Initial Hands-on Report - Second Generation SPOT

We finally got our hands on one of the new second generation SPOT Satellite GPS Messengers. While we haven't been able to truly wring it out, a few days of playing with SPOT have given us a feel for both the improvements and other areas we weren't quite as impressed with. Check out our initial impression of SPOT 2.

http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=114

Good to know as hopefully I'll be getting one for Christmas.

Purchased the SPOT last month...not real happy with the spread in scheduled "where am I" location signals..at least twenty minutes apart...an airplane covers a lot of distance in that time......but at least it gives searchers a place to start from......still field testing it..good backup cheap insurance......

makingmemories wrote:Purchased the SPOT last month...not real happy with the spread in scheduled "where am I" location signals..at least twenty minutes apart...an airplane covers a lot of distance in that time......but at least it gives searchers a place to start from......still field testing it..good backup cheap insurance......

I didn't like the spread in schedule niether. I've been starting to get in the habit of pushing the OK button more often (sometimes every 5-10 minutes). I know a couple of other very well known pilots on this forum doing about the same thing. The one has to push the OK button at least every 30 minutes when flying the work plane. It gives your list of family/friends a more instant message your Ok via a text rather them having to sit and follow you on the computer when you have the SPOT in the TRACK mode.

Follow-up Hands-on Report - Second Generation SPOT

Turns out the first sample we received wasn't a production SPOT 2 after all and wasn't waterproof in the least. We have now received another SPOT 2 and have dunked this one with better results--sort of. Read what we discovered after dunking SPOT 2 to its rated depth, as well as a few other interesting discoveries.

http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=119

With all due respect to those who have much greater knowledge than I, my 1st generation SPOT was an unreliable and unpredictable device and, accordingly, a waste of money. There are many things we use in everyday life in which we can safely and reasonably tolerate unreliability, but I'd suggest that we should never tolerate deficiencies in a device upon which our lives might depend. None of us would contemplate using a flotation device which struggles with flotation; it therefore seems ludicrous to contemplate reliance upon a device which may (or may not) perform its critical function in a life-threatening situation.

How many times did you activate the 911 button and nobody came?

Never had an emergency, but I can tell you that the tracking feature worked perhaps 50% of the time. It would work for a while, and then not work for the next thirty or forty minutes. It would alternate between tracking well and not at all. I've assumed the tracking unreliability could impair the device's ability to assist me in an emergency; perhaps I'm wrong about that and I've been unfairly harsh. But I think I'll stand by my conclusion: I don't want my life to be dependent upon a device that doesn't always function as intended.

pitfield wrote:Never had an emergency, but I can tell you that the tracking feature worked perhaps 50% of the time. It would work for a while, and then not work for the next thirty or forty minutes. It would alternate between tracking well and not at all. I've assumed the tracking unreliability could impair the device's ability to assist me in an emergency; perhaps I'm wrong about that and I've been unfairly harsh. But I think I'll stand by my conclusion: I don't want my life to be dependent upon a device that doesn't always function as intended.

You have pointed out the crux of the issue. Most of us will want our survival gear to be as reliable as possible. More so when it may be our "last, best option." 406 MHz PLBs have proven to be very reliable and effective and if the GPS doesn't get a location, can still be very effective with Doppler location and 121.6 MHz homer. SPOT has had successes, don't get me wrong, BUT it has proven less than reliable in gaining a GPS location and in tracking, its only somewhat half-assed back-up, when engaged. It is a relatively low power signal more easily blocked than a PLB's and we have seen plenty of cases when the signal doesn't reach the satellite even when it should, let alone in difficult circumstances. It does generally give better tracking from aircraft than on the ground, but even then many report less than stellar performance. SPOT 2 should be better in this respect, probably much better, but we still have seen tracking and satellite communications issues even in the short time we have had it. Without a GPS location and with no homer, it's something of a crapshoot. Given the relatively low cost of a PLB these days, under $300, and no need to pay an annual fee, I think there's little reason not to carry a PLB. A friend recently returned from a vacation to New Zealand. It was fun following along on his travels using the SPOT I gave him, but he also carried a PLB, just in case.

My spot has worked excellent for the last year I have owned it. My Pacer has "V-bars" behind the windsceen and I mount it up above my head looking straight out the screen. It gets turned on every time I fly. The check in feature is great. Lets my wife know I have made it safely to a remote location and exactly where that remote location is. If the tracking balloons are too far apart for your liking, just slow down!

had my spot over 18 mos, has been quite capable...lets friends know of my recent travels, and where to show up the next am for bkfast...like the B...or sulphur...alpine,wy...or mcall...! works for me, seems like a great way to narrow the search fast should u have to land and wait...