The Great Big SPOT Thread

[Sydney Rider]

Originally Posted by StroupDog

Anybody, anybody?

I can answer this for you..... I mount it depending on what I am doing - I have it in a small pelican case that has a strap through it ( behind ) and then this allows me to attach it to my Osprey so they it points to the sky behind me OR it can live in the small pocket on the top of the Osprey without being in the pelican case that is just the right size to keep it oriented correctly.

I have not found a mounting method that successfully uses the two captive points on the SPOT 2 - I did try a very small mesh cover that had clips around the edges but it wore out too quickly.

I wouldn't mount it on my arm or anything like that as the attitude is wrong for the best view of the sky IMHO - and based on what Spot themselves say in the manual.

This question has been asked and answered a lot on ADV and you will find there are at least two ( if not more ) very different camps about mounting the Spot / Spot 2 so you should expect a lot of different answers.

Tony

[StroupDog]

Originally Posted by Emmbeedee

I think a damper would help, in your situation.

Good one! Yes I have a Scotts.

Originally Posted by Sydney Rider

I can answer this for you..... I mount it depending on what I am doing - I have it in a small pelican case that has a strap through it ( behind ) and then this allows me to attach it to my Osprey so they it points to the sky behind me OR it can live in the small pocket on the top of the Osprey without being in the pelican case that is just the right size to keep it oriented correctly.

I have not found a mounting method that successfully uses the two captive points on the SPOT 2 - I did try a very small mesh cover that had clips around the edges but it wore out too quickly.

I wouldn't mount it on my arm or anything like that as the attitude is wrong for the best view of the sky IMHO - and based on what Spot themselves say in the manual.

This question has been asked and answered a lot on ADV and you will find there are at least two ( if not more ) very different camps about mounting the Spot / Spot 2 so you should expect a lot of different answers.

Tony

Good Idea, does it rattle around inside the case or is it snug? How tough is it to access to press one of the transmit buttons?

[Unstable Rider]

Mine used to ride on a RAM ball bracket INSIDE one of my Pelican cases. It worked great in there, and was well protected. Just a thought. But I sold it and cancelled the account when Spot "auto-renewed" my account at the 11 month mark without ASKING me.. deal breaker for me.

[Nanuq]

I use the ram mount also, I mount it on the bars. Bought it from tourtech in Seattle.

[Sydney Rider]

Originally Posted by StroupDog

Good Idea, does it rattle around inside the case or is it snug? How tough is it to access to press one of the transmit buttons?

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showp...0&postcount=28 is what I have done - since I posted this I have also found that a spare set of batteries will fit nicely into the case as well so I don't worry about running short of power.

The yellow soft plastic insert holds the Spot 2 pefectly ( almost as if it were made for it ) and as I always use tracking I simply have to open it at the start and stop of each day + any time that I want to press the OK button..... it's easy to do.

I do sometimes worry that I might leave the lid open but I have found that with my luggage web over the case the top is held down without problems and it doesn't impact the Spot transmission.

Tony

[Casejeep]

So ive spent the last 3 hours reading though most of this thread, but i still have a few questions. no im not going to ask if i should mount it on the bike or on my person. (btw: im mounting it on my bike) and yet i keep my trauma pack in my backpack (im an EMT), i guess im just hypocritical.

If im out riding, or on my boat on the lake, or wherever and come upon someone in dire need on medical assistance. If i press my SOS button, do i get charged for the rescue? Or if im riding with a group and someone runs headlong into a tree, without sounding like a heartless bastard, will the local SAR team charge me for starting a search?

If i dont pay the extra $50 for the track function, does the track button do anything?

Anyone find a promo code for the track feature? i mean it sounds like a cool thing to have but $50 is alot, i wish i could try it out for free for a year before i made that commitment.

[TravellingStrom]

Originally Posted by Casejeep

So ive spent the last 3 hours reading though most of this thread, but i still have a few questions. no im not going to ask if i should mount it on the bike or on my person. (btw: im mounting it on my bike) and yet i keep my trauma pack in my backpack (im an EMT), i guess im just hypocritical.

If im out riding, or on my boat on the lake, or wherever and come upon someone in dire need on medical assistance. If i press my SOS button, do i get charged for the rescue? Or if im riding with a group and someone runs headlong into a tree, without sounding like a heartless bastard, will the local SAR team charge me for starting a search?

If i dont pay the extra $50 for the track function, does the track button do anything?

Anyone find a promo code for the track feature? i mean it sounds like a cool thing to have but $50 is alot, i wish i could try it out for free for a year before i made that commitment.

If you use the SOS button it is because there is a life threatening danger, it does not have to actually be you that is hurt. So no, you won't be charged, you are there at the scene, that is covered

The track button is for tracks only

I have never found a promo code

I just reactivated my SPOT 1 for my upcoming trip, basic service, tracks and SAR compensation, all up $170us, and I think it is worth it at 46 cents per day. FYI it is on the bike dashboard but connected to me via a lanyard


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Cheers
TravellingStrom

[Pete O Static]

Originally Posted by Casejeep

..............

