Post by: ICEMAN on September 24, 2008, 06:11:56 AM
Wife decided I needed one so bad she wrapped one up for the B-day last week.
So, for the uninformed, here is the deal with the device.
Size of a small camera or GPS device, a bit heavy for it's size. Runs on (2) AA Lithium batteries. Relatively simple concept. The device utilizes GPS satelites, separate communication satelites, ground based antennas, land based computer system and communications systems. When turned on, the device is a gps tracking device, it tracks where you are, or were last at, and saves the location so that if you get hurt, or lost, or whatever, you can push one of three buttons on the device and send a message to loved ones, or initiate a rescue.
In theory, the device works where cell phones dont. This is the selling point.
After the initial purchase of $125 to $150, you then spend another $100 on a yearly maintenance/contract. When setting up your account, you have the ability to customize any of the three messages which you may use with the device.
Message 1, push this button (the OK/all is well button) and a message travels from you, thru a communication satelite, to the ground, thru SPOT's corporate computer system, to your wifes phone and email addresses you have previsouly picked. Your message can read ..."All is OK, just checking in...stop worrying...) plus they receive a link to a google map which shows exactly where your OK message originated from.
Message 2, push this button (the HELP button) and a "I need help, not an emergency, the truck broke down type message...) This message is to request your family or friends come to your location, but not a life or death type emergency, plus the google map of where you are broken down.... (I really could have used this when my truck puked an axle up in Matheny a few years back, and no cell coverage, took two days to get message home to come save me...)
Message 3, push this button ( the 911 button) and a emergency personnel (county 911 ) contact is made. SPOT also contacts your home/family emergency contacts in an attempt to coordinate and gather as much additional information needed in this emergency.
Options, you can add a bit to your yearly bill, to guarantee additional rescue resources including chopper rescue... I decided not for this service...
Options, you can add a bit to your yearly bill, to track and save your route automatically.... I decided not for this additional feature....
So, I have tried the device on the hood of my truck in Lacey, and all worked as planned. I will be testing the device whenever I get into some steep ass canyon.... I will let you all know how it works.....
$100 peace of mind plan for the wife......I can live with this..... (besides, you never know.....may need the (wussy) 911 button some day.....
If you solo a lot, you may consider this device.....
Post by: Machias on September 24, 2008, 11:48:11 AM
Post by: rainshadow1 on September 24, 2008, 12:44:27 PM
Even as is it's an excellent tool. I might just get one. We'll see.
Thanks for the overview Iceman!
Post by: ICEMAN on September 24, 2008, 07:13:11 PM
It's so she can make sure you're actually hunting...... :chuckle:
She knows I am hunting. I smell like a dumpster when I get home... :chuckle:
Rainshadow, I know what you mean, I am working on a plan where consecutive messages will mean different things.....IE: three OK's = moving to plan 2.....
Post by: rainshadow1 on September 24, 2008, 07:24:08 PM
Post by: cohoho on September 30, 2008, 03:29:00 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on September 30, 2008, 08:41:19 PM
Post by: archery288 on September 30, 2008, 08:45:12 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on September 30, 2008, 08:47:10 PM
Post by: archery288 on September 30, 2008, 08:49:35 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on October 01, 2008, 06:18:04 AM
Cant wait to try it in a few hell holes I know... :IBCOOL:
Post by: Skyvalhunter on October 01, 2008, 06:33:43 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on October 01, 2008, 06:43:22 AM
Post by: rainshadow1 on October 01, 2008, 08:52:27 PM
Post by: Mama Bear on October 01, 2008, 09:25:13 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on October 02, 2008, 08:00:13 AM
Post by: rainshadow1 on October 02, 2008, 09:46:36 AM
Looking forward to more reports, Ice. Thanks very much for taking the time.
Post by: brokenbone on October 02, 2008, 04:01:15 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on October 02, 2008, 07:50:51 PM
Post by: addicted on October 17, 2008, 10:15:40 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on October 19, 2008, 07:21:51 AM
I used the device to report home to the wife that all was well each morning and each evening for 8 days, plus a few extra messages just to see if it would function deep in a canyon and in heavy timber, or from inside the vehicle.
Morning and evening messages were sent from the hood of the truck, from laying on the ground or from in my morning stand waiting for first light.
