Spot Satellite GPS Messenger

The SPOT device doesn't let you send text messages, unless they have something new out that I have missed. It lets you send a single pre-determined text message that you set on the website. Otherwise all you can do is the OK, SOS, or Help messages.

I have never had a SPOT message fail. Others have had different experiences. Here in the west the forest cover isn't thick.

What you want is probably one of the DeLorme InReach devices. They will let you send and RECEIVE 160-chracter texts that you compose on the fly. There are several versions. One uses a smartphone that it links to via Bluetooth as the interface, another is a self-contained unit, etc. Unless they did away with the smartphone one or something.

http://www.inreachdelorme.com/

EDIT– Yeah- I don't see the smartphone one any more. Just a couple of different stand-alone units.

I liked the SPOT 2. It was light and worked pretty well most of the time.

I always put fresh Lithium cells in it and it always lated the entire trip (I never went more than 4 or 5days)

Don't like the annual subscription fee.

Its not a two way texting system, but Im the kid of guy who records by out of office voice mail as: "I'm gone until Monday. You cant reach me at all." I do not understand the need to text when Im on the trial.

It does give peace on mind in an emergency situation . It also gives the folks at home a way to enjoy your trip (Did 100 miles of the Lone Star trail and my grandfather really liked tracking me. )

I previously carried a PLB with a 406mhz that allowed me to send an "I'm safe" message, really a big fan of it and it worked great. although there was an occasional time or two the message didn't go through (no verification of successful receipt on the other end) I just told my wife that if she didn't get a message one night to look for one the next – it wasn't a guarantee that I was safe or something was wrong so don't depend on it. However if something is terribly wrong, expect a phone call from SAR.

Last season I picked up a Delorme InReach SE that allowed me to both send text's and receive them. This is increasingly important for me as my family has expanded (kids) and I want to stay in touch to make sure they're safe at home also. I like it because it allows me to verify my message was successfully received on their end and even allows them to send me a short message if needed. I carried it on a 5 day hiking trip and couldn't have been more pleased with it. Monthly cost is obviously higher than a PLB or SPOT due to the iridium modem/service but I can turn it on/off months I'm using the service or not.

I did a lot of research about a PLB vs. SPOT and I hope this thread doesn't rehash the debate too much, but for me when it came to cost the ROI over a 3 year period was about the same – PLB is more expensive up front but cheaper yearly service vs the SPOT cheaper up front with a higher yearly service. However for me it was a piece of mind to know that the PLB was backed by NOAA COSPAS-SARSAT.

Get an InReach. Best device out there for two way communications, family can follow you on the site online and you can adjust the subscription, it's the bomb……I've used mine for two years now and don't go out without it.

Spot will signal under canopy (gen 3), but the message types are limited. Your Track messages only go to your spot account so somebody with the spot app needs data service to see them. Your OK & User-configured can go via sms so they just need cell coverage. Unfortunately, the spot app isn't capable of pulling up and, so they have to view your location by c&p coodinates into Google Maps/Earth, etc.

I have a PLB. when two way devices fail the anxiety is ten times worse than having folks sitting at home without it. they do fail, leading to panicked family dropping the dime for no reason and wasting SAR resources.

Never putting anyone through that – been there and never again.

SPOT is definitely not a back-n-forth communication device for the trail. Which is just the way I like it. :^)

Some backpackers only want an emergency beacon device and that is all. If they break a leg, Search and Rescue will be notified of your position, but they won't have any idea of the nature of the emergency.

Some backpackers want to be able to send out standard "I'm OK" messages out, plus the emergency beacon feature above.

Some backpackers want to be able to do all of that above, plus two-way free form text.

Some backpackers want progress pings to be sent by satellite for each time period on the trail. I guess they want a detailed route map to be created from this.

Each one has its own costs, battery demands, etc. The backpacker simply has to define priorities.

Note that different devices and different services operate off different satellites and at different radio frequencies. Some satellites are in low earth orbit, and some are geosynchronous (high). So, getting signals out from under tree cover to hit a satellite will be different, just depending on what you are trying to do.

If you fall down and break your leg, make sure that you are not in a steep canyon with thick trees overhead. If you are, then try to crawl out to a clearing where you can see sky.

–B.G.–

>"I just told my wife that if she didn't get a message one night to look for one the next night "

Or as I put it, Good news ("OK") is good news. No news is just no news. No news isn't bad news.

And if your partner can grasp that concept, great! But not everyone can. I was really clear about that prior to a 16-day Grand Canyon raft trip, and some families understood it and others freaked when we were camped in a tight spot for the night.

One possible way around that is to pay for the SPOT subscription that provides tracking. Track-track-track-track = everything is apparently fine. Track-track-track-no signal for a while in a wooded or canyon area, looks fine, too*. Versus the, "I'll signal you every night that I'm okay. If you get no signal, it just means I'm in the trees." getting interpreted as, ""I'll signal you every night that I'm okay. If you get no signal, it means a bear has eaten my torso and my SPOT device, too." Which isn't about the device, but about your partner.

*You can click on the link that SPOT emails or texts to your phone and it will direct you to a map with the location(s) on it.

If there is a real worry-wart on the home front, then the 2-way devices like InReach let you send a custom message. And even correct misunderstandings. For extreme stuff, anyone would rather message their exact situation ("broken leg, can't move, but not hypothermic", "totally lost, out of water", "heart attack, giving CPR") so the right rescuers respond with the right urgency. And especially in those grey areas – with a broken ankle on a trail, what I'd want is for them to send a pick-up truck to the trailhead with crutches and a splint, not to launch a helicopter.

In most backpacking settings, things you need urgently – shelter, water, warmth – (are ideally in your own gear but) are more quickly available from other hikers. OTOH, Manfred was able to text me with his InReach when his tent failed and I had one delivered to their next resupply point in the trail-less Brooks Range.

But tracking and messaging have subscription fees while a PLB (e.g. ResQ Link) does not.

>"I am at the trailhead, I made it to camp, I am back at the car."

Sounds like SPOT with tracking and your friends tracking your progress. Or InReach with its custom messages.

SPOT would be "set it and forget it". InReach would involve manually entering each text message.

Don't you hate it when they find your Sat phone in a big pile of Spinosaurus poop?

They worry about every trip after that happens just once.

I used the Spot Connect on my PCT hike. the difference between Connect and regular Spot messenger is the Connect uses Bluetooth to communicate with your smartphone, and you can custom message on trail without any internet connection. it's one way communicator. You type the message in the smartphone and then it transferred to the Spot for satellite communication. You buy a package of custom messages (not that expensive) or use the predefined messages as long as you have active subscription. You can change the predefined messages through Spot application as soon as you have internet connection. it's fast and very convenient.
The good thing is once you send a custom message it keeps it in the predefined messages database so you can use it how much you like (you'll understand why it's good in 2 sentences)

Was it reliable? well, for most of the PCT yes. over 90% of the messages I sent reached the destination (5 emails, 2 cellphones, live update of my blog).
Every-time I suspected message didn't go through, I just sent it again. it doesn't cost a thing. you can do it 2-3 times to make sure. one of the messages will reach the satellite.

I didn't experience any special problems in WA.

BTW – all the Spot expenses were 200$. including the device, subscription etc etc.

product website is here: http://tinyurl.com/lwolunv

I'm going to chew on the info you guys gave me. Your responses have helped. Thanks!

Here's a good read that might help
https://sites.google.com/site/hobbyhintstricksideas/Home/spot-messenger-information

Thanks Zorg! That's a very helpful link.

The YB# or Yellow Box 3 has been favorably reviewed.

Yellow Brick??