Charging Time: The speaker charges from 0 to 100% in about 90 to 100 minutes, while the transmitter takes about 2 hours.
• Battery Life: With continuous use, the setup lasts around 2 hours.
• Volume Levels: The volume can reach up to 120 dB, adjustable through five levels using side buttons on the transmitter.
• Pre-Recorded Messages: You can scroll through five pre-recorded messages, each lasting up to 20 seconds. Recording is simple—tap the button on the side of the speaker to record and press it again to store.

Testing the Range and Performance

The range of this device was surprisingly impressive. My initial expectation was a couple of hundred feet, akin to a toy walkie-talkie. However, during testing, my son and I found it could clearly transmit sound up to 300 feet in the air and 2,000 feet away.

• Testing Results: At 2,000 feet and 300 feet in the air, the sound was clear. Although it’s advertised to reach 1.8 miles (3,000 meters), I haven’t tested it that far. However, I did drive 1.8 miles away while my son stayed by the speaker, and the transmission was still clear.
• Drone Compatibility: It worked with my DJI Mini 4 Pro, DJI Air 3, DJI Mavic 3 Pro, and even the DJI Avata 2, though attaching it to the Avata 2 was a bit tricky.

Practical Uses and Considerations

This device isn’t just a toy; it’s quite functional. The potential uses are limited only by your imagination. You could use it for search and rescue, helping lost people or pets, assisting in rural fire navigation, or aiding law enforcement (with permission).

Important Reminder

If you plan to use your drone for any commercial purposes in the United States, you need a Part 107 remote pilot certificate. I got mine five years ago, and it was the best decision I ever made.

Final Thoughts

This $70 accessory can bring new energy to your drone flying, especially for those who might not fly as much as they used to. It also has a positive Amazon Review score, which I verified using ReviewMeta.

I’ll put a link to this speaker in the video description if you want to check it out. For the next couple of months, it may seem like my videos end abruptly, but there’s a reason for it, which I will explain soon.