The device worked really well in all places I tried it.
I personally enjoyed being able to check in with the family and let them know for sure that all was well, in areas where cell phone use is not possible.
My wife and family really liked getting the messages onto "Mom's" phone. The links to a Google Map of where you were checking in from were easy to use, and I confirm they were incredibly accurate. (Hope nobody can scam my fav hunting spot from them.....)
We have another camp near our high country camp, where we treat the other camp to dinner, trade off each year. In this other camp, an older gentleman who solo gold pans and hunts each year is definitely going to get one of these devices under the tree at xmas. The older gentlemens son was very interested in the device so his dad could check in with the family.
Look, I like techno crap as much as the next guy, but this one could save your life. Your fancy new GPS, range finder, handheld radio, even that new cell phone are sure nice, but not one of them can help start a rescue for you if you really needed to.
I am going to keep this and use it. Good for family appeasement. May save your butt some day.....
Post by: 300rum on October 19, 2008, 08:19:36 AM
Post by: actionshooter on October 19, 2008, 06:02:38 PM
I have been thinking about one of these for a while, after reading your post, Cabelas got some more of my money today.
Its worth the peace of mind when I'm way out. :)
Post by: Machias on October 20, 2008, 12:33:01 PM
Post by: Antlershed on October 20, 2008, 12:57:27 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on October 20, 2008, 08:17:47 PM
Antlershed, not super thick canopy. Eastern wa, pine forest. I will give it a try this weekend on the wet side / winston Ck as I try to get my son in front of a blackie this weekend.... will let you know...
I also thought of trying it in a steel bucket, to see if it truly sends the last know gps coordinate plus can communicate with the comm satelite from the bucket...
Post by: Antlershed on October 20, 2008, 09:10:03 PM
Post by: Ice Cap on October 23, 2008, 11:55:47 AM
I purchased one this year and have had excellent luck with it. It has worked everywhere I have gone, however I still haven't been in real heavy trees. I also spent the extra $50.00 for the tracking function. The tracking function worked great!
Post by: Skyvalhunter on October 23, 2008, 12:01:43 PM
Post by: taylorpz on October 25, 2008, 07:57:48 PM
I've sent messages from in the car and in the woods, without any delay or problems. I've tried sending messages from a known location, then double-checked it using the Google Maps link and found it to be *dead* on (within a couple feet from where I had been standing).
Wife loves that i can check in with her. We have a pre-planned code set up (time of day, messages sent, etc). One plus is that I can let her know easily when I'll be coming out of the field so she can have dinner ready!
I go out to the field alone a lot, so this little bugger is some nice peace of mind. My biggest worry is stepping bad and screwing up a leg or foot or ankle or whatever enough that I'd be stuck. Having this makes that less of an issue.
Just my opinion.
Post by: ICEMAN on October 26, 2008, 09:01:57 PM
The device worked under a thick canopy of fir trees from the Winston Unit.
And, WTF? I shut the unit off in Winston. Drove home to Lacey. I placed the device in a metal bucket in the front yard, turned it on and hit OK button. The device should not have been able to locate its new position from inside the can, it should have sent its last known GPS position in the OK message... Instead, it was able to obtain a GPS fix from my front yard? Didnt expect that. It seems to pull in the GPS signal better than my POS Etrex.....
I am convinced this is a good purchase for reporting your location and condition to your old lady.
Problem is, she can have Julio the pool boy over now, knowing full well how far away from home you are....
Post by: rainshadow1 on October 26, 2008, 10:21:30 PM
Post by: robodad on October 27, 2008, 08:54:19 AM
Wait a minute.... You Have A POOL?!?!?
Sounds like we should be having the "get togethers" at Iceman's house, The eat's would be outstanding !! :chuckle: :chuckle:
Post by: Machias on November 24, 2008, 10:09:05 AM
Post by: DBake on November 24, 2008, 03:28:15 PM
Post by: buckbrush on November 24, 2008, 06:01:02 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on November 24, 2008, 07:20:18 PM
I have used it all thru late buck, and now into duck season. Failed once from the dashboard, I didnt give it time to send all the message or something.....worked the next time I tried. My guess is to be sure to send your message from outside the rig... Wife loves the messages, makes her feel good. Wife happy = Iceman happy. Money well spent.
