SPOT Personal Satellite Tracker?

Thanks for the tip, PAL.   I'd heard similar info about some dead Globalstar satellites of late.   I'll be taking a "wait and see" before buying a SPOT.   If they are touting a piece of equipment that could potentially save lives and it doesn't work sometimes...well...
"that just ain't right".  If they need to sell SPOT subscriptions to send up better satellites, that sounds like a catch 22.   IMHO.   -HS

EPIRBs just work. They are not cheap but when your ass is floating around Bean Hollow in the fog are you going to be stoked you saved a few $?

Surely there's an advantage to being able to call your friends and/or family, (who may be relatively close by) rather than send for the cavalry.

Here's a lengthy but informative report on SPOT in action from a BASKer, who is an avid seakayaker:

Anders Landin wrote:

There is a new gadget on the market, the SPOT Personal Satellite Messenger. See: http://findmespot.com. It is a GPS receiver combined with a Globalstar satellite transmitter and backed by SMS, email and a web interface. I've been looking for a device with this kind of features to enhance my safety while paddling alone or in small groups, and to keep the people at home at peace. SPOT started selling a couple of weeks ago, and last week I picked one up at REI. The device costs $149 and requires a yearly subscription of $99. The realtime tracking is another $49 per year and you can purchase a $100,000 rescue cost insurance for $7.95 per year.

Functionality

The SPOT device has four main functions:
- 911 Emergency help. When you press the 911 button, SPOT sends a message with your location every 5 minutes via satellite to the GEOS emergency center in Houston which initiates a rescue effort.
- Private help. When you press the Help button, SPOT sends SMS and email messages every 5 minutes for an hour to contact persons you have specified. The messages contain your location and a request for help. This is to request help by your contact network in non-emergency situation.
- OK. When you press the OK button, SPOT sends SMS and email messages to contact persons you have specified. The messages contain your location and a message that you are OK. The email contains a link to Google maps where your position indicated.
- Tracking. In tracking mode, SPOT sends a message with a position update every 10 minutes. Your contact persons at home can view your progress in real time on Google maps via access to a personal SPOT webpage.

Experience this far

The last few times I've been out paddling I've used the SPOT in tracking mode, and when I got back on land I've sent an "OK" message to my wife. The first few times I used it I carried it in the front pocket of my PFD. That turned out to not work so well, as the transmission of the satellite signal failed most of the time once my PFD pocket got wet. I was taking on seas paddling into a head wind on the south bay and after I got out on the open bay (where I and the PFD got wet), very few of the 10-minute signals were received by the satellite. Last Saturday I instead carried the SPOT device on the back of my PFD. On the left shoulder my PFD has a device holder (typically intended for a night light) which fits the SPOT device's clamp perfectly. The device is light enough (it floats) not to be noticeable in this position. Now the tracking worked a lot better. I still lost about 30% of the 10-minute messages, but it was quite easy to follow my progress with the 70% that made it through. I paddled up the coast from HMB harbor to Gray Whale Cove south of Pacifica and back again. I was surfing and playing in the waves and rocks along the way and did definitely not stay dry at all...You can see the resulting track on the web page for that trip on: http://tangledinkelp.com/misc/spot_map.jpg

The batteries are claimed to last for one year in GPS tracking-only mode, and 1600 messages can be sent to satellite (2 weeks worth of tracking (every ten minutes) or 1 week of 911 messages (every 5 minutes).

Overall I'm very happy with the device. My wife has a way to follow my progress and to see that I'm safe, and I have a way to get help should all other safety measures fail. The only complaint I have is that the 911 button may be a little too easy to trigger by mistake. You have to press the button for two seconds to activate 911 mode, and the button sits deeper than the other buttons, but I would feel better if I had to remove a lid or something to activate it. Wouldn't be too fun to hear the coastguard helicopter overhead just because the button got pressed by mistake...

Overall, a nice addition to safety and peace of mind for a decent price.

Eric I have a cell phone and a VHF (and sometimes FRS) to call people close by. Maybe it is just me but this seems like a toy gadget masquerading as a safety device. 30% signal loss? Yeah well it works most of the time.

It is not that much cheaper.

EPIRB = $500

SPOT = $149 + $99 per year so

$248 year 1
$347 year 2
$446 year 3
$545 year 4

I have full faith an EPIRB would last 4 years, will this thing? Every year after 4 you are in the hole $ wise.

Those BASKERs sure do paddle far...

Well it's certainly nice to have the option.  I'm not running out to buy one, but in a couple years maybe when they work out the bugs?  Maybe!

The tracking feature is very promising.  I'd love to stick one on my cat to see where she goes at night.

Bill,

You posted my exact thoughts, though I'd have used the ARC Microfix price - currently about $650.

I'd expect the ARC unit to have a similar life as my Avy transceiver. Which is 7 years old and is still in excellent working condition. I know of 10+ year old units that are still in use.

Regards,
Scott

Scott the fact we are on the same wavelength is somewhat disturbing to me 

Scott the fact we are on the same wavelength is somewhat disturbing to me 

That hurts man. I had hoped you knew that underneath the hard jerky crust, there was a kind hearted "rescues kittens from dumpsters" center...

Give my best wishes for the season to your fam.

Scott

Hey Scott,

I realized underneath your crust that you liked kittens when I brought up the question of a "decent marine boombox" and you said to do they rest of us a favor and implied that I keep the music to myself.   That can only be written by a person of sensitivity.

I won't tell anyone though.  Hee.   -Matt

Yes, but without the crusty jerk exterior, I'd have just kept it to myself

That hurts man. I had hoped you knew that underneath the hard jerky crust, there was a kind hearted "rescues kittens from dumpsters" center...

And eats them?   

The cute ones are the tastiest, I hear.

...I carry a VHS because everyone should and this SPOT thing still sounds...well...spotty.

Is your VHS connected to the boombox?   

That's a darn nice kitten there, Usagi.   What kind of lure and jigger thingy did you use?

That's a darn nice kitten there, Usagi.   What kind of lure and jigger thingy did you use?

That's the joy of it...the lures are cheap and easy to come by!  I just use a piece of old thread, or yarn if I'm going for the "bling" effect.  Works like a charm, as you can see...