Make sure that your USB drive is formatted to FAT32 and not NTFS and does not contain other plf files. Other drones can fly a lot further—the DJI Mavic Pro did better than a mile (5,280 feet) in similar conditions. Then you see what the camera sees, and you can remap controller buttons and adjust other settings. The Bebop 2 is rated for a 1.24-mile operating range when paired with the Skycontroller 2. 6. But I strongly recommend using the Skycontroller to fly rather than your smartphone—controls are more responsive and intuitive, and the controller has a big antenna that improves communication quality. To update Parrot Bebop 2 POWER with a USB cable, use: or a USB stick and a female USB/micro-USB cable. Do not fly the Parrot Bebop Drone at night. Why? Make sure the FreeFlight Pro app has detected PARROT BEBOP 2 POWER. 1. Going with just the Skycontroller is a fine choice if you just want to practice your skills and do a few tricks—the Bebop 2 can flip forward, backward, or barrel roll in either direction. But that's a serious limitation for anyone who lives in a densely populated area and is looking at the the Bebop as a tool for capturing sweeping aerial views of the neighborhood. There's no tactile feedback provided by on-screen joysticks, which makes precision control extremely difficult. It's not a bad idea to mark the props themselves, though, as you'll want to remove the stickers before flying. That doesn't give much of a feeling of fast motion when flying high, but it certainly does when you're operating closer to ground level. But it costs about $300 more. 1. But It only takes a minute screw in the phone holder and connect your smartphone. If you don't mind a circular image with a visible border, photo quality is pretty decent, with shots coming in at 13.6MP resolution. He has a thing for old lenses, boneyards, and waterfowl. It can perform flips and barrel rolls in the air, and it won't put as big of a dent in your bank account. It is important to update your drone with each new version. It flies longer and higher, and includes a remote that isn't absurdly huge. For maintenance purposes, here are the PARROT.COM team's advice and tips to help you maximize their lifespan. Parrot Bebop 2 Power restarts. The drone uses a big circular fish-eye lens and video is cropped from its small sensor. There's occasionally some wobbling artifacts, but it's not nearly as bad as you get with the similar Xiro Xplorer Mini ( at Amazon) . Check the weather conditions. That said, the Bebop 2 does some things the Mavic Pro doesn't do. Quality isn't out of this world. How to update your PARROT BEBOP 2 POWER with a USB cable. 8 offers from $395.09. In practice, however, expect more limited results. It can hold up to 8GB of data a time—more than enough for a few fullly charged batteries worth of aerial footage. Because of its weight, you do need to register with the FAA before flying outdoors, even if you only plan on flying in your backyard. You need to plug the drone into a computer via micro USB in order to transfer video. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis, LLC and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. It's a solid result, especially when you take the drone's tiny form factor into account. > The drone automatically restarts during the installation of the update. Parrot bills it as an option for long-distance flight, but it's a better performer at shorter distances and lower altitudes. Parrot Bebop 2 - Red 3.7 out of 5 stars 119. But it's significantly larger in size, and is not capable of the same acrobatic tumbles as the Bebop. My preference is to use the Skycontroller 2 and FreeFlight Pro app together, but it is good to know that you can fly the Bebop 2 even if your Android or iPhone runs out of juice—you just won't be able to change settings or see what the camera is seeing. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. 5. Ensure there is no obstacle in … Press Fly and Film, followed by, The version number of Parrot Bebop 2 is shown in the general information. The file downloaded in .plf format corresponds to the update file to be installed on your Parrot Bebop 2 Power. Prop installation is a bit of a pain. Raw and JPG capture are available. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. The DJI Mavic Pro features native 4K recording, using the entire width of its image sensor, and is a much better option for pro-grade work. Do not fly the Parrot Bebop Drone if the wind speed exceeds 24 mph(40 km/h). All are fixed on a magnesium shelf that acts as a radiator and electromagnetic shielding. I find this method of flight to be extremely disorienting, but you may disagree. 