Spot - Satellite Messenger

Wow! That looks like a very useful device for those of us who travel a lot. The unit itself and the service are affordable. Interesting idea - it will be nice to hear from someone who has actual hands-on use of it.

(Nice to be able to check in with family regularly when you are in areas where you're out of cell phone coverage.)

Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Best wishes,
Jim
 
The Spot has been discussed on this and some of the other forums since last August. It is a private service and should not be confused with the 406 Mhz EPRIB locator beacon, which sends a message to international SAR/SAT, a multi government entity.

Spot can send a pre-programed message to a designated person, or a distress message, or you can pay extra for a "Tracking service" which allows people at home to follow your trail, when hiking or boating.

The major criticism is that the GPS is not as sensitative in picking up a location as many hand held GPS units. The unit relies on Qual Com satellite data network (private) which has limited world coverage (vs full world coverage for the 406 EPRIB). Even though Qual Com's phone network does not seem to be good, the data network seems to be much better. The "distress" message goes to a private service, who then calls what they feel is the nearest "911" operator. Then that contact has to launch a search--not much follow up, nor real guarantee. Vs the 406 EPRIB which goes to government agencies who have a protocol, contract the relitatives, check for a float or travel plan, then notify the nearest government agency to start a search. I feel that your chances of being found are much better with the 406 EPRiB.

The cost for SPOT is less, ($150), but there is a yearly charge of $100 to keep the unit activated, plus a $50 charge if you want to use the tracking feature. We purchased a GPS enabled 406 personal locator beacon for $500--or $150 less than the spot over a 5 year peroid. The 406 is tried, you have a government agency looking for you, world wide coverage, and a much better chance of being found.

I do believe that there is a place for this--if you want the folks back home to track your progress, and if you can be clear what protocol will be used for search if you activate the "911". But lets say you are at Lake Powell, and activate "spot"--who is notified? it is by lat and long, so do they call the nearest sheriff in Utah, or Arizona, or the operator in Page AZ. The 406 would activate a search, involving CAP, Airforce, Park Service and local agencies.

More to read about "Spot" on Panbo: http://www.panbo.com/archives/cat_safety.html
 
Pat --
Our out-of-date EPIRB is now off the boat (it is bigger than the SPOT and no longer useful). We bought a SPOT and are heading off on a trip to Greece on Tuesday -- now practicing with SPOT so the g'kids can follow us on Google Earth and learn some geography. We can send a "free" (part of the annual user fee) message every day or so and they'll quickly 'see' where we are and their parents will know all's well. Looks like a fine 'gizmo' for those of us who do a lot of traveling and useful on the boat as a backup safety device. Will report back to give folks our impression.

Thanks for the heads-up on the SPOT vs EPIRB, Thataway Bob. However, for the dual purpose of tracking peripatetic folks and a backup safety feature to supplement a cell phone it looks good for our usage.

I am curious how many C-Dory Brats carry an EPIRB -- but, with the dual usage of SPOT, might carry a SPOT -- even though not a perfect substitute for an EPIRB. Hmmmm!
 
A friend recently met me in AZ to take delivery of my 1983 BMW motorcycle, then rode it home to Washington.

He had a SPOT onboard, and it sent tracking signals the whole way back. He gave me the URL to monitor his progress and it was really pretty neat.

The SPOT unit transmitted the lat/lon approximately every ten minutes and automatically depicted it on a map so it was interesting to see where he went, where he stopped for a nap, etc.

While somewhat different than an EPIRB I think there is definitely a use for SPOT. If nothing else you can allow a friend to follow your progress as well as transmit a help msg if necessary.

...more than a toy, but pretty Fun nonetheless!

But don't give the URL to your Boss or creditors!

Best,
Casey
(vice) C-Dory Naknek
The Villages, FL
 
We have been looking at The Spot Messenger and understand the differences between Spot and the 406 EPRiB. I spoke to a Coast Guard Auxillary member last weekend who had recently purchased one and he was most impressed with the unit thus far.

As I understand it, the "I'm Okay" feature is included in the basic $99 annual fee which sends along the Google Earth coordinates for viewing by those on your email distribution list, but that the continual tracking feature does cost additional.

El and Bill: I would be very interested to hear your impressions of the Spot Messenger. Thanks for bringing it to the forum!

Steve Frisch
 
Spot is indeed interesting but, I think, questionable for an at sea emergency. It is not monitored by the Coast Guard, has an annual subscription fee of $100 plus $50 more for the continuous tracking option plus another $8 for their search and rescue program so instead of $150 you really pay about $310 with another $160 every year. (EPIRB PLB's range from about $450-650 on-line.) It seems to make a lot of sense as a way to track friends-relatives on trips, a way to check in where cell phone coverage may be limited but is pricy. Its 911 feature calls their proprietary center, sort of like Brinks home security, which then calls the 911 center in the geographic area where you are and passes on the emergency request so you may get a county 911 center instead of the Coast Guard.
 
