SPOT Emergancy Locator

[Cottonwood]

Just got one of these for Christmas, and think its a great deal.  No its not a GPS, Yes it is an emergancy locating device that can be used in a non emergancy way to track where you have been and where you are to some one who is sitting at home wondering.  They can not contact you by cell phone because your out of reach etc.

I had just this type of situation this last hunting season, where I was out of cell phone range all day in Montana's south fork area.  I had 7 text messages when we finally got out at the end of the day.  I told my wife, it I didn't answer the first one, what made you think I was going to answer the next 6.

IF my hunting partner, or I would have gotten hurt some 50 miles back in the south fork area, it could have ment life or death if one of us were down, while the other had to go back for help.

That was the selling point of the SPOT for us.

[Siskiyou]

I think they are a good deal.  The problem is they have become a problem because the weak minded people in our society abuse them.  I think we will see people who abuse them billed.  In turn I helped on an incident where there was a real back country emergency that resulted in a rescue.

I have rapidly joined the stay near the road gang instead of putting on my pack and getting into that nasty country for my buck.  Would I make a bad one and go into the favor canyon because I have a SPOT locator in my pack?  To be honest the urge to go is strong, and I might make that hunt.

Which reminds me, I need to make an appointment because the knee hurt all night.

[Cottonwood]

Siskiyou

My hunting partner and I stick to gated roads when hiking in, and flag if we are headed off the trail where he uses his GPS to mark our enterance point.  We also carry maps into the area we are going, and our wives get a map of the area so marked and we do not deviate from where we are going.

The SPOT is strictly for activating should we fall, get a twisted ankel or break something or worse.  I would rather have this and not need it, than to need it and not have it.  I have read stories about the Yuppy 911 call outs, due to lack of preperation for water and warm clothing etc.  Yep those that abuse this should be billed heavily, and make it rough for those that don't abuse it.

[Siskiyou]

I think they are a good tool.  If I found one under my Christmas tree I would carry it.  The wives have been talking about the importance of the group hunting together and the need for a Spot in our group.

[Glanceblamm]

No its not a GPS, Yes it is an emergancy locating device that can be used in a non emergancy way to track where you have been and where you are to some one who is sitting at home wondering. 

I am a bit confused here which can be the norm...does the SPOT allow you to transmit information to one back home or is it a digital compass that allows you to record waypoints as you travel?

[Dand]

Glance I dont' know much about 'em but they are being advertised up here in AK. I haven't heard how they work.

Here's a link to their site.
http://www.findmespot.com/en/

Sure seems like a handier size package than a bulky sat phone or radio of some sort.

[Lloyd Smale]

dont you have to pay a yearly fee to have one operational?

[Dave in WV]

dont you have to pay a yearly fee to have one operational?

Yes you do.

[Glanceblamm]

Thanks for the Link Dand,

Looks like a beacon + waypoint storage + letting ones back home know you are ok on a daily basis. More options to record your trip and attach pictures appear to come with the software.

Subscription at $30 per year or a bit over $3 per month would be reasonable but I bet that is for road service with trail usage and especially marine usage packages being higher.