Request for your feedback

Thank you Melissa,
The driver has full control over editting waypoints, ETAs during travel etc. The searches are fully coordinated with RFDS as per usual, only that the ST24 network provides an accurate pinpoint sending the actual coordinate. The Guardian is simply what it means, someone checking on you at your request. I can think of times when someone might like the backup, eg. travelling solo at night. It is a optional feature that you can turn on or off for short periods of time, or longer if necessary depending on your perceived risk of the situation.ExplorOz

Hi Michelle & Others,

I will wait with interest to hear more about this system. One thing that has just occured to me is the possibility of those at home being able to contact us through this system or at least help pinpoint our position.

About 10 years ago we had the police out searching for us because of a family emergency at home. We'd only been away a couple of nights which was very lucky because although our family knew our destination and rough itinery the only specifics we'd given them (because we'd set off with a "suck it and see" plan) was we'd probably call into Bribie Is for a couple of nights. Luckily we were still there. Beyond that the search area would have been anywhere between SE Qld and Perth.

:o) MelissaPetrol 4.5L GU Patrol &
Camprite TL8 offroad camper

Thank you Rohan,
The Sentinel is to check that you return to the stationery vehicle, wherease the Guardian checks on your travel progress and that you reach where you intend to reach. Obviously with this level of technology the user has full control to adjust the waypoints/etas.ExplorOz

Michelle, if you forget, and fail to arrive at the designated ETA (and presumably an alert has be signalled), can the user shut down the alert easily? Is it just a button push? Is the alert cancellation automatic or is is there a human being monitoring the system that then advises the authorities you are safe and well?Life just ain't that serious.
Rohan (Sydney)

Rohan,
The alert will not go off before an attempt from the network to the vehicle has been made. The Guardian will contact you before any search procedures are stated. It is my understanding that subscribers can define their own procedures for what level of action to take next. eg. you might want the next step to be a phone call on your sat phone if you have one. You might want the next step to be a phone call made to a nominated family member and so on until the emergency has reached the point of a search being deemed necessary.

George,
Yes the competition is HF radio networks to some degree but not the equipment itself as they are very different in terms of reliability and function. An HF relies on propogation of signal and proximity to base stations however ST24 relies on the satellites, which as most GPS users, and satphone users now are very reliable. The improvement in satellite coverage is achieved by better receiver/transceivers - eg. external GPS re-radiating antennas. Same with ST24, an external antenna is mounted to the outside of the vehicle - eg. roofrack, gutter mount, anywhere to achieve best coverage.

OziExplorer is not a communication network or communcation equipment. It is a purely mapping software, however I guess you mention it to make the comparison between runing the combiantion of HF radio for contact and a GPS with OziExplorer to achieve the same navigational display effect that you envisage from SAT--TRAK24. If this is the comparison, then the costs are indeed cheaper with SAT--TRAK24 - you don't need to own a laptop or buy digital maps or buy mapping software or a gps or the HF radio - the SAT--TRAK24 system includes all those functions into the one unit so there's less gadgets and gizmos!ExplorOz

Michelle, can you run a moving map from Sat-Trak, or does one still need OziExplorer plus GPS plus lap top?Life just ain't that serious.
Rohan (Sydney)

Absolutely you can run moving map from SAT--TRAK24 - that's the whole point of the navigational display. It combines the onboard mapping, full navigational functions (eg. create your own waypoints) and you can drive using the onscreen map (the super vga is great for this and what we will be taking on the CSR in a few weeks time to trial).
As I've said, this is all early days for the testing and application to be consolidated but the technology and equipment, the network and all is up and running. With the SAT--TRAK24 system you would not need a laptop, nor digital maps, nor a gps, nor OziExplorer mapping software. This is all loaded into the Super VGA with the mapping engine and interface to the satellite network, rather than an onboard gps unit to feed back the coordinate data to your map.ExplorOz

Thanks Michelle,
Your comments are interesting, I will look forward to your assesment of the system after your return from the CSRJust made it, King Edward River

Hi GaryInOz,
The SAT--TRAK24 network operations coordinate rescues with the existing infrastructures on your behalf as part of the service - eg. RAA for roadside assistance, recovery or RFDS for people emergency/airlift etc.

The SAT--TRAK24 is already operational in other industries, eg. transport, marine, government but without the tourism/navigation option.

The navigational aspect is only being released in the next month and is ideally suited to outback travellers where mapping/plotting, waypointing, ETAs etc are a natual part of trip planning and trip activity.

