Spot GPS tracker

[Tom]

Has anyone here got any experiences - good/bad/indifferent - with the Spot Personal Tracker or Spot Satellite GPS Messenger that they would like to share? I have searched around for information from people who have actually used them here in Thailand and neighbouring countries, but can't really find much, only some discussions about the concept in general. Personally I wouldn't rely on the 911-feature of these devices in this neck of the woods, but to have someone else be able to see where you are, whether you have been stopped for a long time, and to be able to send off messages saying you're OK (or not, as the case may be) with no cellphone coverage is something I would be interested in.

 

[Steve Canyon]

Hey Tom, I have one, what a great bit of Kit..

Family always say "ring me when you get there"

No need with a spot, just press the button...works a treat...

post7194.html#p7194

:RO

 

[Tom]

Thanks Steve.

Don't know how I managed to miss your post. But OK, you sold me, I'll be ordering one shortly.

 

[Steve Canyon]

No problem old chap, It really is good if you want people to see where you are and that your alive and well..

A great tool especially if your solo..

:RO

 

[Steve Canyon]

This is what your friends and family can see when you send the message.

 

[KTMphil]

the problem i'm hearing from some users, is that if you're stopped for some time in the same place, the people that care about you that are monitoring the tracker then get concerned that you have an incident as you've stopped. So on top of whatever you have going on (maybe a mechanical issue), you have to remember to send the "i'm ok" message to the observers, so that they dont send help.

 

[Tom]

Phil,

you can't really fault the device for doing what it's supposed to do. I'd be more worried if people were saying that those watching couldn't tell where you were or whether you were moving. For me, I'll probably be in cellphone range most of the time anyway, so if I ever forgot to press the "I'm fine"-button when stopped - and I think it's just a matter of making a habit of it - the missus could call me up and check. The one time you are on the ground, knocked out, you'd be glad someone got worried.

 

[Faz Harris]

Hi guys...was looking for this gadget on the web for dealers in Malaysia.
I have some questions...
1. Did you buy this item in Thailand?
2. Hiow much did it cost?
3. Does it work a nywhere in the world?
4. What are the mainenance fees (monthly/annual)?
Rgds,
Faz.

 

[Tom]

As I haven't bought one yet, I can't comment on where to buy it. I was thinking of ordering it online, though I believe you can actually buy them in Chiang Mai. The SPOT Personal Tracker is $100 and the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger is $170. The yearly subscription for each of these devices is $100 for the basic package (http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=103), more if you want added services (http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=110). As for coverage area, have a look at http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=109. Except for Eastern Africa and India (including an area North of it), only the extreme North and South has no coverage.

 

[Faz Harris]

Thanks Tom, I live in Kedah , Malaysia... now u got me confused on what is the Spot Personal Tracker and the Spot Sattelite GPS Messenger....they are not the same? I need soemthing that will enable my friends or family to know my location so that I can get help immediately if its an SOS. I ride solo in the Malaysia outdoors...usually jungle trails. Most of the time no mobile phone coverage..

 

[Tom]

With the Personal Tracker, you can send 3 different messages, OK, Help (used for non-threatening problems) and 911, for when the hits the fan. With the GPS Messenger you get an additional message you can send, and this can be changed to whatever you want. I'm not 100% sure how this last message type works, but I don't think you can change it on the device itself (if someone knows better, please correct me). It looks to me like you would have to log on to an account with SPOT and change it there, and whatever you type in will be what is transmitted when pushing that button, until the next time you change the message online. Personally I plan to go for the Tracker, as I don't really foresee a big need for the extra message-type.

 

[Faz Harris]

Thanks Tom....great info. A buddy just rang me up and he knows of a dealer in Kuala Lumpur (about 360km south of me). He will check it out get all the details and advsie me for the local market....Thanks man. Will buy u a drink next time I am in Thailand, (if I get past Bangkok).

 

[Tom]

No worries. And I'm in Phuket, at least for a year or so yet...

 

[Faz Harris]

Great..that;'s near...send my regards to Khun Semon...(you shud know him, a bike shop selling KTM there).