SPOT Personal Tracker
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List Price: Buy Used: from $49.95 (click here) Category: Sports See more product details |
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Description of SPOT Personal Tracker
The SPOT Satellite Messenger, the world's first satellite messenger, uses both the GPS satellite network to determine a customer's location and the SPOT network to transmit that information to friends, family or an emergency service center. SPOT is a revolutionary product that is designed to raise the safety factor for hundreds of millions of people around the world.Give your loved ones full peace of mind when you're on the mountain with the Spot Satellite Messenger. Whether you're just checking in, allowing others to track your progress, or calling for help, Spot gives you a vital line of communication with friends and family when you want it, and emergency assistance when and where you need it. Spot employs a GPS satellite network to acquire its coordinates, then sends its location to the recipient of your choice, complete with a link to Google Maps and a pre-programmed message. Unlike personal locator beacons, however, Spot does more than just call for help. The SpotChecking feature, for example, lets you notify your SpotTeam--the friends and family you've chosen as your contacts--and tell them all is well, notify them of your location, or save waypoints so you can review your route at a later date. You can also activate the SpotCasting feature to let friends and family follow your progress in real time (every 10 minutes). Anyone with access to your account information can log on and view your route, complete with virtual views provided by Google Maps. SpotCasting is a terrific feature for mountain climbers looking to celebrate their accomplishments with their loved ones.
The most important feature, however, is Spot's ability to call 911 in the event of a life-threatening or other critical emergency. Once activated, Spot will acquire your exact coordinates from the GPS network, and then send that location along with a distress message to a GEOS International Emergency Response Center every five minutes until cancelled. The Emergency Response Center will then notify the appropriate emergency responders based on your location and personal information. Responders may include local police, the highway patrol, the Coast Guard, an embassy or consulate, or other emergency response and search-and-rescue teams. Even if Spot can't acquire its location from the GPS network, it will still attempt to send a distress signal--without your exact location--to the Emergency Response Center, which will still notify your emergency contacts of the signal and continue to monitor the network for further messages.
Spot works around the world, including in virtually all of the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Australia, and portions of South America, Northern Africa, and Northeastern Asia. And provided you're in a good coverage area, Spot offers a 99 percent probability of sending a successful message within 20 minutes. As a result, Spot is ideal for anyone with a taste for outdoor adventures, including boaters, kayakers, sailboarders, archaeologists, skiers, climbers, pilots, business travelers, snowshoers, and just about anyone else.
Spot requires two AA lithium batteries, with a battery life of up to one year in standby mode, 14 days in SpotCasting mode, or 7 days in 911 mode. And thanks to the water-resistant housing (safe in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes), you needn't worry about using Spot in adverse conditions. Spot measures a compact 2.75 by 4.38 by 1.5 inches (W x H x D), weighs 7.37 ounces, and carries a one-year limited warranty.
Communication Functions:
- Alert 9-1-1 dispatches emergency responders to an exact location
- Ask for Help sends a request for help to friends and family with your location
- Check In lets contacts know where you are and that you are okay
- Track Progress sends and saves your location and allows others to track your progress using Google Maps
 Spot employs a GPS satellite network to acquire its coordinates, then sends its location to the recipient of your choice, complete with a link to Google Maps and a pre-programmed message. |
Battery Life:
- Power ON, unused: Approximately 1 year
- SPOT casting continuous tracking mode: Approximately 14 days
- 9-1-1 mode: Up to 7 consecutive days
- HELP mode: up to 1900 messages
- SPOT check OK up to 1900 messages
Specifications:
- Weight: 7 ounces
- Waterproof to a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes
- Operating Temperature: -40ºF to +185ºF
- Operating Altitude: -300 feet to +21,300 feet
- Humidity and Salt Fog Rated
Give your loved ones full peace of mind when you're on the mountain with the Spot Satellite Messenger. Whether you're just checking in, allowing others to track your progress, or calling for help, Spot gives you a vital line of communication with friends and family when you want it, and emergency assistance when and where you need it. Spot employs a GPS satellite network to acquire its coordinates, then sends its location to the recipient of your choice, complete with a link to Google Maps and a pre-programmed message. Unlike personal locator beacons, however, Spot does more than just call for help. The SpotChecking feature, for example, lets you notify your SpotTeam--the friends and family you've chosen as your contacts--and tell them all is well, notify them of your location, or save waypoints so you can review your route at a later date. You can also activate the SpotCasting feature to let friends and family follow your progress in real time (every 10 minutes). Anyone with access to your account information can log on and view your route, complete with virtual views provided by Google Maps. SpotCasting is a terrific feature for mountain climbers looking to celebrate their accomplishments with their loved ones.