4. Parrot rates the drone for 25 minutes of flight per battery. High flyers are going to find its suburban operating range to be a serious limitation, and its video quality simply isn't great when compared with other drones that capture at a higher resolution. It may take several minutes. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/parrot-bebop-2-fpv, Jim Fisher is our lead analyst for cameras, drones, and digital imaging. It measures 3.5 by 12.9 by 12.9 inches (HWD) and weighs 1.1 pound when ready to fly. The Bebop 2 isn't the fastest drone in the world, but I was able to get it up to about 24mph. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Connect your USB stick to a computer. Lens flare is also a common occurrence when flying into the sun or with it coming in from the side of the lens. The LiPo batteries of your PARROT BEBOP 2 POWER are key elements of your drone that allow it to fly for up to 50 minutes without connected accessories. I didn't completely deplete the battery in any of my test flights, but by extrapolating the flight time versus percentage of power used and averaging the data, you can reasonably expect to fly for about 19 minutes on a single charge. The left bumper switches between your phone's camera and the Bebop's, useful if you need to get a bead on where it is in the sky, but the view is not nearly as satisfying as using your own eyes to keep track of the drone's flight. 2. Your subscription has been confirmed. Parrot designs, develops and markets consumer products for smartphones and tablets as well as high technology solutions in Automotive and UAV business. OS X users should take note that the drone doesn't mount as a volume, instead you need to use the Image Capture app to access files. The Parrot Bebop 2 FPV is an attractive, compact drone for backyard and rural pilots, but it has difficulty with long distance flight in areas with crowded Wi-Fi signals. The FAA doesn't agree with using a headset either. Formatting can usually be performed by right-clicking the drive corresponding to the USB drive. If you're more interested in having fun piloting than nabbing aerial B-roll for your indie film or crisp images for your real estate business, the Bebop 2 is a solid option. 4. 2. To do this, click Update in the DOWNLOADS box located at the top right of this page. Video and images are stored in internal memory. Thankfully the drone's return-to-home safety feature kicked in and I was able to avoid losing it. But that's plenty of distance for an aircraft like the Bebop 2. Video is quite stable, especially when you consider that stabilization isn't performed with a mechanical gimbal. Once downloaded, a pop-up window appears informing you that the drone will restart. Left and right control wheels digitally pan the camera up or down and adjust image exposure (brightness). But it also has some drawbacks. A pair of white props go in front and black props in the rear, but you'll need to make sure you're putting the right propeller on the right strut. I typically do a test flight at a local athletic field, first ascending to the maximum 400 feet and then flying the drone until video becomes choppy to get an estimate of real-life operating range. If the app finds an update file, select the new version of the firmware. When you open up the box, the Bebop's motors are covered in alternating blue and yellow rubber covers, with stickers to match for the appropriate propeller. PCMag Digital Group. First, identify the version number installed on your drone using the FreeFlight Pro app. The right adjusts the amount of information shown over the live video feed. Downloading the mobile apps - Bebop 2 Power. You have the option of flying the Bebop 2 with your smartphone or tablet and the Parrot FreeFlight Pro app, with the remote sans smartphone, with your phone connected to the included remote via a USB cable, or with your phone plugged into the remote and nestled into the included FPV goggles. How to update your PARROT BEBOP 2 POWER with the FreeFlight Pro app NB: The FreeFlight Pro app must have been connected at least once to the drone to scan for updates. On your smartphone, open the FreeFlight Pro app. Background: I am not new to flying drones. If you invest in a carrying case it's less of an issue—you'll be able to store it with the propellers installed—but if you store and transport it in its box you'll need to remove the propellers to make it properly fit into the packaging. If you want better video quality in a compact drone, expect to pay a pretty penny for it. I recommend shooting with the full lens and sensor and cropping to suit your needs. The Bebop 2 ($699.99 with remote and FPV goggles) is a much better aircraft.