SPOT TRACKER

F

flrockytop

New member
I just returned from a trip to New Zealand and thought I would post my experience with the SPOT gps tracker. First some background. I am a ham radio operator and have been using APRS tracking for close to 10 years. My Dad is 88 and when we head out on a trip he gets down right paranoid if he does not know where we are. It’s even worse if we’re out of the country. Being a gadget person and also, in a prior life in the two-way radio business, I keep somewhat up on things and was aware of the SPOT. I did not pay too much attention because I did not think it would be all that reliable. Then I saw El and Bill’s post about how he used one on his Greece trip and was pleased with it. I sent Bill a PM to see if he might rent it to me for a couple of weeks for this NZ trip. He, in no uncertain terms, said no way to renting but that he would be glad to let me use it. He sent his to me and after doing some tests for a couple of days I was amazed. Like the man said “ I liked it so much I bought the company.” Well, I didn’t buy the company but I did do the necessary things to become a dealer. I returned Bill’s unit and got one of my own. Now for my experience with it.

It can send four types of messages.

1. CHECK IN. OK message can be sent as cell phone text message and/or the email addresses that you have entered during the setup process. You can go on line and add/delete or change these addresses. Your coordinates will be sent along with a link to a Google Map.

2. TRACK PROGRESS Using this feature your position is updated every 10 minutes and is plotted on a Google map that can be accessed by anyone that you share the link with.

3. ASK FOR HELP You would use this option in the event of some non-life-threatening situation. The people that you have pre-selected during setup would receive a message that you need help along with your location and a link to a Google Map of your location.

4. 9-1-1 mode A distress signal and your location will be sent to an Emergency Response Center every 5 minutes. They would then contact an appropriate agency to respond.

I agree with Bob Austin that I would not use the SPOT as an EPIRB replacement, but the SPOT has a place of it’s own. The EPIRB just sits there forever and hopefully is never used and you assume it is going to work when needed. The SPOT gives that real time peace of mind that all is well. It also lets others share your adventure as it is happening.

Some additional data: the SPOT uses two AA Lithium batteries. Shelf life of these would be several years. In use, life expectancy Power on unused 1 year. Constant tracking 24/7 14 days. 9-1-1 mode 7 days consecutive. Help mode 1900 messages. SPOT Check OK messages 1900.

I turned the unit on and put it in tracking mode during the day. I just laid it on the dash of the car while traveling. I used the belt clip when hiking. At the end of the day, I would switch to the OK message mode so it would send my location to my email. In the tracking mode the position plots stay on the Google Map for 24 hours and then are cleared. I am still using the original set of batteries. The thing worked amazingly well. My Dad could track our almost every move. I know because he used a whole ream of paper printing the Google Maps. He could zoom in and when using the Satellite View it was like he was there.

You are welcome to go to my page and see what a track looks like. Go to www.rogerrockwell.com and then click on Where are we now. This will take you to the SPOT Google Map page. As I said, the points expire after 24 hours so what you will see now is not too exciting but you can get the idea.

Lastly, I did become a dealer so have units at a price less than list. If any C-Brat is interested send me a PM for a substantial discount.

Here are some of the other threads where this has been discussed.
http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?p= ... ht=#107509
http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=6633&start=0
http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... light=spot
 
The SPOT is an interesting concept, great hardware price, but somewhat expensive service costs for casual usage ($150/year with tracking).

My impression is that it is first-generation, like the iPhone which became so obsoleted so quickly with the announcement of the second model, cheaper and better.

The lack of a keyboard and thus the ability to change the outgoing message is a major shortcoming, in my opinion. It is a one-way device, which is OK, but why not have the ability to compose a context-sensitive message if/when the sh*t-hits-the-fan? Even if there was just a selection of pre-formatted messages available from a menu (and no keyboard) would be a major value-added feature. I don't mean to rain on your parade, but offer this as constructive criticism since as a dealer you may have the factory's ear.

BTW, I've been an avid GPS user for about 15 years, and a ham for 45 years (Extra Class).
 
This last weekend I activated a Spot so family members on both sides could see where we going. I have always been concerned about reliability of Spot this far north, but if did a pretty good job of tracking down the Seward Highway to Homer and while beating ourself up in Kachemak Bay fishing for halibut. I put the Spot up by the front window and let it do its thing. The only time there was a significant gap in the tracking messages was when were actually catching halibut before the wind ran us back to Homer. I suspect it missed reporting due to the boat's attitude. At the same time my fishing hole is safe.
 
Tom --
The SPOT was designed by an avid fisherman -- when SPOT detects that you are snarfing in the halibut, then it's true technological genius is revealed -- Special Place? Off Track! -- instead of being Spot on, it quickly goes to Spot off mode to protect your secret fishing hole.
 
I just used our SPOT for the first time today...the track will be up for a little while longer and is available by clicking on the webpage in my profile and the SPOT link is on the upper right. It simply shows the trip from Twin Bridges to EQ and back. I turned it on, activated the tracking mode, and put it on the shelf above the helm and didn't have to worry about it for the duration of the trip.
 
Karl, a couple of observations, from another GPS fan, and an inactive extra class HAM, and an iPhone fan. :smile

(three points here, then on to the SPOT topic)

older iPhone obsolete? no, I have the current model and don't expect to upgrade any time soon. I love this one and it does what I want quite well.

New one better? - looks like incremental improvements, nothing earth-shaking. Most of what they're adding is to attack the Blackberry market, which is of no interest to a great many of us.

New one less expensive? - no, it's $200 less up front, but you're locked into a $10 more per month service price for two years, which cancels the $200 savings, and then you pay $10 more per month from then on. So it's actually more expensive.

Ya gotta read the fine print...... :wink

Anyway, I'm in favor of getting a SPOT as a backup for my Personal Locator Beacon. The thing I don't like on the PLB is there's no way to check the operation once in a while. So you're standing on a sinking boat and you push the button and you have to hope some consumer electronics company did a good quality job on the device and batteries. Not a good feeling if you ask me. I'd sure like to be able to use it once in a while to know it still works, which you can do with the SPOT.

Jeff
 
Roger- I just read your 2000 coast to coast trip on the scooter! What a great story. Thanks for the link. If you ever decide to ride it to Seattle "we'll keep the light on for ya.."
 
Thanks to questioning by Bob from Thataway I went back and re-read the manual for my ACR PLB. Turns out I was somewhat wrong in my memory about testing the unit. You can do a self-test without killing the battery and without generating emergency messages. You can't test the internal GPS without hurting the battery life, but that's not as important. They'll triangulate you and get close even without the GPS.

Anyway, a SPOT would still be a nice backup, and could be a fun toy as well. I just wanted to clarify any misrepresentation of the PLB situation I might have caused for someone.

I wonder what the PLB battery replacement will cost when it comes up in two years?....

Jeff
 
Interesting SPOT story from this past weekend. I loaned my tracker to a good friend of mine who lives here in town. His wife had to make a sudden unexpested road trip by herself from here to Demopolis,Al. He was able to follow her the entire trip. Sure enought just above Thomasville Hwy 43 goes left and Hwy right. She missed 43 and continued NE on 5. Its and easy turn to miss.(done it myself). My friend saw what she had done and keep calling her cell phone unit he was able to get to her and get her back on course. She only with about 20 miles out of the way. They were very happy. Not only did he have some peace of mind following her but saved her some anxiety of figuring out where she was and how to best get back on course. I would put this at least one step above being just a toy. You can still see some of her track by going to www.rogerrockwell.com and clicking on "Where are we now"


Roger
 
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