Spot Tracker not working right?

[rvator51]

I cant seem to get the Spot track to track my progress consistantly anymore. It will send an OK checkin message. Service at Spot seems to think I am doing something wrong cause if it sends an OK message, they think it should send a tracking message every 10 minutes.
I gave up after 20 minutes on the line with someone who didnt seem to be able to understand my questions or my answers.

One thing I received back in email coorespondance was to ask if I was doing a SPOTcheck (I'm OK) each time before I used the tracking mode to acquire the satellites.

I dont because no 1, I dont know whether it worked or not because it only goes to my wifes cell phone.
and no 2 because the manual says:

"To Disable:

You cannot cancel a SPOTcheck message, but you can stop any unsent SPOTcheck messages by turning off the messenger at any time.

"

Is there someway to go from SPOT check-in mode to tracking mode without turning the unit off, turn back on, wait a couple of seconds and then hold down the OK button for 5 or more seconds?
If you turn the unit off, doesnt it have to reaquire the satellites, which defeats the purpose anyway?

The OK Led also doesnt turn solid green for 5 senonds when a check in message is being sent. Instead it alterates leds between the ok led, the off/on led, and then both leds. Does anyone elses spot do this as well?

Since removing the batteries and putting them back in, I got the unit to transmix a track, but only when not moving. I walked around the neighborhood for 40 minutes and the only time it send a track was when I was at the house.
Am I doing something wrong?

[craigvince]

Originally Posted by rvator51

Is there someway to go from SPOT check-in mode to tracking mode without turning the unit off, turn back on, wait a couple of seconds and then hold down the OK button for 5 or more seconds?

Here's what I've found with mine:

Turn it on, wait a few second, press/HOLD the OK button (it will be solid green while you are holding it down. Once the solid green light goes out, you can release the button. Usually about 5-7 seconds). Now the Spot is in track mode. I place it up on the glareshield for best view of the satellites.

Note that I did not send out an OK message, I went straight to the track mode. I have my better-half, my best friend and my parents on the text-message setup and I don't want to wake them up if I leave early in the morning, which I often do.

When I get to my destination, I press and hold the OK button again for 5-7 seconds (solid green) until it turns to a blinking red light. It will blink red for a few blinks then turn off. Now the On/Off light is the only light blinking green. I have now turned off the tracking mode.

Next I press and release the OK button once. This will now send out an OK message to my list.

NOTE: You cannot send an OK message while the Spot is in Track Mode. You have to turn off the track mode before you can send an OK message. It is my understanding that this is NOT true of the Help and 911 buttons. They can be activated even if the Spot is in Track Mode.

I hope this helps.

[L.Adamson]

With mine, I just turn the on/off button on which flashes green; and then the OK button for at least five seconds. From then on, it sends a track signal every ten minutes. Both lights flash green together every few seconds. And as I remember, they both flash amber when the signal is sent. My wife can use tracking on her work computer or our home computers.

L.Adamson

[Don Jones]

exactly like mine. Used it this weekend on a hunt, sometimes walking sometimes driving, perfect track. Stopped once, turned off track mode, sent a check/OK message, no problems.
Doug knows almost everything there is to know about Spot. Since he is their Beta tester in aircraft
Maybe he will chime in!

[gvgoff99]

http://spotlight.findmespot.com/videos/basics/subs.html

Tom, You may have watched this short video. I had not, and found it to have some info I did not know. If you have not seen it then it might help. The out of sync flashing is explained in the video.

[rvator51]

Thanks George!

[tacaruth]

Tom,

Due to the same problems you described, I returned my Spot. I had a flight that lasted a couple hours and had an "OK" at the beginning, one "tracking" and an "OK" at the end. When talking to customer support, they said that it should be better than only one tracking report in almost two hours but did not know why. All I got from them was to make sure it had a clear view of the sky and other standard responses. At first, they would not refund the $150 for the first year of service until I told them I would get VISA involved at which time they became cooperative. I am sorry it did not work as I believe it is a good idea. I will be investigating APRS for another try.

Good Luck,
Tom, RV-7A N175TJ Flying

[L.Adamson]

Originally Posted by tacaruth

Tom,

Due to the same problems you described, I returned my Spot. I had a flight that lasted a couple hours and had an "OK" at the beginning, one "tracking" and an "OK" at the end. When talking to customer support, they said that it should be better than only one tracking report in almost two hours but did not know why. All I got from them was to make sure it had a clear view of the sky and other standard responses. At first, they would not refund the $150 for the first year of service until I told them I would get VISA involved at which time they became cooperative. I am sorry it did not work as I believe it is a good idea. I will be investigating APRS for another try.

So far, I've got four trips logged with good success. I'll be doing a four hour cross-country on Sunday. Will let you know if it all works out.

P.S. --- one thing I check once and a while, is that both green lights are flashing in unison every three seconds. If they are, the tracking should be functioning.

Other than that the APRS is too computer techo for my taste.

L.Adamson

[RV8iator]

I've had mine for about a year now and use it everytime I venture more that 50 miles from homedrome.
I just returned yesterday from a trip to West Texas and used it on every leg. Over 1900 miles of use and it sent a message on average every 13 minutes. It skipped two points in the whole trip.
I'm very happy with mine.

[N520TX]

Hey Jerry - I was pretty sure that was you tied down up at the North end here at 40XS the past couple of days. Glad you made it back safe.

To keep it on thread, I use Spot in the air and the car whenever my wife or I are travelling - never missed a beat.