Competitor to Spot Devices - inReach by Iridium

[tastrax]

Looks like the market for these types of devices is finally hotting up!

http://blog.delorme.com/2011/06/03/delo ... unication/

Two way communication is possible if you have the right equipment.

[Tony]

Looks like the market for these types of devices is finally hotting up!

http://blog.delorme.com/2011/06/03/delo ... unication/

Two way communication is possible if you have the right equipment.

Very nice, they are getting better and better, but I am not sure if I want to be contactable when i am in the bush.

Tony

[Jellybean]

Agree it sounds good on some levels (I also wouldn't want to be contactable in the bush, except in an emergency - I go bush to escape that), however the issue of maintaining sufficient battery power in the smart phone during a multi-day walk to maintain the functionality still needs to be addressed. (I'm yet to discover a reliable and adequate solar or other charger suitable for bushwalking).

[Franco]

Solve one problem, create another...
A mate has used the 1 and 2 for several weeks each (many trips) with no problem at all apart from the 1 being a bit slow at times.
However I was reading a thread at Backpackers where some reported the Spot 2 appearing to work but not actually sending (well or the other end receiving) the message.
(I will add the link when that temperamental forum is up again...kind of funny if you think about it)
http://forums.backpacker.com/cgi-bin/fo ... 9991151318
(Explorer was not working this time...)
So you are at home waiting for your daily spot message and it does not happen. You wait another day , nothing happens.
Now have you waited a day too long or are you worrying about nothing ?
Help ! Help!
http://thegoat.backcountry.com/2011/07/ ... st-rescue/

Franco

[ILUVSWTAS]

Solve one problem, create another...
A mate has used the 1 and 2 for several weeks each (many trips) with no problem at all apart from the 1 being a bit slow at times.
However I was reading a thread at Backpackers where some reported the Spot 2 appearing to work but not actually sending (well or the other end receiving) the message.
(I will add the link when that temperamental forum is up again...kind of funny if you think about it)
http://forums.backpacker.com/cgi-bin/fo ... 9991151318
(Explorer was not working this time...)
So you are at home waiting for your daily spot message and it does not happen. You wait another day , nothing happens.
Now have you waited a day too long or are you worrying about nothing ?
Help ! Help!
http://thegoat.backcountry.com/2011/07/ ... st-rescue/

Franco

THAT is a great point Franco. I had this conversation on Saturday with some mates. Thats exactly the issue with the spot it seems. On a 10 day trip, if on day 4 a msg sends but is not recieved, it will cause great worry with the folk at home. If 2 msg's in a row failed, the people at home may even notify the police or take measures.... Seems this could cause more worry than it's worth IMO.

[Dale]

I had that issue with the Spot 2 - it didn't send OK messages for the last three days of a trip. However I'm thinking it was more likely user error. I had a few trips under my belt with the Spot 2 and became complacent, on the 'failed' trip I would click the OK message and wander back and switch it off without checking to see how long it had been on for. Spot recommend transmitting for at least 20 mins to make sure the message goes through. So I'm thinking I didn't leave it on for long enough... In subsequent trips I have left it on for a good period of time and it hasn't failed once, even under thick forest.

And yes the point Franco bought up came to pass. The emergency contacts became worried about no 'OK' messages and contacted the Police. There was no search and rescue mounted as the Police advised to wait until we were due to walk out before sending out the cavalry. I had no phone signal until I was out of the walk, when I got a text to say the police had been contacted... At first I thought this was a joke...

The other interesting point to come out of this was jurisdiction. The walk was the northern end of the Aust Alps and crossed the NSW and ACT border, apparently the Police were trying to pass the ball as to who was responsible for following up - where the signal was last lost (NSW) or where the party was suppose to walk out (ACT). Luckily, this didn't have to be resolved

[photohiker]

THAT is a great point Franco. I had this conversation on Saturday with some mates. Thats exactly the issue with the spot it seems. On a 10 day trip, if on day 4 a msg sends but is not recieved, it will cause great worry with the folk at home. If 2 msg's in a row failed, the people at home may even notify the police or take measures.... Seems this could cause more worry than it's worth IMO.

Yep. Their job is watching your progress, if they get no contact for a couple of days then we can't really blame them for taking action even if it turns out to be a spot transmission or user error...

I have to say that this is not a problem for me. I pay the extra $50 for live tracking and run that all day/every day I'm on a walk. Even if my Ok doesn't get through (which is rare) they can see that I am moving. If I am moving, they know I'm not dead yet

[Nuts]

Sounds like a step up from the spot connect Tastrax, sounds interesting. I'm itching for the day we can ditch satphones.

