Just spotted a RAM mount at GPSCity.com for mouting Spot Messenger. Just posting in case anyone is interested. Link below.

Spot Messenger RAM Mount

svanarts wrote:Just spotted a RAM mount at GPSCity.com for mouting Spot Messenger. Just posting in case anyone is interested. Link below.

Spot Messenger RAM Mount

I've used my SPOT on a few trips -If you have a 296-496 with portable
antenna on glareshield keep SPOT foot or more away. Spot unit worked
really well in tracking mode from Las Vegas to L.A and back.

svanarts wrote:Just spotted a RAM mount at GPSCity.com for mouting Spot Messenger. Just posting in case anyone is interested. Link below.

Spot Messenger RAM Mount

Oh! I like that. I'm ordering one.

182 STOL

Why is that? I regularly lay my Spot on the glare shield less than a foot from my 296 antenna and my reception up here in Alaska is still generally in the 90 percent range when in tracking mode.

Just curious.

Thanks
Nizina

I've used a SPOT up here in Alaska and have had very poor luck with it. This is both in a vehicle and across the bars of an ATV. I'm told the satellites used by the SPOT are equatorial and they really only work in flat places with good line of sight. The guys up on the slope really like 'em but anywhere with mountains and they will lose you for hours at a time. The gal at the local survival shop said she strongly recommends against them unless you're specifically using on the North Slope, otherwise, go PLB.

Tick wrote:I've used a SPOT up here in Alaska and have had very poor luck with it. This is both in a vehicle and across the bars of an ATV. I'm told the satellites used by the SPOT are equatorial and they really only work in flat places with good line of sight. The guys up on the slope really like 'em but anywhere with mountains and they will lose you for hours at a time. The gal at the local survival shop said she strongly recommends against them unless you're specifically using on the North Slope, otherwise, go PLB.

Tick

Actually I agree with you when using the Spot in the car or an ATV. They generally don't do well at ground level in tracking mode. However, when at altitude (1,500'and above) I generally get about a 90% hit rate.

Most of my flying is in southcentarl Alaska in the MatSu Valley and the Copper River Basin.

Nizina

Seems to work well in SE also. I got 5 hits on tracking mode on a 30 minute flight last week. So far, I'm impressed.

gb

Actually I agree with you when using the Spot in the car or an ATV. They generally don't do well at ground level in tracking mode. However, when at altitude (1,500'and above) I generally get about a 90% hit rate.

I hadn't thought of that, good point. I bet a little altitude goes a long way.

I was told by the SPOT folks at Oshkosh last year that the frequencies of the SPOT and GPS were very close, so that's why you need to keep them at least a foot apart.

ASW

ASW wrote:I was told by the SPOT folks at Oshkosh last year that the frequencies of the SPOT and GPS were very close, so that's why you need to keep them at least a foot apart.

ASW

Geez, I'm running out of feet. I have three satellite antennas on the top of the glareshield. Two for the 496 and one for the XM radio. I've had similar problems so I'll do a little rearranging.