Am considering getting one of the spot satellite trackers for my wife (no, not to keep track of her ;D ) but rather for her peace of mind. I took for granted they worked well but was not impressed with reviews at one website.

Maybe I looked at an older generation model and they were old reviews or perhaps with unobstructed signal reception that one would get in a canoe the thing would work as advertised. It's either that or a satellite phone. Pros/cons :question

When IC and her crew went to the Bushwhackers Jamboree, she included me on her Spot Messenger. She sent a test signal from her house and I confirmed I got the message.

For what ever reason, I never heard from her again.
So cost's aside, if peace of mind and reliability is key,, I'd go with the Sat phone.

Every Spec Ops unit as well as the terrorists use them, so if you need to call out or get message in, I'd say go with the best.

IF your wife has a problem with the cost, tell her she's worth it  ;)
Might get you a little Badda Boom Badda Bing before and after your trip ;D

We have been happy with the SPOT device.  It was my fault that ST didn't get the messages, apparently when I added another recipient on my account it cancelled his link.  A double check while still at home would have solved that ahead of time.
The SPOT has been reliable in sending its signals for us.  Sometimes it takes a while for it to locate a satellite.  I set it out in the open at the shoreline of our campsite or on top of my packs while I am paddling.  I have found it works best if lined up to broadcast to the southern sky.  It will signal you when it has been able to send a message.  I generally use the "okay" check-in feature.  Tracking is nice too, but sends a signal every 10 minutes and ends up putting a lot of e-mails on one's account over the course of a few hours.
From looking at the map of where we have been vs the signal locations I can tell it is right on for location information.  The folks at home seem to really enjoy being able to see where we are at any given morning or evening.  The security of being able to send a signal for help if you need it, is nice for the camper.  Account cost for one year is about $100.00.
At times you would like the option of explaining why you need help, etc. and there is no option for that...yet.  A sat phone would allow detailed communication.

Here is a snapshot of our SPOT signals from the last trip:

I edited out several points which were duplicate signals from the same location.

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intrepid_camper wrote on Sep 24^th, 2010 at 12:00am:

Here is a snapshot of our SPOT signals from the last trip: I edited out several points which were duplicate signals from the same location.

I would say that is "way to cool" but that sounds so juvenile. Perhaps something along the lines of "That will do very nicely" would be more in line with someone who just hit the big 50 this past summer. Can you say "mid life crisis"? (my wife would kill me if I picked up a twenty something and a red sports car so maybe I'll just go trippin  ;) )

;D
Good luck! on the 20 something and sports car...trippin' is more likely doable and much safer for maintaining your comfortable, long term relationship.

I have run both Iridium and Global star phones in the BW, neither of which turned my crank...cost, bulk, battery issues, and plain outright coverage issues. Made the switch over to a spot 2 this year and I am not turning back unless I go further north then well that is another story. Simple to operate and program, that my nine year old can cover it. All messages sent on its maiden voyage this summer, so the verdict is still out so to speak. The google earth links are pretty kool too. Now I we have true solitude and peace of mind for the outsiders at the press of a button, or rather buttons. And  the customizing options in the messages spice it up a bit yah know, and it all fits in the front pocket. ;)

marlin55388 wrote on Sep 24^th, 2010 at 7:00am:

Made the switch over to a spot 2 this year and I am not turning back unless I go further north then well that is another story.

Have there been "issues" further north?

The issue/s that I was speaking to would be any thing that one might run into with PU's/evacs. in the far north, where real time verbal contact would be more utilitarian than a email or text message....not with spot its self that I am aware of....but I have not done that research MT...so for me it is more of a timeline driven rather than a device issue due to the more substantial distances and therefore time of travel in that neck of the woods...I would still use the spot but I would also have a sat phone to accommodate that concern of mine; and I do not have that concern in the BW.  ;)

There are a few extremely remote areas where SPOT doesn't work well, or at all, according to the SPOT website.  These are Arctic, Antarctic and some very remote islands in the ocean.  Unless you are going that far afield it shouldn't be a problem.

