Comments on: Spot Satellite Messenger Review http://www.wildsnow.com/967/review-spot-satellite-messenger/ Backcountry Skiing Snowboard Telemark Snowsports Information News Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:16:08 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Bill http://www.wildsnow.com/967/review-spot-satellite-messenger/comment-page-2/#comment-22620 Bill Fri, 08 Jan 2010 05:17:05 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=967#comment-22620 Donna G Get your son a spot, he can let you know he's OK and summon help if he needs it. I travel for work in remote areas of NV and can't get a cell signal much of the time, getting an OK from me daily gives my wife great peace of mind. Donna G

Get your son a spot, he can let you know he’s OK and summon help if he needs it. I travel for work in remote areas of NV and can’t get a cell signal much of the time, getting an OK from me daily gives my wife great peace of mind.

]]> By: Bill http://www.wildsnow.com/967/review-spot-satellite-messenger/comment-page-2/#comment-22618 Bill Fri, 08 Jan 2010 05:10:16 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=967#comment-22618 I've had my Spot for over a year and have sent out over 100 OK messages with 100% success from the sierras, nv, ut, id. Terrain has varied from mountains, to desert to deep river canyons to wide spots in slot canyons. Two key things to remember: 1. if you've moved very far from your last spot usage you need to give the unit time to acquire its position before you send out a message so turn it on, orient the top to open sky and let it sit for 5 minutes, 2. after you hit the message button let it go for at least 20 minutes, it will transmit the message 3 times, if you turn it off after you see it transmit once the message may not go through, the unit is only a transmitter and does not know if the message it sends has been received, let it send 3 and there's a 99% chance it will get through. Like I said I've had 100% success. Stay safe. I’ve had my Spot for over a year and have sent out over 100 OK messages with 100% success from the sierras, nv, ut, id. Terrain has varied from mountains, to desert to deep river canyons to wide spots in slot canyons. Two key things to remember:

1. if you’ve moved very far from your last spot usage you need to give the unit time to acquire its position before you send out a message so turn it on, orient the top to open sky and let it sit for 5 minutes,

2. after you hit the message button let it go for at least 20 minutes, it will transmit the message 3 times, if you turn it off after you see it transmit once the message may not go through, the unit is only a transmitter and does not know if the message it sends has been received, let it send 3 and there’s a 99% chance it will get through. Like I said I’ve had 100% success.

Stay safe.

]]> By: sunflower http://www.wildsnow.com/967/review-spot-satellite-messenger/comment-page-2/#comment-22339 sunflower Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:02:04 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=967#comment-22339 Hi Jim, I fully support ALL professional and volunteer SAR personnel and their procedures. The impression I was left with, regarding that one particular story, was that the SPOT employee in Houston was confused. I saw no need to question the actions of 911 dispatchers, first responders, NOAA SARSAT Rescue Coordination Centers, or any other rescue team. Thanks for the feedback and stay safe! --Sunflower Hi Jim,

I fully support ALL professional and volunteer SAR personnel and their procedures. The impression I was left with, regarding that one particular story, was that the SPOT employee in Houston was confused. I saw no need to question the actions of 911 dispatchers, first responders, NOAA SARSAT Rescue Coordination Centers, or any other rescue team.

Thanks for the feedback and stay safe!

–Sunflower

]]> By: JimC http://www.wildsnow.com/967/review-spot-satellite-messenger/comment-page-1/#comment-22336 JimC Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:12:34 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=967#comment-22336 sunflower, The SPOT call center and the NOAA SARSAT Rescue Coordination Centers (the folks that coordinate PLB response) are both going to spend some time confirming that your situation is a true emergency before rolling out the search and rescue teams. Most rescues require SAR personnel to put in a great deal of effort (and often put themselves in danger). It's unreasonable to think that they won't do a little homework to confirm that there is actually an emergency before they get to work. Accidental requests for emergency assistance can and do happen, even to folks who are savvy in the outdoors and savvy with gear like this. As an example, check this article about the accidental signal sent by a Backpacker magazine editor when he was climbing Denali: http://www.backpacker.com/blogs/234 Even so, stories like the one described by John, above, are (at least to me) unacceptable. Cheers, Jim sunflower,
The SPOT call center and the NOAA SARSAT Rescue Coordination Centers (the folks that coordinate PLB response) are both going to spend some time confirming that your situation is a true emergency before rolling out the search and rescue teams.

Most rescues require SAR personnel to put in a great deal of effort (and often put themselves in danger). It’s unreasonable to think that they won’t do a little homework to confirm that there is actually an emergency before they get to work.

Accidental requests for emergency assistance can and do happen, even to folks who are savvy in the outdoors and savvy with gear like this. As an example, check this article about the accidental signal sent by a Backpacker magazine editor when he was climbing Denali: http://www.backpacker.com/blogs/234

Even so, stories like the one described by John, above, are (at least to me) unacceptable.
Cheers,
Jim

]]> By: sunflower http://www.wildsnow.com/967/review-spot-satellite-messenger/comment-page-1/#comment-22294 sunflower Sat, 26 Dec 2009 06:12:31 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=967#comment-22294 After reading numerous reviews from various sites on the Internet, I have hopefully determined that the OK message button works best if you leave the device ON, instead of shutting it off 10 minutes after pressing the OK button. In other words, shutting off the device could delay or disable the OK message from reaching its destination. Also, have your OK messages sent to your contact person's cell phone AND e-mail. It will be interesting if and when I need to use the 911/SOS feature, and/or the emergency roadside service. I added both GEOS (companion to the 911/SOS feature) and SPOT Assist for Roadside to the basic service plan. As I was registering my new device and got to the part where it requested additional emergency information for the 911/SOS service, I added the following message which will be received at SPOT's call center in Houston, TX: “This IS an actual emergency!!!” I don't want them spending 45 minutes calling my friends and family asking if I'm OK and where I am. After reading numerous reviews from various sites on the Internet, I have hopefully determined that the OK message button works best if you leave the device ON, instead of shutting it off 10 minutes after pressing the OK button. In other words, shutting off the device could delay or disable the OK message from reaching its destination. Also, have your OK messages sent to your contact person’s cell phone AND e-mail.

It will be interesting if and when I need to use the 911/SOS feature, and/or the emergency roadside service. I added both GEOS (companion to the 911/SOS feature) and SPOT Assist for Roadside to the basic service plan. As I was registering my new device and got to the part where it requested additional emergency information for the 911/SOS service, I added the following message which will be received at SPOT’s call center in Houston, TX: “This IS an actual emergency!!!” I don’t want them spending 45 minutes calling my friends and family asking if I’m OK and where I am.

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