Hope this helps clarify.ExplorOz

Hi Speighty,
Yes it does take the risk out of travel doesn't it. And some of us would not choose this service, but there are a hell of a lot of people that would. One thing about people is that they are often concerned about keeping in touch with family in case of an at home emergency and do not want to stay out of touch for too long. You also mention that you would take an HF and/or Epirb when in fact this system will do that and more for the same, or even cheaper price of the 2 items combined so that's part of the appeal of the communication system.ExplorOz

Michelle, Is it possible with the SAT-TRAK24 alone to notify the HQ of the TYPE of "emergency" ie. "I have three flat tyres, two beyond repair, will need (an air drop of??) another spare?" RAA/RACV/RACQ/NRMA aren't much good to you in the middle of the Simpson, and it really isn't a RFDS type of emegency.

With a HF at least you would have direct access to people around you who may be able to help with a loan spare. It still seems like adding another middleman when it really isn't necessary (you can set up "checkpoints/checktimes" already with the RFDS on HF if you are at all concerned). Lat. and Long. still available to recovery team from EPIRB with same accuracy as GPS. EPIRB's don't break are capable of withstanding extremely hostile environments. HF (and to a lesser extent UHF) allows help from the nearest person available, along with communication of the exact nature and extent of problems. The combination of HF/EPIRB is also failsafe, if one goes you still have the other (in the case of the HF malfunctioning you will end up being in a medical emergency after a few days anyway, lack of food/water, so activation of the EPIRB is appropriate).

Peace of mind??? leave the SAT-TRAK out in 40 degree heat for a week, dunk it 6' deep in water a few times, drop it repeatedly on concrete, let it live on top of a jackhammer for a day and throw it under several tens of kg weight (or have a look at what EPIRB's have to go through to get certified!) . If it can survive that I would believe you have an adequate piece of safety gear, failing that it is just another paperweight, because you can bet your bottom dollar that that sort of treatment will occur in the outback (by design or fate). If the SAT-TRAK24 was to be taken seriously as a sole safety communication device it would have to have a robustness equal to the EPIRB.

From your answer to my post above: Managing truck fleets is a different issue, main reason for tracking that is for compliance with the "adequate rest" provisions of the law and compliance with speed limits.

GaryInOz, I answered some of your qn further below with some egs of messages you send to notify of the type of emergency just as you have pre-empted. Yes, roadside assist is not much good in the Simpson, but the potential for other ST24 members to be contact to reach you is. Same as it is with the current HF radio network. This is just another network but using more reliable and cheaper hardware. Of course, this is going to take time - years even to grow the network membership so that you can rely on another member being nearby but that's certainly the potential and as you pointed out will reduce the need to call in the sirens.

In terms of the hardware, the "SatTrak" is nothing more than a receiver - a box shaped antenna. The actual operational component is the remote operations HQ that the unit communicates to via satellite. It is not something that is affected by water, dropping, etc. It is not transportable. It is fixed to your vehicle by an approved installer. The navigational unit however, the display interface has been especially sourced to withstand extremes eg. 60c heat. But this is not the critical operational side of the saftey part of the service - it doesn't affect the comms so it is not subject to the tests that an EPIRB must withstand because you are not in possession of the actual functional part of the service only the display interface.ExplorOz

In many cases, yes it will most be of interest to solo travellers, or to groups of travellers with just one SAT--TRAK24 service. The idea is it combines all the other gizzmos we use into the one unit. And yes, it does work in the city too and is a good way to track where your vehicle is at any time. There is even a security system that will send an alert for unauthorised entry so the insurance policies are looking at reducing premiums if you have this network connected to your vehicle.ExplorOz

Michelle, does it really combine ALL the other gizzmos? Does it provide on-demand, nation-wide voice communications?Life just ain't that serious.
Rohan (Sydney)

Rohan, yes it combines all gizmos except those that offer voice communications. Voice is expensive and superfluous in remote situations if data can get the message through until you reach cheaper methods of comms such as payphones, friends house etc to have a social chat. I thought this was a hinderance at first, but have now seen the database of pre-configured messages that the users and family/friends will be able to send to save costs. It costs 44c to send a message containing 8bytes. So, SAT--TRAK24 have created a massive list of messages eg.

All going well
Will contact by phone tomorrow
Next major stop over in a few days
All are well
Please phone contact 1 asap
Visit webpage for information/update
Vehicle damage need transporting
Caravan/trailer suspension problem

and there are tons of these. These are all on-demand either from family/friends using the SAT--TRAK24 website interface to contact you, or using your in-vehicle LCD screen to select the message and send.

