[outrageous21]

Have any of you heard of the new Satellite locator, called the Spot? It is small like a cellphone and if you have an emergency you hit a button and it sends your postion to different rescue agencies.

I believe it sends out a choice of 3 different messages, "all ok", "help message to family", or "Emergency to Rescue agency". I have seen it for 150 bucks.

It seems to be much more affordable than an epirb or plb. It has a 100 bucks a year service charge.

I cannot afford the regular epirbs I see do you think this thing is a good alternative or is it a piece of junk?

If it works good Im very happy to see them make something affordable and I will definately get it. It would be good for different uses to like bringing it on road trips threw West Virginia.

Rob

 

[Duffy35]

Spot Device At West Marine

I saw this device on display at West Marine in Garden City. I believe that it also interfaces with Google Maps. Seems like a neat device.

 

[canyonfvr]

older thread on the spot

 

[MakoMike]

Is it waterproof?

 

[dsedy]

Standard Horizon is coming out next month with the HX850S Handheld VHF. It floats, has built in GPS, an SOS strobe light and DSC calling with position which will transmitt your position in case of an emergency.It also has a navigation function which displays Course over Ground & Speed Over Ground. I think it retails for around $260.


don

 

[Mariner]

There is a write up in this Month's Boating Magazine about "the Spot". Seems like one of the drawbacks is that you are tracked via gps all the time. Their quote is, "don't tell your wife your going fishing then go to happy hour". The Standard Horizon DSC sells for $249.99 at Landfall Navigation

 

[outrageous21]

I researched a little and read a bunch of articles. It has a few advantages over a PLB which are price, can be tested regularly with the ok button, people from home can track your progress on the computer (google maps) ONLY if you initiate though, and it is smaller.

Spot which uses globalstar satellites has said that the spot will transmit much more efficiently than the satellite phones that also use thier satellites because the spot is a one way signal and is sent in short bursts every 5 minutes while a satellite phone is a two way signal and needs constant satellite contact while in use.

Spot has also said that the device is waterproof for 1 or 2 meters for 30minutes and the device floats.

Mariner wrote:
There is a write up in this Month's Boating Magazine about "the Spot". Seems like one of the drawbacks is that you are tracked via gps all the time.

They have also stated that the device is not tracking you all the time, in order for someone to check on you you must first turn the device on and send them an ok message, then if you leave the device on they can look you up on google map and follow your tracks.

The spot uses AA lithium batteries that can last 1 year with the unit on constantly. If there is an emergency the unit will also work with alkaline batteries and have enough power to transmit for a short time.

When you send an ok message it sends a cellphone text message to whatever safety contact you have on file with them. It gives them your coordinates and tells them you are all ok. I really like that function which a PLB cannot do. A PLB is pretty much press the distress button and wait, It could have been sitting in your cabin for 4 years, with the spot you can use the ok message after you find your fishing spot and someone will already have your coordinates. Once the emergency button is activated on the spot it sends out your position and re updates your position every 5 minutes. It also has directions on it incase an unfamiliar passenger needs to use it.

I guess you just have to hope globalstar doesnt go out of business though or you wasted your money. The other thing is with the service fee after 7 years you would have spent $850 total, with a PLB you may pay $500 for it but there is no service fee or charges after you buy it.

BTW thanks for the link, and FYI on the bottom of the link there is another link that brings you to an updated report on the spot.

 

[outrageous21]

dsedy wrote:
Standard Horizon is coming out next month with the HX850S Handheld VHF. It floats, has built in GPS, an SOS strobe light and DSC calling with position which will transmitt your position in case of an emergency.It also has a navigation function which displays Course over Ground & Speed Over Ground. I think it retails for around $260.


This looks like it might be better I looked it up and saw it for $205 and there are no service charges. I wonder if it is easy to use, the spot is so easy to use but to have vhf capacity also would be a big plus. I was hoping the information on its use and how the gps goes about notifying agencies during an emergency would have been better explained on its website.

I have a horizon vhf with a distress button and a garmin 176c gps anybody know how I link the two of them.