R111S Module

This is a quick review of the Ruko R111 RID Module. US pilots with older model drones like the DJI Phantom series, Mavic Pro, Mavic Air, or any non-RID-compliant drone >250 grams will want to take a look at this new R111 RID Module offering from Ruko. The unit is fully self-contained, lightweight at under 14 grams, & extremely easy to set up. The R111 also offers a small footprint of 1.4" x 1.2" x 0.5". Setup is simple with the Ruko Scanner app, which allows configuring the device as well as functioning as a RID scanner application. Pair the R111 to your phone with the app, set your FAA Registration ID, then add the device to your FAA DroneZone device list & you are all set to legally operate all of your legacy drones or RC aircraft. About 5-10 minutes & you are good to go. The R111 features a USB-C charging port which fully charges the device in ~40 minutes. Note: Use a charger <15 watts or the device will not charge! Once full it will operate continuously for ~5 hours. GPS lockup is quick (~30-60 seconds). For ease-of-use there are only two buttons. A 3 second press of the Power button turns the device on & off. Once on a 3 second press of the Setting button puts the module in Setting Mode so you can pair it to your phone (via the Ruko Scanner app) & enter your information. When done press Save & restart the device to have the changes become active. The R111 includes 3 Status LEDs. LED 1 indicates charge status. Red for charging, green for full. LED 2 indicates GPS lock. Solid green indicates a lock. LED 2 doubles as a low-battery alert, blinking red when the battery is low. LED 3 blinks green to indicate the unit is functioning properly. Included is a well-written manual, a USB-A to USB-C cable, & 3 sets of Velcro pads for attaching the unit to your aircraft. The device is much smaller than I anticipated & easily adaptable to even small drones. I cannot comment on range as I have not specifically tested it for this. Personally I don't care if the range is 1' as I only care about being legal, NOT how far it transmits. The unit shows up on the Ruko Scanner app, as well as in the AirSense & DroneScanner apps. Recreational pilots can purchase a single module & share it among all aircraft. Part 107 pilots will need to purchase a separate module for each bird operated in 107 mode. All told I believe this to be a great buy as it is the most affordable self-contained RID module currently available.

This device is affordable, effective, and user friendly. The Ruko R111 is listed on the FAAs website as an approved device for meeting new drone/rc rules, so other reviewers were wrong when saying that it does not meet FAA requirements. In order to view the location of the Ruko R111 on a map on your smartphone, you have to download the Ruko Scanner app on your device. There are about a dozen Ruko apps out there, but this device works only with the Ruko Scanner app. Battery life is good, I get several flights over the course of a week on one charge (good for 5 hours). For the price point, this thing is a no brainer! Some things that I learned in this process: 1) you only need one device for multiple aircraft, you can just move the device from one aircraft to another (all share the same FAA ID) 2) you are required to display your aircraft FAA ID on the aircraft itself 3) joining an organization with its own insurance coverage makes life easier and may grant access to pre-approved flying sites (like the AMA) 4) if not flying at an approved flying site, an app is needed to see if you are trying to fly in an area which requires a special request from the FAA 5) this device is good to have regardless of the rules, because it gives you the ability to locate an aircraft which has crashed or flown away using a precise mapping app on your phone. Happy flying!

Works for remote drones that do not have RFID. Simple to set-up. Durable and small.

A cool little device for satisfying RFID requirements. The app and device seem to work well, GPS is fast and accurate, and beeper function works well. The first unit sent to me does not function correctly. I am unable to bind the device to the app in order to edit the settings menu, which is important for RFID requirements. I have been speaking with customer service, and they are prompt and helpful. I should be receiving a replacement soon, and will update the review accordingly if the replacement device functions as it should.

As others have mentioned, the Ruko R111 is a good solution for adding Remote ID capability to drones that do not have that capability built in. Since many small drones - like the DJI Neo - are made mostly for the consumer recreational market, you'll need to add a RID module like this to use the drone in a Part 107 capacity. The R111 suits this purpose well. However, keep in mind that many smaller drones - like the DJI Neo - are already small and adding this 14g module increases the weight by 10%, which results in more power needed to hover and maneuver. And, when you live at high altitude as I do ( > 5500 feet), you're already pushing these small drones pretty hard. However, the Ruko R111 did well and I still had good response from my small drone. As a final note, this module attached to the top of a small drone - like the DJI Neo - will raise the center of pressure and make the drone a little less stable longitudinally; nothing that is unmanageable, but just be aware that those tiny props are going to be working just that much harder and burning battery power that much faster. All in all, this module is still the lightest and smallest readily available RID solution and worth the purchase. 5 stars

Great RID module to get in compliance with the ridiculous FAA Remote ID rules. Satisfies the rules at a workable price point with a small physical size and weight and easy velcro attachment. And the built in battery is great! Setup was fairly easy once I scanned the right QR code for the app. The one in the instruction booklet led me on a wild goose chase and tried to subscribe me to a monthly fee :( but the QR on the outside of the box was good. You want the "Ruko Scanner" app. I downloaded it from the Play Store before realizing the QR code on the outside of the box was what I needed. Binding was a little confusing but reading and following the instructions worked. I'm sure my neighbors wondered what I was doing running around the back yard with a tiny module in my hand, but the device did send my speed (I'm slow) and altitude (not too tall either) and pinpointed my position accurately on my android phone. This thing does the trick! Thanks Ruko!

I have had no issues with this module for over a year on my Mavic Pro. There is no noticeable impact on performance or connectivity. The device shows up on drone tracking applications. It was an easy install and setup for me and I'm happy with it.

Work as advertised, ease of use, fits on drone very well with plenty of features