"Using SPOT in Conjunction with a Float Plan, -- Ideas

H

hardee

New member
This topic has been touched on in another thread and there may be more than one C-Brat who came into a "Satellite Messaging Service" device over the holiday or end of the year.

Up to now, we have used a combination of e-mail/phone contacts for a float plan practice. We have a basic float plan form on the computer, and e-mail it to an out of town relative usually the day before we leave. It gives all the specifics about the boat, (including a photo), us and pickup, plans, phones ect. When we actually leave the marina, we call, and usually just leave a message on the phone that we are out, and when we expect to call in. All based on Cell phone connectivity.

SPOT is going to have an affect on that system. Not sure exactly how just yet, but I know it is going to be an improvement. Deena surprised me with a new pet for Christmas …..SPOT, (from See Spot Run, See Spot Jump and now See SPOT Go. So today we did a dry run, from Moscow, ID to Sequim WA. Using both Check IN OK and tracking features to we did a dry run, (Well sort of) , 418 miles and about 9 hours. It worked. We are going to incorporate SPOT into the float plan, so currently we are looking for ideas and what’s working or not from any folks using or contemplating.

The tracking feature announces every 10 min automatically; the “CheckIN OK” is a manual function. Just curious what folks think would be easy, practical, and bullet proof, (or close).

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Last summer I used one in Canada in conjunction with email. Every morning I turned SPOT on to tracking mode when we left the dock or anchorage and sent the OK when are arrived at the next one. If we had cell service I also sent an email. This worked well.
 
20dauntless":yaca1333 said:
Last summer I used one in Canada in conjunction with email. Every morning I turned SPOT on to tracking mode when we left the dock or anchorage and sent the OK when are arrived at the next one. If we had cell service I also sent an email. This worked well.
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This is exactly how I used mine when in New Zealand and on our Yellowstone/Lake Powell trip. I would also send an OK msg when at a particular "point of interest" just as Bill and El have done. Sending the OK archived the location so I could look at it with the satellite view at my leisure. It works well for me this way.

Roger
 
Following up on Roger's good response -

You have left details with a relative - all that's necessary for a possible search team.

Now, click the SPOT ("I'm OK) with your relative's email and/or iPhone address) on your departure, click en route (with "I'm OK" messages at especially interesting places for your relative) and a click on SPOT "I'm OK" when you arrive at your destination (marina or anchorage).

SPOT now has a beta version of a "shared" page where all your SPOTS are shown on one page with a colored 'trace' tracking your route. This is handy for the relative unless you have the tracking mode (which you do, but other owners may not). The 'shared page' still has some 'glitches' to be worked out - not all our SPOT messages landed on the page from our recent cruise on the Red Sea.

Again, we don't see this as a substitute for either an EPIRB, VHF Mayday, or a 911 cell call if in dire danger -- the SPOT is simply a wonderful way to share your cruising with an interested friend or relative who has a concern about your general safety.

Our daughter (especially) is our "little Mom" who likes to have the reassurance that all's well with the folks, and to follow our cruising route vicariously - without the 'bother' of a cell phone call to a busy Mom.
 
El and Bill Said:
"Again, we don't see this as a substitute for either an EPIRB, VHF Mayday, or a 911 cell call if in dire danger -- the SPOT is simply a wonderful way to share your cruising with an interested friend or relative who has a concern about your general safety."

with which I agree whole-heartedly, except the bit about a 911 Cell Call.

On our first trip across Juan de Fuca, to Lopez Island, we were very surprised to find we had no cell service where we had planned to overnight, so wound up making a run to Friday Harbor to modify the float plan. Now we do not count on the cell phone and thus have left considerably longer times open before establishing a recontact time, allowing us to cover more area before recontacting. More time, more area covered, less likelihood of a positive outcome if a search needed to be initiated. Heaven forbid, also, a longer time to be out of service, or in a survival mode.

I am going to rely on SPOT to close that communication gap.

Still trying for a simple but definable system. The above ones are good, and show it works in international travel. Any issues with boarder crossings, customs, or Commercial air travel?

Thanks,
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
SPOT is a good system, with some caveats. I'm doing all of the following from memory, so I may have missed a couple things but this is what has happened to a few sea kayak paddlers in remote areas who have experienced failures in transmission of the "I'm OK" message, unknown to them.

The failures were most likely attributable to location (in deep, steep-sided fiords in Alaska, typically), and/or to the location of the unit -- on the deck of a vessel essentially at the water's surface. SPOT indicates these failures on the unit, although some of the paddlers failed to note that. This has resulted in a few (four, if memory serves me) callouts of SAR resources within the last season, in each case looking for a "lost" paddler who was not actually in trouble. The SAR resources were triggered by phone calls from minders who were concerned at the lack of an "I'm OK" transmission, who contacted the Coast Guard, typically. Naturally, the Coast Guard was nonplussed. (Pissed is more like it, I suspect.)

The end result is that currently lack of an "I'm OK" SPOT message at an expected time is not regarded as a "lost vessel" by USCG SAR, but as an "overdue" vessel, which triggers a much lesser response by SAR.

To reinforce what others have said, an EPIRB would be the device to rely on for triggering an immediate SAR response; SPOT is better used to allow others to track your whereabouts ... and the trackers might be advised not to call out the Coast Guard if you miss a couple "I'm OK" opportunities.
 
Joan bought me a SPOT for Christmas and we have been testing it out. I think it is going to be very functional in letting our daughter (our float plan contact) know we are OK when in areas without cell coverage. We intend to use it much like Harvey has mentioned; currently, we already have some leeway in our float plans, with a "here's when to get concerned" day/time. Thus far, we are seeing good accuracy and reception with the SPOT. Of course, we don't have the time working with it like many here, but I am optimistic that it will be more than a "follow along with us" tool. We have been using the beta tracking page with good results, with one caveat: it drops all the tracking points on one page, making it a bit hard to distinguish new from old if you are running in the same area frequently.

