BajaNomad

SPOT satellite messenger users?

Cardon Man - 2-18-2012 at 01:52 PM

I'd be interested to hear from SPOT users how well the device works, particularly in Baja California Sur. Specifically, are there any issues with signal strength? On the coverage area map I've seen on line it shows all of Baja to be well covered. Can users confirm?

Udo - 2-18-2012 at 01:57 PM

No problem with signal strength in Baja, and if you want to subscribe to the GPS tracking, it can provide a google-maps for your travels.
My first annual subscription cost me $175.00 U.S.

udo

captkw - 2-18-2012 at 02:09 PM

ouch,,175.00........why would you need/want that ???:?::?: K&T

goldhuntress - 2-18-2012 at 02:15 PM

We use ours all the time and so far no problems to speak of with one exception. When it's windy it can be hard to get it to send the text/email out and may take a couple of tries. One windy night in Baja I didn't get two messages sent the same night. When I found out I hadn't gotten them I went to our account on the website and one of the the two showed up on the list of sent messages but it wasn't highlighted like all the other messages that you can click on and read. So I guess it only sort of sent. We've never, knock on wood, have had to use it in an emergency so I can not speak about that part of it.
edit to say my BF was in Baja sending to me in the US and to say we have the Spot Connect.

[Edited on 2-18-2012 by goldhuntress]

[Edited on 2-18-2012 by goldhuntress]

john68 - 2-18-2012 at 03:48 PM

ours works fine in Los Barriles.

A.&M. - 2-18-2012 at 04:45 PM

We just returned from 8 weeks in Baja ours worked flawlessly from one end to the other. Our family followed us constantly. Thankful we did not have to use it for anything else except tracking.

My only complaint would be battery life, After we learned to turn it off at night it was better. 3 lithium AAA size batteries are almost $10. in B.C. Of course Walmart in the states has them for almost half price. By turning it off at night we got 2 weeks out of set.

We also bought the evacuation service with it so cost about $200. more than the base price. Anne has some fairly serious health problems and we would not be without it. Cheers, Anne & Mike

Udo - 2-18-2012 at 05:00 PM

Either way, it was $99.00 per year for the SPOT service...I just purchased some of their extras, which I will not do next year.
Quote:
Originally posted by captkw
ouch,,175.00........why would you need/want that ???:?::?: K&T

Cardon Man - 2-18-2012 at 05:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by A.&M.


We also bought the evacuation service with it so cost about $200. more than the base price. Anne has some fairly serious health problems and we would not be without it. Cheers, Anne & Mike



Evacuation service for $200 a year? I think I missed that option on their site. What type of evacuation services do they provide to a traveler in deepest Baja?

bajalou - 2-18-2012 at 05:48 PM

Emergency recovery service is about 10-12 dollars a year plus the $99 regular service charge, at least for the older units. I've used mine just to show where I've been for 3-4 years now with no problems. Just on 2nd set of batteries as I don't use it for tracking.

Several fiends also have the units and are happy with them. Some have used the "Help" button and it worked as advertised. None have used the "SOS" which gets a lot of others involved with the rescue.

A.&M. - 2-18-2012 at 06:17 PM

Quote:
Quote:


Evacuation service for $200 a year? I think I missed that option on their site. What type of evacuation services do they provide to a traveler in deepest Baja?


Hi, Google "spot geos" it should give you all the information.
I have no idea if it a good deal or not as I didn't look around for others this was offered and we thought it look good so took it.

David K - 2-18-2012 at 07:08 PM

Mike Younghusband walked from the border to Cabo San Lucas last year, and we followed him here on Nomad thanks to his SPOT device!

SPOT

bajaguy - 2-18-2012 at 07:45 PM

Works great in Baja and elswhere.

If you buy the SAR package when you activate your SPOT it really saves you money. It's only $12.95 a year.

Also, you can get the optional Evacuation insurance for really low rates......

https://www.geosalliance.net/geoslogin/medivacorder.aspx?ref...

Desertbull - 2-18-2012 at 08:06 PM

I just upgraded to SPOT Connect after using Spot since the beginning and used the new unit for a 9 day trip up and down the Peninsula and worked flawlessly. I was able to send personalized text messages direct to family and friends from El Datil and while on the Comodu road in the mountains with no TelCel service etc.

You use the Spot Connect in conjunction with your smartphone via Bluetooth and that allows you to send personal text messages, update photos to social media sites and of course still have the same standard functions as the normal Spot units to send SOS messages.

Family and friends tracked me all along both coasts no problem.

