Thoughts on SPOT.

G

Grover6

Joined
Mar 28, 2009
Messages
218
Hey gang. I have been researching a SPOT satellite tracker, with the intention to pick one up. Unfortunately, most of the reviews from users, have been less than favorable.

So my question is for those of the pack, do you use one and if so what is your opinion of it? Is it reliable (works everytime). Is it worth the money to buy and subscribe to the service, or is a personal locator beacon a better choice.

All things being equal, I like the idea of the SPOT, but only if it works everytime.

If you could also specify which version you have.

Thanks
 
I don't use on myself but they are pretty popular in Alaska. Remoteness is only a 10 minute drive from town around here. From the few people I know that use them they do work well up here. They are constantly being updated with additional satellite coverage but the key is to keep yourself registered and check it often. It is country specific as far as I know.

I use a ham radio with my own gps spot system that can be monitored on a couple different websites.

As a SHTF device it probably won't help much but if you like to go out in desolate areas it may be a handy device to have and give your significant other some peace of mind.

I would like to know more about these as well. I do know they operate on the old aircraft transceiver frequency 121.5? Aircraft gave it up because all the flashy billboards were set off their transceivers when they were flying around.
 
I considered one a year ago and settled on a "real" PLB, a Corham ACR SARLink. I'm not sure what the current SPOT tech is, but I hear that the reception is not as good as a PLB and you need to pay a subscription fee, whereas with the PLB, you should get reception around the globe and you don't need to pay anything other than the upfront (but more expensive than a SPOT) cost.
 
My walking partner always takes one on our trips. Worked on a weeklong trip. But a few weeks ago only one of the "ok" messages got through out of three days worth. Luckily family back home didn't get worried.

I'll be picking up PLB soon. I want to know that it'll definitely work if I need it. The "ok" messages are a nice feature of spot, but I think they could cause panic to loved ones if the messages don't get through.
 
I don't have one, but I ride a KLR and some of my riding buddies do. We get off in the boonies pretty far sometimes and haven't had any problems. They are pretty neat, simple devices. Definitely better systems out there for more money, but for the money, I think they are pretty decent. .02
 
From what I have heard the Gen 1 models have poor reception, and was improved a great deal with their Gen 2 models. I to am in the market for a SPOT and would like to know more.

I do a lot of hiking in the mountains and come up short on trying to find a partner many times. Even with a SPOT I would still have several other options in place. I now carry not just a first aid kit, but a rescue kit as well. This includes LED Beacon light, orange blaze markers, whistle, etc. Also I plot out high points of elevation in the trip and give the wife estimated times of when I may be able to check in with the cell phone.
 
My dad bought one this year. It hangs by the back door so if I'm going out alone I swing by his house and switch it over to my account which contacts him and my wife. Unlike Partisan's OP up there in AK, here in MO, it's hard to walk more than a half mile anywhere in our area and not run in to at least a dirt road.

The main reason we got one is for injury purposes. I hike alone on some Corps of Engineers trails that really aren't traveled that much. If I were to take a fall and break a leg, etc. the SPOT gives me the ability to communicate. If it isn't a like threatening injury, I can press the button that contacts my family that says I need help without calling in a SAR team.

They do have their shortcomings; they need at least partial view to the sky. This summer I was hiking in a moderately heavy woods and the SPOT didn't send a signal.

Jeff used one on last year's trip to Peru and we all got to track their progress with the track option (additional fee).

All in all, I would recommend one. Make sure you get the SPOT2 (smaller with more features).
 
If memory serves correctly, Jeff uses one. Perhaps he'll chime in.
 
SPOT saved my life once already, so I still carry it :)

The new one that is integrated to the DeLorme GPS unit can send on the fly text messages too which is great for unplanned nights out to let family/friends know whats up.
 
Thanks for the responses guys. I do remember reading Jeff's article on bug out bags, which he detailed his personal kit, and he did have a spot. Which is where I first heard of them.

Most of the reviews I have read are of the gen1 spot, so I was hoping the gen2 would solve some of the issues. I also end up hiking and biking alone many times, and I am looking to get a motorbike to do some backcountry trail riding, and would like the option to call out friends for non-emergencies and save the SAR for if I really needed it.

I looked at the new Delorme unit, but for $500+ I don't know if it is worth it...

Keep the opinions coming.
 
Grover6 said:
for $500+ I don't know if it is worth it...
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Thats cause youve never been alone and broken in the middle of nowhere before. Its like health insurance that you only take advantage of every now and then; its really not worth it........... until it is!

The delorme is a sick GPS unit (way better than Garmin for hiking/biking), and unlimited text messaging from the middle of nowhere where cells dont work, AND it is a way to save your life should SHTF. I have no affiliation with SPOT, I am just a happy customer who wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for them.

I think about it like this, how many knives do you own and how much could you sell them for on the exchange? If you were to NOT sell $500 worth of them to pick this up, you are essentially saying that having a couple more knives in your quiver is worth more than living. I realize that is an extreme example but it was exactly the reasoning behind why I sold one of my pairs of skis to get the SPOT for myself. And you can easily get hurt mountain biking alone which you say that you do.


EDIT: Oh, and should you need to activate the SPOT for rescue, the $500 will likely be the cheapest thing that happens to you in the near future. Want to know how much heli rescues followed by hospital stays cost? :)
 
I've posted about this before, but I've got nothing but good things to say about the SPOT Messenger.

