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

[Nina Zaikina]

I used deLorme with the smartphone last year. 
Pros: According to my research it's more reliable then Spot, it uses better satellite network. It worked 100%, I was able to communicate 2 ways with my boyfriend, it even posted my progress on a Facebook, so my friends could track my GPS location and send messages to me.
Cons: it's more expensive and bulkier then Spot
Nina

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 22, 2013, at 12:33 PM, Dan Jacobs <youroldpaldan at gmail.com> wrote:

> On Tue, Jan 22, 2013 at 12:16 PM, Kathi <pogo at pctwalker.com> wrote:
>> Others on this list have suggested that you
>> always push the I'm Ok a few times about 15 minutes apart in those
>> areas,...
>> Puddles
> 
> According to how I understand the units to work, this will not help
> get a signal through. While in tracking mode, it sends out a few
> transmissions, and then waits for the "get GPS position, send location
> message" cycle to begin again. Pushing the OK button in this cycle
> starts a "get GPS position, send OK message" cycle that sends the
> location message for about ten minutes, and then tracking starts
> again. Nothing special happens that helps get the messages through
> other than repetition of sensing the messages for a longer duration of
> time. Repetition won't help get the messages through until there is
> enough open sky between you and the satellite. There are other factors
> that are really geeky that need to be considered also, but I'm sure
> this reply is long enough already ;-)
> 
> Without knowing where the satellites are in the sky in relationship to
> your location and what barriers there may be to getting the weak
> signal from the SPOT units to the satellites, the only way to help the
> messages get through is to seek the largest swath of open sky you can
> find within reason.
> 
> Dan Jacobs
> Washougal
> --
> "Loud motorcycle stereos save lives"
> Motorcycle to hike, hike to motorcycle
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