SPOT Questions

stevemacfarlane · 03-12-2008, 08:23 PM

Any experience with the SPOT (Satelite Personal Outdoor Tracker)? Saw it in the Cabelas catelog but can't figure how messages are sent because it appears to have no screen or keyboard capability from the ad pictures. Also, is there a subscription fee for the services? Finally, will emergency responsers recognize this service/signal?

cnynrat · 03-12-2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

stevemacfarlane previously said:

Any experience with the SPOT (Sattelite Personal Outdoor Tracker)? Saw it in the Cabelas catelog but can't figure how messages are sent because it appears to have no screen or keyboard capability from the ad pictures. Also, is there a subscription fee for the services? Finally, will emergency responsers recognize this service>

I've been looking into Personal Locator Beacons (PLB's) and the SPOT device for a while, mostly for canyoneering. The SPOT device does require a subscription fee, which I believe is $100/year for the basic service, and an extra $50/year for tracking service. There is no display because the functions of the device are pretty simple. There are three buttons: Check in, Help, and 911. Check in sends a message to a predetermined list of contacts that you are OK along with your current location. Help sends a help message to your contact list with your location. When a 911 message is received they pass that info to the appropriate authorities.

With the extra tracking feature the device sends your location to your contacts periodically.

PLBs have a higher initial cost, but no subscription fee. PLBs only have the equivalent of the 911 function - no I'm OK type messages. The SPOT has an integrated GPS. Some PLBs have an integrated GPS, others have an interface that you can use to connect to an external GPS. PLBs also include a radio homing beacon that is activated after you declare an emergency.

Neither of these types of devices communicates directly with local responders. Rather, they send a message via satellite to a central location who contacts the right local responders based on the coordinates received with your emergency message.

stevemacfarlane · 03-12-2008, 08:48 PM

So I guess you enter your contact list and messages via personal computer and download the info to the SPOT unit, right? Subscription fee seems kinda steep (and recurring). Thanks for the scoop. The ads are incomplete and maybe a little misleading.

cnynrat · 03-12-2008, 09:19 PM

Quote:

stevemacfarlane previously said:

So I guess you enter your contact list and messages via personal computer and download the info to the SPOT unit, right? Subscription fee seems kinda steep (and recurring). Thanks for the scoop. The ads are incomplete and maybe a little misleading.

I don't think your contact list is stored in the unit - I think it's stored back in the central office with your account info. You do set that list up and maintain it on line.

I agree about the subscription fee - seems kind of high for the amount of use most people would get out of it. For reference, PLBs start at around $5-600, so you pay a bit of a premium to avoid the subscription fee and loose some of the nice check in features of the SPOT. Maybe prices will come down over time.

**Swingshiftworker** · 03-12-2008, 09:20 PM

I think that a satellite phone would be better.

You can rent one for about $35/month for occasional trips and if you make frequent trips you can buy one for about $1k. Well worth the money if you're alone and broken down in the middle of the wilderness, or just traveling where your cell phone won't work.

cnynrat · 03-12-2008, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Swingshiftworker previously said:

I think that a satellite phone would be better.

You can rent one for about $35/month for occasional trips and if you make frequent trips you can buy one for about $1k. Well worth the money if you're alone and broken down in the middle of the wilderness, or just traveling where your cell phone won't work.

That is another good alternative that would be cheaper for occasional use. There are also places that rent PLBs, but I'm not sure how widely available those are.

Here's a link to a place that rents both sat phones and PLBs: Sat Phone & PLB Rentals. I'm sure there are other, maybe cheaper options. This was just the first place I found.

**spincycle** · 03-13-2008, 08:19 AM

Your contact info is stored with your account info, and is updated via a website. So before taking a trip, I'd decide who I want to get "I'm ok" messages (if anyone), and who I want notified if I push the "I need (non-emergency) help" button. The tracking feature just updates your location on a map periodically, but doesn't send anyone anything - they have to be told beforehand how to access your account and look at the map (it's trivially easy). Messages that get sent can be edited prior to a trip at will, customized for your specific trip's needs.

I think spot's a good solution. The annual fee is really quite low, all things considered, and my tests with it so far have been promising.

homedad · 03-13-2008, 08:31 AM

A few of the guys here have the spot and here's the deal.....

You go on a trip....and every so offten it sends a message to your list of peeps with your GPS info and a track map is made for them to see were you are at all times....
Push the non emergency button and it sends the info to your contact list so your buddies can come save your butt....
Push the 911 button and a full blown rescue squad shows up to save your butt....

Well worth the couple hundred bucks if you wheel in the desert were damn near everything including time will kill you in a pickle.....

**DEWFPO** · 03-13-2008, 02:49 PM

Steve, there's a couple of other threads on it as well. Here's the most recent. DEWFPO

Trail Safety: SPOT Messenger

1leglance · 03-15-2008, 12:16 AM

i also posted a thread on these if you search my username...
I love my Spot and just used it again for 3 days camping/desert running between phx & socal then 5 days in remote northern arizona then 3 days in way remote western arizona...
most of those times cell service was not an option and ham radio was infrequent....
my wife always knew where I was at, I send OK messages with each meal so she knows if I miss a couple that I am out of it and can't hit HELP, which if I did would bring 10 of my AZFJ folks running and of course 911 calls the calvery.
Now for those of you thinking about sat phones....when I was in northern az for my wilderness first responder training the biggest joke up there was how bad sat phone coverage is...and eveyone liked the SPOT!
It seems that since it is a burst text message it gets out with greater success than the crappy voice sat service.
Many agencies are looking at the devices for remote persons.
Well worth the money and I won't leave home without mine.