I agree, the one ground breaking feature on the SPOT is the tracking. Knowing someones last position is a breakthrough especially for solo walkers where they may be incapacitated and not physically able to use (or have lost) the eject button. The ability to share this info with those at home is a bit of novelty but also a good feature. I can't understand the issue with the ok messages, just dont use them... if you havent pressed 911, your ok.. right?

[Dale]

I have to say that this is not a problem for me. I pay the extra $50 for live tracking and run that all day/every day I'm on a walk. Even if my Ok doesn't get through (which is rare) they can see that I am moving. If I am moving, they know I'm not dead yet

Hi Photohiker - couple of questions on the tracking function which I haven't subscribed to. Does having the Spot on all day cause a noticeable drain on the battery ? I'm wandering how this would go on a long trip. I'm assuming it only sends a tracking message when you hit the button or is there some sort of automated signal where it sends every so often ? I've got an upcomgin 6 day hike and thinking it might be worthwhile to add this on...

[ILUVSWTAS]

incapacitated and not physically able to use (or have lost) the eject button. The ability to share this info with those at home is a bit of novelty but also a good feature. I can't understand the issue with the ok messages, just dont use them... if you havent pressed 911, your ok.. right?

Im guessing by that comment your a single man Nuts.

[Nuts]

Not this week mate ...

anyhow... ok... dont get angry...

perhaps what i should have said was that i would never trust a message to get through (even sms from irridium has not worked on occasion) right..
so.. what does the ok message add, a bit of reassurance each day or a whole lot of angst when it inevitably misses a message.. i'd buy an everyday plb (perhaps the one tony linked) if not wanting spot for its tracking. Even with tracking I would think twice about who i gave the link too and their capacity to keep a level head.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Not this week mate ...

anyhow... ok... dont get angry...

perhaps what i should have said was that i would never trust a message to get through (even sms from irridium has not worked on occasion) right..
so.. what does the ok message add, a bit of reassurance each day or a whole lot of angst when it inevitably misses a message.. i'd buy an everyday plb (perhaps the one tony linked) if not wanting spot for its tracking. Even with tracking I would think twice about who i gave the link too and their capacity to keep a level head.

Get lucky in Devonport did ya? Nice work.....

Yep. I bought a PLB over a spot and am still happy with that choice.

[photohiker]

I have to say that this is not a problem for me. I pay the extra $50 for live tracking and run that all day/every day I'm on a walk. Even if my Ok doesn't get through (which is rare) they can see that I am moving. If I am moving, they know I'm not dead yet

Hi Photohiker - couple of questions on the tracking function which I haven't subscribed to. Does having the Spot on all day cause a noticeable drain on the battery ? I'm wandering how this would go on a long trip. I'm assuming it only sends a tracking message when you hit the button or is there some sort of automated signal where it sends every so often ? I've got an upcomgin 6 day hike and thinking it might be worthwhile to add this on...

Longest walk I've used the Spot on so far was 2 weeks. The first set of batteries ran out on day 9 I think. Anyway, 2 sets of batteries made it easy. I turned the unit on in the morning, sent an Ok, and activated the tracking as I left camp. When I stopped for the day, I sent an Ok, waited 10 minutes or so and turned it off. Full days walking 20-30km each day often off track 8-9hrs. So battery life isn't a huge issue and the lithium batteries are light (if expensive).

The tracking sends a location message every ten minutes from the moment you activate it until you cancel it or turn the Spot off.

For your 6 day hike, I'd carry one set of spare batteries in case you run out. You most likely won't need them.

[Nuts]

Yep. I bought a PLB over a spot and am still happy with that choice.

hmm...perhaps i should have saved the explanation then..

[ILUVSWTAS]

Yep. I bought a PLB over a spot and am still happy with that choice.

hmm...perhaps i should have saved the explanation then..

hopefully someone else will come to the same conclusions mate.

[andrewbish]

The Spot feature that attracts me is being able to send an "I'm ok now. Call off the Calvary" message

[Nuts]

How would they know you weren't?

[Dale]

The Spot feature that attracts me is being able to send an "I'm ok now. Call off the Calvary" message

The Spot custom message is also very useful - configure it however you want. Mine has "All is well but delayed one day." so I don't have to rush to the finish line to prevent an emergency...

BTW apologies to the OP as the thread has now been hijacked by a Spot discussion Back on topic... I own an Android phone so happy to see (for once) we are getting an app before the iPhone ! Petty, I know... I echo the sentiments on Android battery life. When I have GPS activated my HTC drinks battery power like a sailor on shore leave. I could only imagine this working if you switched the phone on for short bursts, or just carry spare batteries for the Android.