SPOT Tracker

I have been using my SPOT tracker, mostly for paragliding. It has really taken off () for flying. No serious pilot would be without one.

It's much cheaper than replacing a drowned iphone and the batteries last much longer.

I took mine for a run on the kiteboard yesterday. It worked fine. Below is the map image.



What it does is:
- Receives GPS signals and works out position.
- Sends the position and or message to email, web site or text message via satellite.
- You can send one of two pre-configured messages (whatever text you like) to email or text message.
- Send a Help! message to email or text message.
- Send an SOS to emergency services
- Automatically send your location to a web site every 10 minutes.

It's waterproof and runs for about 100 hours on a set of batteries.

You can buy one on ebay for about $100.

You have to pay an annual subscription of US$99 for the SOS and text messages. Another US$59 annual fee for the tracking.

You have two pre-configured messages. You log in to a web site and put whatever text you want. One is usually "I'm OK". The other could be "Pick me up in an hour." Desert drivers might send the second message twice to mean "Pick me up in two hours.".

There is another model where you can compose messages in the field on an iphone and transmit it via satellite. But then you need an iphone and a waterproof bag and all that crap.

I usually:
- turn it on and send an I'm Ok text to my phone and the missus.
- turn on tracking.
- go play
- send an I'm Ok message when finished or if she is likely to be worried and she can't get to the web site to look at the map.


Hey Laurie

The flying people have put together a common web page where you can share your SPOT page. You could do that on Seabreeze. www.highcloud.net/spot/

Highly recommend them, we used one in the Crossing for Cancer (Vic to Tas) in 2007 and it worked 100% for the entire crossing. The pre-timed auto OK message is very valuable for people doing long extended trips where there is little cell phone contact.