Spot Satelite Messenger

[catmando]

My girlfriend works in the telecom world and knows the sales rep for these devices in Edmonton. I am going to ask about pricing and see if there is a possible group rate. I will post the price when I find out.

Thanks,Let me know,I'm in for one!
, catmando!

 

[catmando]

Well I broke down and bought one,After borrowing rusty's for the weekend I wasnt so sure about them but after checking out the instruction a little closer I found out we were missing a few things such as you can only use one feature at a time,If your tracking it wont send Ok messages and vise versa.For those who are interested I found the best deal yet, 119.00 at London Drugs,I got the last one at the North End Location but you can Order them at that price untill Dec 31st.They wont get any cheaper than that!
catmando!

 

[SLEDJED]

I looked at these things a few months back after hearing a ad on the radio. The REAL question is who does it call when you hit the emergency button? its all good that it can send a message home that your ok, but when good times go bad, is it going to get in contact with someone that can actually help in the area your in. I'd hate to have a problem, then find out it sends a message to some nickel and dime search and rescue outfit in California, that has no clue where Valemount (or any other place we ride) even is. Never mind who to contact in the area to come help you.

 

[teeroy]

when you press "911" the signal alerts GEOS
The GEOS Alliance

they dial 911 for you in the area your distress signal comes from, after notifying your main contact as listed in your registration information to verify it's not a false alarm.

same as if you dialed 911 on your sat phone, the local RCMP and whatever resources are available to them are your responders.

did you try to check that info, or just decide in your own mind it may be a "nickel and dime" rescue service? pretty easy to find if you look....just sayin'

 

[Ancient Sledder]

I bought one when they first came out and I'm very happy with it. When you hit the 911 button the message and your Gps position go straight to the nearest search and rescue unit. You are covered for up to 100,000 US for costs to get you out.

 

[Trax 2 Treadz]

We picked one up to at the sled show in Saskatoon, figured it was a good way to add another level of protection, rather inexpensively. Big motivator was thinking about the time we dropped into the bull river valley. That day we did not see any other sleds once dropping in and rode into an area with no tracks for miles. I managed to get stuck really bad in one of the BC governments road deactivation V's. It sure makes you think.

 

[ferniesnow]

We picked one up to at the sled show in Saskatoon, figured it was a good way to add another level of protection, rather inexpensively. Big motivator was thinking about the time we dropped into the bull river valley. That day we did not see any other sleds once dropping in and rode into an area with no tracks for miles. I managed to get stuck really bad in one of the BC governments road deactivation V's. It sure makes you think.

This is a great thread! I added a comment last evening and somehow I screwed up because it didn't get posted.

My first thoughts were about a quote from 700summittguy.....When you hit the 911 button the message and your Gps position go straight to the nearest search and rescue unit....this is totally untrue. The first signal goes to the satellite and then to a call center somewhere in North America ( I have heard a rumor the call center is in Georgia). I don't know the precise process from there but you can imagine....local search and rescues are notified by the RCMP in Canada. If one is in the Bull River Valley (a north/south valley), how long do you think it will take them to figure out which search and rescue to call (Elkford, Fernie, Canal Flats, etc. I don't know what the call center has for mapping but in our area a place like Round Prairie, Elk Prairie are on the mapping programs and if they try and phone, there is no one home because there is no "town". So IMO it is a very large hit and miss as to trying to get the closest search and resuce.

The second thought is the problem of using SPOT in the east/west valleys. This is the valley that would have been used to get to the Bull River. I have been in places in this valley where it would take 30-50 minutes for the signal to get out because of the high mountains blocking the southern sky. It may or can take that long for the signal to reach a satellite. I drive a couple of SnowCats and use SPOT. In the east/west valley of Crossing Creek/Koko Claims it is not something that you could depend on in an emergency but it is better than nothing. In the area south of Fernie there is no problem sending the signal to the satellite as there are no big mountains in the way. Two totally different areas of operation. South of Fernie generally no problem, west of Elkford, not dependable.

Basically, what I am trying to say is that one has to know the limits and know the area that you will be using SPOT. On another forum, it was stated that the OKAY was received from under a bridge. That is fine as the person operating it knows that it works under that bridge but will it work in an east/west valley with high mountains? The salesman isn't necessarily an expert and his goal is to sell SPOT, not to tell you about the deficiencies.

Do I use SPOT, yes. Will I continue to use SPOT, yes. But in my area I know where it doesn't work that great and that's what I would like you to think about.

