Dronetag Beacon

The Dronetag Beacon from the Czech maker Dronetag is a compact broadcast Remote ID transmitter for professional pilots. It works on its own with its own battery and its own GNSS receiver and can therefore be attached to mid-size multicopters without the flight controller having to supply data. The housing measures 37 x 26 x 16 mm and weighs 16 g.

The Beacon transmits as a direct broadcast, which is what the EU requires for remote identification. Battery life is at least 6 hours and depends on the configuration; the manufacturer also quotes higher figures. For a self-contained module what matters is that the time covers several flights, because the identification has to be sent for the whole flight. The standards named are ASD-STAN EN 4709-002 for the EU, the UK and Singapore and ASTM F3411-22a for the USA and Japan.

The approvals named are FAA, EASA, MLIT, CAA and CAAS. These cover the authorities of the USA, the EU, Japan, the UK and Singapore and are useful for operators who fly the same device in several jurisdictions. In the EU the module must transmit to EN 4709-002 and carry an EU declaration of conformity. Direct remote identification applies to drones of classes C1, C2, C3, C5 and C6 and, in the specific category, since 01.01.2024.

When choosing, the battery counts: it ages with cycles, run time drops in the cold, and a battery stored empty is damaged. Check charge level and operator registration number before each use. The antenna needs a clear view and does not belong under carbon fibre; keep the firmware current because the specifications keep developing.