SPOT Satellite Messenger "PLB" reviewed and recommended

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SPOT Satellite Messenger "PLB" reviewed and recommended

News Flash! SPOT v.2.0 will be on sale for about $149.00 in stores in September 2009! Read More, but read this page first!
I watched a television commercial just before Christmas 2007, and I wrote down www.findmespot.com. I ran for the computer! I was very impressed by the quality of the Spot, Inc. website, the images of the device and the credentials of the listed executives. SPOT is owned by Globalstar, Inc. the world wide satellite telephone company which owns a constellation of private communications satellites. I was also impressed by the clarity and simplicity of the instructions for using the SPOT Satellite Messenger. However, there is one critical exception to the original user instructions. Read on, carefully! Be sure to see the end of this page: SPOT must be used correctly; How to Test the SPOT and the Basic improvement of SPOT over PLBs

At first I was attracted by the reasonable price of $169.00 for a seven ounce "Personal Locator Beacon". Then I realized that this device is NOT YOUR MOTHER'S "PLB". This "Satellite Messenger" is based on messages sent through the world wide privately owned Globalstar, Inc. Satellite Phone System and not based on the old PLB COSPAS-SARSAT search and rescue system!

Also, the SPOT Satellite Messenger (listing at $169.00, but available most everywhere at $150.00! and sometimes on sale for $99.00) uses an internal GPS (global positioning system) receiver not found in PLBs costing under $650.00. GPS latitude-longitude coordinates are found by the instrument through conventional contact with the worldwide constellation of US Defense Department satellites, just like your trusty Garmin eTrex H. Then, the SPOT sends the "GPS location" (latitude and longitude coordinates) and your selected message "I am here and having fun"; "I am here and need help from my friends"; or, "I am here and I have called 911 for official rescue services!" The email or text cell phone messages are sent to up to ten people.

PLBs and EPIRBS:
A major drawback of traditional PLB's for me, is that they can not be "tested" before use. The device just sits there in your pack, like an expensive twelve ounce brick until you need to call 911 for official rescue services. Read More about the traditional PLB Personal Locator Beacon. PLBs for aircraft and personal use were developed from the marine EPIRBs; EPIRBS have been responsible for more than 5,752 individual rescues up to December 2005. The PLB technology was not legal for use in land based applications until July 1, 2003 and I have been unable to find data on PLB rescues. (SPOT claims over 50 rescues in the first 18 months of introductory use.)

For years, we purchased expensive big orange marine EPIRB devices for our "yachts". They could not be tested but at least made a nice statement about our "off shore" capabilities just hanging at the hatch. The smaller class B EPIRBs that broadcast at 121.5 MHz based on older technology may take hours to provide the Coast Guard with a location and may not be monitored today by commercial shipping according to a report in the February 2008 issue of Sea Kayaker Magazine. This technology is being phased out. EPIRBs and PLBs may not come equipped with an internal GPS receiver and may not provide accurate Latitude and longitude coordinates.

The SPOT is a new technology. It is not a "PLB". Read on!
Be sure to see the end of this page: SPOT must be used correctly; How to Test the SPOT and the Basic improvement of SPOT over PLBs

The SPOT Satellite Messenger has three (satellite telephone technology generated) messages for your Responsible Person:
1. Here I am RP and friends and I am OK; 2. Here I am RP and friends and I could use a little help right now; and 3. Here I am RP and friends, 911 has been called and I need real Rescue Services.

My friend Jim Witty, outdoors reporter for our Central Oregon regional daily, The Bulletin, called in December 2007, to ask what I thought about this new device. I said "I think it is terrific" It's a huge thing!" He quoted my exclamation in his news story.

Jim had purchased two with his brother and they drove out to the backcountry to test the device. Jim used message 1. and shortly received a call on his brothers cell phone giving his Latitude and Longitude coordinates and an "I am OK" message.

They raced home to find an email message to their Responsible Person: "I'm OK", with a Google map showing their coordinates.

Jim Witty scooped Central Oregon with a huge spread on the front page of the Wednesday January 2, 2008 Community Life section of The Bulletin. Further, he used my cogent quote: "Don't wait for your Responsible Person to call 911 when you fail to return at 5 p.m. on Sunday" said Speik, "Reserve the option to call for assistance when you break your leg on Friday, using your ordinary digital cell phone, your FRS handie talkie radio and/or your new Spot locator beacon."

My friend Cpl. Neil Mackey of the Deschutes County Sherriff's Search and Rescue Unit told me that SAR had recently tested the Spot Satellite Messenger in the field, using Message 3: "911, I need Rescue" and they found that it worked well.