The most important feature, however, is Spot's ability to call 911 in the event of a life-threatening or other critical emergency. Once activated, Spot will acquire your exact coordinates from the GPS network, and then send that location along with a distress message to a GEOS International Emergency Response Center every five minutes until cancelled. The Emergency Response Center will then notify the appropriate emergency responders based on your location and personal information. Responders may include local police, the highway patrol, the Coast Guard, an embassy or consulate, or other emergency response and search-and-rescue teams. Even if Spot can't acquire its location from the GPS network, it will still attempt to send a distress signal--without your exact location--to the Emergency Response Center, which will still notify your emergency contacts of the signal and continue to monitor the network for further messages.
Spot works around the world, including in virtually all of the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Australia, and portions of South America, Northern Africa, and Northeastern Asia. And provided you're in a good coverage area, Spot offers a 99 percent probability of sending a successful message within 20 minutes. As a result, Spot is ideal for anyone with a taste for outdoor adventures, including boaters, kayakers, sailboarders, archaeologists, skiers, climbers, pilots, business travelers, snowshoers, and just about anyone else.
Spot requires two AA lithium batteries, with a battery life of up to one year in standby mode, 14 days in SpotCasting mode, or 7 days in 911 mode. And thanks to the water-resistant housing (safe in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes), you needn't worry about using Spot in adverse conditions. Spot measures a compact 2.75 by 4.38 by 1.5 inches (W x H x D), weighs 7.37 ounces, and carries a one-year limited warranty.
Communication Functions:
- Alert 9-1-1 dispatches emergency responders to an exact location
- Ask for Help sends a request for help to friends and family with your location
- Check In lets contacts know where you are and that you are okay
- Track Progress sends and saves your location and allows others to track your progress using Google Maps
Spot employs a GPS satellite network to acquire its coordinates, then sends its location to the recipient of your choice, complete with a link to Google Maps and a pre-programmed message. |
Battery Life:
- Power ON, unused: Approximately 1 year
- SPOT casting continuous tracking mode: Approximately 14 days
- 9-1-1 mode: Up to 7 consecutive days
- HELP mode: up to 1900 messages
- SPOT check OK up to 1900 messages
Specifications:
- Weight: 7 ounces
- Waterproof to a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes
- Operating Temperature: -40ºF to +185ºF
- Operating Altitude: -300 feet to +21,300 feet
- Humidity and Salt Fog Rated
Sports reviews of SPOT Personal Tracker
Customer Review: A product without an equal
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
I've owned and used a SPOT for a year now. I've used it in rain, fog, blizzard and sunshine, in the forest, in the mountains and on the highway. I have used 911 once - it took all of 10 minutes - very fast. SPOT works as advertized. SPOT is adequate for 99% of outdoor adventures and offers capabilities found nowhere else. SPOT is not a replacement for a PLB or EPIRB in all cases - PLBs tend to be more rugged, less position sensitivity, and have higher power transmitters. But carrying a SPOT is a HUGE step forward in responsible backcountry travel. Although I don't mean to insult anyone, I should point out that the weak link with SPOT (and PLBs) is Search And Rescue. SPOT will get the message out, but whether or not the local SAR will be able to respond is dicey. If you are fortunate enough for SAR to be the US Coast Guard, rest assured that they will respond to SPOT just as fast as SARSAT.
The usage model with SPOT is much different than that of a PLB. Nobody knows where you are or how you are doing with a PLB. With SPOT, there's no reason not to keep your loved ones informed and doing so will create the electronic bread crumbs enabling SAR to find you if you are unable to activate 911. My point is that if you drop dead of a heart attack while carrying a PLB, nobody knows where to look.
Would I carry a PLB? Only as a backup to SPOT and only if the price comes way down. I would definitely have an EPIRB if I were ocean traveling - but I would still use a SPOT.
Downsides to SPOT? Globalstar financials is the biggest risk. And the user interface on SPOT was obviously designed by engineers and it is a great IQ test. Those who complain about SPOT not working failed the test. SPOT should be enhanced to support more people.
I have more usage info and tips at the following
https://sites.google.com/site/hobbyhintstricksideas/Home/spot-messenger-information
Customer Review: SPOT ON!!!!
