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#105778 - 11/04/08 12:18 AM spot rebate
intrek38 Offline
member

Registered: 11/29/03
Posts: 430
Loc: Hesperia, Calif
Met someone on the trail this Summer with Spot, first I've heard of it but it's been out there. Just wondering what those of you who have one think of it. There's also a rebate,,,, http://findmespot.com/rebate/?utm_source...ampaign=Branded

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#105779 - 11/04/08 07:33 AM Re: spot rebate [Re: intrek38]
dla Offline
member

Registered: 09/06/04
Posts: 275
Loc: Hillsboro, Oregon, USA
Great product! Unlike many who have "opinions" on SPOT - I own one and use it successfully.

https://sites.google.com/site/hobbyhints...?attredirects=0 (will open Google Earth)

The file shows a hike in Idaho to an unamed group of lakes near Red Mt. The first mile of the hike is in canopy and on the south-facing side of a hill in the morning - not many track messages got out. And you can see later, by a good fishing lake, lot of messages because I forgot to turn it off.

I mount it on top of my pack, turn it on and forget about it. I usually send an "OK" message at the trailhead, at lunch and when I camp for the night. The rest of the time I have it in "TRACK" mode, sending a message every 10 minutes.

Lots of messages - that's the SPOT usage model. Loved ones feel connected to your adventures and SAR has electronic footprints in case things go bad.

SPOT is a great product idea and I expect it to get better over time. But the present unit works fine for me. Regarding the $50 rebate, when I bought my spot they were offering the Track mode for free - $49 value.

I've seen numerous SAR efforts already this year that would've resulted in a quick rescue if the injured party had been using a SPOT.


Edited by dla (11/04/08 03:32 PM)

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#105780 - 11/04/08 01:07 PM Re: spot rebate [Re: intrek38]
Chad_Hahn Offline
newbie

Registered: 01/06/05
Posts: 11
I've read too many instances of messages not being able to get out and the user not having anyway of telling whether the message was sent or not.

I think that having the false hope of thinking that help was on the way when in fact nobody knows you are in trouble is worse than not having any locator beacon at all. I don't know if I would put my life in its hands.

Chad

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#105781 - 11/04/08 01:15 PM Re: spot rebate [Re: Chad_Hahn]
Rick_D Offline
member

Registered: 01/06/02
Posts: 2939
Loc: NorCal
Reading tea leaves, I take this as a sign there's a new spot on the way and this is a way to clear out inventory. I'm holding out until they fix the numerous glitches Although I'd definitely like to have one I want to be able to rely on it, which at present I simply don't believe I can.

Frankly, I think they ought to give you the box and focus on selling subscriptions, like cell phones (I've never spent a nickel on a cell phone).

Quote:
I've read too many instances of messages not being able to get out and the user not having anyway of telling whether the message was sent or not.

I think that having the false hope of thinking that help was on the way when in fact nobody knows you are in trouble is worse than not having any locator beacon at all. I don't know if I would put my life in its hands.

Chad
_________________________
--Rick

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#105782 - 11/04/08 02:24 PM Re: spot rebate [Re: Rick_D]
Trailrunner Offline
member

Registered: 01/05/02
Posts: 1835
Loc: Los Angeles
I concur with Rick. The present model has glitches and I'm holding out for a refined version, even if it's more expensive. A human life is worth it.

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#105783 - 11/05/08 10:45 AM Re: spot rebate [Re: Trailrunner]
intrek38 Offline
member

Registered: 11/29/03
Posts: 430
Loc: Hesperia, Calif
Thanks for all the input everyone, I think I will hold off till my next solo hike for spot. Hopefully they will have a new model out by then. Even with the glitches, I think it will be worth it. In my opinion, no piece of equipment is 100%, but that never stopped me from wearing shoes.... Thanks everyone..

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#105784 - 11/05/08 08:17 PM Re: spot rebate [Re: intrek38]
Chad_Hahn Offline
newbie

Registered: 01/06/05
Posts: 11
Quote:
TIn my opinion, no piece of equipment is 100%, but that never stopped me from wearing shoes.... Thanks everyone..


I think that trusting your life to a piece of equipment that has known faults is foolish. It's like walking along an Alaskan river during Salmon season with bear spray that is 10 years old. It may or may not work but if it doesn't you are dead.

