bajanow
Junior Nomad
Posts: 47
Registered: 5-27-2005
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The Spot GPS Messenger
On our recent Baja trip, I was introduced to "The Spot." It is an automated GPS locator and messenger, the size of a GPS. This is not a commercial
and I don't sell them. But, have you ever had your wife or friends worry about you during your Baja travels? This is an overview:
The SPOT sends messages via satellites to e-mail addresses and/or cell phones
Each message contains 2 things.
1. GPS coordinates (+- 5 feet)
2. A link to Google maps
There are 3 modes of messaging
“911”– When the 911 button is pressed, a message is sent to our international 911 response center. The proper authorities are then dispatched to your
location.
“OK”—The OK button is used to send an all is well message to friends and family.
“Help”– The help button is designed to be used in non-life threatening situations. The people on your contact list are notified of your position and
request for assistance
Tracking Feature
Every 10 minutes for 24 hours, your position is plotted. With your permission, anyone with an Internet connection can monitor your progress. The
tracking feature is also an excellent personal trip log that is a great compliment to photos or journal entries
I think this is a very useful device.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Here ya go:
http://international.findmespot.com/
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
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Mood: Peacefull
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It's Great ....... 
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Got a friend who has one and he swears by it, also the CAP is thinking about a group purchase.
They have been discussed here on the board before, but thanks for bringing it up again!!!!
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Paulclark
Nomad
Posts: 357
Registered: 10-13-2008
Location: Castillo de Arena
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Used one for about 6 months now. It is great especially the tracking feature, which lets friends and family track us when we are on an adventure tour
and as a communication device if we break down or have an emergerncy -- the price is right.
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Martyman
Super Nomad
Posts: 1904
Registered: 9-10-2004
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How long before the cranial implantation scar heals?
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AcuDoc
Nomad
Posts: 331
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: The Seven Seas and Thailand
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I have a buddy that uses one for hunting and loves it.
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biglar
Junior Nomad
Posts: 37
Registered: 10-9-2008
Location: Santa Fe, NM
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The SPOT is definitely a good idea, and can be a lifesaver. Since I hike and climb alone a lot, and am definitely a senior citizen now, (66 yrs) my
cousin badgered and bullied me into buying a SPOT about a year ago, and I've used it a LOT........and so far, I'm still on the original batteries.
Amazing.
I like the SPOT and don't want to hurt anybody's feelings, but they are not a cure all, and I've noticed some things you should be aware of. Maybe
others could do some documenting to see if theirs does the same things.
First, the transmitter and/or the receiver are not very strong. An experiment showed that mine will not work in a pouch similar to a cell phone
pouch. (the SPOT is quite a bit bigger and it's harder to find a pouch) My Garmin eTrex Legend works fine with a velcro-ed fabric flap over it. The
SPOT does not.
If you're hiking in a wooded area, don't depend on it. I pressed the check/OK button out on the tip of Cape Flattery, WA last summer, looked around
for a bit, then hiked back to my truck and drove back to Neah Bay. The SPOT didn't send until I was nearly back to Neah Bay - over ½ hour
later........but in all fairness, almost the whole way was thru brush and overstory. It's a factor to keep in mind.
Sending times can vary a lot. I logged times I pushed the check/OK button and compared them later with sent times on the computer, and the times
varied by anywhere from 4 minutes to 22 minutes. A lag, I expect and accept, but sometimes this is awkward. I often use mine to document the
farthest reach of a hike or quad trip, or the summit of a climb. To be sure, you've got to sit around for 20 minutes - and then hope.............
That brings me to the one that worries me just a little.........it doesn't always send. This, I haven't logged completely yet, but it would appear
that mine sends about 9 out of 10 times, or maybe 14 out of 15.....but it does NOT send infallibly. I hope the 911 feature is 100% if I ever need it.
I nearly did on Jan 11, when I rolled my quad and got crushed under it. I did hike out to help, but it was close.
I learned a lesson from that, too. The SPOT was under a bungee on the front rack of the quad, where it had a clear view of the sky. When quad
rolled, the SPOT went flying. It was about 15 feet away from where I was laying injured in the trail and If I'd been badly hurt, I couldn't have
reached it. I've since bought a snug elastic camera carrier pouch from Radio Shack and stitched it onto my pack. Food for thought.
All that said, I like it and my cousin loves it. If anything ever happens to this one, I'll immediately buy another. Some friends that I have on the
check/OK send had more fun with the maps last summer than I did. It's a great tool, but it does have quirks.
No point in flaming me - I'll absolutely stand behind what I say here.
Lar.
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Stickers
Senior Nomad
Posts: 571
Registered: 4-12-2006
Location: SoCal
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On last years Baja Bush Pilots Central America trip they had Spot on all of the airplanes. I didn't make the trip but watched the planes fly from the
U.S. through all of Mexico and Central America on my computer. It was amazing to see the 10 minute updates as they made their way through all the
countries. At on point they all disappeared into the ocean but I zoomed up and saw that they had landed on a small island off the Honduran coast.
Each aircraft had a number assigned on the computer display so you could know who it was.
Amazing technology at a very cheap price.
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McNulty
Junior Nomad
Posts: 38
Registered: 1-4-2009
Location: CA
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Definitly putting this on my wish-list
Given there aren't many "wooded" areas in Baja I'm assuming the lag in the sending that biglar experienced won't be as big of an issue. Are there any
other cons to this SPOT thing because most of what I am seeing right now are definite pros.
SPOT=more time in baja without friends and family freaking out. 
Thanks
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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pay the extra $50.00 a year for the 911 service.....don't leave home without it!!!!!
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biglar
Junior Nomad
Posts: 37
Registered: 10-9-2008
Location: Santa Fe, NM
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You bet. Pay for the extra service - it's worth it, and I also pay the $7.95 for evacuation insurance. I hope I didn't sound too negative in my
story above - I take the SPOT with me on all trips. It's got quirks, yes, but it's a very useful, handy tool.
As far as sending lags, I'm in Blythe, CA for the winter (going back to Santa Fe next month) and there aren't any forests here, either. This is where
I 've done most of my documenting.
Lar.
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