Flying two drones at the same time & Drone Signal Interference Complete Guide 2023

It was only when I got my second toy drone and wanted to fly it with a friend that I started asking myself if you could fly two drones at the same time. And if it works, then how many drones can be flown simultaneously before it becomes unsafe?

Especially if you find yourself at a hobbyist meeting, you might want to ensure you can still control your quadcopter around all the other pilots doing the same thing.

In this article, we'll explore the best ways to fly two drones at the same time safely and securely while minimizing risk to both the drones and the pilots. We'll also examine the risks associated with flying more than one drone in a given area.

Can I fly two 2.4Ghz drones at the same time?

DJI, the world's leading drone manufacturer, recommends that you do not fly more than three drones simultaneously. This means that two drones that use 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi can safely fly together because there will be enough channels for a stable connection. However, the safety of your flight also depends on your piloting skills!

If your drone uses 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, it can use up to 13 channels. Only three of these channels are considered non-overlapping. Because drones are constantly channel hopping to achieve the strongest and most stable connection between the remote control and the drone, we need to ensure that the drone can choose from redundant channels if its current selection is weak.

The more drones you fly together, the more opportunity for the signal to overlap and cause interference. The strength of this interference depends on the drone's distance from the remote control and the power. The variables can cause the drone to have an unstable connection as you fly.

How many drones can you fly at once? 

If you are flying multiple drones in the same location, you should consider setting your Wi-Fi connectivity to 5.8GHz. There are significantly more Wi-Fi channels in this band and much less overlapping - 24 of these 45 channels do not overlap.

On a 2.4 GHz connection, you can safely fly up to three drones at once, while a 5.8 GHz connection will allow you to fly up to 10 drones at the same time safely.

This way, you can also fly with more confidence, as channel hopping allows the drone to have more opportunities to select a stable channel throughout your flight. We'll get into that a little bit later. For now, let's stick with two drones.

How to safely fly two drones at the same time

First, you must decide if you want to use the 2.4GHz or the 5.8GHz frequency for your first multi-drone flight.

As we mentioned before, it is possible to safely fly two drones on a 2.4GHz connection, so you can stick with that if you're not planning to use more drones.

The other option is to hop on the 5.8GHz frequency, whether because you want to fly more than two or three drones or play it safe no matter what.

The issue with using 5.8GHz frequency is that it does not travel as far. You may find that your drone has an unstable connection if you fly at a distance greater than 500 m from the remote control under the 5.8 GHz frequency. For most drone pilots, this isn't necessarily an issue.

Selecting the channel with the Lowest Interference Using your drone to search for the lowest interference channel can help you avoid flying on a channel with too much noise.
You'll need to use a channel scanner on your drone or an app that can scan for Wi-Fi interference. Personally, I recommend Wi-Fi Analyzer. Here’s how to use it effectively: How to use Wi-Fi Analyzer

Once you've found the channel with the lowest interference, select it on your remote control and drone.

Flying more than one drone requires extra experience from the pilot to navigate issues with frequency selection and skill in maneuvering around other drones. No matter how experienced you are as a drone pilot, flying with multiple drones in the same area adds extra risk.

Here is everything you need to know to fly two drones at the same time safely, securely, and with the minimum amount of risk to the drone and yourself:

To do before the flight:

1. Check local drone regulations (United States and Europe): Check the laws and regulations regarding flying multiple drones in the same area. This can help ensure that you're flying legally and safely. You can check out the National Conference of State Legislatures for specific information. In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration provides a drone registry and an interactive map outlining each state's different rules and regulations. Other regions have different laws, so make sure to check them out before flying with your drone!
   
2. Do a pre-flight check to make sure everything is working correctly. It would be best if you started by testing each drone independently. 
3. Always point your transmitter antenna to the sky for the best connection.
4. After ensuring both drones are working as expected, you can finally fly them both simultaneously.
5. Hover the drones above the take-off area briefly to ensure there's no issue with them interfering.

To do while flying:

1. Have a clear communication plan: It's essential to have a clear communication plan between pilots if you're flying multiple drones in the same area. This can include using hand signals, walkie-talkies, or other communication devices to ensure that all pilots know each other's drones' movements.
   
2. Avoid crowded areas: It's best to avoid crowded areas when flying multiple drones to minimize the risk of injury to people or animals. If you must fly in a crowded place, make sure that you have enough space to maneuver the drones safely.
   
3. Keep a safe distance: It's essential to keep a safe distance between drones when flying multiple drones in the same area. By doing this, you can help prevent collisions and interference between drones.
   

Use an observer: It can be helpful to have an observer on the ground who can monitor the drones' movements and alert the pilots to potential hazards.

How to fly more than two drones at the same time

If you want to fly more than two drones simultaneously, you need to change your frequency to 5.8Ghz on all of them to minimize interference.

Changing the frequency of your drone from 2.4 GHz to 5.8 GHz is a relatively simple process depending on your drone type. Generally, it involves connecting the drone to your computer and using a program such as Mission Planner or DJI Go 4 to change settings.

Here's what you need to do:

1. Connect your drone(s) to your computer via cable and install any required software.
2. Open up the program that allows you to control the settings of your drone (Mission Planner or DJI Go 4).
3. Navigate to the "Radio Frequency" menu in the settings section, select "5.8GHz" from the drop-down menu, and save your settings.
4. Disconnect and reconnect your drone battery after making changes to ensure they take effect and you're ready to fly with 5Ghz!

The rest of the process is the same with multiple drones as it is with only two, but of course, you'll need way more experience and skills as a pilot, the greater the number of drones.

Here's a cool example of a swarm of drones, which can be controlled as a single drone by a single operator: