Last updated: 5 October 2026 · by BlueMark Innovations, maker of Remote ID transmitters and receivers since 2022
Remote ID is a digital licence plate for drones. While it flies, the drone broadcasts its identity, position, altitude, speed and the position of its pilot (or take-off point) over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Anyone nearby with a Remote ID receiver, such as a phone app, can read it. It is now mandatory in the US, the EU, the UK, Japan and China.
The EU calls it Direct Remote Identification (DRI), the US calls it Broadcast Remote ID, and the open-source implementation is Open Drone ID. All three mean the same thing: a one-way radio broadcast straight from the drone, with no internet and no central database.
Source: opendroneid.orgWhich drones must broadcast Remote ID?
The rules differ per region. The US ties Remote ID to registration and weight, while Europe and the UK tie it to the drone’s class label. Some drones under 250 g carry a C1 label and broadcast too.
| Region | In force since | Who must broadcast | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States (FAA Part 89) | 16 Sep 2023 (enforced from 16 Mar 2024) | Drones of 250 g or more, and every drone flown under Part 107 regardless of weight | US rules |
| European Union (EASA) | 1 Jan 2024 | Class C1, C2, C3, C5, C6, and all drones in the specific category | EU rules |
| United Kingdom (CAA) | 1 Jan 2026 | UK1 class mark and above. Legacy drones follow from 2028 | UK rules |
| Japan (MLIT) | 20 Jun 2022 | Drones of 100 g or more | Japan rules |
| China (GB 46750-2025) | 1 May 2026 | Civil drones, with deadlines for existing drones | China rules |
National details: France, Switzerland, Norway, Singapore. Overview of all regions: drone Remote ID rules by country.
What information does a Remote ID broadcast contain?
| Field | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Serial number or session ID | Static | Identifies the drone |
| Operator registration number | Static | Required in the EU, UK and Singapore (e.g. NLD…, DEU…). Not broadcast in the US |
| Position, altitude, height | Dynamic | Updated about once per second |
| Speed and course | Dynamic | |
| Pilot (control station) position or take-off point | Dynamic | Add-on modules send the take-off point |
| Timestamp and emergency status | Dynamic |
The pilot’s name is never broadcast. In the US only the FAA and law enforcement can link a serial number to its owner.
Remote ID standards
- ASTM F3411-22a: the US standard. The FAA accepts it as means of compliance through the ASTM F3586-22 overlay.
- ASD-STAN EN 4709-002: the European standard for Direct Remote ID. It is nearly identical to F3411, and adds the operator registration number.
- GB 46750-2025: China’s national standard, using Bluetooth Long Range S8 and Wi-Fi Beacon.
- Open Drone ID: the open-source framework that implements the ASTM and ASD-STAN message formats. Our products are built on it.
Broadcast Remote ID vs network Remote ID
Broadcast (direct) Remote ID goes straight from the drone over the air and works without internet. Network Remote ID sends the drone’s position over mobile data to a UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) service. The US and EU rules require broadcast Remote ID. Network Remote ID is used in some UTM and U-space services. Our products are for broadcast Remote ID.
How is Remote ID transmitted? Bluetooth vs Wi-Fi
| Transport | Range (typical) | Used by | Phone support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth Legacy (BT 4) | Up to a few hundred metres (considered as optional/extra broadcast method for compatibility reasons) | Many add-on modules | All phones and tablets |
| Bluetooth Long Range S8 (Coded PHY) | 1 km and more | Many drones and modules | No iPhone/iPad. Optional on Android, and often unreliable |
| Wi-Fi Beacon | 1 km and more | Most drones, including DJI | Not on iPhone. Android throttles scans to ~2 per minute |
| Wi-Fi NaN | Similar to Wi-Fi Beacon | Rare | Some Android phones |
A small share of drones, such as Skydio, broadcast on 5 GHz Wi-Fi only. All messages are connectionless advertisements: the drone transmits and never waits for an acknowledgement.
How to add Remote ID to a drone
New drones in regulated markets ship with Remote ID built in. Legacy drones, FPV and DIY builds, and drones flying in the EU specific category need an add-on Remote ID module:
- DroneBeacon battery: self-powered, attach to any drone
- DroneBeacon ext power: powered from the drone
- DroneBeacon FPV: for FPV quads
- DroneBeacon MAVLink/DroneCAN: for ArduPilot/PX4 flight controllers
How to detect drones with Remote ID
Any receiver that understands the standards above can see broadcasting drones live: their position, height, serial number, operator ID and pilot location.
- DroneScout app (Android, iPhone, iPad, free): shows every drone your phone can receive on a map, and checks whether each broadcast is compliant for the region. More at dronescout.pro.
- DroneScout Bridge: phones miss much of the Remote ID traffic. iPhones receive only Bluetooth Legacy, and many Android phones miss Bluetooth Long Range S8 and Wi-Fi Beacon. Bridge receives all four transports and rebroadcasts them as Bluetooth Legacy, so any phone sees them, with a range of up to about 2 km. Higher models also receive 5 GHz. Bridge works with any Remote ID app, and there’s no pairing.
- DroneScout receivers: fixed sensors for airports, stadiums, critical infrastructure and security teams
Remote ID vs DJI AeroScope
DJI AeroScope was a proprietary system that only detected DJI drones. DJI stopped selling it in March 2023 as Remote ID came in. Remote ID replaced it as an open, international standard that every manufacturer must implement, so one receiver sees drones of all brands. For security teams that relied on AeroScope, a Remote ID receiver is the direct successor.
Frequently asked questions
Is Remote ID mandatory?
Yes, in the US (since 2023), the EU (since 2024), the UK (since 2026), Japan (since 2022) and China (since 2026). Which drones are covered differs per region; see the table above.
Can I see the pilot’s location?
Yes. Remote ID broadcasts the position of the pilot’s controller, or the take-off point for add-on modules. The pilot’s name and address are never broadcast.
Can a phone receive Remote ID?
Yes, with an app such as DroneScout. An iPhone receives only Bluetooth Legacy, though, and many Android phones miss Bluetooth Long Range S8 and Wi-Fi Beacon. An accessory like DroneScout Bridge closes that gap.
What is the range of Remote ID?
Typically several hundred metres up to 1–2 km, depending on the transport, the drone’s transmit power and the receiver. Bluetooth Long Range S8 and Wi-Fi reach furthest.
Do drones under 250 g need Remote ID?
In the US, not for recreational flights, but yes under Part 107. In the EU and UK it depends on the class label: a sub-250 g drone with a C1 or UK1 label broadcasts. In Japan, every drone from 100 g must broadcast.
Can Remote ID be switched off?
Where it is mandatory, flying with it switched off is illegal. Many DJI drones only start broadcasting once airborne, and only in countries where Remote ID is required.