REI sells the product for $150.00. This device was so new, that Associates at the store in Bend before Christmas were not familiar with the SPOT and were very interested when I explained to them that it was an important breakthrough: Satellite communication to a Responsible Person's cell phone and their email account and, if needed, to 911 Rescue Services by messages with GPS coordinates.

Note that the SPOT Satellite Messenger requires a $99.99 annual satellite telephone service subscription. You can sign up on the web. You can actually list up to ten recipients for each of the three messages. Peter Kummerfeldt, well known Outdoors Instructor based in Colorado, suggests you leave your mother off the 911 list. Peter says he has tested the Spot many times and confirms that it works. Peter gave a talk at the Central Oregon Sportsman's Show, which featured the Spot.

Satellite communications are provided by Globalstar, Inc., (NASDAQ:GSAT). Globalstar has established a private satellite telephone communications network. (According to news reports, the two way telephone capability of their satellites is being degraded by radiation and the two way part of their Globalstar satellite system will have to be replaced. This radiation degradation does not affect the Spot according to Donnie Hatch, Spot Distribution Manager, Western United States, since only one-way communication is required by Spot.)

911 Emergency Services are Powered by GEOS Alliance.
"GEOS offers a wide variety of services that encompass security, safety and reliable communications for corporations as well as domestic and international travelers. The GEOS program is delivered through a fusion of state-of-the-art technology with the unparalleled experience of the very best and most respected specialists in the fields of international, personal and corporate protection and communications. This special 24-7 world wide service costs only $7.50 per year and I chose this optional service. To learn more about GEOS and the full range of services offered worldwide, visit http://www.geosalliance.com

Required Cost of the Service
"The basic $99.99 satellite service subscription for SPOT includes:
!. CHECK IN:
Let up to ten contacts know where you are and that you’re okay. Unlimited usage included.
2. ASK FOR HELP:
Request help from up to ten friends and family at your exact location. Unlimited usage included.
3. ALERT 911:
Dispatch emergency responders to your exact location and notify up to ten friends and family. Unlimited usage included."

A $49.00 Geos option allows you the interesting unlimited ability to track your progress periodically on Google Earth with messages to your Responsible Persons). Adventure Racers like this feature.

There is also a $7.95 optional GEOS "Search & Rescue Benefit":
"For $7.95/yr USD (if purchased at initial activation. $150.00 USD afterwards) provides up to $100,000 USD of additional search and rescue resources, including helicopter extraction around the world and reimbursement benefits – underwritten by Lloyd’s of London – for any emergency service expenses incurred. For more information, including terms and conditions, visit http://www.geosalliance.com/sar This option may not be necessary in the United States due to our sophisticated 911 emergency service and Sherriff's volunteer Search and Rescue teams. However, in other parts of the world, rescue of American citizens may be organized by the nearest Embassy.

Company Background
"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 Inc., a subsidiary of Globalstar, Inc., (NASDAQ:GSAT) provides lifesaving communications technology that allows users to communicate from remote locations around the globe. Thanks to this affordable, cutting-edge personal safety device, the company offers people unmatched peace of mind by allowing customers to notify friends and family of their location and status, and to send for emergency assistance in time of need, completely independent of cellular phone or wireless coverage. For more information on how SPOT, Inc. is helping users live to tell about it™ – from disaster preparedness to outdoor adventure purposes – explore this web site."
--On Belay! Bob Speik
Copyright© 2007-2010 by Robert Speik. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.findmespot.com/

SPOT Satellite Messenger review updates

SPOT Satellite Messenger Update
Equipped.org
By Doug Ritter
September 10, 2007

"Click here to review our First Look article on the SPOT Satellite messenger

Last week I received a preproduction SPOT Satellite Messenger. Over next few weeks I and my associates will be playing with
this SPOT to see how it works and figure out how to best test its capabilities for real once we receive production units.

I’ll be taking it with me to Portland, Oregon, this week and Alan will bring it along on a trip up in Northern Arizona, the following
week.

"After logging in and setting up the account, it’s easy to add emails and wireless accounts to your SPOT team group and you can also change the default messages that SPOT delivers."

"Today we took it out to a local park just for grins and to see how the online interface works. We set the SPOT unit down in the middle of a circular pad that’s easy to view on Google Earth and pushed the Check OK button.

We received text message notification, though it took some time on my Verizon phone. This provides the message plus a latitude and longitude for location. We then went home and looked at both the user account interface at findmespot.com and the results of clicking on the link provided via the email alerts. Both utilize Google Earth, just slightly different interface."

While SPOT expects that if the unit does not get a GPS fix it is unlikely to successfully transmit to the Globalstar satellites, they have decided that in any case, they will transmit even if they don’t get a GPS location in Help and 911 modes. Also, they noted that as 911 and Help transmit every 5 minutes, there is a good chance that one of the following messages will come through with GPS coordinates.

http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=73

Warning: the spot must be used correctly!

