Just wondering if anyone out there in cyberland has tried or knows someone that has, the Spot GPS transmitter?

Sounds like a perfect device for me as I normally work out in the boonies by myself. Trouble is, I have a $10,000+ Trimble GPS for my business and I've had many instances where it wouldn't take a reading. This usually occured down in a heavily timbered canyon and also the unit requires 5 satellites before it will take a reading.

I'm not a very high tech kinda guy. I bought the Trimble for an employee who knew how to use it. My fear is that if the big bucks Trimble won't get out, can a $300 Spot?

I'd post a link to Spot but I don't know how to that.

Is this what you're talking about?

YES, exactly. Now, how do you do that where you just point and click and it takes you to another web site. (Yea, I know this is off topic but it's my topic and I can cry if I want to, cry if I want to, you would cry too if.... Wow, now I'm really off topic.)

Sent you a PM, hope it points you in the right direction.

Thanks Ace!, I'd still like to here from anyone that can reference Spots use in 7000' peaks right next to 2500' canyons terrain like we have here in the western mountains. Will it get out in the bottom of one of these canyons?

Any help appreciated. Thanks, Norcal

(I'd still like to learn how to do one of those link thingies) (and I promise I won't sing)

I have used one in the field and it works perfectly. My Camping buddies went ahead of me on a camping trip, and they used the SPOT to send me a Txt Message on my cell phone indicating they had arrived at their Campsite , along with its GPS coordinates. I can tell you that this area was as remote as you could possibly imagine, and none of us had been there. Using the coordinates provided, along with my GPS, I was able to find them no problem. This item is on my XMAS list no doubt!!!

To generate a link (a word that when clicked on redirects the user to another web site) just highlight the word in your text that you want to use as the link and click on the green arrow and plus sign button above the posting box when trying to respond. Then copy and paste the web site you want that word to send people to.

No, I don't think the $300 dollar spot will get out any better and is probably much worse under certain circumstances. I think the cheapest route is a cell phone GPS navigator since they now use aGPS. Not only does the phone use satellites but it uses the satellites as well. In heavy forest covered terrain with deep channels it might not work any better or even not at all. Cell phones with the feature enabled are probably figured to be used in cities where cell towers are more abundant and that is why you can navigate through the tall buildings.

It might be better to have a digital compass on board with a brain where stored readings can be encoded and help determine locations when a full compliment of satellites isn't available. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't already exist, maybe even ones that can determine location from directional radio signals.

I have seen some poorly made Sci-Fi shows where they used GPS on other planets and under ground. These are possibilities but would require some more hard ware. On another planet they would have to have a set of satellites orbiting and under ground... well they sell these now. They are called iGPS and use a system of smart transmitters that locate themselves to other transmitters nearby and then triangulate the position.

That $300 spot device probably isn't as useful as the radio beacon they sell for hot dog skiers.

I think every Bigfoot researcher should have a cell phone with the GPS feature enabled. That way if they ever come across a dead Bigfoot, just open it's mouth and shove the phone inside and close it, they will then be able to relocate it even if it is carted away by others of it's kind.

Wow, ElDonkey and DDA, thanks. I remember sitting out in the woods one early Saturday morning with my Trimble and I just couldn't get that fifth satellite. It has a feature that shows where the satellites are and one would come in just as another would go out. I was down in a steep canyon with lots of big timber on a clear June day. I sat there for 2 hours trying to get the last reading for an area we were going to bill on but it never came in and I had a wedding to go to at 2:00 that afternoon. I finally gave up.

ElDonkey, I don't think the remoteness had anything to do with it, it was just the steep mountainsides. Really good fishing in the creek down there though. Ace! PMed me and suggested that with the Spot I may only need to move 40 or 50 yards to get out and that might work to keep my wife happy. I mean, I don't need to be in any one exact spot like I have to do with the Trimble for billing so maybe the Spot would work for me (?). I hate making my wife worry. For many years when I was falling timber she worried. It took an employees death and the next year a broken femur on me to get me to end my falling career (man, I miss the money) but it's worth it- you get the big bucks to sacrafice your body and at 50, I still get around pretty good so I'm glad I stopped. She still worries because I'm usually all alone and I saw the Spot in a Canadian logging magazine that I get and it touted the work alone factor so maybe I'll give it a try.

Thanks DDA for the link instructions. Many times I've wanted to link to something while here on the BFF but had no clue how to do it so now I'll have to see if I can do it. I may be a "dumb" logger but I'm not afraid to try.

