Spot Customer Service <
[email protected]>
to
[email protected]date Wed, Apr 28, 2010 at 3:03 PM
To successfully send an OK message:
* Take SPOT outside with a clear view of the sky.
* Look around and make sure you are well away from any buildings or other tall obstructions that could block the transmission to the satellites.
* Turn SPOT on.
* It performs a self test every time you turn it on.
* Take note of what color the light is above the ON/OFF button.
o If it is blinking GREEN, then the batteries have more than 30% charge and is fully functional.
o If it is blinking RED, then the batteries are low…below 30%, and they should be replaced before leaving with it, or bring a second set along.
+ *When ON/OFF is blinking RED already < low batteries>, and a RED light appears above OK right after the time you press on any function (OK/HELP/911)
+ *The unit has failed self test due to very LOW batteries.
+ *Replace batteries first.
+ *If still blinking RED over OK, go to
http://www.spotwarranty.com for details.
* Take note when you first turn it on, if the light above OK may start blinking RED, even though you have not yet pressed anything.
o A RED light above OK right at the time you power on means the unit has failed its self test and is defective.
o Visit
http://www.spotwarranty.com for details.
* Press and release, DO NOT HOLD, the OK button to initiate the 20 minute OK cycle.
* The ON and OK lights will begin blinking together and will continue to do so for 11-20 minutes.
* If your SPOT is NOT able to acquire a GPS fix within 4 minutes, the OK and ON/OFF lights will begin blinking alternately instead of "in-sync".
o If this happens, move your SPOT to another location to attempt to get a better line of sight with the GPS satellites, the lights will return to "in-sync" within a minute or two.
* During the 20 minute OK cycle, you will see the OK light go solid for 5 seconds while it is actually transmitting a message to our satellites, this should happen 3 times, 5 minutes apart.
* This WILL NOT happen if there is no GPS fix and the lights will still be "out-of-sync".
* Only the first message received by the SPOT network is displayed in your Message list and transmitted to your OK contacts. Any other OK messages received by the network during that cycle are discarded as redundant.
* It is very important to let the OK cycle complete. Do not turn off your SPOT during the 20 minute OK cycle.
* OK cycles cannot be CANCELLED like other cycles. Powering off the unit is the only way to prematurely terminate and OK cycle.
* Pressing HELP and/or 911 WILL override the OK cycle.
* The OK cycle will not run together with any other cycle.
The OK message feature has a 99% success rate based on the fact that the device will transmit 3 times within the 20 minute time window however, the end user will only see one of these messages as other OK messages receieved by the network during that cycle are discarded as redundant.
Avoided international(other than Canada/Mexico/Caribbean) all my career. Flew westbound transcons a lot...just over 7 hours on occassion.
