SPOT GPS Messenger?

Barney · 10-25-2012, 11:14 AM

Anyone using the SPOT GPS Messenger here? I heard a lot of great and a lot of awful reviews about it. The main issue with bad reviews is about their useless customer service.

Gondor · 10-25-2012, 11:25 AM

I'm not using it but my friend has some Personal Locator Beacon. These are incredibly expensive and only worth if you're going on expeditions, if you ask me.

Grandpa · 10-25-2012, 11:28 AM

I carry one. Keeps grandma happy, since I solo a lot in very remote areas. No problems to speak of. I have emailed them with questions and got immediate answers. I have never had occasion to push the 911 button, but since hearing negative things, I am going to set up a test. Our county sheriff is a good friend, and I am going to set up with his department a test. At a precise time, I will push the 911 button and see just how long it takes them to notify the sheriff department who is THE law, SAR, and everything else in this large county with few people.

Grandpa · 10-25-2012, 11:37 AM

I might add, when I solo, I push the "I am okay" button when I reach my campsite for the night. I push it again when I go to bed, then shut the unit off for the night. In the morning, I again push the okay to let her know I made it through the night without a bear eating me. These messages go directly to her and a daughters cell phones. They then can go to the computer and google my exact to the foot location.

While trekking, it is turned on. It is supposed to send out a location every ten minutes, which she can follow on the computer but the locations will vary from 3 minutes to 20 minutes. I think this time differential is, the unit is trying to locate a satellite one time then having no problem locating one the next time.

The SPOT gives me the flexibility to alter my itinerary if I encounter a risk I don't want to take, being alone. It also gives me the opportunity if I see something interesting, I can note the time and after getting home, I can google exactly to that spot again and get the coordinates.

Pathfinder1 · 10-25-2012, 02:20 PM

Hi...

I recall that the first SPOT units had problems. Since then, one of the newer ones was provided to Brian (from the 'other' outdoor-oriented site) and he had problems with the unit NOT transmitting the sent messages promptly. Some of his messages were received in a bunch a few days later...!! That didn't go over too well.

Grandpa · 10-25-2012, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pathfinder1

Hi...

I recall that the first SPOT units had problems. Since then, one of the newer ones was provided to Brian (from the 'other' outdoor-oriented site) and he had problems with the unit NOT transmitting the sent messages promptly. Some of his messages were received in a bunch a few days later...!! That didn't go over too well.

I've had mine for 4-5 years now. I never heard of them until the family bought me one for Fathers day. I still have the original. When you press the "I'm Okay" button, both the on light and send light blink until the message is sent. Then the send light goes off and the on button continues to blink. Sometimes it takes a couple of minutes for the send light to quit blinking, sometimes as much as 20 minutes. I think there are just not many satelites flying over central Idaho at any given time and it has to search to find one. But grandma and my daughter both receive the message instantly. Ooops, daughter with verizon receives instantly, sometimes grandma with T mobile takes a while longer but we blame that on the phone system, not the spot.
Whenever grandma goes to the SPOT website and logs onto my record, it is current within a half hour.

Cappy · 10-26-2012, 07:12 AM

i was reading this post thinking that this might be a good thing for me cause I ocasionally jump in the jeep with a fishing pole or gun and leave Peg home to wory. While sipping coffee and parusing this morning, she walked by looked over my shoulder and I told her about Spot. She thought for a while said that would be cool then enquired if she could ping it from the house checking to make sure if I was ok. I don't know if it does that but if itdoes I don't wnt one. It would be just my luck to be quietly drawing a bead on one of the local swamp critters when sudenly....bee da be beeeeep, be da beeee beep. No thank you.

Pathfinder1 · 10-26-2012, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cappy

i was reading this post thinking that this might be a good thing for me cause I ocasionally jump in the jeep with a fishing pole or gun and leave Peg home to wory. While sipping coffee and parusing this morning, she walked by looked over my shoulder and I told her about Spot. She thought for a while said that would be cool then enquired if she could ping it from the house checking to make sure if I was ok. I don't know if it does that but if itdoes I don't wnt one. It would be just my luck to be quietly drawing a bead on one of the local swamp critters when sudenly....bee da be beeeeep, be da beeee beep. No thank you.

Hi...

Thanks for my first chuckle of the ayem, Cappy...!!

oldsarge · 10-26-2012, 09:32 AM

Here's a system I've been looking at lately, Nice if you want more out of your basic GPS.

DeLorme and SPOT Unveil First Handheld GPS with Satellite Communicator

Gondor · 10-26-2012, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grandpa

I carry one. Keeps grandma happy, since I solo a lot in very remote areas. No problems to speak of. I have emailed them with questions and got immediate answers. I have never had occasion to push the 911 button, but since hearing negative things, I am going to set up a test. Our county sheriff is a good friend, and I am going to set up with his department a test. At a precise time, I will push the 911 button and see just how long it takes them to notify the sheriff department who is THE law, SAR, and everything else in this large county with few people.

That is by far the best and most original idea I've heard in months. That way you can be sure that it works. Please let us know when you try it.