 

[SLEDJED]

Ya teeroy I did read the info on the GEOS. What I get from that is they seem more directed toward security in high risk countries. It seems like if your worried about getting kidnapped while working in south america, their the people to talk to. I can read their "sales pitch" as well as anyone, and what my concern/question was and still is, is it as good as they claim. Has anyone in our area actually used the emergency button. I hope that it works as good as they claim, and if so I definitely will buy one, but i personally need more proof that the support network they claim, actually works in the areas we ride.

 

[teeroy]

Ya teeroy I did read the info on the GEOS. What I get from that is they seem more directed toward security in high risk countries. It seems like if your worried about getting kidnapped while working in south america, their the people to talk to. I can read their "sales pitch" as well as anyone, and what my concern/question was and still is, is it as good as they claim. Has anyone in our area actually used the emergency button. I hope that it works as good as they claim, and if so I definitely will buy one, but i personally need more proof that the support network they claim, actually works in the areas we ride.

in our geographic locations, it seems that GEOS is just a relay system to contact and brief the proper authorities of the emergency and your location/co-ordinates, and give updates to your main contact as they receive them. the "support network" is your local RCMP, SAR, or Park Authorities. I have 100% confidence in their abilities. as long as GEOS makes the call....

from what I have red in the SPOT and GEOS literature, GEOS are the ones to act if you are in some third world country with no SAR services. no worries about that on my end anyways....

all I can really go by is my experiences using the SPOT, it has worked everywhere I've tried it when I was outside. even sent one from inside the motel room in Chetwynd last weekend that went thru. haven't had to use the "help" or "911" features, and hope I never have to.

and it makes the wife feel warm and fuzzy inside knowing I have it. worth the $119 right there.

 

[Volksnutt]

GPS Central sell these spot locaters.

 

[RevBlk]

"I bought one when they first came out and I'm very happy with it. When you hit the 911 button the message and your Gps position go straight to the nearest search and rescue unit. You are covered for up to 100,000 US for costs to get you out."

Not exactly.
Yes I have seen the 911 component of the SPOT unit work from the other side. Here is what happens. Mistake 1) Dude on his sail boat in the middle of a Large Canadian Lake "tests" the unit. It rings through to the monitoring company. I believe was inTexas but I could be wrong. They check with the contact people. Mistake 2) Contact list not updated. Can not confirm where dude is. Local SAR are contacted. In this case it was the RCMP/Canadian Coast-Guard. Search commences but takes a while to locate dude. Mistake 3) he has moved since he hit the 911 button. All found okay. All safe. Taxpayers foot the bill.

Peeps seem to worry about the monitoring of the 911. It is the same as an alarm system on your house or business. It rings at the monitoring company who in turn calls the local police. Whoever was told that the 911 call goes straight to the local SAR was misinformed. Most SAR groups are volunteers with full time jobs that are paged out for their SAR mission. They do not have the resources to monitor 24/7. I think the monitoring companies would have to be pretty diligent in this area. Can you imagine the lawsuit if a distress call went out & was unanswered?????

Really what this gadget does is combine a GPS with an automated satelite phone for emgergencies in areas where cell phones etc., do not work.
My .02.
Rev

 

[teeroy]

Dude should have a boot firmly inserted into his azz, and then made to pay costs incurred for the false alarm. if that happens often, it will be bad for the SPOT as S&R will start to doubt the validity of the emergencies that are called in by GEOS.

but it did work....:d

 

[RevBlk]

Absolutely TeeRoy. They do work. A very wise investment especially for anyone that has a Global Star Sat phone. Cause they don't work in the mountains at all any more. I just wanted to make sure peeps keep their contact info up to date. I would rather go on 10 false alarms then not go on one where someone needs helps.
Rev

 

[Ancient Sledder]

Sorry people for my mistake about the signal going to Search and Rescue. I thought that is what happened and I was wrong. Every time I use the Spot to check in it has worked with no problem at all. I still am happy with it and will continue to use it until something better comes along. It gives my wife some peace of mind when she stays home.

 

[SLEDJED]

it would be nice it there was a way for the spot to receive a signal back, be it a light or a beep or something to let you know the signal has been received by someone. That is a down fall to these units. Or maybe it does? I dont have one yet, maybe someone could enlighten me on this.

 

[catmando]

The lights indicate that the signal has been sent.
catmando!

 

[Mongrol]

If I owned a spot and when I went out put my computer on Google Earth would it show my track or just give the Spot program my co-ordinates?

 

[catmando]

It does both,your wife can follow you around,Better yet throw it in her trunk and you can follow her around!
catmando!

 

[Mongrol]

Thanks. May have to look at one as I ride alone alot.

 

[catmando]

Thanks. May have to look at one as I ride alone alot.

London Drugs has them on for 119.00 right now but you may have to order it,sale ends on the 31st of dec!
catmando!