SPOT Fee Increase – AArghh!

$430 per year for SPOT one-way texting and tracking? You’ve got to be kidding me!

For two-way texting and tracking on a more reliable network, consider a Garmin inReach SE+ with a Safety plan, or a Freedom plan you activate as needed:

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/561286

https://explore.garmin.com/en-US/inreach/

Good luck cancelling with SPOT, lots of horror stories out there.

— Rex

Holy cow, that’s crazy.

I have an InReach SE.  I use the Safety Plan or Recreation Plan on an as-needed basis, and suspend it during the rest of the year.

I wonder if this is regional…

I checked my emails to see if I had missed a notice of price increase and then logged on to check my billing and there was no change. I have the monthly plan and it’s $23.47

If they increased mine at all I would likely cancel.

Website shows no such price

https://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=103

After research, this is what I’ve found.

1. SPOT bills me bi-annually, so the $400 fee is for 2 years, an increase of $50/yr over the previous. That’s not to justify the increase – it has increased every 2 years since I first got a SPOT in 2012.
2. At $200/yr, it’s still worth it to my wife to have the peace of mind when I’m out by myself.
3. When it does get to be too much, I can rent an Iridium satphone from Verizon, my wireless provider, for $9/day or $54/wk.
4. I already have a Garmin eTrex, and all of my routing, maps and software are set up for that. I don’t want to switch to a DeLorme for $400 at this time.

My first wife didn’t need “peace of mind” when I went backpacking. Back then there weren’t even cell phones.

My current wife doesn’t need “peace of mind” either. She sees cell phones and SPOTS as technological dog leashes and understands the importance of removing technology from the wilderness experience.

What does “peace of mind” mean here?  You’d need to figure out why she’s worried.  If she’s really worried that you’re pulling Mark Sanford version of “Hiking the Appalachian Trail,” then a SPOT will show her that at least you’re having your affair in the woods (or that you know somebody who is going where you said you were going).  If she’s worried that you’ll die and leave her to raise kids alone, then you can maybe buy more life insurance, but I’d bet that the SPOT is cheaper.  If she just loves you, there’s no fixing that.

Joe, I applaud your efforts to keep the wife happy : ) I would look a the inreach plams and look for a deal on an SE. Cheapest plan is an annual 25 bucks and 15 dollars a month for only the months you need it. Good luck.</p>

I carry no technology back up but do have decent term life that is in effect in until I am 70. This was the best compromise that my wife is comfortable with.  I have a few more earning years left before I am worth more dead than alive, but once I retire that isn’t the case.  If she recommends more risky trips I will know she’s up to something.

Both my wife and I feel the same as Nick and his wife.  One of the big draws of backpacking for me is to get away from my regular life.  I am willing to accept personal responsibility for myself and my actions, whether intended or not.  It makes things more exciting.  I hiked the PCT and over half of the CDT corresponding by letter, postcard, and the occasional pay phone call.

My family has been instructed that a 24 hour delay is no big deal – 48 hours perhaps call – but exactly who?  The only definite thing is that if someone other than my wife calls in a helicopter, make sure they understand I am not paying for it and will wave them on if I don’t need it.😀

While out hiking I have come home to 9-11 having happened, hurricane Katrina, and market crashes in 2001, 2008, and 2015, immediate family members in the hospital with serious conditions, and a house fire.  Not knowing about things I could do nothing about was a big plus and they were there waiting for me when I returned home after a great trip.

while I’m personally more in the Nick Gatel camp on this, I do understand that some people simply fear the unknown. However, carrying a SPOT does not automatically mean you will be safe or even rescued successfully. There are many situations where carrying a device like this would do no good at all. So for anyone doing the cost benefit analysis these situations need to be factored in. If the wife is truly that nervous about the back country maybe its time to stop going there, and train to be an “urban” Ninja Warrior instead.

 If the wife is truly that nervous about the back country maybe its time to stop going there, and train to be an “urban” Ninja Warrior instead.