If im out riding, or on my boat on the lake, or wherever and come upon someone in dire need on medical assistance. If i press my SOS button, do i get charged for the rescue? Or if im riding with a group and someone runs headlong into a tree, without sounding like a heartless bastard, will the local SAR team charge me for starting a search? ............

Ha ya cheap bastard! :). All kidding aside, that is a question I would ask the people SPOT contracts to monitor and dispatch. I wouldn't rely on what we might have to say on an Internet forum. It would be my guess that the bill would be sent to the subscriber because they have all your info but who knows? perhaps responders bill directly. I would imagine that it is different throughout the world but what do I know?

In reality, you are probably going to hit the button anyway in a situation like that and deal with the fallout later but it is a great question nonetheless!

[Montague]

I cannot comment on all jurisdictions but in most of Canada, there is no possibility of being charged for emergency response unless it is a prank, you are charged/convicted and the court orders payment.

The general legal rule of thumb applied is "what would a reasonable citizen do in the circumstance?"

The last thing anyone wants is someone to die because a potential rescuer is concerned about monetary or other liability.

[widebmw]

Tracking.
I had a friend who would watch my tracking and call me at the motels I was at.
We were on another trip a his wife called us at a restaurant at lunch time.

I wanted to put the SPOT beside a jail but my wife would not let me.

[SF_Hooligan]

SPOT also has their GEOS Member Rescue Benefit - basically insurance that covers rescue costs. However, it only covers the SPOT owner. The GEOS Alliance may offer other options, though. Worth looking into if feel like you might not press that button because you're worried about paying for a helo ride.

[HardWorkingDog]

Originally Posted by trampaslake

Yeah, that's what I was afraid of.

I've had several instances where all lights have blinked correctly with the correct colors, and me therefore thinking a message was sent, but then I get back to civilization and people watching my progress were worried since they never received a message.

I guess I need to send more messages to increase the probability of one getting out.

I'm curious--when you have a "never received a message" issue, do you check your account at findmespot.com to see if SPOT's command central got the gps coordinates? Do you have your own cell phone on the contact profile, so you can verify messages?

There's a long chain of handoffs from you pressing the OK button to an sms message being received by someone on your profile list...I'm not yet willing to blame SPOT for a "never received a message" failure. I know I have had sms message failures simply from cell phone to cell phone, but never had a SPOT failure.

[Pantah]

Originally Posted by Unstable Rider

I sold it and cancelled the account when Spot "auto-renewed" my account at the 11 month mark without ASKING me.. deal breaker for me.

Really? My Spot services renew this May 1, but they alerted me last month that they would do it automatically and gave me an opt out window. I was pretty happy because I have a son who is racing the Mexican 1000 with the Spot and thought I would be required to manually renew. One less thing to worry about as he prepares for his race.

I've found the Spot helpline to be quite productive so far. I struggled a few times when I first got it, not only with the instrument, but how best to use the Myspot website and archive system. They fixed me up in a few minutes every time I call.

[OneEffinName]

Originally Posted by HardWorkingDog

I'm curious--when you have a "never received a message" issue, do you check your account at findmespot.com to see if SPOT's command central got the gps coordinates?

Yes, its my account at findmespot.com, and yes, messages/tracking get missed.

Perhaps in the middle of the desert it would not be an issue, but in mixed cover its sometimes good sometimes not so good. So I dont stake life/limb on it. I just use the device so the wifey knows where I am at. If I am past my return time, the wifey puts "Rescue Plan A" into effect.

[trampaslake]

Originally Posted by HardWorkingDog

I'm curious--when you have a "never received a message" issue, do you check your account at findmespot.com to see if SPOT's command central got the gps coordinates? Do you have your own cell phone on the contact profile, so you can verify messages?

There's a long chain of handoffs from you pressing the OK button to an sms message being received by someone on your profile list...I'm not yet willing to blame SPOT for a "never received a message" failure. I know I have had sms message failures simply from cell phone to cell phone, but never had a SPOT failure.

The instance I'm thinking about was situation where we had camped for the night. I pressed the OK button and watched the lights do their thing in the correct sequence of message sent. It probably took maybe 6 or 7 minutes for that to happen.

I get back from our trip and on findmespot.com, that day's OK message isn't there.

I have my email and phone set to receive the OK messages and it's not on those either.

I start asking my other contacts (I have 7 in all) and none received a message on that day.

I was really thankful that all knew to not call out the cavalry for just one days missed message.

So, if all the lights do what SPOT says should happen, and it doesn't show on findmespot.com, then where else could the problem be if not for the device itself or findmespot.com?

Obviously, in the end, I should send more than one OK message, just to be sure one gets away.