SPOT Satellite Messenger

[NorCal Cruiser]

Disclaimer: sorry if this sounds like an ad. I'm not affiliated with this company in anyway- I just think it's a very cool product.


I'm not sure if anything has been posted about these before or not. A SPOT is a new GPS/ satellite messenger that has just come out. It is similar to a PLB but in my opinion it is better. The SPOT has a built in GPS and uses the satellite phone network to send txt messages or emails containing your coordinates and a link to google maps showing where you're at to whoever you want- or in the event of a real emergency it will contact 911 to inform them of your location. The SPOT can send three different messages- I'm OK, I need Help (sent only to your friends or family that you have selected), or 911. So, unlike a PLB which costs around $450 and can only be used to call 911 the SPOT, which costs $150 with a $100 a year service plan for unlimited messages, can be used to check in letting people know you're alright, it can be used to call your friends for help in a non life threatening event, or it can be used to call 911 in a life threatening emergency.

So far I've bought 6 of these for work- we have field crews working in remote areas without cell coverage this will allow them to check in or call for help if they brake down, get stuck, or get hurt. I'll post up more once we start using them in the field.

Oh, and I know that this will make my girlfriend feel better when I'm out hiking, biking, or back country skiing alone.

Here's a link to their website: www.findmespot.com

[_Walker_]

WOW!! nice find! Iv been looking for smaller lower cost ELTs to supplement the ones we carry on our aircraft, but a new 406Mhz unit is pushing $2000...... VERY good find, pop that in your bag before you go out, A+++

[Bad Voodoo]

No testimonials or "ambassadors" on their site. Does SPOT actually work?

At first blush, there's a mighty big difference between COSPAS-SARSAT, the international cooperative among the United States, Canada, Russia and France that operates the satellite monitoring system for 406 MHz EPIRBs; and GEOS SAR, which appears to the private concern that SPOT uses.

For now, I'll continue to keep my money on and trust my life to 406 MHz PLBs. At least until the testimonials for SPOT start rolling in at the rate and frequency that PLBs have.

[NorCal Cruiser]

The SPOTS were just released this week- I'm guessing that's why there aren't any testimonials on their website.

[Bad Voodoo]

Let us know what else you dig up re: SPOT, Cruiser. I'm certainly curious.

[Trunk Monkey]

Dave Connors is using one:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/expedition-builds/175895-expedition-americas-fzj80.html

Works great.

[NorCal Cruiser]

I just noticed that Overland Journal has a little blurb about them in the latest issue.

[mrlocksmith]

NorCal:

How are those spots working for you? Any field reports yet ?

Mark

[Trunk Monkey]

Here's the info you get when the person sends out their location:

SPOT Check OK. I am doing just fine.
Unit Number: 0-7341XXX
Latitude: 32.5803
Longitude: -116.6316
Nearest Town from unit Location: Tecate Rd, Tecate, CA, US
Distance to the nearest town: 0 km(s)
Time in GMT the message was sent: 11/13/2007 00:29:01
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...UTF8&z=12&om=1

[NorCal Cruiser]

Originally Posted by mrlocksmith

NorCal:

How are those spots working for you? Any field reports yet ?

Mark

I don't have mine turned on yet. Since I'll be using them for a commercial application SPOT is drafting up some additional user agreement forms for our employees to sign. The forms sound pretty basic just saying that even with a SPOT bad things can still happen. I think I'm the first person they've done this for so it's taking a few days. I'm also working with GEOS the provider of the optional SAR insurance to arrange to buy additional insurance policies for our employees. The $8 per year insurance only covers the registered owner/user of the SPOT but our employees work in teams of two and I want both people covered. The CEO of GEOS seems to think the additional insurance shouldn't be a problem but he has to run it by the policy underwriters in London. I'll post up what I find out as soon as I get more info.

[Cabrito]

There is a bit more info over on the expo forum -
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9208

some user comments and testing ....


mg
..

