SPOT

[AR Dave]

Mr Renwick, I have the opportunity to get a SPOT. Should I? Is it user friendly?
If I put it in Traci's car, can I see how many times she goes to Walmart each day?

[flyguy]

Is it user friendly? If I put it in Traci's car, can I see how many times she goes to Walmart each day?

YAAHH AN WHEN U CAN BEGIN TU SEE OUT UV BOTH URE BLACK EYES THEN U CAN MEBE FINE URE LIL SPOT - - UP WHERE SHE PUT IT! !

[jrenwick]

Mr Renwick, I have the opportunity to get a SPOT. Should I? Is it user friendly?
If I put it in Traci's car, can I see how many times she goes to Walmart each day?

Hi Dave!
I bought a SPOT because I was flying to Alaska and wanted something to back up my 121.5 ELT. I bought the tracking feature ($50 extra) and my friends and family seem to have enjoyed following us on our routes. I never had to use it to call emergency services, so I can't tell you how that works.

I've talked about how you can use it in conjunction with a flight plan to help emergency services find you faster, here: http://www.cessna170.org/forums/viewtop ... 01&p=50361.
I probably won't keep up the subscription beyond the first year of service, because I don't think it adds much value in the farmland where I mostly fly.

I give it middling marks on user-friendliness. You can download the instruction manual from http://findmespot.com and see what you think. It took me a few flights to learn how to push the buttons right to get the results I wanted. Once I got into a routine, I just stuck with it.

I suppose you're joking about Traci, but no, it won't tell you how many times she goes to Wallymart unless she wants you to know, and in that case it would be much easier for her just to call you up whenever she goes!

Where it might have made a lot of sense was on that great flying trip you did last summer. Carry one along, don't forget to turn it on and off as part of your pre- and post-flight routine, and Traci could see where you are almost in real-time. That and the 911 button are the best reasons to have one, IMHO.

Happy flying!

John

[AR Dave]

Yes I've been thinking how nice that would've been on the Rocky Mtn Trip.
But I've also been wondering if it would be useful on Ozark Mtn Canoe Trips, or Tracking Traci's trips to football, softball, & volleyball games around the state, or just to keep up with any other car trips. Of course the benefits in the plane are endless.

Another feature that's really caught my eye is the text messaging via Sattelite. Now that could be useful! Cell phones don't work in a lot of places, like Ozark Mtn Canoe trips. Being able to text message from anywhere (like the Bush AK - Mit) would be very nice! Or just sending it with the children on camping trips or whatever.

Imagine if the 170's coming to Petit Jean had them.

I'll read up on it - Thanks