SPOT Satellite Messenger Update
April 2008

Note from Robert Speik:
Recently, three testers on BackPackGearTest.org questioned the ability of SPOT to connect to the GPS satellites and to the Communications satellites.

In each case, the three field testers clipped their SPOT to belt or pack-strap:
"I wore the spot on my pack's sternum strap because there weren't any better options for securely mounting the device on the pack anywhere else."

"The belt clip which is held in place by one of the flathead screws had begun to loosen itself over time allowing the belt clip to be sloppy and not stay securely in place. I think this might have attributed to the Spot coming off of my shoulder strap at Gold Creek."

"As I hiked the Spot was clipped to my belt on the front of my pants."

Photos by "Coasty" show the SPOT propped upright next to a rock, virtually eliminating contact with the satellites.
Copyright© 2008 - 2009 by Robert Speik. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Communication_Gear/SPOT Satellite Messenger/

How to use the spot correctly!

Perhaps it is not obvious on the SPOT website or in the booklet packed with the device, but SPOT MUST BE LYING ON ITS BACK WITH THE LABEL UP IN ORDER TO HAVE MAXIMUM CONTACT WITH THE GPS SATELLITES AND THE COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITES. People standing around the unit or placing it next to a boulder may also block the line of site electronic signal.

Garmin GPS receivers, on the other hand, must be standing up straight with the the users hand at the lower part of the unit and no people hovering over and around it in order to see what is going on.

To re-state it, SPOT is best at connecting with the GPS satellites and to the Communications satellites when it is comfortable lying on its back with the label up. The antenna needs to see the entire sky and not just half or less off to one side. This is kind of explained in the booklet packed with the unit. I have checked this information with SPOT Customer Service and I have heard this explained by a SPOT distributor. Clip the SPOT to the top of your Saloman Raid Race summer Day pack of take a rest and give it a chance to get comfortable on its back on a rock.

My wife and I are Federally licensed General Class Ham Radio Operators and we have studied the way "antennas" work. They are directional, and that is why the GPS and the SPOT must be oriented correctly. This is not a design fault. I agree with some that the SPOT User Guide should be more clear. I agree that the nice big belt clip should be removed by the operator. Place the SPOT in the top pocket of your day pack (yes, on top of the extra hat, gloves and ClifBars). Or turn it on when you stop for lunch, camp or a 15 minute break. Note that PLBs must actually deploy an antenna and that it must be pointed at the sky.

Bloggers on NWHikers.net are concerned because of this connect ability question. I will bet their SPOTS were clipped on belt or pack and not HAPPY.
One described how he got a good contact when he laid the SPOT (flat) on the hood of his car. One described how the unit was oriented: . . ."keep spot upright and make sure it's free from obstruction . . . Another referenced the tests from BackPackGearTest.org. that we have noted were not oriented correctly.

Personally, I am a happy well oriented user.
Copyright© 2008 - 2009 by Robert Speik. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?p=334009#334009

How to "test" the SPOT

Here is what I mean about "testing" the SPOT:

Again, an improvement of SPOT over traditional PLBs which were recently authorized for land use in July 2003, is it's ability to real-life "test" the communication signals where the user hikes, hunts, sleds, skis, climbs and wanders. If the user programmed message "Hello, I am exactly here and I am having Fun" message gets through, so will the "911 Rescue Services are on the way, but don't worry Honey".

The basic improvement of SPOT over land PLBs

Again, an improvement of SPOT over PLBs is the ability to "real-life test" the communication system where the user actually hikes, hunts, sleds, climbs and wanders. If the user programmed message "Hello, I am exactly here and I am having fun" gets through, so will the message "911 Rescue Services are on the way, but don't worry Honey".

The traditional PLB can be tested for sending out a signal. It cannot be tested for whether the signal has actually been received.

A recent SPOT review by an "outdoor scientist" is a must read

I’m Lost, Help Find Me: A SPOT Gear Test
by Bill Straka
March 4, 2009

Note: This excellent long article has been edited to bring our readers the brief Conclusions by Bill Straka. Read the full text by clicking the link below!
FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are posting such material on our website for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research,
and we believe such use is not an infringement of copyright. We believe this posting constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, such material on this site is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes. However, if you are a copyright owner and you disagree, let us know and we will remove your content from our web. --Webmeister Speik

Conclusions:
"As stated earlier, SPOT serves a very useful function as an emergency location device at a very reasonable price. Keeping the price down led to several compromises in the first generation of SPOT. The biggest compromise was the decision to use a combined GPS receiving and Globalstar transmitting antenna, combined in a flat plate (patch) antenna design. This combination has degraded sensitivity compared to having dedicated separate GPS and satellite communication antennas, compared to current consumer GPS’s. This results in a significant sensitivity to orientation and to canyon and canopy effects.