I've been testing the device extensively over the past year and a half and I have four operating in the field at any given time with my survey crews. We were in some pretty remote locations and the SPOT gets used by each and every crew daily as part of our OHS plan. We still carry sat phones where ever we go, but the sat phones rarely get used any more. Each crew chief "scheds" in three times a day with his SPOT device, and when the unit is not sending an OK message, it's in tracking mode. I've used them on five continents in the past year or so (North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Australia) and have had no problems whatsoever.

In order for this device to be used successfully, some common sense is required. A clear or mostly clear view of the sky required, but this is the case with any device using GPS. The SPOT II has some definite advantages over the earlier SPOT I model, namely size, a user customizable message, protected HELP and SOS keys, and it automatically reverts back to tracking mode after sending an OK message (this was easy to forget on the SPOT I).

The recommended lithium batteries are quite expensive, but if you are using it daily, regular alkaline batteries work just fine (we always keep a backup set of lithiums with each unit). For the casual user or user that only plans to use this if they are in a jam, definitely stick with the recommended lithium batteries; the last thing you want is to actually need it and find out your batteries are dead.

As I mentioned in my last post on the subject, for the price, it's hard to come up with reasons not to carry one.

I was unable to find much in the way independent scientific testing of the system, although anecdotal reports are plentiful.

Here is a decent review of the system from SARSCENE magazine:

http://www.nss.gc.ca/site/ss/magazine/vol18_3/406/spotchecked_e.asp

Full pdf version of magazine here, see page 15:
http://www.nss.gc.ca/site/ss/magazine/vol18_3/Vol18-3_E.pdf

I hope this helps!
 
pepemrtnz said:
Thats cause youve never been alone and broken in the middle of nowhere before. Its like health insurance that you only take advantage of every now and then; its really not worth it........... until it is!

The delorme is a sick GPS unit (way better than Garmin for hiking/biking), and unlimited text messaging from the middle of nowhere where cells dont work, AND it is a way to save your life should SHTF. I have no affiliation with SPOT, I am just a happy customer who wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for them.

I think about it like this, how many knives do you own and how much could you sell them for on the exchange? If you were to NOT sell $500 worth of them to pick this up, you are essentially saying that having a couple more knives in your quiver is worth more than living. I realize that is an extreme example but it was exactly the reasoning behind why I sold one of my pairs of skis to get the SPOT for myself. And you can easily get hurt mountain biking alone which you say that you do.


EDIT: Oh, and should you need to activate the SPOT for rescue, the $500 will likely be the cheapest thing that happens to you in the near future. Want to know how much heli rescues followed by hospital stays cost? :)
Click to expand...

Point taken. I agree with your post, and will clarify that I meant that I didn't know if it is worth it if it doesn't work reliably. The less techy unit would be a better choice. I could definitely sell off my Garmin etrex and move up to a single unit. Less gear to pack.
 
mckrob said:
I've posted about this before, but I've got nothing but good things to say about the SPOT Messenger.

I've been testing the device extensively over the past year and a half and I have four operating in the field at any given time with my survey crews. We were in some pretty remote locations and the SPOT gets used by each and every crew daily as part of our OHS plan. We still carry sat phones where ever we go, but the sat phones rarely get used any more. Each crew chief "scheds" in three times a day with his SPOT device, and when the unit is not sending an OK message, it's in tracking mode. I've used them on five continents in the past year or so (North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Australia) and have had no problems whatsoever.

In order for this device to be used successfully, some common sense is required. A clear or mostly clear view of the sky required, but this is the case with any device using GPS. The SPOT II has some definite advantages over the earlier SPOT I model, namely size, a user customizable message, protected HELP and SOS keys, and it automatically reverts back to tracking mode after sending an OK message (this was easy to forget on the SPOT I).

The recommended lithium batteries are quite expensive, but if you are using it daily, regular alkaline batteries work just fine (we always keep a backup set of lithiums with each unit). For the casual user or user that only plans to use this if they are in a jam, definitely stick with the recommended lithium batteries; the last thing you want is to actually need it and find out your batteries are dead.

As I mentioned in my last post on the subject, for the price, it's hard to come up with reasons not to carry one.

I was unable to find much in the way independent scientific testing of the system, although anecdotal reports are plentiful.

Here is a decent review of the system from SARSCENE magazine:

http://www.nss.gc.ca/site/ss/magazine/vol18_3/406/spotchecked_e.asp

Full pdf version of magazine here, see page 15:
http://www.nss.gc.ca/site/ss/magazine/vol18_3/Vol18-3_E.pdf

I hope this helps!
Click to expand...

Thanks mkrob! I am quickly moving towards picking up a spot.
 
Backpackinglight.com just did an extensive review and gave it a highly recommended, which they don't give out freely. Unfortunately you have to be a member to read the article.
 
Devices like the Spot and cell phones are some of the most important survival tools there are.
 
While I love technology as much as the next guy, don't bet your life on anything that needs batteries to save your ass.

Learn how to use a map/compass, carry the 10-Essentials and tell someone you can trust where you're going and when you'll be back.
Oh - take a class from someone like Jeff too ~ ; - )

- from a grumpy old SAR-tech whose seen too many people die from lack of common sense.
 
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