DroneEngage FAQ
Find answers to common questions about using DroneEngage with Ardupilot. For additional terms, see DroneEngage & Andruav Glossary. Submit new questions via GitHub Issues.
General Questions
Q: What hardware do I need?
A: A Raspberry Pi (Zero W, Zero 2 W, 3, 4, or 5) or Radxa board, a 4G/LTE modem, and an Ardupilot or PX4 flight controller. See What is DroneEngage? for full requirements.
Q: Do I need an account?
A: Yes, you need a DroneEngage account and Access Code from cloud.ardupilot.org. See Create your Drone-Engage Account Key for details.
Installation & Updates
Q: How do I install DroneEngage?
A: Follow the Getting Started guide, or see the Installation & Administration page for detailed instructions.
Q: Can I use a pre-built image?
A: Yes, DroneEngage RPI images are available. See Drone Engage RPI-WZero2 / RPI-4 / RPI-5 Ready Image for download links.
WiFi & Network
Q: Does DroneEngage work without internet?
A: DroneEngage requires internet connectivity (4G/LTE/5G) to connect to the cloud server. Local-only operation is not supported.
Q: Can I use WiFi instead of 4G?
A: Yes, WiFi works for local testing. For field operations, 4G/LTE is recommended for reliable connectivity.
Troubleshooting
Q: My unit won’t connect to the server.
A: Check your internet connection, verify your Access Code, and ensure the server URL is correct. See Communication Module Configuration for communication module configuration.
Q: Telemetry is not showing in the web client.
A: Verify the MAVLink module is running and connected to the flight controller. Check de_mavlink Configuration File for configuration details.
For more help, please submit your question via GitHub Issues.