I have one of these on the way, interesting to see how it goes.



http://www.findmespot.net.au/Award-Winning-Spot-Video.html

Tech Specs:

SPOT Technical Information

Product Features

* SPOT is the world's first satellite messenger. SPOT sends your exact GPS coordinates and selected messages over commercial satellites to tell others of your location and status.
* SPOT works around the world, independently of cellular networks.
* SPOT features four key functions that enable users to send messages to friends, family or emergency responders, based upon varying levels of need:
- Alert 9-1-1 - Dispatch emergency responders to your exact location
- Ask for Help - Request help from friends and family in your exact location
- Check In - Let contacts know where you are and that you're OK
- Track Progress - Send and save your location and allow contacts to track your progress using Google Maps
* SPOT uses the GPS satellite system to determine a user's location and the SPOT satellite network to transmit that location and the user's status
* The SPOT satellite network is a commercial satellite network with a proven 99.4% reliability rate while processing over 6 million messages a month - the equivalent of 2.3 messages per second.


Product Specifications

* Satellite coverage works around the world, independently of cellular systems, with outstanding reliability.
* 7.37 ounces
* More affordable and more functional than Personal Locator Beacons (PLB), cellular-based GPS trackers, and comparable handheld devices.
* Optional features include automatic tracking service (SPOTcasting) and guaranteed extraction service for countries or regions with non-responsive emergency services.
* Coverage: SPOT works around the world, including virtually all of North America, Europe and Australia, portions of South America, Northern Africa and Northeastern Asia, and hundreds or thousands of miles offshore of these areas.
* Includes 2 AA lithium batteries; under normal usage a full battery charge should meet or exceed: power on, unused: Approx. 1 year; SPOTcasting tracking mode: Approx. 14 days; 9-1-1 mode: Up to 7 consecutive days; SPOTcheck OK/v: 1900 messages.

Operating Conditions

* Operating Temperatures: -40F to +185F
* Operating Altitude: -300 feet to +21,000 feet
* Floats in water. Waterproof to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes
* Humidity Rated: MIL-STD-810E Method 507.3, 95% to 100% condensing; Salt Fog Rated Per MIL_STD 810E Method 509.3, 5% NaCl, 95% distilled water;
* Vibration: Per SAE J1455; Random, 20 Hz to 2000 Hz, 0.04g2/Hz, one hour per axis
* Drop: Dropped twice on all six sides from one meter onto hard surface.
* Certifications: OSHA certified Intrinsically Safe to Class 1, Division 1, Group A-D standards.
ROHS and WEEE compliant.
* Certified to FCC and CE emissions, immunity and safety regulations.
* Meets FCC part 25 regulations, Canada type approval, CISPR Publication 22 (1985 1st Edition), RTTE Directive (1999/EC), IEC 60950 safety standard, and European EMC Directive 89/336/EEC.

mike has got a hold of one that straps to the wrist

The latest issue of WIRED magazine has a review of this:

www.wired.com/2010/02/pr-extremetest-spotmessenger/

WIRED Water- and shock-resistant. Comes with handy arm strap. Flip-cap covering 911 button should minimize false alarms. Saved our butt when we were freezing and lost in the woods. 30 percent smaller than previous generation.

TIRED Decoding blinking lights takes a lot of work - especially when you're freaking out. Did that message go through? Is help on the move? There's no way to know. Hidden fee alert: $100 a year to "register" the unit (but includes rescue service). Uses only disposable lithium AAA cells, which can be tough to find in the city, let alone the wilderness.

Thanks gorgo,

Phill

Hey DW,

Question for you?

Your on or around the goldie I guess, what wind strength do you guys get when you head out on DWs and what is the average swell period?

Lacey or Jacko or Dale I would pose the same question to you guys as well.

Phill

OG SUP said...

Hey DW,

Question for you?

Your on or around the goldie I guess, what wind strength do you guys get when you head out on DWs and what is the average swell period?

Lacey or Jacko or Dale I would pose the same question to you guys as well.