(Sure hope they dont go bankrupt and keep my yearly fee...) Havent heard anything, just seems to be happening more these days.... :dunno:
Also, been keeping it in a plastic ziplock during the rain and crap.... I sent messages from in the ziplock from my duck boat....worked great....
Post by: rasbo on November 24, 2008, 07:37:04 PM
Weekend Check complete.just text me Ill tell her
The device worked under a thick canopy of fir trees from the Winston Unit.
And, WTF? I shut the unit off in Winston. Drove home to Lacey. I placed the device in a metal bucket in the front yard, turned it on and hit OK button. The device should not have been able to locate its new position from inside the can, it should have sent its last known GPS position in the OK message... Instead, it was able to obtain a GPS fix from my front yard? Didnt expect that. It seems to pull in the GPS signal better than my POS Etrex.....
I am convinced this is a good purchase for reporting your location and condition to your old lady.
Problem is, she can have Julio the pool boy over now, knowing full well how far away from home you are....
Post by: ICEMAN on November 24, 2008, 07:49:51 PM
Post by: PacificNWhunter on November 25, 2008, 09:15:22 AM
Post by: rainshadow1 on November 25, 2008, 09:46:49 AM
I mean, can you see, after you get home, where you were standing when you sent the "Ok" signal with the basic service?
I don't want to send a location every 10 minutes, but I want to send a location when I send an OK. Does it do that with the basic service?
Also, is the 911 button only functional with the extra $7.95 for the first year and $150 per year after that? Is it just dead if you don't pony up their dough?
Post by: ICEMAN on November 25, 2008, 08:26:25 PM
rainshadow, for the basic package deal, you can send as many OK messages as you like (i think...), and then your wife gets the text phone and email messaage for each message you send. Each time you hit OK, a google map is sent to your home, you can verify later where you were, or wifey can check up on you to make sure you aint in the sleaze motel getting some...
The upgrade service looks like you pay the extra cash, and get to leave your device on so it monitors your moves? Not really sure how this feature works. The device may be pinging the satelite the whole time you have it on.....probably already does this for their eyes only..., but you gotta pay extra to use the data..... make sense?
Post by: rainshadow1 on November 25, 2008, 09:00:24 PM
Now the 911 thing, does it jump to an extra $150 per year the second year, or is that just if you don't get it initially? And if you don't get the "Geos" service, does the 911 button do nothing?
Thanks for the link, Machias. I ordered mine today. Saved $50 off Costco.
Post by: actionshooter on November 25, 2008, 09:13:15 PM
If you want to get real fancy you can buy insurance that will pay any charges for being rescued :)
Used mine in Idaho wilderness for 9 days and worked great, makes the wifey happy.
Look at the SPOT website, they have a clear explanation.
Post by: ICEMAN on November 26, 2008, 06:12:25 AM
Post by: Dansk on November 27, 2008, 11:42:20 AM
Looks like they have the coverage dialed in now and I am going to pull the trigger on this gadget.
Thanks again for all the info.
Post by: rainshadow1 on December 03, 2008, 02:32:43 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on December 03, 2008, 07:01:54 PM
I just got an email from Spot, a buy one, get one free offer, to get me to hook up other family members on my account.... aint going to happen..... Still happy with just one...
Post by: actionshooter on December 03, 2008, 09:33:50 PM
Post by: rainshadow1 on December 06, 2008, 10:06:41 AM
Mine takes 3 to 5 minutes to send the message, and 10 minutes for the other end to recieve it.
Very neat piece of technology. It'll be in my bag! Thanks for the good thread, Ice!
Post by: Todd_ID on December 25, 2008, 09:23:29 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on December 25, 2008, 04:01:25 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on March 12, 2009, 06:36:22 AM
I used the device all thru duck season, on a few coyote trips, and even added my dad to my contact list so when we went on our overnight back country snow camp, he got messages that we were ok, and where we were.... (I send the OK message anyway....even though my family generally knows where I will be from data I leave at home, but all really like getting the OK message.)
I will report, that on a few occasions, no message was received out of maybe thirty? I think I did not let the device grind out where it was, and I was in a hurry wanting to send and simply didnt wait long enough after turning the device on.
Post by: rainshadow1 on March 12, 2009, 11:22:45 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on March 12, 2009, 07:11:35 PM