Can I put my strobe light on the top center of my drone? Will it block my GPS signal by placing it there? Any suggestions?
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The GPS receiver is located underneath the DJI logo on the top of the drone. It would be best not to place anything on top of the shell in that location.
With that said, if that’s the only place where a strobe can be mounted, you could experiment with mounting in that location to see how it affects the GPS signal.
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Taking @msinger , Mike’s advice into consideration, He is more knowledgeable than me…
However, here is my two cents…
Two questions, Yes, you should put your strobe on top of your drone. Putting it on the top makes it more noticeable to maned aircraft that might be in the vicinity. Putting it on the bottom makes it easier for “Karen” to track it, and easier for “Kevin” to shoot it down… L 
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And as for the second question…. Maybe, I do not know where the GPS receiver for your drone is located, but it probably would only matter if you are also flying it under heavy clouds. I often fire up my drone in my home and it and the RID Module still pick up GPS satellites inside the house (it just takes a bit longer in my home…
I have to fly with a RID module and I mounted it on the top center of the drone. When it was mounted towards the front, the drone handled differently due to the weight being distributed towards the front. I drew an imaginary “X” on my drone with the “X” being centered by the “lines” based on the diagonal motors. I remounted the RID Module and the drone responded better as the weight was evenly distributed between the fore and aft motors.
The GPS Satellite count as reported in the telemetry in your app is based on the Drone’s GPS reception. If you want to test it, find a nice quiet location, crank up the drone and check how long it takes to get good reception, do it several times, each time turning the drone off and restarting it to get a good average time. Then mount the strobe and do the same test. You will probably find there is little to no difference.
Now, the hard part, flying at night, just try to turn that strobe on without being blinded by it’s flashing as you take off…
Good Luck!
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Yeah, I guess I should experiment with placement. My other option was just above the battery. It should still be visible from flying aircraft above.
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I actually attached my remote id module under the battery. The range on my Ruko is poor which I’m ok with. That’s not my fault, I only need to do my due diligence with it.
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That looks like a better spot, and maybe a more secure location to attach it.
Ever use 3M Dual Lock? That’s what I use to attach anything to my drones when some type of 3D printed mount cannot be used. It’s much more secure than standard Velcro products.
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No I have not. It’s that something they sell at home Depot or hardware store?
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I also use a Ruko and I was surprised with it’s range… I tested it with both the Ruko App and the Drone Scanner App and both picked up the Ruko RID Module up to 500’.
I am impressed and disheartened… Impressed because it is rated for 5-hours of use, so if my drone goes down and the battery in the drone dies or the drone is disabled, the RID Module will still show me the location of the drone…
Disheartened because Karen and Kevin will also have that same location available to them…
So even when you power off the Ruko the apps will still show your last location?
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When I wrote, “Impressed because it is rated for 5-hours of use, so if my drone goes down and the battery in the drone dies or the drone is disabled, the RID Module will still show me the location of the drone…”
I mean that when the Ruko is turned on it would continue to transmit for up to 5-hours and during those 5-hours it will be transmitting it’s position. If you turn the Ruko off, the App loses its signal and no longer shows any information or location.
However, what I was getting at was if I should lose the drone in a field or a clump of trees, the DJI drones have a “Find My Drone” feature where it flashes its lights (very feeble…) and buzzes its little busser and it will do this only as long as the drone’s battery holds out and if you have been flying the drone for a while, it might only give its “signal” for a short while. However, if the drone crashes hard and is damaged or dislodges its battery that feature would not work.
That “Find My Drone” feature also brings up a map on the Controller that shows the location of the controller (you holding it…) and the last known location of the drone (not necessarily when it landed, only where it last reported its location).
However, if you crash your drone of lose it in a field or in a mess of trees, the Ruko would still keep transmitting its location for up to 5-hours while you look for your lost drone.
However, if you have not found your drone by then, the Ruko’s battery will also die, it will stop transmitting, and you are all on your own…
Now you hope you still have DJI’s Fly Away Insurance… L 
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Home Depot sells something similar:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Scotch-1-in-x-1-in-Clear-Extreme-Fasteners-6-Sets-Pack-RFD7020/206180471
You can of course buy it on Amazon. Or try searching on Google Shopping to see if there are any stores nearby that carry it.
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Yeah that’s what I was looking for an alternative to Amazon. Thanks for all you do.
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Yeah I get you. To think my remote id actually has something useful to me. My batteries are how old now? Do you think that the app that FAA or law enforcement use that it might keep a record of your last location . I can see how that might be useful to them especially if they are getting more than 1 call from Karen. Whos to say they just write that info down say its notetaking. How could they use such info against you for something? Maybe there’s a privacy law in there somewhere. I might have to think twice next time I’m deciding to not turn on my remote ID, Now that I know it has some value to me. That would definitely would have been a big selling point for me. Keeps you compliant and we help you find your drone! HA
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I know that Langley AFB knows when I am flying. I often fly at a Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) park (Bethel Park, Hampton VA), and it is within the 5-NM Class D Airspace of Langley AFB and I have an FAA Authorization to fly there. I am required to call the ATC and let them know I am flying. And the Security Police have sometimes stopped by to visit and they let me know, they know, it’s me…. And to make it clear, they have never hassled me and they often laugh and joke with the “old Chief.” (me…)
Even though I am a Retired Chief Master Sergeant (E-9), with over 30-years in the Air Force, and I was stationed 3-times at Langley, they do not share what they use, or it’s capability. But I imagine that if my drone/controller has a range of 6-miles, then the sensitivity of their equipment can probably read my telemetry for many, many times that distance.
Now, to answer your question. Do I think they would share that information if I lost my drone, as in a flyaway? Naw, I do not… Nor would I expect them to, it would give away military capabilities…. The actual information may be unclassified but it is classified as Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
The equipment might be exactly the same as you or I could buy off the shelf but if you knew exactly what they are using, you might be able to take advantage of any know weaknesses… Additionally, it would not matter how many calls they got from “Karen” and they might actually take legal action if she became a nuance, as they have no legal standing to take any action again a person, unless they actually become a hazard to military aircraft and even then, they would send out the Local Authorities, the FAA, maybe the FBI, but not the Military police as they are prevented ftom taking action against folks off base, the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878… ( who would have thought that President Rutherford B. Hayes would sign a law that prevents them from taking my little drone…) L 
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Now, if you break the law and fly your drone is a NFZ and your drone hits a firefighting aircraft as happened over Palisades Fire, then I believe all the stops would be pulled out… So fly safe and stay out of trouble…
By the way, I also live in that Class D Airspace and I am also in a Zero Altitude Quadrant of Langley AFB and prior to me getting my Part 197 Certification, I could not get an FAA Authorization to even fly in my own back yard. I referred to my driveway as a “Drone Taxi Zone…” this is the view from my back yard…