Chad

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#105785 - 11/05/08 10:56 PM Re: spot rebate [Re: intrek38]
NiytOwl Offline
member

Registered: 11/06/04
Posts: 501
Loc: California
There's another thread on Spot in "Backcountry Gadgets" that might make your decision easier (or easier to justify). FWIW, I'm with the other voices saying, "wait until version 2 comes out." Right now Spot is like a cell phone with a broken display and speaker. You can dial but you won't know if you're actually talking to someone.

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#105786 - 11/06/08 06:17 PM Re: spot rebate [Re: Chad_Hahn]
dla Offline
member

Registered: 09/06/04
Posts: 275
Loc: Hillsboro, Oregon, USA
Quote:
Quote:
TIn my opinion, no piece of equipment is 100%, but that never stopped me from wearing shoes.... Thanks everyone..


I think that trusting your life to a piece of equipment that has known faults is foolish. It's like walking along an Alaskan river during Salmon season with bear spray that is 10 years old. It may or may not work but if it doesn't you are dead.

Chad


My goodness! Some of you have the silliest ideas about equipment that you haven't tried, don't own, and clearly don't understand.

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#105787 - 11/07/08 09:07 AM Re: spot rebate [Re: dla]
Chad_Hahn Offline
newbie

Registered: 01/06/05
Posts: 11
Quote:

My goodness! Some of you have the silliest ideas about equipment that you haven't tried, don't own, and clearly don't understand.


I guess that's referring to me. What silly ideas do I have, that the Spot may not work when you need it to and you might be sitting there waiting for help to come when no one knows you're injured and you don't know the message went out? Or that Bear Spray has use by dates on the cans and that they fear the propellant may not work?

Chad

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#105788 - 11/07/08 03:04 PM Re: spot rebate [Re: Chad_Hahn]
midnightsun03 Offline
member

Registered: 08/06/03
Posts: 2936
Loc: Alaska
The last container of bear spray I bought (this past summer) did not have an expiration date on it. I looked all over for it because my last can certainly had one, so maybe they have improved the propellant?

MNS
_________________________
YMMV. Viewer discretion is advised.

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#105789 - 11/08/08 10:23 AM Re: spot rebate [Re: intrek38]
jasonlivy Offline
member

Registered: 01/02/04
Posts: 654
Loc: Colorado
Quote:
Thanks for all the input everyone, I think I will hold off till my next solo hike for spot. Hopefully they will have a new model out by then. Even with the glitches, I think it will be worth it. In my opinion, no piece of equipment is 100%, but that never stopped me from wearing shoes.... Thanks everyone..
Actually, there is... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

The ACR PLB is 100% reliable. ACR goes to extreme lengths to make sure it is. Yes, it is $650, but for those holding out for a unit that is completely reliable in the case you might not make it out of the situation, your wait is over (actually it was over as of July 2004). In the overall scheme of things, the ACR makes much more sense anyway. It doesn't have a subscription fee, it's not owned by a commercial entity which may go out of business, it's much more powerful and durable, and it WILL save your life (unless your in a cave).

Often, when I get a new electronic gadget, I find myself playing with all the features. This lasts for about 2 weeks. After that, the novelty wears off (maybe I'm weird that way). I find many will use the tracking feature of the SPOT until they find that it really doesn't work that well and it's wasting valuable battery power. They then will keep it for emergencies (if their smart), but in this they will be disappointed. The SPOT will never be a true Personal Locator Beacon unless they invest billions of dollars in new satellites, ground stations, etc.

In order for the unit to improve, they would have to charge significantly more for the unit itself or for the annual fee. The reason why they are giving them away is to capitalize on the annual fee. They might change the look of the unit to help drive sales, but the unit is pretty much what it's going to be for the foreseeable future. This is my opinion of course.
_________________________
Believe, then you will Understand...