DDA, I know my cell phones have a GPS feature so I guess I'll read the instructions (that'll be a first) and see if I can figure out how to use them before buying a Spot. I really miss the good old days when we had two way FM radios. They got out almost everywhere but very expensive. I worked for a big outfit that had them and you could call in for parts, they'd call their pilot and he'd take off for OR or WA, pick up the parts, fly back down, transfer to the helo and deliver the parts out in the woods the same day. You'd be back up and running in a day while the gypo's would be down for a week or ten days with the same breakdown.

I'm trying not to look back but rather forward.

Have fun, Norcal

I can't speak for everyplace but in the Adirondacks a cell phone is about as useful as two tin cans and string. Some parts of the country just don't have cell coverage yet.

As far the the Spot is concerned the best feedback I've gotten is from fellow hikers who use this device in backpacking adventures. The reviews have not been too kind nor is the feedback I've gotten. The hikers I've spoken with have opted to spend more for a PLB or have decided to wait for technology to provide a better "Spot". Gen 2.

Ideally, becoming highly proficient with map and compass and wilderness survival is irreplaceable but if I were spending money on technology I would bag the Spot and opt for a PLB.

You know what Norcal, I don't know why you're considering it. I guess I should have asked before commenting.

It is different than a PLB or a GPS (although sharing features). Do you want your wife to know where you are at anytime, or do you want to hit a button and have SAR looking for you? The reason I ask is because the SPOT works as both (sort of).

ACR makes good products for rescue, PLBs, but they won't transmit your location on google maps for folks to look you up and know where you are. That's what the SPOT does, transmits your GPS location and plots it on a map so others can see it on their computer. If you want your wife to see where you are, or where you've been, the SPOT is the ticket. If you just need a emergency locator, there might be better things out there. The SPOT is supposed to work as both, but I don't think it's perfect for either (probably really good compared to the competition...oh, what competition). Like in Baja, you could see the course of a racer, then if it stopped you'd know where, or close to it. Then, the SPOT offers a "need help" kind of transmission and an "emergency" transmission. Say you fell but aren't dying, you can send a "send help" message, but if BF has you in his grip you can send an "emergency send help now d*mn it" message".

The best piece of gear I ever purchased was my Garmin Venture HC. I purchased TOPO Maps 2008 and loaded that software into it. It's worth every bit of $169.00 (the TOPO software was $99). Of course it's receive only, but it's absolutely impossible to get lost using one of these devices. I typically track 5 or 6 satellites of the 12 available in my area. It needs only 2 satellites to located your position and 3 to get your elevation as well. I love the track mode... you turn it on and it literally tracks every step you take and then you can back track. Also, you program waypoints (like your campsite or vehicle) and when you need to get back, simply tell it to guide you to it. The compass has an arrow and tells you which way to walk. It's the ultimate tool for hiking. Not extremely useful for driving directions, for that I have my IPHONE. So, if you have this Garmin GPS and your cell phone, you can't really go wrong. The two AA Batteries last for 12-14 hours and I alway carry a spare set or two. I rarely, and I mean rarely fail to get a lock on my position, even in heavy forested areas. The receiver is super sensitive.

Just my 2 cents. I don't hike without it. Here's a link to it:

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=8707

Regards,
Mojo....

Thanks everyone. I guess I need to do more research. I've never heard of a PLB but for now I'm guessing it's similar to an avalanche beacon. The Spots mapping feature sounds just right for what I do. In addition to my wife usually not having a clue where I'm working she also doesn't know which forestry firm I'm contracted to and if she does, she usually has no idea who to call if I don't come home. These are all my bads and easily remedied but for the times when I go out to look at a job and even I am not sure where I'm going, the Spot would be good because she could see if I'm at least moving. Lots of other thoughts on the subject but I want to do some more reading first.

And Ace! As far as the BF strangle hold, not to worry, it's a well known (crypto) zoological fact that there are no BFs anywhere within a 50 mile radius of anywhere Norcal Logger happens to be. Honest, it's true!

Wiiawiwb (hope I spelled that right), what didn't your friends like about the Spot? Any feedback on its use under the trees or down in deep canyons would be great. If I say so myself, I'm quite proficient at orienteering and wilderness survival but I'm just concerned about my daily work in regards to this thread.

