SPOT Messenger Review

[Firefight911]

Since Jamie is heading off to Oregon for the UN next week, I finally went and pulled the pin and picked up the SPOT satellite messenger that we have been wanting for some time.

 

Jamie, rightfully so, gets worried when I go off on the G 650 and the R 1200 alone for my day and multi day trips. Since I don't usually take my helmet off, etc. when fueling I tend to forget to check in with her. Let alone the fact that I can go 350 miles per tank on the Adventure. The 650 goes to the off road, no cell coverage land and is equally perplexing to her.

 

The SPOT essentially has 3 modes -

 

The first is that of being able to send a simple "checking in" message. The great thing with this is that it includes a Google Maps link with GPS coordinates indicating from where the message was sent.

 

The second mode is that of requesting "help." When activating this mode, it does the same thing as above except the message is sent that some form of help is needed. Again, a GPS coordinate link to Google Maps is provided.

 

The third mode is a 911 request. If this mode is activated, the signal goes direct to the SPOT messenger dispatch center and is then forwarded to the nearest 911 dispatch service center for immediate response of 911, search and rescue, helicopter response. After this has occurred, the SPOT dispatch center will make notice to your emergency contact information to get them up to speed on any information that the dispatch center receives.

 

The check in and help modes send out canned, customized messages, that are created in your profile on your account screen. In Jamie's case, her help message says something to the effect of, "Help!!! I've gotten lost AGAIN and don't know where I am or where I need to go." In case of receiving one of the help messages I would call Jamie and find out what she needs and get her back on the road or be able to help her troubleshoot a problem with the bike, etc. In the absence of being able to get a hold of her, we have it pre-arranged that I will check back in 30 minutes for a status update (I'll explain that below). If no update or her position has not changed, I will make contact with the local police department and have them dispatched for a welfare check.

 

It is important to understand that there is a BIG difference in 'Help' versus '911.' 911 is ONLY for a life emergency, not running out of gas, a flat tire, or being lost. 911 is just that – 911

 

There is an additional feature that can be activated on the SPOT as well. This is that of active tracking. When active the SPOT will transmit a current location marker to the mapping location. With this you can watch, in live time, the traveling of the SPOT messenger. Every ten minutes, a new position location is transmitted.

 

This will be very nice. I will be able to watch Jamie and her escort Danny (Huzband) as they travel to the UN. In the future, Jamie will be able to keep track of my travels.

 

An added bonus is that of being able to take this data and connect the dots and create routes, tracks, etc. after my trip is over.

 

The last thing, again at an added cost, that is available is a $100,000 search and rescue expense insurance policy that is underwritten by Lloyd’s of London. This provides coverage for 911 activation expenses, helicopter extractions, etc. for an actual 911 emergency transmitted via SPOT. Of course, the false alarms, if you were so inclined to initiate one, are not covered.

 

The Help and Check In messages are all customizable and you can list all the email and phone numbers of the people you want to receive these messages. Additionally, you can add any pertinent medical information that could aid emergency responders in the event of 911 activation. You can also create multiple “profiles” related to the individual that is using the device. I have created a profile for Jamie and for me. Jamie’s profile is currently active as she will be using it for the UN trip, etc. When I use it, I just go in to my account and activate my profile and all my messages, contacts, and pertinent information will be used during SPOT use.

After having worked with this product, researched it extensively, and just this last weekend learned of a first hand account of its use and subsequent expediting of needed 911 services (a member of my dual sport club had an off road fall last Saturday, subsequently breaking 9 ribs, puncturing a lung, and sustaining a significant concussion) including a helicopter for search and rescue, I am glad to have this in Jamie’s and my arsenal of safety equipment. I have included it in the curriculum for the First Responder Course I offer.

 

I highly recommend this product and I have absolutely no financial benefit from this endorsement. I hope to never need it for anything other than keeping Jamie (or I) informed of our whereabouts and tracking our trips.

 

Here is a link to SPOT’s website - LINKY

 

And here is a link to view the actual view of the activity on our SPOT (we've created a couple check in and help messages to view) - LINKY

 

[Redbrick]

We got a SPOT recently and Kathy took it with her on her ride to Albuquerque, Colorado and Utah....She usually sent me a message when she left in the mornings and periodically during the day...I could follow her progress and know that all was OK....I have the basic service so I would transfer the coordinates to Google Earth for better definition and could save each of her locations sent there also to keep a visual trip log....And tipping the view gives a good idea of the terrain; mountains, etc...

I'm really a SPOT fan now and expect some improvements as competition drives progress....One thing I wish it did was give an audible tone when it acquires and sends an OK message...Can't be sure a message is sent without watching the two green lights.....Eventually we will probably be able to text on these things....

Kathy does ride by herself sometimes, and some big rides, so this it's very comforting to this type of communication....

 

Great product...

 

 

 

 

[BULLman]

Thanks for the review.

 

What is the cost of the Spot unit? Is there a monthly charge?

[JR356]

Hi,

 

Follow the link in the first post,it gives you all the info including pricing.

 

JR356

[ltljohn]

There is a running thread on this over at the BMWMOA site, test is a rider from eastern PA going to the national rally in Gillette WY by way of San Diego. It looks like it works as advertised.

Here is a copy of an email message that it sends.

 

SPOT Check OK. All is well. We are field testing this Unit in North America in various settings.

ESN:0-7399286

Latitude:33.0759

Longitude:-116.5625

Nearest Location:not known

Distance:not known

Time:07/03/2008 21:00:32 (GMT)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...UTF8&z=12&om=1

[Redbrick]

There is a running thread on this over at the BMWMOA site, test is a rider from eastern PA going to the national rally in Gillette WY by way of San Diego. It looks like it works as advertised.

