[pct-l] Anyone have experience with SPOT-2 satellite messengers? Any alternative options?

Tue Jan 22 16:00:06 CST 2013

It is true that using the SPOT Connect requires a SmartPhone, except for sending a 911 message.  So if your phone is dead, you cannot initiate an OK message with SPOT.  But the battery usage is pretty minimum.  If you are just going to send a periodic OK, your phone only needs to be on for a couple of minutes and the SPOT needs to be on for about 15-20 minutes.  Batteries will last a long time if you are just sending out an OK or two a day.  If you choose to use the tracking feature, the SPOT would be on all day, but your phone still only needs to be on long enough to initiate the track and then you can turn it off.  I used the tracking feature last year and SPOT lasted over a week on a set of batteries.  

Ed Jarretthttp://aclayjar.blogspot.com/

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:50:23 -0800
From: danengleman at yahoo.com
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Anyone have experience with SPOT-2 satellite messengers? Any alternative options?
To: edjarrett at msn.com; pct-l at backcountry.net

I own a Spot 1 and a Spot 2.   I used Spot II on a thru hike, in 2011.  If I do another thru hike, I will probably take the older version of Spot with me. Reason being, you don't have to have a phone with you to make it work; if something happens to your smartphone (which happened to me in the Sierras) your Spot 2 is worthless.   Having to have both my Spot 2 and my smart phone (on at the same time) was an additional drain on my limited battery charge.  I did carry extra batteries, but that meant more expense and one more time consuming "duty" when I got to town.  Charging extra batteries is no big deal if you spend a night in a motel, but if you just want to get in and out of town it is a bit of a
 hassel.  Dan  
        From: Ed Jarrett <edjarrett at msn.com>
 To: PCT List <pct-l at backcountry.net> 
 Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 12:03 PM
 Subject: Re: [pct-l] Anyone have experience with SPOT-2 satellite messengers? Any
 alternative options?

I have had a clear shot of the sky, at least in Washington, where I still did not get a message out.  I believe the Global Star satellites used by SPOT for transmitting locations do not cover the polar regions; and while Washington is not in a polar region, the satellites are low enough on the horizon that being down in a valley can block them, even if you have a good view of the sky, and even if you have good GPS coverage.  The further south I have gotten (just into California so far) the less I have had issues getting out, even with tree coverage.

Ed Jarretthttp://aclayjar.blogspot.com/

> From: michaeljirving at gmail.com
> Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2013 11:20:03 -0800
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Anyone have experience with
 SPOT-2 satellite    messengers? Any alternative options?
> 
> You just have to make sure you have a clear shot to the sky when sending messages. I've used Spot Connect with my iPhone for 2 years in Oregon on the PCT. it can't go through tree cover so the every 10 minutes pings will sparsely go through when you're in heavy tree cover. Just find an open spot when you actually send messages. 
> 
> On Jan 22, 2013, at 11:14 AM, Ed Jarrett <edjarrett at msn.com> wrote:
> 
> > 
> > I have been using a SPOT Connect coupled with my Android phone over the past couple of years.  I have found it to be fairly reliable and it allows me to send short text messages as needed.  Downsides: you don't know if a message actually was delivered; you can receive nothing from anyone; the farther north you go the less
 coverage.  In Washington I seemed to have more missing pings than I did further south.  All in all I would recommend it to anyone with someone at home that you want to provide daily assurance to.
> > 
> > Ed Jarrett - http://aclayjar.blogspot.com/
> > 
> >> From: river at orcasonline.com
> >> Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2013 11:05:46 -0800
> >> To: mendoridered at yahoo.com
> >> CC: pct-l at backcountry.net
> >> Subject: [pct-l] Anyone have experience with SPOT-2 satellite messengers?    Any alternative options?
> >> 
> >> I would love to
 hear from other hikers on the current model (SPOT-2) and also any alternatives that would help both with
> >> reassuring those at home and with emergency calls if needed.
> >> 
> >> Thanks
> >> River
> > 
> >                         
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