Anyone got one yet? They're available at Amazon among other places. Looks kinda cool.

Interesting.
Yahoo shopping shows prices from the high $400's to as much as $600. Practically the same price as the GPS unit by itself.

I could use the GPS in the plane for wpts and routes (no electronic sectionals for where I live).

Its one thing to send a pre-composed SPOT message saying "help" with an attached lat/long position...while something completely different to be out of cell range and still have the ability to send a message with some amount of detail like "I've had an engine failure, had a safe emerg landing, need a set of new plugs and spare wheel and tire dropped to me at position lat/long. bring snacks and water"

Ridge Runner wrote:I could use the GPS in the plane for wpts and routes (no electronic sectionals for where I live).

Its one thing to send a pre-composed SPOT message saying "help" with an attached lat/long position...while something completely different to be out of cell range and still have the ability to send a message with some amount of detail like "I've had an engine failure, had a safe emerg landing, need a set of new plugs and spare wheel and tire dropped to me at position lat/long. bring snacks and water, bring hot chicks dressed up as flight crew."

Fixed

Looks like a great device, glad to see them improving it. Can't wait to hear feedback from real world use.

There you are, down some canyon, lost...er, not sure where you are. Your iPad is sitting on the seat next to you and lo and behold has a cell signal. It looks like you could dial up spot on the ipad and find yourself!

I've had an engine failure, had a safe emerg landing, need a set of new plugs and spare wheel and tire dropped to me at position lat/long. bring snacks and water, bring hot chicks dressed up as flight crew

In any case, I'm pretty sure I'll get one.

The downside I see is it rely's on the Globalstar satellite network, which isn't that great.

As far as I know, you don't need the GPS unit anymore to send the messages at least. Looks like you can just use your smartphone.
http://m.gizmodo.com/5724894/spot-connect-turns-your-smartphone-into-a-satellite-communicator

Pundy wrote:As far as I know, you don't need the GPS unit anymore to send the messages at least. Looks like you can just use your smartphone.
http://m.gizmodo.com/5724894/spot-connect-turns-your-smartphone-into-a-satellite-communicator

This is the way to go and if you have a smart phone it is cheaper.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/p ... onnect.php
That said the IPAD2, 3G WIFI has a GPS & SOS app, + tracking weather and other goodies with WIng PRO.
7. The IPAD cost a lot more but will also do a lot more.
http://www.hiltonsoftware.com/
http://www.apple.com/ipad/
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sos-gps/id314890907?mt=8

Rhyppa wrote:The downside I see is it rely's on the Globalstar satellite network, which isn't that great.

I've read that comment (re: knocking Globalstar sat net) many times before on this and other websites - usually in connection with an argument over whether one should have a Spot or a 406 MHz PLB. I think that's a non-argument, it's like arguing over whether one should own a car or an airplane - they're entirely different things, and their respective utility depends upon what you need or want to do.

What I've experienced in the year that I've had my Spot is that it always gets the message out ... whether it's an "I'm OK" or tracking coordinates ... usually within just a few minutes. It's never failed for me. Personally, I think it's a helluva lot more reliable than either cell phones or land lines, because it doesn't care where I am, it still works.

With the Spot Connect it's even better now, so I plan to get one shortly.

Rhyppa wrote:The downside I see is it rely's on the Globalstar satellite network, which isn't that great.

My understanding was that this is totally a latitude-oriented issue. People in Bethel and McMurdo Station are SOL, but most places in between are ok. Is that right?

I agree the smart phone version is nice, but that' kinda the point of getting the unit at all, when you have a flame out when out of cell range. And I want an Iphone, but I do like the dual functionality of having a color mapping GPS with the capability to compose detailed satellite messages too.

I dont have a GPS for the new RR yet, so it makes sense for me to get a dual functiion SPOT with GPS. For those who have a GPS or plotter of some type, I can see where the smartphone version SPOT Connect would be a good choice.

Ridge Runner wrote:I agree the smart phone version is nice, but that' kinda the point of getting the unit at all, when you have a flame out when out of cell range. And I want an Iphone, but I do like the dual functionality of having a color mapping GPS with the capability to compose detailed satellite messages too.

I dont have a GPS for the new RR yet, so it makes sense for me to get a dual functiion SPOT with GPS. For those who have a GPS or plotter of some type, I can see where the smartphone version SPOT Connect would be a good choice.

Ridge - the Spot Connect uses the smart phone only as the human/electronic interface (i.e., as the keyboard), not as the communicator ... it doesn't use the cell phone comm function, so you don't need cell service. Essentially, Spot adapted a sat communicator that was intended to couple with the DeLorme GPS to work with a different electronic device. Since most if not all smartphones also have on board gps, with various gps applications available, you don't really need the DeLorme gps to provide position info to the Spot Connect.

Duane

Zane wrote:

Rhyppa wrote:The downside I see is it rely's on the Globalstar satellite network, which isn't that great.

My understanding was that this is totally a latitude-oriented issue. People in Bethel and McMurdo Station are SOL, but most places in between are ok. Is that right?

Zane,

Bethel is covered .... Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica, and some fringe coastal areas on the Arctic Ocean in Siberia are about the only areas without Globalstar coverage according to their service map at http://www.globalstar.com/en/index.php?cid=106&sidenav=232. Maybe some of the Alaska BCP'ers can comment, but I've not heard of any issues in AK.

Duane

One of the websites described the sat. coverage as low earth orbit which, to me, means there are polar orbit as well as equatorial orbit satellites in whatever constellation they are using. Wouldn't that mean Prudhoe and McMurdo would be covered?

I've had a "mark 1 SPOT " for 2 1/2 years and it works well. I just wish it would blue tooth to my cell phone to send a text -by satellite to my email contacts. Oh well it's better than a PLB or one of those overpriced 406 ELT 's for me.

This map gives some idea of coverage although it is pretty general.

http://www.globalcomsatphone.com/spot/coverage.html

I use a gen. 1 Spot and it has always performed very well in the lower 48.

Ridge - the Spot Connect uses the smart phone only as the human/electronic interface (i.e., as the keyboard), not as the communicator ... it doesn't use the cell phone comm function, so you don't need cell service.

Yep, that's what makes it appealing, since where I live and will be flying later, there is sketchy cell phone service. Though I'm more interesated in the Delorme GPS as the interface than a cell phone, if only for the mapping and waypoint funtions too.

ince most if not all smartphones also have on board gps, with various gps applications available, you don't really need the DeLorme gps to provide position info to the Spot Connect.

What kind of satellite imagery mapping with real time position overlay wapoints/routes et etc is available for smartphone?

Zane wrote:

Rhyppa wrote:The downside I see is it rely's on the Globalstar satellite network, which isn't that great.

My understanding was that this is totally a latitude-oriented issue. People in Bethel and McMurdo Station are SOL, but most places in between are ok. Is that right?

Heh... I said Bethel. I meant Barrow.