Maybe people should just go where they want and carry what they want, for whatever reasons, real or imagined, not giving a rat’s ass what somebody else thinks.

Radical, eh?

I did a lot of stuff back in the day before cellphones and GPS and would prefer not to carry a SPOT at all and do so only because it keeps the wife happy, and it’s one-way.

It’s not some machismo pissing contest. HYOH

There’s the ResQ Link+ (buoyant) PLB (personal locator beacon) at 5.4 ounces, $269 or the

ResQ Link (non-floating) PLB at 4.6 ounces and $260.

I tossed my SPOT due to SPOTty coverage here in the north woods (at least it was spotty 8 years ago) and the fees.  A PLB battery lasts 5 years (though is expensive to replace) and there is no subscription fee.  But you can only hit the panic button to activate SAR.  You can’t send an “I’m Okay” message like a SPOT can or a custom text like you can on an InReach.  Or so I always thought.  I just look at REI’s description to double-check the weights and saw this in the reviews:

“I used it for the first time a week ago. I was hiking and on my way back to the car when I realized I’d lost my phone and so couldn’t notify my friends by the agreed-up time that I was safe. I was able to stop them from calling SAR by using the GPS Test feature to send an “I’m OK” message to them.

It worked flawlessly. The instructions for how to use it are very clear, and printed right on the device. When I got home and checked my email, all of the people in my notification list has sent an email wanting to know what had happened.”

I’d want that confirmed before you planned on a PLB to update the wife back home.  And maybe there’d be a problem if you used that test option repeatedly?

But if your wife would accept, “I have a PLB.  I’ll hit the panic button if I get in trouble”, then it is a one-time cost for 5 years of use.  And it talks to more satellites (US and Russian) in more orbits (including polar orbits) which was the other reason I switched.

I have pondered the benefits of texting on an InReach having seen Manfred use his extensively.  But my “inner Nick” prefers to not to have anyone ping me when I’m stomping around in the woods.

“Maybe people should just go where they want and carry what they want, for whatever reasons, real or imagined, not giving a rat’s ass what somebody else thinks.”

+1

Bob

you either missed my tongue in cheek sarcasm, or you’re a life long bachelor, or you’re an extremely self absorbed and selfish married person. which is it ?

Ah, the ol’ “I was just kidding” thingie. lol

Camping in my backyard is not only safer, it also does have benefits – microwave popcorn before bed would be nice – oh, and the two things I crave most when out in the woods…ice cream and pizza!!

If I have a problem out there, it’s probably “game over”.

A tracker to makes it easier for S&R to find my body.

My wife said she would appreciate closure.

I once bought a very expensive goreTex jacket that was 70% off…probably because it was bright red.  When my wife asked why I bought a red jacket I said “to improve the chances of them finding my body at the bottom of the ravine”.  She was NOT amused.

Different wives.

Well, now that we have determined what is going on with the SPOT fees, I guess we can move on to further discussion.

I am not against cell phones, GPS, or SPOT type devices. Whether or not to use them is up to each person. I don’t think less of anyone because they prefer to take technology with them into the backcountry. Years ago I played around with a GPS and later an iPhone on a couple trips.

I found they diminished the experience for me.

My wife did not know what a SPOT device was until Peter Vacco spent 6 weeks walking solo in the Arctic on the sea ice earlier this year, when I got almost daily messages of his location. I shared those each day with my wife and plotted his progress on a map. She thought it was pretty cool, and realized that Peter’s trip could easily become very high risk. Should I undertake a trip like that, I would buy a SPOT, which she has already voiced her opinion about — if she would give me permission for such an adventure :-)

Should I do another multi-month trip (as I am thinking about doing in a couple years), she would probably insist on a cell phone so I could call periodically. However, she has camped enough with me in remote places to know about the lack of cell phone coverage, and understands why I prefer not to bring one. And she doesn’t have a problem with that. She just tells me to be safe and has my itinerary with the “drop dead date” to call if I don’t check in.