Phill

above 30 knots, i start looking at the swell size and period.even on the smallest surf day, the ocean swell still seems to be at least waist high.25 knots is fine by me i'm not super technical on swell periods etc. south to north runs are best. north to south are tricky. its pretty common to be looking up at swells. the trick is to unlock the pattern of the swell and get into the zone.swell patterns change as you go along, so it,s a matter of dialing in again. the worse thing is getting stuck in troughs with the board just rocking back and forth- takes a real effort to blast out of there. we often have a giggle at someone stuck. but hey, i'm no expert and the other guys have a lot more experience than me. experience is everything imo
cheers

OG SUP said...

Hey DW,

Question for you?

Your on or around the goldie I guess, what wind strength do you guys get when you head out on DWs and what is the average swell period?

Lacey or Jacko or Dale I would pose the same question to you guys as well.

Phill

Good Morning OG SUP
Well thats a hard questuion I go whenever the wind is right & the surf has gone to s##t. The only time I'll do a downwind is the surf is good if there's a major Downwind ocean race comming up like the Salt Water festival on the 8th May.
So its 5am I'm going surfing now. At 10am I'll doing a Downwind paddle from Snapper Rocks to Lifeguard Tower 24 = 17km I beleive Jacko is comming for a paddle as well if not I'll go alone. Breezy white capping conditions with moderate choppy seas. Moderate long period swell. Winds: SSE 14 to 19 knots Seas: SSE 8 feet at 13 sec. I'm no Scientist I'm just a surfer all I do is read the weather maps on a weekly basis & take it from there so if the surfs good I'll surf if the winds up I'll go for a Downwinder. The Gold coast, coast line loves SSE winds & a South swell thats All Time. When the wind is NE its kind of s##t to do a downwinder as the runners are smaller 25 metres max & you have to keep paddling out to sea + its only good from the Seaway Spit to Miami 15km September - December those conditions are everyday standard.
well there's my essay for a 5am start to the day. I'm going for a wave.
DW

Thanks Rambo,

Thats great feed back on reliability, was it the Spot (I) or the ugraded Spot (II) or the Spot Tracker that you used.

Ted dont worry about the red thumb thing no rhyme or reason to it.

Phill.

Ted the Kiwi said...

who red thumbed Phil?

Come on own up and explain why. I am deeply confused. It seems he has put forward something of note (and of recent interest).......if you do not like the product etc then respond and share your knowledge. Last time I checked a forum was defined as a meeting or assembly for the open discussion of subjects of public interest or a medium for open discussion. A red thumb is neither of these in this case.

Ted agree totally but some guys on this forum just like to red thumb certain people like Jacko, Phil etc no matter what they post.

Take it as a compliment and even a game, it becomes fun to see who can get more red thumbs. I have yet to get my own red thumber but hopefully one day

Looks good Phill.

Would this be a concern though - * Floats in water. Waterproof to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes

Does it need to be in a housing? Could that have caused the same problem as the Iphone for DJ?

Devils advocate not a put down.

OG SUP said...

Hey Hilly,

Didnt take it as a negative its great to look at all angles, the more input the better IMO. If people dont put their point of view forward you can easily miss things like this.

I rang the importer and got the following response:

It floats on the surface indefinitely without issues.

It only leaks after approx 30min total submerged to 1m, i would assume due to pressure on the seals.

If you were submerged to that depth for 30 mins you might have other issues i think.

Phill

so phill, what do you think- worth getting

Will find out when it gets here Lacey seems the goods to me.

I have checked with 3 commercial vessels and they use them and also a major trucking company uses them to track their loads and diver progress etc.

They appear to be quite reliable.

We will find out!

Phill

I have to red thumb the red thumbs on this one for sheer DA factor, how do you get red thumbs for someone saying thank you for input. And they also get a clown face and a chicken lips Note to self need to create a Dumb A$$ Icon too.

OG SUP said...

Thanks gorgo,

Phill