I have been flying drones for more than a decade, and keeping tabs on airspace is getting trickier with more and more drones flying around. That is why I was happy to get my hands on a loan unit of the Dronetag RIDER, a compact Remote ID receiver, for a few weeks of testing. It is built to spot drones up to 5* km away, and it is a game-changer for pilots, police entities and helicopter pilots who need to know what is flying nearby. Here is my rundown on what the RIDER does, how it works, and why it is worth a look.
What Is the Dronetag RIDER?
The RIDER is a pocket-sized, battery-powered device that picks up Remote ID signals from drones like DJI, Autel, and Skydio, up to 3-5 km away depending on conditions. It is drone-agnostic, meaning it works with any Remote ID-compliant drone, and it sends real-time data – like location, altitude, and pilot info – to the Dronetag app or Webinterface. It is aimed at public safety teams, pro pilots, and even hobbyists who want better airspace awareness.
The housing of the device is very precisely 3D printed, almost hard to notice. Worth mentioning – it is IP54 rated, which means you can use it in light rain as well. Operating temperatures are between -20 and +60.
Why Remote ID Matters
Remote ID is like a digital license plate for drones, broadcasting info to keep skies safe. In the EU, EASA requires it for drones over 250g (C1, C2 labeled etc) as well as when flying in the Specific Category; in the US, the FAA mandates it for Part 107 pilots and most drones over 250g. RemoteID can be even detected with you phone and an app; however with very limited range, usually around 50-100 meters.
Key Features
The RIDER is small, at 134×53×20 mm with a foldable antenna, and weighs just 64g. It runs 6-10 hours on a single charge, or you can plug it into USB-C for 24/7 use.
It supports Bluetooth, LTE, and USB-C for data transfer, with a two-month LTE trial included ($75/€75 quarterly after).
For sensitive operations (or areas without LTE connectivity) you can connect it over bluetooth to your phone. When used with LTE connectivity, you can show its data to anyone with an access to internet and browser.
I have found the feature to “open” the detections of your device to the public also super helpful. Organizations can share their detections with colleagues from other departments or locations. You can also “whitelist” your own drones, so you dont get notifications about these.
The Dronetag app (iOS, Android, web) shows real-time drone positions, altitudes, orientation and even manufacturer details, such as S/N and drone model. The app’s map view is super clear for tracking multiple drones at once.
Setting It Up
Getting the RIDER going is pretty straightforward. I charged it via USB-C, downloaded the Dronetag app on my iPhone (available for Android as well), and paired it over Bluetooth in less than five minutes. For LTE mode, you use an active the SIM (included for the trial), which I used for cloud syncing. You will need to register the device with your Dronetag account to use over LTE and view the detections in your browser.
The user interface is simple, modern and intuitive. Updating the firmware took around 5-10min and everything went fine.
Real-World Use
The RIDER shines for public safety and manned helicopter pilots. For example, it’s perfect for monitoring events like festivals or keeping tabs on drones near sensitive spots like airports. After some discussion with Police helicopter pilots they are also super interested as it helps them keep an eye on any drones flying around them. It can also integrate with UTM/C-UAS systems via API, which is great for bigger ops, though I haven’t tested that yet.
I have done some real-life tests to verify the range with DJI and Autel drones and the results were more than satisfying:
- Mavic 3 Enterprise in semi-urban area and drone altitude of about 50m – 1.5km detection
- Mavic 3 Enterprise in rural area and drone altitude of about 70m – 2.3km detection
- Autel Max 4N in rural area and drone altitude of about 70m – 3km detection
Note: All flights have been performed legally and in accordance with local regulations.
The Catch
The RIDER’s €999 retail price isn’t cheap, and the quarterly LTE fee adds up if you need constant cloud access. Range can dip in urban areas with interference – closer to 1-2 km in my tests so far. Also, it only detects Remote ID-compliant drones, so older drone models without it won’t show up.
Wrapping Up
The Dronetag RIDER is a handy and great tool for anyone who needs to know what is flying nearby, whether you are a police officer, helicopter pilot or just want safer skies. Its compact design, easy app, and real-time alerts make it an amazing pick. You can pick your Dronetag Rider on their official website.
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