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#105790 - 11/09/08 11:25 AM Re: spot rebate [Re: jasonlivy]
intrek38 Offline
member

Registered: 11/29/03
Posts: 430
Loc: Hesperia, Calif
What I was getting at with the 100% comment was that nothing is perfect. I would never put complete trust in any piece of equipment, no matter what it may cost. However, with obtaining the most reliable equipment affordable being the goal, questions are sure to come up as well as plenty of options. A PLB’s and the Sat’s a weighing in with there rental options so we will see.
One of the main reason SPOT got my attention was it would “help” give my family a little glimpse of my progress during a long solo hike, and maybe a little more assurance of my safety. Even though I’ve been on plenty of week long trips with out any serious mishaps, they will always worry. I’m actually more likely to get into trouble while driving then out in the woods, but one never knows.
I’ve been considering the JMT for to long now and I just might just get a shot at it next year. Thanks for all your suggestion, all your experience, all your humor and all you’re much needed and accepted sarcasm. Be safe….. Thanks

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#105791 - 11/09/08 07:20 PM Re: spot rebate [Re: intrek38]
jasonlivy Offline
member

Registered: 01/02/04
Posts: 654
Loc: Colorado
Quote:
What I was getting at with the 100% comment was that nothing is perfect. I would never put complete trust in any piece of equipment, no matter what it may cost. However, with obtaining the most reliable equipment affordable being the goal, questions are sure to come up as well as plenty of options. A PLB’s and the Sat’s a weighing in with there rental options so we will see.
One of the main reason SPOT got my attention was it would “help” give my family a little glimpse of my progress during a long solo hike, and maybe a little more assurance of my safety. Even though I’ve been on plenty of week long trips with out any serious mishaps, they will always worry. I’m actually more likely to get into trouble while driving then out in the woods, but one never knows.
I’ve been considering the JMT for to long now and I just might just get a shot at it next year. Thanks for all your suggestion, all your experience, all your humor and all you’re much needed and accepted sarcasm. Be safe….. Thanks
I think the SPOT has it's place. I would take it way before hauling my cell phone or even a GPS if my primary concern is keeping me safe. I think it's great to have something available that gives your loved ones an idea of where you are, especially on a long thru-hike...

My concern is that folks will use it as their primary source when their life is on the line. That is a bad idea (although, again, better than a cell phone, just barely) since the user doesn't know if it will actually work or not.

I say the ACR PLB is 100% reliable because, simply, it has a perfect track record. ACR goes to extreme lengths to document every PLB and EPIRB sold. Everyone of them that has been turned on (whether it was manually turned on or automatically turned on), has been turned off manually. They can track this because of the 15 digit number assigned to every beacon. They take detailed notes on all that have ever been used whether on accident or for real. This will continue in the future.

ACR can also say this because there has never been one that failed. Now, you might say that how can they possibly know this? Good questions. The answer is again, because they document precisely every unit that leaves their factory so they know which unit is working. There actually has only been one unit that has failed in the field, but everyone who investigated the scene said it was user error. I can get you details if needed.

ACR EPIRBs and PLBs have saved almost 20,000 lives since they have been been on the market (about 15 years ago). The EPIRBs have been on the market for 15 years whereas the PLB has been available since June 2004. Just last year, the PLB, in its limited distribution, saved over 85 lives for 2007.

If I was your mom, or wife, or loved one, I would feel more at ease with you carrying the ACR PLB than a SPOT, even though I wouldn't be able to track you everyday. If I was your loved one, after researching the market, I would most definitely conclude that the ACR PLB is the only unit that had the capability of saving your life without worry. Personally, I would recommend the SPOT in addition to the PLB. However, if I was picking one, I would go with the ACR PLB.
_________________________
Believe, then you will Understand...

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#105792 - 11/14/08 07:00 PM Re: spot rebate [Re: jasonlivy]
tpdwr Offline
member

Registered: 01/04/02
Posts: 45
Loc: So. California - Murrieta
I'm a mostly solo hiker and a SPOT user. I use the CHECK IN/OK so my wife can check my progress. She can see when I reach the trailhead, stop for breaks and lunch. I'll use the track function near the end of a hike just to indicate I'm coming out. I've used the HELP function once in the desert when I got my truck stuck. I'm pretty satisfied with it so far.

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#105793 - 11/16/08 09:20 PM Re: spot rebate [Re: intrek38]
dla Offline
member

Registered: 09/06/04
Posts: 275
Loc: Hillsboro, Oregon, USA
I accidently sent a 911 message while traveling down the road in my pickup. Happened because I smashed the SPOT unit into a kleenex box on the dash to keep it from vibrating against the windshield. The Emergency Response people called my wife first - left a message as she didn't pick up. Then they called my daughter who was sitting next to me. We told them what happened and they called the 911 message. Less than 10 minutes. I was embarassed but relieved at the same time. It was good to know that the 911 service is real.

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