WANNA TRACK ME????

Submitted: Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 17:18
ThreadID: 59680 Views:4200 Replies:14 FollowUps:14
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Hi guys and Guyesses

Well her eit is - the night before I leave for my big CSR trip. I have 1month off work and have been planning it for 12 months now so if I havent thought of it by now then it is too late :-)

Some of you may have seen that a purchased a SPOT messenger unit and said that when I left for my trip I would post the link to my SPOT tracker page.

Well here it is KiwiAngler's SPOT tracker page

There isnt any data at the moment but as from about 8:00am tomorrow morning there will be.

All you do is log in and you will see the breadcrumbs on a google earth map

Hope you enjoy the trip and I guess I will talk to you in a months time :-)

keep well and play nice :-)
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Reply By: Member - Craig M (QLD) - Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 17:56

Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 17:56
Just a question. Been looking at EPIRBS for a while and my bank balance for even longer. Could these devices replace the EPIRB maybe? Are they available in AUS?

Just curious??

Craig
AnswerID: 314839

Follow Up By: KiwiAngler - Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 20:00

Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 20:00
Craig

They are a EPIRB with the added ability to send data as to where you are to friends and, in this case, a website setup to show that data

Yes you can buy them in Australia and off E-Bay or from the SPOT website.

Check the pricing at each of these sites and choose accordingly - I chose e-bay

SPOT Messenger website
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Follow Up By: Member - Craig M (QLD) - Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 07:36

Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 07:36
Ok. I bit the bullet.
Ebay being my retailer of choice.
Yet another sin that SWMBO will make me do penance for!
All I have to do is convince her that it is better and more useful than a new vacuum cleaner.

All I need now is a steep hill and a sharp stick.

craig
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Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 13:55

Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 13:55
Just a clarification.....SPOT satellite messengers are NOT an EPIRB!

They are described as a personal satellite messenger, a good description. Please don't confuse the use of these handy devices (by most accounts so far) with that of a dedicated emergency system, required to be carried by law in some cases.

Andrew
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Reply By: Member - barry F (NSW) - Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 18:41

Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 18:41
Okey Doke, Old blokes like me are a bit dense with some of todays technology, but it sounds interesting, so what is a SPOT messenger? & what purpose does it serve?

Have a safe trip & cheers.
AnswerID: 314846

Reply By: Member - Graeme W (NSW) - Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 19:17

Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 19:17
Have a look at post 59444.
Lake Eyre 2011

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Follow Up By: Member - barry F (NSW) - Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 19:32

Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 19:32
Thanks Graeme for that. Hey, thats a pretty spoofy bit of gear if you are heading into remote areas etc. from a safety point of view. Thanks & cheers.
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Reply By: Mike Harding - Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 19:26

Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 19:26
I'll be interested to keep an eye on you KiwiAngler - make sure you don't get up to anything naughty too! :)

Mike Harding
AnswerID: 314853

Follow Up By: KiwiAngler - Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 20:01

Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 20:01
Mike

who me!!! :-)

Thanks for the well wishes
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Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 20:05

Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 20:05
I hope you'll have a really good trip - I haven't done the Canning and I envy you.

Please give us a full trip report when you return - if you do...? :)

Go well KiwiAngler

Mike Harding
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Reply By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 21:33

Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 21:33
What a fantastic little gadget!!!!! I want one!!!!.

Enjoy your trip KA and I will be interested to see how this tracking thingie works.

Cheers

D


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AnswerID: 314880

Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 08:00

Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 08:00
KiwiAngler is just out side Hay. Sat 8:00am

Got to get one of these trackers.

Wayne
AnswerID: 314918

Follow Up By: HGMonaro - Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 10:55

Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 10:55
hmmm, I calculate that to be an average speed of 100.6753425kph ;)

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Follow Up By: Member - Craig M (QLD) - Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 12:08

Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 12:08
Yeah I was wondering about that as well. If plod got hold of this I wonder if it would be admissable in court on plod's behalf?

Anyway, I have my own overspeed alarm (unless she is asleep)

I'm convinced, these are a must have. I gonna buy one for the inlaws so I can leave home if i see them coming.

He He


craig
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Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 12:32

Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 12:32
12.30pm he's in Mildura - making good time.

>If plod got hold of this I wonder if it would be admissable in court on plod's behalf?

Nah. They would have prove it was in your possession at the time: "What Spot Messenger? Mine was stolen last week?"

It is looking like a nice device for bush travel.

Mike Harding
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Reply By: Waynepd (NSW) - Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 14:07

Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 14:07
Fascinating stuff eh?
The wonders of modern technology.
Should be interesting to see how the trip progresses.