Also, if you choose you can type in your own message but will be charged at 44c per 8bytes. I like the idea that it keeps the chat down and communications to essentials when travelling remote. My observations of use of valuabel remote comms is that it is often wasted on chatting and stories between vehicles. Keep in mind that this system also enables convoys to communicate between one another if out of radio range (either due to poor HF propigation) or distance from UHF.ExplorOz

Yes I thought the same "BIG BROTHER is watching"Around Oz 06/2004

Thanks Michelle. I studied their web-site (because I am interested) but came away with insufficient information to understand how it all works, in practice. I believe ExplorOz has been trialling/testing the system. Can you post a "hands-on" description of how you used the system?Life just ain't that serious.
Rohan (Sydney)

Yes Rohan,
You are correct and I have made this comment to the owner/developer of the network but they are foccusing on product delivery/equipment trialling at the moment and will be relying on ExplorOz to provide the PR and launch to the public initially. This is an example of the industry recognising the power of our audience, ie. the size of our audience and shows precisely how ExplorOz will work with the industry to assist in promoting products.

We will be the first in the industry to use the system in the field with the complete navigational functions and this will be occuring during our CSR trip in just a few weeks and our site will be displaying for all the world to see our progress via the internet using mapping underlays and actual gps positioning (data sent via the SAT--TRAK24 satelllite network.

It's takes me a while to understand technology and applications like this but I've had the advantage of being included in discussions about the product evolution for the last few months. Once you get your head around what it can do then you'll realise what all the fuss is about.
SAT--TRAK24 are entrusting ExplorOz to translate its use in this market to our audience. I have also made suggestions/recommendations from our perceived viewpoint of market interest/demands/need etc.

You are being advised PRE delivery of the product to us and we wont really be able to provide a full review until the conclusion of the trip.ExplorOz

Michelle, thanks for the detailed responses to this, and other questions above. You have answered them all so I won't post further comments, unless I come up with a new question.

I look forward to your test and test report on the product. Despite some comments above, I don't see this is as removing any of the adventure, just as a beter "fail-safe" than is provided by HF or Sat Phones.

The cost seems to be reasonable when you consider it also replaces GPS, lap top etc. Its just a pity most of us have all this gear already so selling a "big spend" on duplicating existing equipment could be difficult.Life just ain't that serious.
Rohan (Sydney)

Rohan I think that's exactly the point - this equipment and service is only now becoming available and if you're already setup with EPIRBs, HF radio etc then you are unlikely to want to reinvest unless you can afford to and can justify the expense to replace your navigation and safety equipment. The biggest opportunity for SAT--TRAK24 is not converting existing travellers who are already deeply invested into their equipment but to the very growing market of newcomers to outback touring. Just look at the increases in vehicle manufacture, the increases in caravan registrations, the increasing numbers of people who go to 4WD shows etc each year - the market is continually getting bigger. Makes you wish you'd waited....almost, but then think of all the great places you've already been and seen... the great nights camping in the outback... I simply can't wait to get going on our CSR trip...shame its not a holiday, its all work... just different office (and no daycare!).ExplorOz

I'll swap your CSR office with my Sydney city office (and day care) any day.

Life just ain't that serious.
Rohan (Sydney)

As a senior search and rescue officer with Australia's national search and rescue agency, AusSAR, I work in the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC AUSTRALIA) in Canberra; part of my duties is operation of the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system which detects signals from 121.5MHz and 406MHz distress beacons. You know them as EPIRBs, PLBs and (for aviators) ELTs. I am concerned by some of the things I hear in regard to use of these distress beacons. To put it simply they work very well but there are differences in the 'SAR' response to the simple analogue 121.5MHz beacon and the digitial 406Mhz beacon. Suffice to say that detection is not necessarily instantaneous and the solutions do not produce pin-point accuracy. Search and Rescue can take anything from a couple of hours to overnight depending on weather, terrain, location and availablity of rescue resources. Ourselves and the state and territory police are the SAR authorities in Australia. RFDS do not have any responsibility for search and rescue unless they are used/tasked by one of the SAR authorities. The best way to obtain help in an emergency (whether it be a breakdown or when a life is in "grave and imminent danger" (ie - in a distress situation) is by radio or telephone or some form of direct communications (possibly such as SAT TRAC24). From a SAR perspective the absolute best way to get help is to "communicate" and say who you are, where your are and what help you want (so that the response can be customized to your situation) than it is to activate a distress beacon and just wait for help. We deal daily with "non-distress" activations of distress beacons and our resources are often being wasted (at great cost) to assist someone who could have helped themselves quicker and better if they had been able to communicate. I think SAT TRACK24 has enormouse potential to provide a service that will "take some weight" off the SAR system in Australia. My only concern is how the system will respond to "nil contact" from one of their members because the police and not RFDS will be responsible for any SAR response . I would like to discuss this more with the SAR TRACK24 people if they are interested. regards BJW