SPOT messenger revisited

[KG]

I've convinced my girlfriend that I need a SPOT messenger for Christmas but she is having trouble visualizing the tracking / google map feature. Could any of you guys with the SPOT tracker please post a link to a trip that was tracked so I can show it to her?

Also, in looking at the SPOT website, I see that there are two versions offered, the "SPOT Personal Tracker" and the "SPOT satellite GPS messenger". Which do I want? I'm primarily interested in the tracking via google maps feature so friends and family can see where I've been. It looks like either version will do this but I'm having trouble distinguishing between the other features of each model.

Thanks for the help...

Keith

[ron74887]

Kieth, I have the personal tracker. It is the Old style now with --a few inprovements on the new style(messenger). I'm not sure what the new one has except a few protections for the buttons. The Personal is free if you sign up for the tracking option (Cabela's). I was in Argentina and sent a message to my computer each evening using the OK feature. The important feature is the 911 that someone will come get you at no cost if you take this option anywhere. I'm not exactly sure why someone would pay for the new version? Ron

[jrenwick]

I used a SPOT last year on a trip to Alaska, but I don't have active service on it today so I can't provide an example of how it works -- somebody else may be able to do that. The manufacturer's web site is http://www.findmespot.com, and the "track progress" feature is described at http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=111.

I have the older SPOT unit, and I found its arrangement of buttons and lights to be somewhat challenging to use. It took me a few practice trips to figure out how to get the results I wanted, consistently. The newer unit looks like it may be improved in this regard, as well as being smaller and lighter. If I were buying one now, knowing what I do, I would spend the extra fifty bucks for the newer model.

I would also spend the extra $50/year for the tracking feature, because if you use it the right way, it should help a lot in locating you if you go down -- even if you're unable to send the "911" signal. That means 1) turning on the tracking signal on each flight; 2) training your emergency contact person how to retrieve the tracking information and interpret it for rescue service people; 3) filing a flight plan that lists that person's contact information; and 4) mentioning in the "remarks" section of your flight plan that you're using a SPOT tracker, and that the emergency contact person can use it to give information that will help locate you. If you've done all that, the tracker will leave an electronic trail of breadcrumbs that should point pretty closely to your position when you're down, maybe even locate it precisely if it's still sending tracks once you've stopped.

A 406MHz ELT may be better for locating you if you go down, especially if it has GPS information, providing it activates. The SPOT tracking feature can help locate you in a situation where neither SPOT nor ELT is sending a signal after you've crashed. I don't know of anything else that will do that. Being cheaper than any ELT, it's really a lot of security for the money if you remember to turn it on.

[KG]

Rumor has it that the SPOT 2 has a "voluntary return".... or some sort of recall going on. Might want to wait to see what this is all about before rushing out to buy one.