Have a good'un Kiwi
AnswerID: 314961

Reply By: Scubaroo - Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 14:53

Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 14:53
Would be interested to see a text message capable version of this device, rather than just being able to send "Help" or "OK" signals.

Service seems a bit pricey at first glance given this limited functionality.
AnswerID: 314963

Reply By: Mike Harding - Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 16:42

Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 16:42
Looks like he's made camp for the night on the banks of the Murray near Renmark. Anyone live near there and wants to pop round after dark making "Ahhhhgggghhh!" noises and rattling chains? :)

Mike Harding
AnswerID: 314972

Follow Up By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 16:52

Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 16:52
Mike,
You so read my mind!

I once met the Kiwi Angler and nice bloke he is too, very friendly.

Geoff
Geoff,
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Grey hair is hereditary, you get it from children. Baldness is caused by watching the Wallabies.

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Reply By: Mike Harding - Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 19:02

Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 19:02
G’Day KiwiAngler

In order to mitigate my envy at seeing you camped on the banks of the Murray, near Renmark, when I’m at home in cloudy Melbourne and have to work next week I have just ordered a Spot Messenger (Ebay – A$168 delivered) so that I may have the pleasure of doing likewise to you in the future :)

You’ve probably got this all worked out but just in case….
More seriously: I have looked at the specifications of this device in some detail and note that it specifies a maximum of 14 days battery life when in tracking mode. They don’t spec how many hours per day but given that “check-in” mode specifies 1900 messages which computes to 13 x 24 hour days – so for 8 hour days one could assume about 5 to 6 weeks operation.

The specs also (strongly) recommend using only lithium AA cells and not alkaline/NiCad etc, except in an emergency – looking at the specs of lithium cells I can see why they say this and I would suggest we should abide by their recommendation. To this end you may wish to ensure you have a spare pair or two of lithium cells before you start on the Canning.

Jaycar do the following at $12

Jaycar AA 1V5 lithium cells

but, if you can find them, I would suggest Energizer or similar. Ensure you purchase 2 x 1V5 cells (eg. the Jaycar ones above) and NOT lithium AA 3V6 cells which are also, confusingly, available in AA size.

Enjoy your trip – you bastard! :)

Mike Harding
AnswerID: 315009

Follow Up By: PeteS - Sunday, Jul 13, 2008 at 07:28

Sunday, Jul 13, 2008 at 07:28
G'day Mike

I'm thinking of doing the same as you and grabbing one of these mouse sized gizmos. I'm interested in the ongoing costs. Do have have any idea of them?

Thanks
PeteS
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FollowupID: 581173

Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Sunday, Jul 13, 2008 at 07:52

Sunday, Jul 13, 2008 at 07:52
Morning Pete

This site tells you all you want to know:

Spot pricing

Minimum cost is US$100 per year which coves "Check in", "Help" and "911 (emergency)". Tracking, as KiwiAngler has, is an extra US$50 per year.

Mike Harding
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FollowupID: 581176

Follow Up By: PeteS - Sunday, Jul 13, 2008 at 08:11

Sunday, Jul 13, 2008 at 08:11
Hi Mike
Thanks for that. Let's hope the Oz $ continues to hold against the US$.

Cheers
Pete
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FollowupID: 581178

Reply By: EscapeArtists - Sunday, Jul 13, 2008 at 18:16

Sunday, Jul 13, 2008 at 18:16
Ive been checking this out for the last couple days, what a must have!! ..Interesting tracking him through SA, its 4:15pm here in WA and he's still on the move!, will be cool to see where he ends up campin for the night :)

AnswerID: 315134

Reply By: John R (SA) - Monday, Jul 14, 2008 at 16:42

Monday, Jul 14, 2008 at 16:42
Is anyone else keeping an occasional eye on this??

How freaky! Every now and then I check to see where Kiwi's at. It's bizarre to watch little blobs pop up on the screen. I keep wondering 'I wonder what he's seeing now?'

AnswerID: 315274

Follow Up By: HGMonaro - Tuesday, Jul 15, 2008 at 11:05

Tuesday, Jul 15, 2008 at 11:05
whales!
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Reply By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Tuesday, Jul 15, 2008 at 11:46

Tuesday, Jul 15, 2008 at 11:46
This is really cool being able to track the KiwiAngler. This morning he left the Eyre Highway and has made a side journey down some tracks to the Bight.

The Hybrid mapping with Google Earth is interesting!





Geoff
Geoff,
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Grey hair is hereditary, you get it from children. Baldness is caused by watching the Wallabies.

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AnswerID: 315398

Reply By: Member - Peter R (NSW) - Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 22:11

Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 22:11
I've been watching every couple of days - they're on thE Canning now - this is a ripper setup!
AnswerID: 317039

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