The combined antenna also is weaker in getting signals through to the Globalstar satellites than a dedicated separate antenna would be. The GPS chipset was chosen for low power consumption, hence long battery life. This chipset is also less sensitive than chipsets introduced by many companies in the past couple of years.

In practice, these compromises result in skipped updates in Track messages and times when OK and Help messages do not get through. In some cases, I observed gaps of more than 30 minutes, up to over an hour in Track message sequences. This was particularly true when bicycling or hiking under redwoods, but showed up under other conifers as well. Individual positions were sometimes off by 150 feet or more, although leaving the unit stationary for extended periods (such as would normally be the case when sending genuine Help or 911 messages) allows averaging the reported positions and getting positions accurate to a few feet."

"SPOT can be worn horizontally on a pack’s shoulder strap. Users of the present generation can greatly improve the message transfer success rate by making sure that the SPOT is held horizontal with the SPOT logo facing directly vertically. The inclusion of a belt clip encourages users to clip the unit to the belt or a pack strap in a vertical position. If your pack has a means of clipping the SPOT horizontally on the top or if you can tape SPOT in place in a horizontal orientation (but do not use a metalized tape, such as many versions of duct tape), message transfer and GPS reception will be enhanced. As I determined this during my tests, my success rate at getting a higher percentage of Track positions, and OK and Help messages through the system improved greatly. Further, when sending OK and Help messages, I found that making an effort to get into an open area and to keep the SPOT positioned correctly for 15 to 20 minutes also enhanced the success rate."

It is important to remember that the speed of getting messages through and any actions taken as a result are dependent on the messages being monitored. SPOT’s 911 messages are continuously monitored by GEOS, and the response time is very timely for rescues in remote areas. However, OK and Help messages are sent either as email to your team members’ email system or as a text message to their cell phones. These two message types are intended for less urgent contacts. If your team members’ cell phones are turned off or if they only check their email once a day, any needed action could be long delayed. Some friends who participate in adventure races make sure that their backup team is continuously monitoring their progress.

SPOT has been in the field for more than a year. The real proof is rescues. SPOT is credited with more than 50 rescues. One unsuccessful rescue generated a lot of overly sensational press coverage. However, the 911 signal was received during a significant blizzard in the Sierra, which prevented the search and rescue group from being able to respond quickly. The body recovery was affected before the storm had completely cleared, nonetheless. The autopsy showed that the victim had probably died of hypothermia within hours of the signal being received.

There have been several false alarms, due to the 911 button being pushed accidentally. Two of these involved friends of mine, one during an adventure race and the other on Denali. The adventure race incident involved the 911 button actually being pushed by mistake. This was cancelled when the racer’s primary contact was reached at a checkpoint, at about the same time as she had passed the checkpoint.

The Denali alarm occurred because the unit was in the top pocket of the pack of one of the two in the party and was set down against a rock during a rest stop. The 911 button does have a raised ring around it. I have found in various intentionally trying scenarios that it is indeed possible to accidentally activate the unit (the 911 function was disabled in my test unit intentionally, but the other buttons are sufficiently similar). The SPOT developers are aware of this problem and are addressing it.

In discussions with the developer of SPOT, I learned that they are addressing the issues I mentioned above. In some cases, there have been significant technical advances that address the normal issues with the first generation of any device (as there are in all electronic devices, even in later generations). Other issues concerning the user interface are being addressed also. Hopefully, Trailspace will be able to test the next generation SPOT in the near future. We will update this review when the new version becomes available to us.

Some readers might infer that SPOT has too many problems in its present state. On the contrary, if the user is aware of and takes into account the basic limitations of the Global Positioning System and satellite communications systems, and indeed of all electronic positioning and communications systems, SPOT can be literally a life saver, and has been already. SPOT, like all GPS-based and satellite-communications-based systems is undergoing rapid development. In my discussions with the company, they are taking their mission of making an affordable emergency location device very seriously.

However, no matter how good and how inexpensive personal emergency location devices become, and no matter how rapidly emergency responders can get to the site of an incident, it remains the responsibility of each individual going into the outdoors to be properly equipped, properly trained, and to avoid accidents and incidents. There is risk in everything in life, and no electronic widget is going to completely remove that risk or guarantee life and limb.
© 2001-2009 MacLeay Interactive Design, Inc. All Rights.

http://www.trailspace.com/gear/guide/help-find-me-spot-gear-test.html

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