SPOT Satellite personal tracker

Have seen the spot plots a few times. Great to know where people are/were. But it doesn't seem to replace the need for reliable remote area communications.
For example how do you send a spot message that says "delayed for a few days due to mechanical problems", or" bogged in creek, need RACQ:))" ?
But on that kind of trip, your CB should get you out of strife.

There again, people hire sat phones to go to the northern end of Fraser...

Rossco

I have two of them and they seem to work ok so far. I use one in the vehicle and the second I carry on me if I leave the vehicle. They have different ID's and that way my son knows if I am in the vehicle or on foot way from the vehicle.

We have tested the emergency messages and they seem to get through quickly. I am not dependant on them in an emergency and I always carry an emergency beacon and a satphone in my backpack at all times.

I have one and have not used in an emergency yet but have tested it.

When a message is sent it also sends the longitude and latitude so people will no where you are and if you keep sending OK messages they probably can deduce you are running late.

If you also have the tracking option which I do then a message is sent every 10 minutes to a Website so people can track you progress.

In reality it does not send every 10 minutes but is close to it with a few skips.

I used this and so have a few others on the forum to let people see where you have been - lots of fun.

I leave my Spot with my father who likes to go for daily drives with his dog. He goes in to areas where there is no phone coverage - not hard do to so it is reassuring to know if something happens he can send me a HELP message which I will get via an SMS and an EMAIL at work. On one occassion he decided to test the HELP option but did not tell me. After receiving the message and his location I started off to find him. On the way I got an OK message so knew he was OK.

However in saying this it would be great if the Spot was a lot more flexible with respect to sending and receiving messages. One this I would definitely like see done is for it to be clear a message has been sent. It is not real clear now and some times a message does not get sent -a worry if you were in a bad situation.


Over all a good and fun tool to have in the basket.

Richard

Rossco44,

I don't want to steal this thread but this is a question which is puzzling me at the moment. I go on trips to sort of remote areas every year for two to three weeks (I always end up in Innamincka but I try to get there a different way each year). I have taken a Satphone on two occasions and found it next to useless. I have broken down a couple of times but there have always been people travelling past me who stopped to see if I needed help.

In June I am heading off for an extended holiday for three months to the Kimberleys, the Pilbara and as much of outback queensland as I can fit in. To hire a satphone for three months would be very expensive. Ditto buying one or buying a HF radio. I don't intend to go down roads where nobody will be but because I will be travelling on my own this time (my drinking buddy can't get the time off) it does cross my mind that I may need more than a UHF radio. I have been toying with the idea of taking a personal EPIRB but the SPOT Satelite personal tracker could be a better option, and it could get my kids off my back. I am in my late fifties (and I think I am in my prime) but they worry every time I leave home.

Regards,
Bob

Great to hear from people who have used SPOTs! Some ideas for maximising use handy!
We are only in need of backup (maybe) but its Murphy's law if not prepared something is sure to go wrong!

Has anyone hired one? Guess that's an option also.
However, I have a further trip on my motorbike planned later in year up the old Ghan train route to celebrate 40 years since I first rode up there on a BMW R60/2 to work in Darwin and the NT! Different back then! A SPOT would be small enough to take on a bike and that way family can keep tabs on me!

Last year one of the EO members, or past member, gave users of this site, the web page to follow his trip to WA, then up the Canning.

Made for some interesting "viewing", and I'm sure kept many EO people watching his progress regularly.

Bob.