I carried a first generation SPOT during our trip last month from PP to Kawnipi and back.  It worked fine when it was out in the open (i.e. sitting on a rock).  But when I stored it in the pocket of my day pack the signal didn't go through.

The signal will not go through unless it has an unobstructed view of the sky.  I have used mine inside the car, on the front dash, and it has worked just fine broadcasting through the window.

I have been reading reviews of spot and they are really mixed. The bottom line seems to be everything is fine until you have to deal with customer service. Almost to a person they said they are rude, unreasonable and completely unhelpful. >:(

I wonder if their perspective would change if people started calling up their credit card companies and started contesting the charges. The first thing that happens is the money in question gets yanked out of the merchants account until the case is resolved. That creates all sorts of accounting problems for the merchant.

Once I picked up a pair of sunglasses in a mall and then walked outside and decided I wanted a darker pair. I went back in to exchange them and the store told me all sales were final. Option A was to get loud and throw over some of their display racks and then the police would come etc. etc..... Option B is usually much more effective.....I called the store manager who gave me the same line and then I calmly but firmly told him the first thing I was going to do was to contest the charges. He quickly gave me a refund. He would of been much better off to give me an exchange.....I took that off the table as I perceived this company was not worth doing business with.  8-)

I think whether or not the SPOT signal is reliable is an entirely different issue than the quality of customer service from the company.

intrepid_camper wrote on Sep 26^th, 2010 at 3:23am:

I think whether or not the SPOT signal is reliable is an entirely different issue than the quality of customer service from the company.

Indeed IC. Many who were seeking customer service were not satisfied with how the product worked right from the get-go.

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Check out the customer reviews at REI. I found this more or less true for other sites as well. Mixed opinions on the results and then poor customer service if you get stuck with a lemon. Rumor has it they offer replacement insurance for $20 extra per year. Might be money well spent.

I will likely take my chances as the benefits seem to out weigh the alternatives. Hopefully I will be one that sing its praises. Time will tell.

I've seen two different people use the 1st generation SPOT in the arctic. The only negative they said was they didn't know if their message was sent. I think the 2nd generation added some lights to confirm your message was sent.

We used a Sat phone for real communications, i.e. Yes we're where we thought we'd be after 16 days, coordinates are ####. Please come pick us up, weather permitting.

SPOT was more of a toy, "Hi, wish you were here".

I did opt for the replacement insurance on my SPOT, mostly because I was concerned that my elderly father could lose it or drop it in the ocean.
I have a first generation SPOT and after it is able to send a message it stops blinking two lights and just blinks one.  If you watch it a while you can see it send the message...the lights stay on steady for a few seconds instead of blinking.  So far it has been very reliable except that it often cannot send a message if there are trees or brush between it and the open sky.  I have solved this by checking it after a period of time and if it still hasn't sent the message I put it in a different location which usually does the trick.
I used it once to call for HELP.  I returned to Moose Lake a day early and wanted my ride to know I was ready to come home...it concerned my son Dan who was monitoring my signals, until he realized it was coming from the canoe landing and that I probably wanted a ride.  :)

Depends on where you go & what you want & how much $$$ you have.

I hear sat-phones are $10/minute on top of the purchase & set-up costs.

Personally I would be fine with SPOT for where I go and what I want to do.  I just want to inform the Mrs. that I'm OK or send out a distress signal if I'm not.  SPOT seems to hit the right median for enjoying the solitude & escape while alleviating anxiety of loved ones.

Preacher wrote on Sep 27^th, 2010 at 4:45pm:

Personally I would be fine with SPOT for where I go and what I want to do.  I just want to inform the Mrs. that I'm OK or send out a distress signal if I'm not.  SPOT seems to hit the right median for enjoying the solitude & escape while alleviating anxiety of loved ones.

That's the reason I take one.  I'm usually out for about 2 weeks and my wife gets a bit nervous when I'm out of touch for that long.  In addition, I occasionally go solo.

