SPOT Satellite Messenger
- Thread starter NorCal Cruiser
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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?
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?
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
Mark
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.
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?
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?
OLD thread revival....
My mom wants to buy me a SPOT for my birthday, but after some research I am now wondering if the 'older' PLB types are a better option?
Doesn't seem to be a lot of current info here on 'mud, all the threads are 5-6 years old, so any updates from SPOT/PLB users?
My use would consist of offroading/camping in North America, primarily dense tree areas in BC.
Some of my club members use Spot, and seem quite happy with it. The google maps/tracking option is quite neat, and my family would get a kick out of being able to see where I go.
My mom wants to buy me a SPOT for my birthday, but after some research I am now wondering if the 'older' PLB types are a better option?
Doesn't seem to be a lot of current info here on 'mud, all the threads are 5-6 years old, so any updates from SPOT/PLB users?
My use would consist of offroading/camping in North America, primarily dense tree areas in BC.
Some of my club members use Spot, and seem quite happy with it. The google maps/tracking option is quite neat, and my family would get a kick out of being able to see where I go.
Moot point now I guess. Mom just came into town with my early bday present of the Spot GPS messenger.
I love my SPOT. I picked it up last year to cover me when I was deer hunting. Used it for KOH, the Google tracking is really pretty damn cool. I'm going to try it out in the Narrows and see how well it works in Slot canyons
I've had one for about 5 months now. It seems to work great and sends a signal from inside the truck even. I have not tried much in the woods with heavy cover though. I only turn it on when I want to send the OK signal and have had the same battery in it since december. Mostly sitting off though.
So far i'm very pleased as we often drive 30 miles off road into areas with zero cell service.
I don't know how well the SOS will go down, but it's better than nothing.
So far i'm very pleased as we often drive 30 miles off road into areas with zero cell service.
I don't know how well the SOS will go down, but it's better than nothing.
I decided to go with an ACR Electronics SarLINK personal locator beacon instead of the SPOT messenger.
Downsides:
Upsides:
Downsides:
- Cost - a PLB like the SarLink is ~$300.
- Tracking - PLBs conserve battery for emergency purposes and don't do the kind of continuous tracking that a SPOT attempts to do
Upsides:
- 406MHz PLBs are MUCH more reliable than SPOT & GlobalSAT
- It will summon search & rescue even without a subscription
- It can still send the "i'm ok" test messages like a SPOT if you do buy a cheap subscription from ACR
My dos pesos. I travel to Baja solo each spring. For the peace of mind of family and friends I considered a SPOT. The reviews at one site have usually been poor, and there appears to be issues with the company's customer service and the way they bill the customer.
A buddy was down in Baja recently supporting one of the race teams. He had a SPOT. The only data transmitted was on the first day. After that, nothing. My trip was right after his, and I'm glad I didn't waste my money.
A buddy was down in Baja recently supporting one of the race teams. He had a SPOT. The only data transmitted was on the first day. After that, nothing. My trip was right after his, and I'm glad I didn't waste my money.
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I got two friends they are riding from LA to Argentina.. I been following their progress since last December through the SPOT service....
It seems theirs is doing what it is supposed to...
It seems theirs is doing what it is supposed to...
Mine has worked just fine sending "Everything's OK" messages.
I do remember reading a thread on Mud that had some links with stories of no connection. I came out of reading all this thinking that the technology was not failproof and as a result I didn't get one myself (yet).
There are many old reviews at REI on the Messenger. REI no longer carries this unit. Wonder why?
SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger at REI.com
The reviews on the Communicator are also mixed:
SPOT Connect Satellite Communicator at REI.com
And last, some mixed reviews at Amzon.com:
Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger unit, Orange/Black
The bottom line, from the reviews, their customer service has issues, there business practices are suspect, and the product cannot always be counted on to work. Like I said, a buddy went to Baja for a week, used the unit daily, and it didn't work.
I won't by one until they work dependably, and I start seeing better reviews of their business practices.
While I also read reviews about customer service & performance issues, I made my decision based purely on the technology and the organizations managing search & rescue for the products.
The SPOT uses the GlobalStar network for communication. GlobalStar (satellite phone) is less resilient to weather, tree cover and difficult terrain. Search & Rescue is coordinated by SPOT themselves out of their call center. They have a procedure they go through whereby they make phone calls to try to reach you and then contact 911 with your last known GPS coordinates. This is better than nothing but not what I'd want to rely on in a wilderness survival situation.
The ACR SARLink (and other Personal Locator Beacons) use the 406mHz SARSAT band. 80% coverage over the planet. They also broadcast on 121mHz to guide search & rescue ground & air teams to your location once they get close. Some units, like the ACR, fire a strobe to guide them in. Search & Rescue is coordinated by the professionals at the Coast Guard & Air Force. The ACR can also send "I'm ok" messages distributed by email for a subscription.
For true wilderness survival, a 406 PLB is the way to go. For trip tracking and "extended 911" than SPOT is alright. I just wouldn't bet my life on it.
The SPOT uses the GlobalStar network for communication. GlobalStar (satellite phone) is less resilient to weather, tree cover and difficult terrain. Search & Rescue is coordinated by SPOT themselves out of their call center. They have a procedure they go through whereby they make phone calls to try to reach you and then contact 911 with your last known GPS coordinates. This is better than nothing but not what I'd want to rely on in a wilderness survival situation.
The ACR SARLink (and other Personal Locator Beacons) use the 406mHz SARSAT band. 80% coverage over the planet. They also broadcast on 121mHz to guide search & rescue ground & air teams to your location once they get close. Some units, like the ACR, fire a strobe to guide them in. Search & Rescue is coordinated by the professionals at the Coast Guard & Air Force. The ACR can also send "I'm ok" messages distributed by email for a subscription.
For true wilderness survival, a 406 PLB is the way to go. For trip tracking and "extended 911" than SPOT is alright. I just wouldn't bet my life on it.
huh?? (the main unit is sold out currently or I would have linked it)
SPOT Connect Satellite Communicator - Free Shipping for Members at REI.com
The Reviews are mixed. It seems that the major issue is customer service. I have not had to deal with them so I can't comment on that.
It seems they have some growing pains with new "stuff" Not suprising.
Same reviews on REI
Mine and about 5 other people I know use the spot often and have nothing but good things to say about it. Mine worked great in some reasonable tree cover while deer hunting last year. I consider it money well spent.
I purchased the SPOT when it was first available and have been happy with it and its performance since. Read your manual and know its limitations.
I just had this conversation and I/we prefer the SPOT over the other PLB. Mainly because my family and friends know my location all the time, any time. The PLB is not able to tell my family and friends or anyone Im not moving. The SPOT recently was able to tell the motorcycle group I was riding with that I was still moving and where I was when we were separated in the middle of Escalante Utah.
The protocol is the same in an emergency call for both from what I heard in my recent conversation. The coordination in the end is a little different but I would think SPOT would be good at it by now.
As for betting your life, only a fool would bet his life on anything one thing