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
Please ignore the comments about Globalstar service below, he has no clue about this product. Globalstar is having problems with its duplex service S-band amplifiers which only affects two-way traffic. I should know I have a Globalstar satellite phone. SPOT uses the L-Band uplink (simplex modem) which is used to track trucks etc. this network is running at full efficiency. I have this product and it works better than my expectations. About this product: it is not a personal locator beacon and if you wish to use this solely for emergencies, I would recommend another product. A true personal locator beacon because it works in all conditions and all-terrain (I also own one by ACR). SPOT needs to have an uninterrupted view to the satellite. In other words in heavy canopy this product does not work very well but in broken canopy or in the open this product works great (samething is true with my handheld GPS). I use this product to communicate with family and friends on my progress when backpacking, biking, or just out and about. I do use this product in heavy canopy areas and send a signal when I cross a road or powerline crossing. I still carry my personal locator beacon for real emergencies but this product helps in non-emergency situations. For more operational details you can download the manual at www.findmespot.com
My cell phone doesn't work when I'm away from cell towers or underwater while scuba diving nor in caves. Similarly SPOT will not work if it cannot contact the satellite. As with all communication devices, they all have limits and parameters that they operate in. You should know this before buying any product like this.
Customer Review: Very cool!
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
My company recently purchased four of these units for those of us who travel to remote areas where there is no cell coverage. So far, we have been very impressed with this little device!
It's great that not only can you send check-in messages to your friends and family, but you can see where you were, exactly, when you get home. The accuracy is unbelievable! I pressed the check-in button from several different locations across California, and later when I looked at the locations on Google Maps (with the link provided by SPOT) it was dead-on, precisely where I was - in every instance! It is so accurate that it literally pin-pointed the exact parking spot I was in when I left the office. If I ever need rescue, I know it will bring the search teams to my exact location.
The only drawback I have seen is that occasionally the website doesn't get updated with the messages, or it takes a long time. One day I pressed the check-in button 4 times during my journey and only 3 messages were posted online. Granted I did not have the unit in the best location (inside a truck). But knowing that when you send help and 911 messages it transmits much more often, I still feel very safe carrying the unit.
One thing to keep in mind: the unit requires an annual subscription of $100, and then if you want to use the tracking feature it is an additional $50/yr. But what is your life worth?
For the price and features, it is a MUST HAVE for those of us who go into the wilderness where cell phones don't work.
Customer Review: GREAT Product - 955nm flight
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
I bought a SPOT because the 121.5 mhz ELT in the aircraft I fly will now take hours to activate for SAR help, and the 406 MHZ ELTs are very expensive.!
I tested it before my flight from KMYV, near Sacramento, CA to KLRU, Las Cruces , NM. It powered up and had acquired satellites within 4 minutes. My test checkins, in 2 places, was within 30 ft of the position shown on Google Earth.!
I used it for tracking my 10 hr flight over the CA, AZ and NM desert. Friends said that the tracking page showed our exact location within minutes of our cell call to them at our fuel stops. SPOT sent 60 position reports on the 955nm, 1100 statute miles, trip , every 10 minutes, as advertised.
When I got home I downloaded the tracking data and opened it in Google Earth....at was amazingly accurate.
At each of our 3 refuel stops, the location points were all within 20-30 ft of where the aircraft was on the ground - taxiing and parked at the FBO.
The data also showed our altitude and ground speed averaged over the 10 minute interval. It showed our speed surges as we flew over dry lake thermals and got a 20 kt speed push...
I will always fly with SPOT , along with a Garmin GPS . that way my family and friends AND SAR will know where I am, and where to find me if I have to make an emergency landing, off airport.
You can see my trip on the SPOT Adventures page....
[...]
Customer Review: SPOT TRACKER
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
Purchased for hunting and open ocean sailing. For that "just in case" need. Works exactly as advertised. Never wanted to pay for the service, but if I needed it, it would have easily paid for itself. I used the "help" feature differently, though. (Not the 911 feature.) Instead of requesting help from friends or family, I merely informed them of a change in plans and would contact them asap. I figured that they're really not going to be able to do anything to help me, except, perhaps worry... After the "change of plans" notice went out, I followed with a "checking in" notice to assure them that all was well.
Very easy to use and equally easy to set up the account online. Locks on to satellites quite quickly.
Well worth the peace of mind for friends/family when in the wilderness or on the ocean. Not to mention the capability of getting real help in a real emergency.
There is a down-side, however. When the feces impacts the rotary oscillator, this tracker will not be able to replace the reliability and accuracy of a 406 Mhz EPIRB. It just comes close enough to be able to do what we want within a tighter budget.