[brownbear]

Originally Posted by _Walker_

WOW!! nice find! Iv been looking for smaller lower cost ELTs to supplement the ones we carry on our aircraft, but a new 406Mhz unit is pushing $2000...... VERY good find, pop that in your bag before you go out, A+++

I would not consider this a replacement for an ELT in an aircraft.

Do you mean just a supplement to your other ELT?

I don't have a 406 in plane yet, just the standard Narco 121.5 mhz.

Come 2009 121.5 isn't supported anymore, other than passing by aircraft.

[NorCal Cruiser]

So far our SPOT units are working well. I have 8 field crews using the units and they like the added safety the SPOTs provide. The one downside we have found so far is that sometimes the "I'm OK" check message havesn't come through. With the "HELP" and "911" calls the SPOT continues sending the message every 5 minutes until the call is canceled. With the "I'm OK" calls the unit only tries sending it once- unless you have signed up for the $50 per year tracking function which automatically checks in every 10 minutes until you turn the unit off. I don't think the occasional missed "I'm OK" check in is too bad since you get unlimited messages- you just need to remember to push the check in button frequently to make sure the signal gets out. According to SPOT's website the units have better than 99% success in sending a message in a 20min period.

[expeditionswest]

I have been using one, and recently tracked my trip on El Camino Del Diablo.

I like it! The help function is of particular note. Get stuck, push the help button and your buddies get to be heros and laugh at you too

[expeditionswest]

Here is what the tracking map looks like... From my El Camino Del Diablo trip this last weekend

[nakman]

Hey that's pretty cool, Scott! and nice pictures too btw.

[John E Davies]

FYI here's a great thread with lots of technical info on SPOT, with some comments by a guy who developed it:
Has anyone seen or bought a Spot Satellite Messenger yet? - ADVrider

Here's a long report on one of the first reported rescues:
adn.com | Outdoors : After bad fall, Spot comes to the rescue

Santa brought me one for Christmas and I think it's a great and necessary back country tool. The guys at Adventure Rider are buying them like crazy - they make riding motorcycles solo in remote areas much less risky.

John Davies
Spokane WA

[chappysfj40]

It is a great tool to put in ur bag or where ever you need it. Iam over here in IRAQ now and we use PLB's. I never used or had anything like this in the past but now i am seriuosly concidering getting something like the SPOT. My 2 cents
cheers

[SOCALFJ]

We've had one since the first week it was released. It's worked flawless the whole time.. about 3 trips so far. Couldn't be happier.

Bradshaw Overland Route, Ca

[Hltoppr]

Love mine....won't leave on a moto/cruiser expedition without it!

-H-

[lucky]

hey norcal cruiser, what kind of work do you do?

Ryan

[e9999]

I got to say, this is surprisingly inexpensive for the usefulness.
Seriously thinking about getting one since I often go out there alone. I can see how this thing would save your life...

(Plus I could track the daughter when I'll let her go out on dates... in like 25 years or so... )


How big is this thing in practical terms?
Anybody hardwired one in yet?
And it works from inside the truck well enough or do you have to hold it out the window?

[mrlocksmith]

It is all self contained, I would not try to hard wire it. I tried to send a "ok" message from in my '60 and it would not get a GPS fix all that well. Works fine outside. It is about the size of 1.25 cig packs there is no excuse not to carry it if you own one.

Mark

[Trunk Monkey]

Originally Posted by e9999

I got to say, this is surprisingly inexpensive for the usefulness.
Seriously thinking about getting one since I often go out there alone. I can see how this thing would save your life...

(Plus I could track the daughter when I'll let her go out on dates... in like 25 years or so... )


How big is this thing in practical terms?
Anybody hardwired one in yet?
And it works from inside the truck well enough or do you have to hold it out the window?

Very small.
No idea why you would, portability is the key with it.
Depends. My dad uses one for hiking alone and he sometimes has to wait 15 minutes for it to send it's signal. Normal day, no clouds, etc.

[e9999]

1.25 cig pack is small indeed


didn't see a clear discussion of how long the batteries would last under normal use (w/ and w/o tracking) in real life...
anybody knows for sure?