anyone use the SPOT PLB?

S

sandgroper

Joined
Apr 13, 2009
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26
hey guys
I'm planning a decent walk in the bush..about 40 days solo covering roughly 1000 kms. I was thinking about taking along a SPOT PLB anyone used one before? Anyone know bout the cost of their subscription? I know an EPIRB is better and the coverage is better. The only reason I'm considering the SPOT is the progress tracking feature and the OK text alert you can send..both of these will keep my mum and girlfriend happy..cheers
 
I've read some reviews. They're not the preferred PLB these days. There are some really great options for a few dollars more, but they pay off BIG in the long run. If I recall correctly SPOT requires a subscription, and the others don't. You save money in the long run for one. Also, some of the other options are just plain better for the purpose.
 
Iboschi said:
I've read some reviews. They're not the preferred PLB these days. There are some really great options for a few dollars more, but they pay off BIG in the long run. If I recall correctly SPOT requires a subscription, and the others don't. You save money in the long run for one. Also, some of the other options are just plain better for the purpose.
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what are those mate?
on another note..that profile pic of yours is insane!
 
SPOT requires a annual subscription of about 100 bucks a year. I have a buddy who got one as a gift from his mom and girlfriend to take on those long solo hikes he goes on.

He can send them a text everyday, with a prewritten message and a Google Earth link to his location, so they can trak his whereabouts everyday. It functions flawlessly he says. He hasnt used the distress button though.

You can read more about it here: http://www.findmespot.com

You migth be able to get a good deal on the original SPOT cause the firm has launched the SPOT 2.

Ive also heard about the EPIRB alternatives, but i dont know the pros and cons of those though.
 
The Mcmurdo Fastfind seems to be the best PLB at the moment. Much better reception than the SPOT.

Have you seen SPOTs latest collaboration with Delorme? They have a new tracker that allows you to send OK/911 messages as well as type in text messages and use ti as a GPS. Very expensive but maybe worth a look.
However, we've used the SPOT in Australia with no problems.

I guess it comes down to this, being solo, the beacon you chose being reliable is more important than the warm fuzzy feeling family get from knowing you're ok.

For instance, suppose you couldn't get a satellite fix for a day and couldn't send ok messages. Would they worry? I probably would!
 
sandgroper said:
what are those mate?
on another note..that profile pic of yours is insane!
Click to expand...

Thanks. I love my avatar! We should take some reviews with a grain of salt, but at the same time, many crickets rubbing their legs together can be quite loud:

The PLB you're inquiring about doesn't really qualify as a true PLB, they even call it a GPS messenger rather than a PLB: http://www.rei.com/product/784892
A review on it: http://gpsmagazine.com/2008/01/spot_satellite_messenger_perso.php

True PLB's: http://www.rei.com/product/798479
http://www.rei.com/product/798479

More reading material: http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/160139-best-plb-market.html

Best of luck in deciding. Remember, research research research. Or is it location location location? Same thing in this event I guess :D .
 
You might want to check into renting a SPOT device. I used one during last seasons elk hunt up in Colorado and it sure made my wife happier. I don't know that I felt a lot better for having it but she was happy so it was worth it to me.

I don't recall the cost but it was shipped to my house with a return shipping envelope. I didn't want to buy one and this was a good alternative.

SDS
 
SDS said:
You might want to check into renting a SPOT device. I used one during last seasons elk hunt up in Colorado and it sure made my wife happier. I don't know that I felt a lot better for having it but she was happy so it was worth it to me.

I don't recall the cost but it was shipped to my house with a return shipping envelope. I didn't want to buy one and this was a good alternative.

SDS
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That's a great idea actually. Especially if you will only use one occasionally.
 
This is a post I made in another thread in Gadgets and Gear a while back:

I operate four SPOT units with my survey crews and have been testing the unit extensively for the past year (Atlantic Canada, BC, and West Africa so far). I have enough confidence in the unit now that it has become our primary "sched" device for remote crews checking in (while Iridium SAT phone is still primary means of emergency communications).

Let's first distinguish between SPOT I and SPOT II receivers. The original SPOT I is larger than the latest incarnation, the SPOT II, the SPOT I uses two AA Li batteries while the SPOT II uses three AAA Li batteries. The SPOT II also has an extra button for a user-customizable message, but this message must be defined prior to use on the SPOT website. Some SPOT II units (including my personal one) were recently recalled due to power/LED issues. The SPOT I can last up to a week with two batteries when sending three messages a day and tracking enabled for 10-12h per day. The SPOT II unit goes through batteries much quicker, I would be lucky to get 1.5-2 days of use from it on one set of batteries. As the SPOT II uses one extra battery, and the AA and AAA lithium batteries are the same price, and I would estimate it lasts 1/5 less time on three batteries than the SPOT I on two batteries, this puts the cost of running a SPOT II at roughly 7.5x higher in batteries alone (and lithium AA/AAA batteries are not cheap!), something to keep in mind. The HELP/SOS button placement on the SPOT I is not good, they are recessed in the housing, but I still worry about an accidental button press while carrying turned on in the top of a pack, so we tape over these buttons with electrical tape to protect them, the SPOT II has proper covers on these buttons which is a marked improvement. The LEDs on the SPOT I are a bit confusing, and unless you are watching it every second, it's hard to tell if the message was sent, and it's impossible to distinguish between tracking mode and OK message being sent by looking at the LEDs, this issue has been remedied in the SPOT II with a separate tracking button/LED. The SPOT II is certainly a much better overall package, but they really should have stuck with two AA batteries, this is its biggest shortcoming.

In my experience, when used correctly, SPOT works 99% of the time. To use correctly, the message must be sent while the unit is in the open, free of overhead obstructions. Our standard procedure while in the field is an OK message every three hours, with the tracking mode enabled the rest of the time.

For the price, it's hard to come up with reasons not to carry one. I use mine at work, and also at play, I did a 20km solo day hike last Friday in a fairly remote part of Newfoundland and my wife was able to watch me every step of the way (I guess that's a good thing!)

In researching the SPOT in early 2009, I was unable to find any independent scientific reviews of the system. I sent an email to the Canadian National Search and Rescue Secretariat requesting they review it, not sure if it was my doing or not, but they have a very good review of it in the latest edition of SARSCENE magazine:

http://www.nss.gc.ca/site/ss/magazine/vol18_3/406/spotchecked_e.asp

Full pdf version of magazine here, see page 15:
http://www.nss.gc.ca/site/ss/magazine/vol18_3/Vol18-3_E.pdf


edited to add:

since posting this, I have received my SPOT II back from product recall. The power issue seems to be solved and it lasts considerably longer than before, I haven't tested it extensively but it seems to be close to, or exceeds the SPOT I now.
 
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Backpacking Light did a multi month review of the SPOT, but I think you need to be a member to read it.
 
I have the first generation but don't use it due to the fact that the cost of service is high. After the first year it's sat in my desk drawer
 
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