Tim

Roberto - 2-18-2012 at 08:34 PM

I've use SPOT since the beginning. It makes it easier on the home crowd as they can see I'm still alive by tracking me on a website.

Next trip down I'm going to upgrade to the Connect package. This thing works!

Oh, and I've never used the SAR option - though I DO have it. There was a well-publicized case of it's use where Cameron Steele activated it in an emergency situation while pre-running. Yep, it worked.

[Edited on 2-19-2012 by Roberto]

bigzaggin - 2-19-2012 at 09:08 AM

Echo the sentiments above...used the SPOT for my last 4 long excursions down and never had a real reception issue. But a few notes...

Someone above mentioned battery life/turning the unit OFF. We used to do that, until one of our messages didn't relay one night (leading to a fairly severe wife panic back home). We later realized we had turned the unit off before the message had relayed. In especially remote locales - even when the unit indicates the signal has been sent - it can take as long as 30 mins for it to bounce off satellites and get to recipients and, in the (unlikely) event of some service interruption, your message can sit in limbo for a bit. It's just safer to leave it on. The SPOT people will tell you as such.

Re: Evac insurance. Double check this, but I believe it only covers the person who PURCHASED the unit. But you can extend policy I believe. Well worth it in my opinion, especially since AMEX has newly discontinued evac insurance as part of certain card plans.

And finally, if you happen to be a surfer (or fisherman), be careful who gets onto your distribution list. You are broadcasting your location to the world, and on the odd chance you stumble on some empty right point/A+ fishing hole, you might want them coordinates on the hush-hush. Just sayin...;)

woody with a view - 2-19-2012 at 09:14 AM

:biggrin:

tripledigitken - 2-19-2012 at 09:25 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Roberto
There was a well-publicized case of it's use where Cameron Steele activated it in an emergency situation while pre-running. Yep, it worked.

[Edited on 2-19-2012 by Roberto]


That's a good thing it did work, as Spot is one of his sponsors!:cool:

capt. mike - 2-19-2012 at 11:10 AM

one flying buddy used Spot on his 1st flight to baja coming from CO.
we tracked him all the way over the 2 days he made the trip.
then his sender quit over the SOC about 20 miles short of land at Mulege and we thot oh crap he ditched!
was not the case.
i still don't know why it stopped. It wroked again on his way home which took 3 days due to WX.
BPI sells SPOT at discount to members, forget the $$.

i use a std EPERB with built in GPS if i need it.
But Spot is a good thing.

captmike

captkw - 2-19-2012 at 11:14 AM

Hola,,I assume you have 406mghz, they a phaseing out the 165,124 126 mghz units..BTW...K&T:cool:

capt. mike - 2-19-2012 at 11:24 AM

yes, i think so - same freq the FAA is making everyone change to for the plane's req'd emerg beacon device. they used to use 121.5 mhz as emerg freq. Something about better sat monitoring and military is phasing out all the 121.5 stations.
what fun....more to spend to have a frickin plane... ;^(

Roberto - 2-19-2012 at 02:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by tripledigitken
Quote:
Originally posted by Roberto
There was a well-publicized case of it's use where Cameron Steele activated it in an emergency situation while pre-running. Yep, it worked.

[Edited on 2-19-2012 by Roberto]


That's a good thing it did work, as Spot is one of his sponsors!:cool:


Yeah, I believe that was the first year of sponsorship.

Nope

bajaguy - 2-19-2012 at 11:20 PM

"........Re: Evac insurance. Double check this, but I believe it only covers the person who PURCHASED the unit. But you can extend policy I believe. Well worth it in my opinion, especially since AMEX has newly discontinued evac insurance as part of certain card plans........"

Nope, check the link............they have individual and family plans for the evacuation insurance.

Get the optional SAR insurance when you buy/activate your SPOT, it will save you $$$ if you do it at that time.

BTW, the SAR option and the Evacuation insurance are TWO DIFFERENT plans.

tripledigitken - 2-20-2012 at 08:52 AM

Does anyone know of an evac story out of Mexico initiated by Spot?

Contact them

bajaguy - 2-20-2012 at 09:36 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by tripledigitken
Does anyone know of an evac story out of Mexico initiated by Spot?





https://www.geosalliance.net/geoslogin/questions.aspx

capt mike

captkw - 2-20-2012 at 09:41 AM

roger,affirm...mas plata= more money:light: K&t

tripledigitken - 2-20-2012 at 10:07 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
Quote:
Originally posted by tripledigitken
Does anyone know of an evac story out of Mexico initiated by Spot?





https://www.geosalliance.net/geoslogin/questions.aspx


bajaguy,

Thanks I just did. The technology of the product has a decent record of getting the signal out to the message center, after that the next step is what concerns me.

