Spot GPS Messenger
- Thread starter Ikendooit
- Start date
L
live2ride
Moderator: Premium Member
We have one for this season. My parents also have one, and have used it over a year and seems to work well!!! I really think that for $300.00 for the initial cost and about $150 a year if you get it loaded with the 911 and all the services, cheap security plus it lets everyone know you are "ok".
they WORK~
get a SPOT, practice using it! Unlimited OK mesaages so set it off at your house, at work, anywhere.
I've had mine for 12months and use it daily in Colorado backcountry 99.9% success rate, Testimonials are stacking up of people that were found-recovered w/in hours of sending a propler message.
Best product of 2008, imo
pp
get a SPOT, practice using it! Unlimited OK mesaages so set it off at your house, at work, anywhere.
I've had mine for 12months and use it daily in Colorado backcountry 99.9% success rate, Testimonials are stacking up of people that were found-recovered w/in hours of sending a propler message.
Best product of 2008, imo
pp
Great product.
Use mine every time I ride. It's a great tool.
Use mine every time I ride. It's a great tool.
i was an early adopter
prices have come down quite a bit, better than a cell phone because they work everywhere and better than a GPS because they can communicate. GPS's are great because they can tell you where you are but if you cant tell anyone else, what good are they?
its peace of mind for the extended family.
prices have come down quite a bit, better than a cell phone because they work everywhere and better than a GPS because they can communicate. GPS's are great because they can tell you where you are but if you cant tell anyone else, what good are they?
its peace of mind for the extended family.
I
ItDoAble
Well-known member
I see it as cheap 'life' insurance for both my family and an unselfish thing I do for my riding buds or anyone else we run across in trouble.
Good friend of mine was riding with our local dirtbike club in Moab this fall. Member went off a 75ft cliff. SPOT 911 had S&R on the way within 10/15 minutes to the EXACT location. No lost time riding out .. calling for help .. finding way back in .. confusion .. etc. May have saved his life.
I also noticed some of the Baja 1000 rigs on TV this weekend had SPOTs.
Good friend of mine was riding with our local dirtbike club in Moab this fall. Member went off a 75ft cliff. SPOT 911 had S&R on the way within 10/15 minutes to the EXACT location. No lost time riding out .. calling for help .. finding way back in .. confusion .. etc. May have saved his life.
I also noticed some of the Baja 1000 rigs on TV this weekend had SPOTs.
S
SSWIM
Well-known member
This isn't a bash. Just curious though, does your radio work everywhere??? I have not found one that does. The SPOT is VERY efficient. I have a Sat phone and I don't even count on it like the SPOT. Incredible insurance.
Sam.
E
Ex-Member
ACCOUNT CLOSED
It'll throw out a signal whenever i key it up, yeah. And with 90MHz of TX BW, the odds are pretty good I could find someone on the other end. 5 watts VHF/UHF. With the right antenna you can hit satellites.
90 mhz of bw wont do a thing for you in a revine and on the other side of the mountian with 5 watts
It'll throw out a signal whenever i key it up, yeah. And with 90MHz of TX BW, the odds are pretty good I could find someone on the other end. 5 watts VHF/UHF. With the right antenna you can hit satellites.
OK, but I have a few questions about the Radios
price
where to get them
license required
programing required
AA batteries or special, and I need to carry a charger
would be a nice at times, but only part of a good plan.
the best part of Spot is the tracking feature, say you knock your self out somehow, or fall in a old mine shaft (lots of them here in my area ) Cell phones, Radios, and even locating Beacons, all require an operator to push the button or talk or do something.
with the Spot tracking feature, if you are late getting home, they can follow your track to your last position, you shouldn't turn your nose up at anything that might save your life
Last edited:
I
Ikendooit
Member
Okay have herd and read the pros and cons on this and i think the pros out weigh the cons. Pros: 1) Peace of mind for friends and family as they can check up on you as you ride. 2) As we all know cell phones are useless where we ride and this is supposed to work as long as you have a view of the sky. 3) Instant help on the way to your exact long-lat coordinates. No sending someone back up to 2hrs to even be able to call for help. 4) The 911 button will continue to send signal until a service has recieved and cancelled the signal.