But what I do see is society becoming more and more risk adverse, even when the risk is minimal. This is further compounded when people demand the government get involved to minimize risk.

For example, years ago motorcycle helmets were not required in California, but I wore one anyway. Today they are required by law. I think that is wrong.

I always use a seat belt, but the law requires the car makers to install them, and it is against the law not to wear one. It should be up to the owner of the car if they want to buy or wear one.

Today, every new car has air bags which adds significant cost to each vehicle, and there is no option to buy a car without one, so the government is forcing people to buy an air bag equipped car.

It is now against the law not to have health insurance. A huge restriction on me to decide how I want to spend the money I have earned.

Today, I see that many, many people feel that cell phones or personal locater devices are required for backpacking, and should be added the 10 essentials.

The logical progression will be WiFi in our national parks, which is already happening. Next step might be cell phone towers on Mt. Whitney and along the JMT. Next might be government drones to patrol well know ABC trails for the common good, to check on the people who have a permit, which might also be used as law enforcement tools. Or even a $50 Wilderness Permit that includes a GPS chip to monitor your every move. That is the future of our wilderness areas and it looks ugly to me.

Next might be government drones to patrol well know ABC trails

How many hikers would consider paying $100 for a drone pizza delivery on the JMT, ordered via InReach, as a means to help fund the U.S. Forest Service?

Inreach is $400

Explorer is $450 – you also get standard GPS function of downloading and displaying topo maps

Plus, satellite is:

safety plan is $12 a month for 10 text messages per month $0.50 for each additional message

I do one trip per month typically, 5 messages sent and 5 received would be plenty

hmmm…  if my GPS died I’d be tempted to do that

WARNNG if you are a snowflake type don’t read this….

Maybe people should just go where they want and carry what they want, for whatever reasons, real or imagined, not giving a rat’s ass what somebody else thinks.

Right on man!

I have owned an Inreach for over a year now. I activated it only today because of the type of trip I will be taking in the near future and under the very particular circumstances I am under. I don’t feel the need to explain my situation to the OP nor would I expect him to explain his to me and I certainly don’t crave acceptance from anyone else here. The decent folks that I have met here and have had wonderful discussions with will not think twice about it and the ones that think only their way is a legitimate path to enjoying the outdoors can suck an egg. The OP was an alert to others of  possible  rate changes and contemplation of trying something new. As I recall he wasn’t asking for philosophical advise or collective permissions. I have noticed lately that this sight is sadly getting more and more a series of offhand person attacks on peoples choices more than a conversation centering on the OP. The dry humor of old is just fine and dandy with me personally but the sh*t that some are passing off as sarcasm is just that.

you either missed my tongue in cheek sarcasm, or you’re a life long bachelor, or you’re an extremely self absorbed and selfish married person. which is it ?

None of the above. You had better know someone pretty freeking good before you start throwing this crap at the wall. I get sick and tired of this childish internet BS. Get some manners, get a life or get the hell out on the trail as you are badly in need of one. Its summer time at BPL but its sounding like many have cabin fever still. By the sound of it I am in need of bugging out of here as well. Some of the remarks on BPL lately are reflective of why I need to get away from the general public to begin with…Geez

Telling someone else how to interact with their spouse, what underwear to wear, or how to defend themselves (bear spray, handgun, a real gun, interpersonal skills, etc) usually goes poorly.

And if you proceed to do so, obey Wheaton’s Law (as I just didn’t do in my obvious jab at the .44/.454 versus grizzly crowd).

Although I know nothing about the topic, it’s probably safe to say there’s ample statistical and anecdotal back-up for the .44/.454 comment. Especially among Alaskans.

Every time conversations wander off into the weeds concerning what people choose or choose not to carry into the hills it makes me think of the line coined by Ralph Burgess — “Enjoying the wilderness incorrectly” — a couple or three years ago during a “FKT vs stop-and-smell-the-roses” kerfuffle… so there it is in pure, crystalline form.

It’s interesting, and not a little ironic, that one of the main forms of verification for FKT is SPOT.