The device Bob is writing about is a SPOT. I have not yet used one but it looks like a very interesting safety gadget for those of us who go off the beaten track. Especially solo. This device will send out messages to people you make part of your "Team" that show your position on GoogleEarth. It costs $150 to buy and then requires that you pay a service fee to keep it in operation. It does not notify SAR but it does give your friends and family information on where you have been. REI in Seattle sells them and there are ten reviews (www.rei.com and search for "spot"); it seems people either love it or hate it. However there are some problems. One reviewer mentions that it can take a long time (1.5 hours in at least one case) for your "help" notice to reach your "team" members (people you have given access to your account). He did not test the "911" but felt that a "help" message should go faster. He also says that it doesn't work when on your belt or backpack... you have to fasten it so it's upright on a surface (like your kayak). Team members also have full access to your account so they can (accidentally) change your settings. One reviewer added a caveat that this is not an Emergency Locator Beacon (ELB) and does not activate search and rescue. Another reviewer says that his 12 year old kid likes to ski out-of-bounds so having him carry this makes him feel better about it. If my 12 year old kid did not stay in-bounds he could buy his own damn lift tickets!!! I encourage everyone who paddles solo to at least read the reviews on www.rei.com and at least consider the device. In the Rev's case I'd suggest he actually carry an ELB as well as one of these. All ya need is money, right? :P Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA On Jan 30, 2008 6:58 PM, Bob Carter <revkayak_at_aptalaska.net> wrote: > A friend of mine who I suspect thinks I am crazy for paddling solo as much > as > I do just sent me a note about a new GPS linked device which can be > activated > in emergencies to notify emergency personnel that you need help. It will > also > allow friends and family to track your progress over the net. > I will research it a little more and consider carrying one if I think it > pans > out. I am planning a 250 mile three week trip this summer and a device > like > this may be comforting to my very understanding wife. > www.findmespot.com > > Let me know if anyone has used this device. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Craig said: >It does not notify SAR but it > does > give your friends and family information on where you have been. > Craig, It does notify SAR when you are in trouble. The system uses the GEOS satellite system and service (same one that is used to track commercial ships and containers). When a 911 message is received, they notify the CG or SAR (depending on whether your position is on land or water) for a rescue. When in a foreign country, they notify the US Embassy or Consulate for them to notify whomever is able to do a rescue in that location. There is also an insurance service that you can get for $8 if you sign up for it when you register your unit that will cover up to $100,000 for rescue costs. There are 3 kinds of messages that the unit can send: 1. I'm ok and at (location) with a link to a Google Map 2. "Help" - Non-emergency, but I need help (SAR folks are not notified). Emailed and a link to Google Maps is shown. 3. "911" - Emergency - SAR, CG, etc notified. Location is updated every 5 minutes after the initial call is made. A message that I sent almost two weeks ago came in as: SPOT Check OK. I'm here and everything is ok. Unit Number: 0-7349014 Latitude: 34.203 Longitude: -119.2564 Nearest Town from unit Location: Unknown Distance to the nearest town: Unknown Time in GMT the message was sent: 01/20/2008 18:54:44 http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=34.203,-119.2564&ie=UTF8&z= 12&om=1 Hope this helps clear up some of the controversy. Steve Holtzman *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Thanks, Steve... I was relying on the reviews that appeared on rei.com. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA On Jan 30, 2008 9:27 PM, Steve Holtzman <sh_at_actglobal.net> wrote: > It does notify SAR when you are in trouble. The system uses the GEOS > satellite system and service (same one that is used to track commercial > ships and containers). When a 911 message is received, they notify the CG > or > SAR (depending on whether your position is on land or water) for a rescue. > > When in a foreign country, they notify the US Embassy or Consulate for > them > to notify whomever is able to do a rescue in that location. There is also > an > insurance service that you can get for $8 if you sign up for it when you > register your unit that will cover up to $100,000 for rescue costs. > > There are 3 kinds of messages that the unit can send: > 1. I'm ok and at (location) with a link to a Google Map > 2. "Help" - Non-emergency, but I need help (SAR folks are not > notified). Emailed and a link to Google Maps is shown. > 3. "911" - Emergency - SAR, CG, etc notified. Location is updated > every 5 minutes after the initial call is made. > > A message that I sent almost two weeks ago came in as: > > SPOT Check OK. I'm here and everything is ok. > Unit Number: 0-7349014 > Latitude: 34.203 > Longitude: -119.2564 > Nearest Town from unit Location: Unknown Distance to the nearest town: > Unknown Time in GMT the message was sent: 01/20/2008 18:54:44 > > http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=34.203,-119.2564&ie=UTF8&z= > 12&om=1 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
[Please remove all old content that is not pertinent to your reply including old headers and footers. It's list policy.... this post was modified to meet policy] This is available in Canada from GPSCentral (http://www.gpscentral.ca/products/spot.html) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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