Spot GPS Tracking/ELB

[Elk whack master]

Anyone have any personal experiances useing one? Going hunting by myself in an area with hit or miss cell service.  So I am looking into getting a device to call for help if needed.  Spot is cheap but the service is alot, and if you want tracking there goes another $50 on top of it all. Emergancy loctater beacons start around $250. I can get a sat phone for $300+ and pay as you go. But how well of signals do these devices have when in the big trees and in thick suff?  From what I have read spot needs to be in the open away from any trees. What have you use and with what kind of results, not sure were to go with this and any help and suggestions will be great. Thanks

[Huntbear]

My diabetic buddy has a SPOT... he loves it, and hopes he never has to use it.  That said, you push the one button, stay put, cause the calvary is a commin...  no matter what the issue is... 

Plus he can send messages to his wife that he is ok, and if he got an animal down..

[ICEMAN]

I have maintained a spot for many years. They are not flawless I have been told. Like you, I have hunted solo in areas with no cell service, it is nice carrying the spot.

I like the ability to periodically send the All OK message to the wife, especially if I am moving around solo hunting. I may send three OK messages in a day. I always send a OK message at dusk, indicating I am back at camp. She can view the maps but generally does not.

Don't let the lure of being able to send a help request into doing foolish things. Hypothermia can surely kill you quicker than a rescue may be able to find you.

[Russ McDonald]

I have one and it seems to work pretty well.  The tracking is a cool thing but you paying additional on top of your regular subscrition.  I haven't been in the thick stuff yet to see by I only check in every once in a while to tell wife I am ok.  Sat phone would give you the same exact issue if you in heavy timber too.

[whacker1]

I don't have one, but have pondered for some time, but read this article in the Spokesman Review from Montana, which will have me signed up before next hunting season.

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/nov/25/when-on-the-spot-device-did-its-job/

[kckrawler]

Picked one up this year after piggybacking off of my hunting buddies for a year or so. Well worth the investment, if for no other reason than to put the wifes mind at ease 

Don't skimp on the SAR Insurance either. It's something like $13 a year and if you ever do push the S.O.S. button, you'll be glad you bought it. 

[RG]

I have some experience with them.  A friend hunted in Idaho 2 years ago on a pack in hunt.  A member of the party got hurt and had a SPOT locator.  They pushed the button and a couple hours later a helicopter landed next to  their camp and took the injured person out.  I have also been associated with Snohomish County Search and Rescue on the air support unit for 5 or 6 years.  We have responded to multiple of these activations and they always put us right on the person..... unless the jamoke keeps walking around after activating it like one goofball did until his batteries died.  What a wild goose chase, eventually he accidentally wandered out to a road and got found!

[Elk whack master]

as far as signal strenght, once i lock on to the sats will they hold on through the trees  or will is drop off? Seems kinda silly if they do, cause what if i do hert myself in the big trees and cant get a signal then what? My oregon 450 never loses a signal once it gets a signal no matter where i gone so far. Can I expect the same signal from the spot?