Spot Connect

T

thataway

Active member
Brent brought this up when he posted on new technical gadgets a couple of weeks ago. I missed this specific item, but when I saw it advertised at the local Bass Pro shop, it made me go back and revisit.

Spot Connect, uses the same satellite link which Spot, and Spot II/Spot communicator use. However it links to your android or i phone (i pad also). to turn these into limited satellite phones.

The reason it caught my eye was that we are looking for cheap satellite communication systems in case of hurricanes. But it would work just as well for some one cruising Alaska or Lake Powell, out of range of cell towers.

http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=116

The hockey puck device is the satellite/ blue tooth transmitter. You can have up to 14 predefined messages, of up to 120 characters and up to 10 pre determined contact groups (like C brats,Tweet, facebook, or a family group) saying you are OK etc. Or you can type in 41 characters at the time you are ready to send. Saying your are "OK" or asking for "help" (there are slight differences in the interval of sending and number of times the message is sent)

It does the standard tracking with GPS but only for 24 hour segments, and then you have to restart the tracking.

It also does the standard "SOS" to Geos who then decides what is the appropiate agency to contact, depending on your location based on the built in GPS. The unit also has a built in power button and "SOS" button, so that even if the cell phone is dead, an SOS will be sent. It runs on AA batteries.

It allows you to send a message such as "out of fuel--come help"...

I still have some reservations about SPOT--and it is not a substitute for an EPRIB--but this does seem to fill even more of a gap than the Spot Communicator does (there have been several recalls, and problems with the communicator). Perhaps others may comment on that.

Cost $150, plus $100 a year for the "Service" and a per unit cost for instant messaging, if you want to type other than the your predetermined messages. (The cost can be as low as 10 cents a message for "type and send" up to 41 characters to up to 10 contact groups. ) You have to prepurchase in bundles of 100 or 500 messages.

It is still a one way device--you can not receive on it. The next closest two way is the GeoPro Messenger @ $700, plus $50 activation fee and $35 a month fees, plus 20 cents a message. (Shout Nano is similar but more expensive).
Sat phone starts at $1000 to $1500 For Iridium and $600 for Inmarsat, plus fees and activation; about the same cost as the GeoPro, but perhaps with more performance problems and high monthly and per unit message fees.
 
I send this most every day we are out to group of friends and family:

Walldog, Willie and Jake
Latitude:48.51357
Longitude:-122.60696
GPS location Date/Time:05/23/2011 17:05:42 PDT

Message:Here is where we are now, All OK just checking in with you.

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/4t8Fq/48.51357/\-122.60696

If the above link does not work, try this link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... &z=12&om=1

Walldog, Willie and Jake

You have received this message because Walldog, Willie and Jake has added you to their SPOT contact list.
 
thataway":25mg16qp said:
It is still a one way device--you can not receive on it. The next closest two way is the GeoPro Messenger @ $700, plus $50 activation fee and $35 a month fees, plus 20 cents a message. (Shout Nano is similar but more expensive).
Sat phone starts at $1000 to $1500 For Iridium and $600 for Inmarsat, plus fees and activation; about the same cost as the GeoPro, but perhaps with more performance problems and high monthly and per unit message fees.
Click to expand...

Also check out SkyMate. I bought a never-used system from a guy who had some installation problems (he is in Belize) and switched to a sat phone. His local vendor here in Anacortes put me in touch with him and will provide tech support if I need it (this was the problem for the the guy in Belize -- no local tech support.) I have not installed it yet so can't yet report on how well it works. But it provides 2-way email and Wx at what looks like a good price.

Warren
 
We have been using the SPOT locator/tracking unit for 2 1/2 years during our Great Loop trip and our recent trip to the Bahamas.

We get excellent battery life (3-4 months - with daily use while underway) and have not heard of any issues or recalls. We have the older unit

The only problem we have had is overzealous friends who track us - thought that a drastic course change during an overnight crossing was a signal for a problem (changed course to get a smoother ride in moderate seas) and almost called the coast guard.

Others have called us on the cell phone to advise us of places we are getting close to with shallow water, or a marina they really like, a congratulory call on completing our first lock through adventure, do we know that the weather is about to turn to crap, etc..

We have found it to be a very valuable device. As Bob has pointed out, the newer versions have even more features. I am glad he took the time to describe the capabilities as I found the literature descriptions a bit overwhelming.
 
...aah, the "march of technology," amazing.

Dr. Bob,

Thanks for the info on the newest item in the SPOT line-up.

I use an iPhone 4 with AT&T service. It works very well but I'm a little put off by the cost of AT&T service if traveling in Canada ($4.99/mo + .49/min as I recall). Sounds like the new SPOT device might be an alternative so that I could send a short msg via satellite versus (more expensive) cellphone.

Do you (or anyone else) know if you send a SPOT msg while in a cellphone area, and direct it to the SPOT (satellite) rather than the more expensive cellphone system? (It seems that a smart phone would prioritize cell connectivity over bluetooth satellite, but I might be wrong.)

The iPhone seems to identify available systems, but I'm not sure of its limitations. My iPhone 4 currently recognizes if I'm in the Ford F150 (which has a Synch System), the Honda Accord (a Bluetooth system), or just the cellphone itself, and gives me a choice from among the paired systems that are within range and available. It's simply amazing.

I expect that not-too-far-down-the-road will be a device that's will automatically pick up your thoughts and dial a number ... oh, imagine the challenges/incidents that will provide!

Casey
 
Walldog--what phone are your using with your Spot Connect, or are you using the Spot Communicator? (which uses the Delorme GPS 60Wse)

Casey, the App is completely separate from the cell phone--and it should send the satellite one way (up link) message without utalizing the cell service. As noted the phone can be disabled in both the i phone and android. The Spot Connect does not use the cell phone circuitry. I don't know how much text messaging costs in Canada--and that is what you are basically doing--but only one way.

Warren.
Skymate is a data sending/recieving servcie. It is fairly expensive. The hardware which has to hook up to a PC of some sort, is from $1100 on up. The monthy plans start at $18.00, for 8,000 characters; $2.25 for each additional 1,000 characters. You can go on "standby" for 3 month segments. The GPS tracking only uploads position twice a day, normally. But I am sure you could do it more often--and the GPS position uses 20 characters. But it is cheaper than some cell phones. Skymate appears to use the same satellites which SPOT uses--and there are some 'holes" incoverage (Polar, Indian Ocean and S. Pacific). However the Skymate does allow monitering of multiple functions if you have a large yacht--and it has a number of advantages for security. The disadvantage, is that is is a permante setup--with PC, power supply, antennas etc. The Spot connect is just a hockey puck size device with its own batteries and your I phone or android.

The next level will be two way communications--for Spot?? There are a number of two way satellite communication systems, and for the most part they are fairly expensive. If you are able to go with proper dishes, and the high end equiptment, you can surf the web from anywhere on earth--but it costs a bundle...probably more in a year than most of our boats cost.....
 
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