So far, we're pleased.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
By the way. I just activated a second SPOT to use as a loaner. So if any C-Brat is going on an adventure and wants to use it your welcome to it. For that mater if you would just like to try one out just let me know. It here to be used.

Roger
 
JamesTXSD":3noky3np said:
We have been using the beta tracking page with good results.
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Beta? How is it different from the advertised tracking service, and what is the URL?

I don't have the tracking service, only the "I'm OK" function. My use for the device is more informational than SAR -- I have an EPIRB for that purpose.

Thanks,
Warren
 
We have crossed many international borders, used on commercial flights (after the electronic device 'blackout period), and crossed many customs now without problems. Nobody has ever questioned us about it.
 
Warren asked:
"Beta? How is it different from the advertised tracking service, and what is the URL?"
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Warren, I have the tracking but have only used it to look up when I got home. I don't know about the "beta" and at this point have not looked into that.

We have a couple of C-Brats on here that are dealers for SPOT, and both contacted me via PM when I expressed interest in purchasing, (and thanks to you both), I would look to them, if I was still interested, and had not received it as a gift.

flrockytop & mattunique I believe.
 
Actually, if you read the stuff in the pocket in front of the seat, I am pretty sure using any device that transmits a signal at ANY time the aircraft is in the air is prohibited. When they say it is OK to use electronic devices, the allowable ones are listed in the materials - CD players, iPods, laptops, handheld games, Blackberries / Treos with the phone function turned off, etc...You might want to specifically check on this before using Spot in flight the next time!
El and Bill":44zw1rpg said:
We have crossed many international borders, used on commercial flights (after the electronic device 'blackout period), and crossed many customs now without problems. Nobody has ever questioned us about it.
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Ah, us nasty lil' kids who sat in the back row in class, pulled the girls pigtails, used soda straws for zipping spit balls, etc. ad no tellum - we know better than to ask, 'cause the teach' will always say "NO!!!"

So, as you wish, but this guy has used SPOT for thousands of air miles and had some great times seeing new places - Slobovia, east Byloprussia, and goodness knows where (since the pilot didn't know where - his GPS was nothing but fuzzballs) -- :twisted:
 
Ah, good ol "Wrong Way Bill and El" strike again :!: :lol:

Good for you!

Although if I was on a plane and turned it on and the plane suddenly took a sharp turn, I think I'd turn it off.. :wink:
 
FYI on SPOT. In the registration section on the SPOT web sight, there is a question about signing up for GEOS Search & Rescue Insurance. Fee is $7.95 and though not indicated at the time I signed up, that is for the coverage of search and rescue cost up to $100,000 and, I find, after the fact, is a per person charge. If not accepted at initial registration, it is considerably more. I accepted teh $7.95 and then find later that it is a per person, and that to add my spouse later is ~$150 or more. I currently have an e-mail question to both SPOT and GEOS if this is actually so, or if it is per incident, and good for both occupants of the boat. Seems like the $7.95 is reasonable enough, but hard to figure how there would be a per individual charge on a search, OR, that they would come pick up the registered SPOT owner and not take the spouse at the same time.

Maybe someone else knows more on this, and can add some enlightenment.

Thanks, and Happy New Year,

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Wow that doesn't sound right. Seems maybe the additional fee would apply if the SPOT was being used by someone other than the registered owner. Say perhaps you loaned it to a friend who wasn't registered?
 
Got this answer from SPOT Customer Service. I have contacted GEOSAlliance for further confirmation.

To add members to the GEOS search and rescue policy, you will need to contact GEOS Alliance directly. They are available via www.geosalliance.com.

Prices for additional members will stated on the GEOS website.
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Harvey
SleepyC
 
Here is the question to and answer from GEOS:

My Question:
I recently recieved a SPOT Satilite Communications device for Christmas. In registering my SPOT, I added the GEOS Search and Rescue Insurance at $7.95. There was no indication that I saw, of notice that that was for only one person. My primary use would be during travel on our boat, and it would be just my wife and myself. Does that mean I need to have 2 memberships or is one sufficient for us. If I need two member ships, may I add my wife on now at the initiation price?

Thank you,

Harvey Hochstetter
SPOT Messinger # xxxxxxxxxxx


GEOS Answer:
Dear Harvey,

You are correct. You will require 2 memberships. To purchase an additional membership please do the following:

- Please go to the SAR Management Page: https://www.geosalliance.net/geoslogin/sarmanager.aspx
- Log In using your Username (Surname) and Password (SPOT Locator ESN)
- Select 'Buy More Memberships for this Group' from the 'SAR Options' selection box
- Select Family or Corporate from the 'Membership Type' selection box
- Type in the number of SAR Memberships you wish to purchase
- Press the BUY NOW button that will take you to the Credit Card payment window.

All SAR Family memberships for USA & Canada are @ US$7.95 each

Please let me know if you require further informtion.



Best regards,
Mike Chlubek
GEOS


--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
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Looks like I need to contact GEOS and add the Admirable to the insurance. At least it is not at the ~$150 price I saw somewhere.
 
Just got an e-mail back from GEOS, with a refund for my extra $49 tracking fee, and a comment about the "Hero Coupon":

The HERO code cannot be validated or used. Only one promotional code can be used at a time.
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Will be looking into this, as to what it is, where it came form and if it was paid for by my dear wife and WM talked her into something she didn't need. So far SPOT is doing fine, only needs feeding when it it working. :hug :dog :hug2

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
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