PLB’s with Check-In? SPOT failure.

It is always somewhat confusing for me to read these stories of Spot failures. Which, by the way, I don't doubt. However, it is generally difficult to discern the underlying factors in the failures themselves.

I've always wondered how PLBs would stack up if they were used in a similar manner. Thankfully, most people I know with PLBs never use them, ever. My Spot on the the other hand will send hundreds of messages on a single trip. The tracking feature is the reason I bought the Spot over a PLB. Most people automatically assume they will be able/alive to activate their device. Sadly that is not always the case. Right now in Utah there is a solo hiker missing in the Uintah Mountains that is carrying a PLB that is several weeks overdue. Surely if he were able it would have been activated.

My experience with the Spot 2 in Utah and Colorado has been very good. While I don't log/track every single message sent, especially in tracking mode, my success rate has to be very near 100%. In fact, I am not aware of any OK or custom messages that haven't gone thru.

As always YMMV.

The reason Globalstar came up with Spot was to get them through their constellation issues with voice calls. AFAIK their fleet can handle one way links no problem. BWDIK?

BTW, the date to purchase a Globalstar phone for $499 and one year of unlimited voice for $19/month has been extended till the end of September. Hopefully the UN approval will happen in the month of September and the 11 new, operational satellites will begin functioning in the US.

It's really confusing, as a consumer, which is the best option. Actually – I know a satellite phone is the best. But second best. There are so many bad SPOT stories, but you know what? There are ACR 406 stories as well about them failing to send messages. And am I the only one uncomfortable and confused about how the 406link system works? It seems to me like they are using what is meant to be a test channel for a PLB and monetizing it but turning it into a check-in (I'm ok) product. More power to them, but it just feels weird to me.

Think of it like this. It is true that 406link uses a SAR test signal but it still only offers what SPOT does: an advisory message. A real emergency 406 signal keeps transmitting packets and broadcasting a homing signal on the civil aeronautical distress frequency. 406link allows a user to periodically test a PLB to ensure it will function if needed. It is a full system test over an actual SAR satellite system. 406link just gives access to the system.

Hi Tyler-

It's really difficult to say whether a PLB or other device will function any better (or worse) without knowing the cause of the failures you experienced with Spot. The only information you've provided is that they broke – no detail. How are they carried? Are they subject to regular shocks? Water? High temperatures?

The debates whether a Spot Messenger or PLB is better has been going on for a long time. Everyone is going to have their opinion and choose the device they perceive as the most useful for their particular set of conditions. My only recommendation to you at this point is to determine what failed – if anything at all. Send the units back to Spot and have them confirm it. Only then, can you make an educated decision about whether or not to buy a different device. Perhaps your team needs a ruggedized version.

I chose a Spot II for my uses because I wanted more than an emergency-only PLB. I use the tracking feature because I can't guarantee that I will be conscious or able to press the 9-1-1 button in the event of a true emergency.

Mike

Hi Everyone,

I work for a company based in the UK called Yellowbrick-tracking. We design and produce personal handheld trackers based on the Iridium satellite network.

Our YB3 device has similar functionality to the Delorme device already mentioned, with a few notable extra features. Its fully water proof down to a depth of 1 metre and has been though military vibration testing. It is capable of tracking, sending 2 way messages from a connected smart phone and has a better life that can extend to up to 1 year.

If you don't want to blue tooth a smart phone to the tracker you can also pick from one of the predefined messages or use the keypad and screen to type out short messages.

It also has an alert button that can be configured to send a message to any phone or email account when pressed.

I think it would be ideally suited to you application Tyler.

Please let me know if anyone would like some more information.

A bit of biased history on the Spot: The spot device runs on the Global Star network of satellites and a few years ago they started to fall out of the sky. This meant that Global Star was badly limited by the capacity of the network and no longer had 24 hour global coverage and unable to carry on providing their voice services. So badly strapped for cash they needed to design something that would generate some income, would be cheap to produce and work on their badly depleting satellite network. So they came up with the Spot device, this only transmits a small amount of data and if there is not a satellite overhead when it wants to transmit it just holds on to it until it can see one. This means it can cope with the lack of satellites and also means it does not put much capacity drain on the network as it is a simplex device. However this means that it is not very good in a emergency situation as you do not receive a response to your alert and never know if anyone has received it.

If you are using the device as a safety device then you need a reliable device serviced by a reliable satellite network like Iridium.

Drew Jackson