 

Our experience is that they are sensitive to obstructions and maybe where they are aimed in the sky....It is sending a mini signal to sattelites (they use 42 according to the lady I talked to at SPOT) and directions say to leave it sending for 20 minutes to make sure it is sent..Normally doesn't take very long at all to send, however.....We have instances where a message isn't sent when conditions look fine and yet Kathy sent me a message from inside her sisters house in Henderson ....She usually just put it in the map holder on her tank bag and pushed the send button while she was riding......SPOT lady said moving around is helpful to sending a signal if obstructions are an issue..

All of the above is why I said in my post above that I would like an audible tone when it sends because, unless you watch the two flashing green lights, you don't know if you sent or not...The right hand (OK) green light stays lit for 5 seconds when a message is sent..

 

This post is for full discloser and not meant to deter anybody from getting one...They do work......I love the SPOT and would buy one again in a heartbeat. The instances where Kathy sent and I didn't get a message were few....

 

Look forward to posts from other SPOT owners...

 

 

 

 

 

[smiller]

I won't go into a long technical dissertation of how SPOT works (unless some fool asks for it ), but just a note on operation... SPOT will make multiple transmissions in some modes for maximum reliability with a theoretical high-90-something percent success rate on the first transmisison, and even higher on subsequent transmissions (with a clear view of the sky, which is important.) That is why you will most often get a message out immediately, but in some situations it may take a little longer. Also the geometry of both satellite systems used by SPOT (GPS and Globalstar) are constantly changing so even if the unit isn't moving the satellites are, and that also works to your favor.

 

There are a couple of reasons for lack of an audible alert, one is that there needs to be as few penetrations of the case as possible to maintain water resistance and the other is that sometimes the user may not want an audible indication (as in a situation where they may not want an aggressor to know that any messages are being sent.)

 

There has been a literal flood of suggestions for improvement (as one would expect with a new and unique consumer device) and the development team is actively trying to prioritize and act on them.

 

A good test report is here and an almost excessively informative (and painfully long) Advrider thread is here (although as is usually the case on Advrider you will have to wade through a couple of mini flame wars. :smirk:) You might want to start a ways into the thread as the some of the early comments aren't really accurate anymore due to product evolution.

 

(BTW for openness just want to note that SPOT is a division of the company I work for.)

 

[Redbrick]

Smiller......

After some thought, I agree that an audible signal that a message has been sent is not a good idea for the reasons you pointed out but a light that remained lit would be a helpful addition......

For a first product of it's type I think they did a great engineering job on this unit ....

 

 

[Firefight911]

Thanks for the review.

 

What is the cost of the Spot unit? Is there a monthly charge?

 

As has been indicated, follow the SPOT link for service pricing. I picked up the unit at REI and saved $20 over the website price. Plus, I'll get my dividend at year end.

[Redbrick]

Thanks for the review.

 

What is the cost of the Spot unit? Is there a monthly charge?

 

As has been indicated, follow the SPOT link for service pricing. I picked up the unit at REI and saved $20 over the website price. Plus, I'll get my dividend at year end.

 

West Marine carries them also at a discounted price......

[Todd_Z1]

Phil,

 

Wouldn't it be great if Garmin and other GPS vendors integrated this technology with their GPS units? I would be willing to bet they will eventually.

 

Cheers!

 

Todd

[Firefight911]

Phil,

 

Wouldn't it be great if Garmin and other GPS vendors integrated this technology with their GPS units? I would be willing to bet they will eventually.

 

Cheers!

 

Todd

 

You got that right!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Garmin, are you listening???????????

[smiller]

The check in and help modes send out canned, customized messages, that are created in your profile on your account screen.

Hey Phil,

 

Another use for the 'check in' message is when you are reporting an emergency for another party. When you press the '911' button the dispatch center will call those on your contact list (in additional to the appropriate emergency responders for the area) and you don't want your family to freak out unnecessarily if the emergency isn't yours. What some do (if say you happen upon someone else's accident that you want to report) is first press the '911' button and let the unit run for several minutes to initiate a response, then cycle power on the unit and send an 'OK' message. Your loved ones (but not the 911 center) will get the 'OK' message and thus know not to panic when the dispatch center calls. Then cycle power again and put the unit back in 911 mode until help arrives.

 

[jjg3]

I read the instructions on my SPOT about pressing the 911 button 'just to see if it works'... you'll get a bill for around $700. That got me a bit worried about having something accidentally hit the button (the 911 button has a bit of a raised guard, but nothing serious) with it in my tankbag so I glued a piece of plastic in the shape of a pull-off tab over the button. Nothing that I can't get off in an emergency (sort of like a rip-cord... it may feel pretty tough to pull out on the ground but it's amazing how easy it seems when you actually do it).

 

I have the tracking feature and this is what the trip from VA to AK looked like.

[rvb1019]

Dave Dragon on the BMWLT and Advrider forums has it set up and you can actually see the route he's taken on his RideAbout2008.

 

Pretty cool!!

 

Read about it here- http://davedragon.rilysi.com/2008/06/ride-about-2008-star-traxx-rilysi.html

 

Here is the image of the report you can get:

 

 

FWIW, that looks like one hell of a ride!!!!!!!!

[Firefight911]

In light of the recent potentially unfortunate events unfolding with a missing rider - LINKY - I felt I would renew this link about the SPOT tracking/messenger device.

 

Good info for those so inclined. It works perfectly for us and we have it set up to move between our three bikes with a Cyclenutz cradle and RAM mount system. Here is the view from the K1300GT for where I have it mounted -

 

 

 

Ask away if anyone has questions!