Dittos Dr Bob's post.
As I mentioned on another thread I'm using an ACR ResQfix PLB.
I keep it with me in my truck so I can take it on the boat or in the plane or, if I'm alone and hurt after running the truck off a back country road. I also put it in my backpack when I ski. Of course, unlike the Spot it doesn't track me but I'm certain this is a feature I'd be hesitant to use :embarrased
 
I have a SPOT and one limitation you need to be aware of is that when I had it transmit my location to my mobile device, the longitude got truncated. I discovered that I had made my message too long (although it was less than the 92 characters max that SPOT imposes) and once I had cut my message down the coordinates came through.

Also, they emphasize this in the instructions, but it is really true -- you need to leave the SPOT device pointed at the sky for at least 20 minutes after pressing OK or Help to give it time to transmit your message to the satellite.

Other than the above, I think the device is fun and useful. I am getting one for my son for Xmas for use while hiking and backpacking in Utah.

Warren
 
We took the SPOT with us on the Western Grand Slam this year. We have the continuous tracking option and anyone interested in where our c-pod was located only had to click on the link in my sig and they could see us. I have used it in New Zealand and Bill and El used it in Greece to send OK messages to family. I also send an OK msg from a location that I want to remember, such as Rainbow Bridge. Then the Lat/Lon plus a Google map is stored in my email. I have found it well worth the small fee. By the way, the current price for the additional continuous tracking option is only $25 for a year.

The GEOS Search & Rescue add on is for ADDITIONAL charges that some countries MAY charge for coming to get you. At this time, the 911 does go to a proprietary center. They contact the correct agency based on your location. ie: if your on the water they contact the Coast Guard.



"GEOS Search & Rescue Benefit$7.95/yr USD (if purchased at initial activation. $150.00 USD afterwards)
Provides up to $100,000 USD of additional search and rescue resources, including helicopter extraction around the world and reimbursement benefits "


The great thing is the OK function. I just got me a new Kayak on Sat. I took it out for a test spin on Sunday. I told my wife that I'd only be an hour. BUT I was having a great time and spent 4 hours with the new toy. After the first 1 1/2 hours, I new she would be getting worried so I sent her an OK mesg. Thus, no need to start worrying if I had drown myself.

For us, it's been worth every penny for the peace of mind.

Roger
 
after using mine a couple months i really wish there were an enduring alert that lets the sender know his lastmessage was successfully sent. knowing, for example, that it's poor at sending in forest type situations, i'd hate to find out later (after I'd crawled 2 miles to an opening with a compound fracture) that my original message went out ok.

My wife went with a freind to a remote mountain lake. I said it was ok if they took spot and sent an ok daily. Well 7 days, no message. User error, in wooded area but in this case spot actually raised anxiety. Heck, in another 7-10 days I would have had to go looking for her! :lol:
 
Our spot has been a great addition to our travels. We have used it on the boat (send a message daily when the hook is down, so kids know where we are and that all's OK), and on overseas travel (peace of mind, for the family) Last spring, while in Greece, there was a strong earthquake with an epicenter a few miles from us - it was reported in US, kids were aware, within a half hour they had an OK message from us (we were on a small boat and the shock didn't affect us at all).

There is a confirmation of a message sent. When sending, two lights blink simultaneously - when the message is sent, only the ON light blinks so you know the message is sent. It usually takes 15 to 20 minutes to complete the sending sequence. We have not had the difficulty mentioned with trees - apparently, where we have sent in a forest there are sufficient 'gaps' in the cover for the moving satellites to pick up our signal in the 20 minutes of sending.

Our caveat to users is to keep it on long enough to get the confirmation that the message is sent (the single blinking light rather than the double blink).
 
Just to clarify Bill's last post. While it confirms the message was sent, that is not a confirmation that it was received. cemiii original post was correct in that you don't know the message was received. Not receiving an OK doesn't mean things aren't OK. I think that was statement was a triple negative, but I think you get the point. Don't launch the fleet if you don't get an OK but definitely launch the fleet if you get a help message.
 
I'm surprised none of the ham radio boaters have mentioned APRS (Automatic Position Reporting System), which is the ham radio version of all this and works worldwide. It's very cool. Check out http://aprs.fi to see all the people that are being tracked all over the world. If you did have a ham license and APRS on your boat, anyone with an internet connection can track you, they don't have to be licensed. Lot cheaper than SPOT, but then again, you have to have a license. (Which is actually quite easy to get.) I see a ton of people that sign their CBrats messages with their ham call included. I'm sure somebody else can tell you what they do with it on their C-Dory.

Tony
Looking for a C-Dory
NA0US
 
I'd like to report back on this subject that recently I have had much better success with the spot system even in heavily wooded environs. From this thread it has become fairly apparent to me that both my wife and I probably were not leaving it on long enough.

For those who are not in immediate need, I was told that there is a new system in near final testing which is smaller and will allow for two way communications almost like text messaging (perhaps a screen driven menu that will give you a lot greater ability to fine tune the level and urgency of assistance required), Like battery dead, Out of gas, ran aground, etc. The person who told me this is well connected to a big sports outfitter and is usually very reliable but told me this is still quite secretive from a commercial standpoint(I don't think it involves spot).

Chris
 
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