SPOT Satellite Personal Tracker

Well I just received my SPOT Satellite Personal Tracker and Messenger. I will be testing soon and posting a review.

For more information in the mean time go to....

www.findmespot.com

If you already know you want one. You can purchase it in our GPS STORE.

UPDATE
Visit this Rescue Alert from SPOT Messenger about a Desert Rider that was rescued.
SPOT Rescue Alert

_________________
"The fun is figuring out how to get there"

Last edited by nomadrider on Sun Apr 26, 2009 12:22 pm; edited 3 times in total

I have to admit I was pretty excited when I got my Spot Messenger. So I needed to go get lost as soon as possible.

Activation and Services
Well the first thing I had to do was go online and activate it. That was real easy. They have a step by step process that is easy to follow. The only part I stuggled with was what services I wanted. First you have to purchase the $100 per year fee to activate it. That you need to have.

Then there is the Spotcasting (TM) feature for $50 per year. This is so you can leave the unit on and let it send coordinates to the website every 10 mins. I was on the fence on this service when I could easily press the OK button whenever I stop. So this is for each person to decide. But when riding through baja, I didn't want to pull this out and press the button all day. So of course I purchased it.

Then there is the GEO Alliance international rescue insurance. This is $7.95 per year if purchased when you activate it. ($150 per year if done without an activation). You get $100,000 of rescue insurance when you press the 911 button for rescue help. I think this is a "no brainer". The one time you need it you will kick your self for not having it. I feel this is a must have especially if you go to very rural areas. If you just go hiking out in the local mountains then maybe you won't need it but I am sure an air-lift out of Baja or the california desert isn't cheap.

Ok, So now I need to figure out how this thing works because I just shelled out $157.95 in addition to purchasing the unit.

Operation of the SPOT Messenger
The direction booklet is very small. I read it front to back in 2 mins. The trick is learning how to read the LED lights. The unit does not have a display to read. So the LED lights are like morse code.

One thing that I feel should have came with it was a small laminated "Cheat Sheet". Because once you are out in the wilderness, sometimes you can't remember how to do some stuff.

It is easy enough to turn it on. Then of course, there is the OK button to send a signal. This sends your coordinates to the website that can send a text message to a cell phone (you choose what cell phone to send it to on the online account). It will also send the coordinates to an email with a link to view the waypoint on a Google Map. My wife liked this better than the text message.

There is also the Help and 911 button. The Help button sends a text and email to pre-determined phones and emails that you need help. This is for non-life threatening calls for help. Such as your bike breaking down, or your car died. This sent a text to my wife with the coordinates but make sure you train whoever gets the text to enter the coordinates in a GPS so they can find you. Or else the text is just jibberish. The email helps because they can see where you are on a Google Map. I suggest sending both a text and email to the same person so they do not mess up the coordinates on the GPS.

The 911 button is for emergencies that you need medical assistance. This sends a message to an emergency team that figures where you are and calls the local rescue resources to get you ASAP. This will send Paramedics to you. DO NOT TEST THIS BUTTON OUT. I read the fine print and if you test this button, the SPOT emergency team will charge you $325 per hour for false 911 calls. If you are somewhere not accessable to local parmedics they will call a rescue service. This is where the GEO Alliance insurance comes in handy. They can rescue you anywhere in the world. I have this for baja trips.

Light Confusion
Then to activate the SpotCasting (TM) I had to hold down two buttons. This is where I got confused because then two lights blink together and I was not sure it was working. Also, while I was SpotCasting I tried to send an OK message and it ended up turning off the SpotCast and did not send the OK signal.

So remember, if you are SpotCasting make sure you deactivate the SpotCast, then send an OK signal. Then don't forget to re-activate the SpotCast if you want to continue tracking.

I wouldn't call this a flaw in the unit, just one of those things you learn while using the unit. So if you purchased a SPOT Messenger just before a big trip, drive around town with it to figure out the "In's and Out's" of it. It would really suck if you take a big trip and the SpotCasting shut off half way through it.

I still believe the best way to track and record a trip is by using a GPS unit. The SPOT Messenger is good for checking in and letting others know where you are in "Real Time".

Overall Opinion
I think this gadget is revolutionary to the GPS world. I wish I would have thought of it. Anyone who goes out into areas that they could get hurt, trapped, or lost should take one of these. Even for motorcycle riders on the streets could use one. I placed the unit in my CamelBack and let it run. If you go down in a windy canyon you can use it to call for help. Especially in areas that cell phones just don't work.

I am a strong believer in not riding alone but if you do, this will be like having a lifeline. Even if your buddy goes down you will not need to leave them to get help. I once had a buddy break his hip so I had to ride like the wind to get help. Thank god I did not go down myself with the adrenaline I had going on.

One thing I liked is that I could put any emergency information on my online account such as allergies to medication and my bloodtype. When you hit the 911 button, the emergency information with your coordinates are relayed to the local rescue authorities.

In conclusion, this SPOT Messenger is a must have for the motorcycle rider that ventures out. This is a dangerous sport that we are hooked to so why not have people pick you up quicker if you need it.

_________________
"The fun is figuring out how to get there"