The problem as I see it, and the reason I have not gotten one, is what agency in MX would respond to your call? What evidence of that part of the system works? What MX agency would drive out to San Fransisquito to transport an injured hiker out and to medical care for instance? Without that assurance it's just a tracking GPS.

Ken

Udo - 2-20-2012 at 10:22 AM

I signed up for the different plans and that is why my SPOT plan cost $189.00, instead of the advertised $99.00.
Read the information available on the sign-up site very carefully
Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
"........Re: Evac insurance. Double check this, but I believe it only covers the person who PURCHASED the unit. But you can extend policy I believe. Well worth it in my opinion, especially since AMEX has newly discontinued evac insurance as part of certain card plans........"

Nope, check the link............they have individual and family plans for the evacuation insurance.

Get the optional SAR insurance when you buy/activate your SPOT, it will save you $$$ if you do it at that time.

BTW, the SAR option and the Evacuation insurance are TWO DIFFERENT plans.

Cardon Man - 2-20-2012 at 01:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by tripledigitken


bajaguy,

Thanks I just did. The technology of the product has a decent record of getting the signal out to the message center, after that the next step is what concerns me.

The problem as I see it, and the reason I have not gotten one, is what agency in MX would respond to your call? What evidence of that part of the system works? What MX agency would drive out to San Fransisquito to transport an injured hiker out and to medical care for instance? Without that assurance it's just a tracking GPS.

Ken


Those are valid questions. I can't imagine there's a plan in place to help someone in the circumstances you describe.

lizard lips - 2-21-2012 at 09:43 AM

I have used Spot on many of my travels and family and friends were able to track me when I worked in Jordon, UAE, Central and South America and really anywhere I travel. I have to renew my program which I will do shortly.

It's really great for me as I work in some remote areas of the world. I have not bought the evac but mainly use it so that many can see where I was and if anything happened to me the last location would be a starting point.

TMW - 2-21-2012 at 10:06 AM

Spot has a button for need help and an SOS button. I know the need help will be sent to those people you have on your list. We saw this done with Mike Younghusband when he walked down Baja last year. Now I would assume the SOS button will also be sent to the same list of people. So whether or not the Spot people contact local rescue people or not your list of people will know something is really wrong and you need help soon. If I were on that list I would do everything I could to find out what was being done and most likely on my way.

bigzaggin - 2-21-2012 at 12:16 PM

Ding!

Even if a wife/loved one knew to post your SOS on Nomad (with a location!) imagine how many folks would scramble. It's not about a Mexican rescue org. per se...it's about people KNOWING you are in trouble.

The area I frequent down there - I'm guessing certain Nomads could navigate far better than any local rescue gang.

bajalou - 2-21-2012 at 12:56 PM

From the Spot website http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=102

"SOS: Use this function In the event of a life threatening or other critical emergency to notify emergency services of your GPS location and that you need assistance. The GEOS International Emergency Response Center alerts the appropriate agencies worldwide – for example contacting 9-1-1 responders in North America and 1-1-2 responders in Europe.

HOW IT WORKS:
Once activated, SPOT will acquire its exact coordinates from the GPS network, and send that location along with a distress message to the GEOS International Emergency Response Center every five minutes until cancelled or until the batteries are depleted. The Emergency Response Center notifies the appropriate emergency responders based on your GPS location and personal information – which may include local police, highway patrol, the Coast Guard, our country’s embassy or consulate, or other emergency search and rescue teams – as well as notifying your emergency contacts about the receipt of a distress signal.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Even if SPOT cannot acquire its location from the GPS network it will still attempt to send a distress signal – without exact location – to GEOS, which will still notify your contacts of the signal and continue to monitor the network for further messages.

9-1-1 EMERGENCY SERVICES POWERED BY GEOS Search and Rescue"

Have heard that in remote areas of Mex. they would notify the Army/Navy as well as the municipality.

Roberto - 2-21-2012 at 01:47 PM

One thing that is not totally clear from the website is this. Unless you have the Connect option, where you can actually send text messages, the two buttons send a "canned" message to different recipients. You can change the text of the message that is sent, but not from the SPOT device. You have to do it from the SPOT website.

bigzaggin - 2-21-2012 at 02:57 PM

We basically set our two messages to: 1.) All good turning in for the night and 2.) We're fine, but need help (ie, we're not in medical peril, but car is broken, etc.) Obviously option #3 speaks for itself. Then we predetermined a send time with the families back home. Seems to work pretty well (unless you accidentally sink 10 Tecates and forget to hit send).