"Wayne.B" <waynebatrecdotboats@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote
> I have a "friend of a friend" who has one. It works well and the
> price seems reasonable enough. In my opinion it is a decent, low cost
> alternative to a SSB, EPIRB or Sat Phone. No voice capability of
> course, but a way to keep in touch or send an emergency message.
>
>
That's good to hear. I like to be "away" when I cruise so SSB and Sat
Phone
don't excite me much except for emergency contact. I like the idea of
being
able to carry all that capability in a pocket. The SPOT seems like it is
much more likely to end up in a liferaft than a large radio. Also, even
though I like to be "away", there are people on shore who would be
reassured
and interested by being able to track my progress. If a friend on shore
was consulting with SAR personnel, it would probably be helpful for them
to
be able to say, "He was making 50 miles a day and now he's been in just
one
spot for 24 hours and sending a 'Help' message." as opposed to just having
an EPIRB going off.
I've just gone through their web site:
http://www.findmespot.com/
an it appears that you can only send three messages, OK for check in, a
customizable "Help", and "911". These go by email and it says the "Help"
message is customizable. However, the site says nothing about how it is
customizable and the downloadable manual says nothing about it. I'm sure
it
is only customizable ahead of time when managing the account with Internet
access and not in the field. Still, being able to use "Help" for
something
like a medical emergency or major breakdown where you are in a stable and
relatively safe situation vs "911" when you are sitting in your dinghy or
liferaft watching your burning boat slip under the waves would be good.
The service also comes with $100,000 of insurance coverage for private
rescue such a chopper extraction. Under 8 bucks with purchase, $150.00 a
year thereafter.
I also like that it is not totally marine oriented. For the kinds of
things
I plan to do that would be useful. I wouldn't be likely to lug an EPIRB
on
a hike inland in Newfoundland and, if they got a boat EPIRB signal from on
shore, it might take a while for them to figure out what was going on.
The
SPOT is intended to be used by hikers so I expect they would respond more
quickly if they got a "911" from 5 miles inland.
--
Roger Long
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