I've used (a gen 1) SPOT for the past two seasons and over approximately 50 nightly transmissions, I can only remember 2 that didn't get through (and those were probably my fault because of impatience).  I used to watch the unit until I confirmed the first message was sent and then turned the unit off.  Now, I turn the unit on and let it send redundant signals (it actually sends 3 which are edited down to 1 by the SPOT service).  Before I walk away, I confirm that the OK and power lights are blinking in unison (alternate blinking means lack of a clear signal) and walk away for about a half hour. When only the power button is blinking, it has sent 3 signals.  Needless to say, I pick a spot (point, front of campsite, etc. where there is abundant clear sky (south is usually a bit better because the unit can reach more satellites ... northern only is probably the worst ... for the opposite reason).

My last trip:  100% success on messages sent.

The season before, I did use a sat phone.  I didn't care for the bulk and for a 2-week trip I also had to take along a solar charter ... another somewhat bulky item since it also contain C-sized rechargeable batteries.

dd

Wow, C cells have a use other than vibrators.   :D

Yeah, weight & bulk being another big factor for me.

Having used both a SPOT, and a sat phone, on my own time I'll take a sat phone any day.  Yeah, they're expensive, but if you only use it in an emergency, the price is worth it.  Iridium by far beats Globalstar for coverage and reliability (used to be reverse, but I hear G lost a bunch of satellites a few years back, and hasn't replaced them yet).

As for the SPOT, was useful for checking in each day when working in the bush, but also felt like someone was always watching over my shoulder.  I prefer to leave the gadgets at home when tripping. Reliance on a gadget can never  replace good planning and judgement.  (maybe its my invincible youth speaking here!)

I can only report that as the parent of a son soloing for three weeks, I'm glad he agreed  to take a Spot II and sends an "everyting is OK" message once each day.  I already planned to not worry till third day with no message. It is for our peace of mind.  Since many people have come and gone pre satellite, I belive he his fine and that I face more hazards here in the city. Otherwise, I'd have gotten him a PLB.

I think my wife will expoect me to carry Spot now when I go.

a few well disguised towers, and I could cell phone home nightly

I have been using a Globalstar Sat. phone for 6 years. At first it worked perfectly but then the satellites started losing the ability for two way communication. They have since put up some new generation satellites and moved others around to fill some of the big holes. Now it may take me 3-4 attempts to get a good satellite. When things were getting bad they offered an unlimited package to keep customers. I pay a total of about $28.00 for unlimited use. I doubt the package is available anymore.

On the Globalstar website you can enter the area you will be and get a 4 day read-out of the best times to call. Four days is not enough but it shows you what level of service you can expect if you opt for the Globalstar Sat. phone.

The Sat. phone is really nice but the Spot does a good job in giving the family back home some peace of mind.

I was on the receiving end of Spot messages last week while a friend was on a solo trip.  I appreciated both the piece of mind as well as the opportunity to "see" how the trip was progressing.

As I reported above, my son on 21 day solo sent a signal every day and it was great.  I knew where he was for the night.

Talked to outfitter and he told of a dad + 3 children at site of Rebecca Falls drowing this summer.  He pushed the HELP! button.  RAngers showed up but for the intervening 4 or so hours his wife was beyond herself.  Interesting dilema and a case for sat phone.

I took a rented Sat Phone to WCPP Solo.  I called home every night for 3-5 minutes.  Cost $9 per day to rent and $1.99 per minute.  I rented it to come 2 days proir to trip and sent back 2 days after trip.  Just put in Fed Ex with returnable label they sent along and it was done.
It worked fine as long as I was along shore or in open.  Lost signal once, but regained and called right back out after I got a new signal.
I took a spare charged battery with me and kept it in a zip lock to keep it dry inside a dry bag.  I loved it, and my better half enjoyed knowing I was fine.  Here is the link where I got mine from.
SunCatcher [smiley=thumbup.gif]

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