Have fun, Norcal

PLB is like an avalanche beacon, similar anyway, but used in a different context (PLB is more universal, and will notify SAR, or the various SAR-like agencies world wide). An avalanche beacon is more specific in locating someone. A PLB is sort of like a black box in an aircraft, whereas the avalanche beacon is more specific to locating someone buried in snow. I hope that makes a little sense. The SPOT sounds like it's more what you're looking for, if it receives/transmits where you are.

The feedback I've gotten is that the chip is not sensitive enough under the forest canopy (old chip) and it is not reliable.

Here are few threads or reviews if you want more information:

Reviews:

http://www.gpsmagazine.com/2008/01/spot_sa...enger_perso.php

http://equipped.org/SPOT_ORSummer2007.htm

Message Boards:

http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?...earchTerms=spot,

http://www.adkforum.com/showthread.php?t=8...;highlight=spot

http://www.viewsfromthetop.com/forums/show...;highlight=spot

Thanks a bunch! I just got home from a Christmas eve's eve church service and I ran into one of the Baja race team guys. I'll fill you in in the morning but we have my 84 year old mom with us and I need to get off the computer.

See ya soon, Norcal

I think this thread is about as close as I am going to get. I am wondering if anybody has run into a satellite text messaging unit other than a full sat phone. Cell phones just don't work in the Gifford Pinchot. Actually GPS doesn't work all that well as it usually requires at least three satellites. But a small texting unit that reaches one geostationary satellite could be real useful.

I have used satellite text pagers and they are limited to receiving messages. Two way capability would eliminate my need for a phone if it was reliable. Anyone know if such a thing is offered?

Never heard of one but I'm rather out of the high tech world. That sounds exactly like what I'm looking for however. A friend of mine who was at the tracking class today uses a Spot and says he has had real good results with it. He spends a lot of time hiking alone in our local mountains and only rarely can't get out. He's also had a lot of experience with a big bucks Trimble and says the 5 satellite thing is it's only hindrance.

I'm starting to lean towards the Spot.

Have fun, Norcal

Well... I broke down and bought a Spot. Now all I have to do is go get lost somewhere to see if it really works.

Thanks everyone, Norcal

Hi

I tried that once yrs ago while i was out on the boat, Figured i would try and get lost then check to see if my newly purchased loran system would get me back, It didn't cause i forgot to mark were i started from The new stuff is pretty slick, Have fun with it ~ Norcal ~

Peace
Tim

Yeah, have fun and let us know how it works!

Well I finally tried it out this week and had somewhat surprising results. Took a reading in the bottom of a canyon under the trees on a cloudy day and it registered on my phone/computer. Pretty impressive. This was a quick reading out the window of my pickup on the way to work. Did this 2 other times out the window of my truck and got no reading so I'm guessing that it requires a longer chance to hit the satellites before putting it back into the truck. Also took a reading out in the open and then turned it off shortly thereafter and it didn't register so again, I don't think it had enough time to hit the satellites. Also, the Google Maps feature was right on with where I took my reading so if one ever did need help the rescuers should be easily able to find you.

Hopefully tonight I'm going on a moonlight ski trip so I'll just leave it on, take some readings, record the time of each reading and check the registering time against my recorded time to see how close the 2 are. All in all, it seems like a pretty good safety device assuming I'm not trapped up side down inside a tractor and can't get my arm out the window.

Have fun, Norcal

Awesome I have been thinking about buying one, so let me know how it works and when I order it I will tell them well Norcal Logger said it would work and I will try not to get trapped up side down inside a tractor where I can't get my arm out the window.

Well, what a beautiful night. Absolutely cloudless, 86% moon, transit at around 10:00 PM and temperature in the 20's. I hung the Spot from the shoulder strap of my knap sack and every reading registered within 10 minutes. The only negative was a minor one and that was the little "I'm on" light flashing every so often. We were skiing a ridge top but under the trees for most of the time and it worked great.

Heated up some fondue when we got to the canyon overlook. Fresh San Francisco sour dough bread, mushrooms and apple slices to dip in the cheese and a nice bottle of Chardonnay to wash it all down. Doesn't get much better than this.

Oh, but it did get better. We found a recently dead Bigfoot, tied the Spot around his neck and then hid in the forest. A whole troupe of Bigfoots came and picked up the body, carried it off and we followed the Spot signal to the secret Bigfoot lair where we were greeted by the whole clan. We exchanged pleasantries and even some gifts, they gave back the Spot and we parted with that warm feeling of "Neener, neener, neener, we saw some Bigfoots (and you didn't)".

All in all, a great night. Too bad none of us had a camera. Have fun, Norcal