As we reported at the Press Release of SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger (SPOT2) at the 2009 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, the folks at SPOT addressed many of our suggested improvements to the original SPOT1 in the Generation Two: SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger.
Now, after 80 days (750 hours) of field-testing of the new SPOT2 on three continents, we report improvement in three significant areas:
- Lighter and Smaller: 43% lighter (4.16 oz vs. 7.33 oz) and 45% smaller.
- Improved Reliability: 100% delivery of all OK messages for 80 days. Near 100% delivery of Tracking Point messages in “typical” mountain conditions, e.g. the Sierras and Andes. And daily delivery of ~90% (or better) Tracking Point messages in deep canyons or when bushwhacking (vegetation cover).
- Improved Operation: Dedicated button and status light for each function and safety covers for Help and SOS buttons make for intuitive operation and easily understood operational status.
In the field, the SPOT2 is easier to use and delivers a much higher proportion of Tracking Point messages than its predecessor. In addition, the Web-based software that supports SPOT is also better and now has a separate social networking site, SPOT Adventures, to share your adventures/data with others. In summary, the combination of the physical SPOT2 unit and supporting software is beginning to look more like a mature technology.
What impressed us most about the SPOT2 was its performance in a difficult transmission situation, a "typical" southern Utah canyon system. On a five-day slickrock canyon backpacking trip, the SPOT2 successfully delivered a daily average of ~90% of Tracking Point messages. Every OK message made it out. We saw similar message delivery performance on bushwhacking days in Alaska.
ARTICLE OUTLINE
- Version Two of SPOT Delivers the Potential of their Technology
- Basic Specifications - SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger (SPOT2)
- SPOT2 Improvements Summary
- SPOT Concept of Operation - General Overview
- Field Test of SPOT2
- Message Delivery Reliability
- Operation
- Battery Life
- Battery Life Lithium Claimed by SPOT
- Battery Life - BPL Field Testing
- Battery Life Lithium - BPL Field Testing
- Battery Life Alkaline - BPL Field Testing (not a Manufacturer approved use!)
- Mounting SPOT2 on a Backpack
- Protocols for Our Use - Use and Meaning of SPOT2 Messages
- Meaning of SPOT2 messages
- SPOT2 goes dead (no more messages)
- Suggestions for Improvement
# WORDS: 3620
# PHOTOS: 5
Member Exclusive
A Premium or Unlimited Membership* is required to view the rest of this article.
* A Basic Membership is required to view Member Q&A events
Discussion
Become a member to post in the forums.
"This is not a defect of the SPOT but the nature of satellite coverage."
Actually, it is the nature of Globalstar satellite coverage, not satellites in general.
–B.G.–
Fourth, I have now had two SPOT-2 devices COMPLETELY FAIL while on hiking trips, one in May2011 and the other in Oct2011. The GPS chip stopped working, and the devices were dead-weight. In both cases SPOT replaced the unit. However, this level of reliability is a huge problem. This is one reason I think it's critical that the home-base knows that an absence of messages does not necessarily mean there is a problem. I'm still a fan of the SPOT concept and functional design. However, the reliability problems I've had make me eager to see some other company offer a competitive product.
while im sure there are PLBs that are duds … and that those dont get reported as much due to the "use only when shiet happens"
IMO this level of failure is not acceptable at all … even if SPOT replaces the unit, if something happens on the trip, yr up the creek with no paddle …
Become a member to post in the forums.