Cons: 1) The tracking service will not always get the signal out, usually 80% of them though. 2) 100$ for the device and another 150$ a year for the service. Small price to pay after reading the avy post tonight.
Thanks for all your advice, i will have one in my pack by the first of the year. Stay safe
Cons: 1) The tracking service will not always get the signal out, usually 80% of them though. 2) 100$ for the device and another 150$ a year for the service. Small price to pay after reading the avy post tonight.
Thanks for all your advice, i will have one in my pack by the first of the year. Stay safe
E
Ex-Member
ACCOUNT CLOSED
I believe that answers your question?
Edit: Also, the price is a one-time cost-of-the-radio thing. No "service fees" or recurring charges or any of that nonsense. License is good for 10 years (GMRS is 5), simple renewal process.
Last edited:
E
Ex-Member
ACCOUNT CLOSED
neither will a cellphone. Sat-phone (Or even SPOT, i'd imagine) won't do you much good if you're in dense tree cover either. Every technology has its downfall.
Or how about this. You're in a tunnel, fiery car accident at the exit and cars are piling up at the entrance. CO levels are rising due to idling cars and smoke from the fire. Now what?
I could probably name a situation where any rescue-device would be less than helpful. There's things you cna do to improve your chances of survival, I pack a radio.
I started 2 threads earlier in the season to see if anyone has actually pushed the 911 button. A couple people claim to have heard of someone that has. These were all summer clear weather situations and not done by the person posting on SW.
So I have yet to hear of a real life back country rescue from SPOT being used.
BTW, I have used one for a year. The tracking feature sucks at best. Might get a few tracks marked but never a whole trip.
Hope findmespot can find me when I need it.
So I have yet to hear of a real life back country rescue from SPOT being used.
BTW, I have used one for a year. The tracking feature sucks at best. Might get a few tracks marked but never a whole trip.
Hope findmespot can find me when I need it.
I have used it in all situations all year round , and it is just a great little device. Never been unfortunate enough to use the 911 but all the others features used often.
Used the tracking with 99.9 percent efficency when used properly, even in an airplane.
Great to use in the winter to see exactly where you went thru out the day.
Real piece of mind to send out messages to the loved ones thru out the day, well at least for them.
You can leave a long preset text message duiring the 911 feature which can be updated easily via the net. I change it before every ride listing all contact info of the people we are riding with. Part of the message is always that any injury requiring me to use the 911 would be life threatening and require immediate assistance.
Every little bit that could help?
Also carry radio, gps, cell and a whole list of other survival gear...every little bit right?
Used the tracking with 99.9 percent efficency when used properly, even in an airplane.
Great to use in the winter to see exactly where you went thru out the day.
Real piece of mind to send out messages to the loved ones thru out the day, well at least for them.
You can leave a long preset text message duiring the 911 feature which can be updated easily via the net. I change it before every ride listing all contact info of the people we are riding with. Part of the message is always that any injury requiring me to use the 911 would be life threatening and require immediate assistance.
Every little bit that could help?
Also carry radio, gps, cell and a whole list of other survival gear...every little bit right?
This is just what I've heard, didn't see it happen.
If I'm not mistaken, there were 2 guys sledding up on the Uncompahgre last winter about this time, got lost/stuck/ night came, with a blizzard. They pushed the 911 button on their SPOT. Search and Rescue found them about 2am and they slept in their beds that night. They work. Glad I have one.
Powderpatrol do you remember this?
If I'm not mistaken, there were 2 guys sledding up on the Uncompahgre last winter about this time, got lost/stuck/ night came, with a blizzard. They pushed the 911 button on their SPOT. Search and Rescue found them about 2am and they slept in their beds that night. They work. Glad I have one.
Powderpatrol do you remember this?
