Impressions of the Spot unit after a month

[tommylewis]

We also have had a good experience with our SPOT, once we figured out how to send the okay message, then turn on tracking, and then turn off tracking at out destination, and send another okay. Our kids and Mom can keep track of our travels without lots of cell phone calls. We like it.

Yesterday we fly up to Branson, Mo. Check out our track on the link in my signature line.

[rvator51]

I experimented with having the SPOT clipped into my hooker harness vertically on a flight today and then had it mounted horizontally on my harnness at the top of my shoulder. I lost some signals with the unit vertical and the timing varied between tracks, but with the unit mounted horizontally, it was tracking every 10 minutes. So the position does seem to help on my RV-4. Will try to come up with a horizontal mounting bracket for it as the RV-4 doesnt have a dash to lay it on.

One thing I would like to see on the unit is after you send a check-in message it automatically goes to track mode instead of just staying on but not doing anything.

[Louise Hose]

Originally Posted by gasman

As far as clutter......... go to MESSAGES, in message history clk chk last 24 hours, then select what you want to see by clicking on the box to the left... then clk "show on map".

Warren,
I'm not able to follow these instructions and would like to figure it out. Can you explain in a little more detail? How do you "click check last 24 hours"?

I agree that Spot is absolutely a good thing. It seems the main concern right now is that the potential customer understand its capacities and limitations. Discussions like this one are healthy in achieving that understanding.

Personally, I'm dubious about a Spot being positioned to send out messages after an unplanned landing where the pilot/passengers can not actively activate the unit (i.e., I agree that it's probably hardy enough but it would take luck to be appropriately positioned), and I give the PLB no higher expectations once a crash occurs. I've worked with GPS in the rain forest and other heavily vegetated areas and I certainly don't expect Spot or a PLB to send or receive messages in those environments except through luck or an extended antenna. I would want the 911 message out before landing using any such technology.

Paul and I were just talking about this issue and he raised the flight testing standardized rating system, Cooper-Harper (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper-Harper_rating_scale). I would rank the current status of the Spot for RV aviation at a "6" --- Very objectionable but tolerable deficiencies. If I was using it more for long cross-country flights, I might call it a "4" --- Minor but annoying deficiencies. I don't have enough experience in other activities, but I might give it stellar marks for hiking in New Mexico or cycling the Rockies.

Lastly, I really like Tom's recent suggestion of a mode that goes directly from "send" to "track". That would be exactly how I would use it for almost all cross-country trips!

[craigvince]

Let's keep the thread productive, OK? This is a forum for us to share our experiences and our opinions. We all need to refrain from belittling the opinions of others.

Remember: Your Actual Mileage May Vary.

[gasman]

Originally Posted by Louise Hose

Warren,
I'm not able to follow these instructions and would like to figure it out. Can you explain in a little more detail? How do you "click check last 24 hours"?

Click on "MESSAGES" tab........ you should now be in "MESSAGE HISTORY". To the right of the blue "show on map" button, it says DATE RECEIVED. Set it for 24 hours......... or what you want to look at.

Now look at the message list and check in the box on the left under "select" what you want to see on the map. Or just click "SELECT ALL". Then click "SHOW ON MAP".

[Louise Hose]

Thanks for the further information, Warren. I guess this is only available on the user (non-public) page? Since I already know where I was today, I was looking for that sort of option on the visitor's page. Something intuitive and easy for someone (other than Paul) to see my progress. Maybe a work colleague who is picking me up that particular day.

This concern should be particularly easy for the Spot folks to address.

[flion]

Maybe so, but when I mentioned it to Customer Support, I was told there was no plans to change the web interface yet. I had asked for the ability to filter by date/time and to delete unwanted messages. I also wanted to be able to view all the messages that I filtered; I just took a long trip in a car and the messages were split across two pages.

Other than that, I like the SPOT. I, too, have a concern about the distance traveled between tracking signals. My idea is to press 911 if it looks like I'm going to have a forced landing but I'm not sure that I can guarantee to do that in an emergency situation. Still, having the Spot along increases the odds.

[Geico266]

Originally Posted by flion

My idea is to press Help if it looks like I'm going to have a forced landing but I'm not sure that I can guarantee to do that in an emergency situation. Still, having the Spot along increases the odds.

If you are going into a forced landing / emergency you'll need to push the "911" button. The "Help" button will only send an e-mail to those you have chosen to get the "Help" message, just like the "Okay" button.

I agree SPOT increases your chances, just don't rely on it.

[L.Adamson]

Originally Posted by Louise Hose

Thanks for the further information, Warren. I guess this is only available on the user (non-public) page? Since I already know where I was today, I was looking for that sort of option on the visitor's page. Something intuitive and easy for someone (other than Paul) to see my progress. Maybe a work colleague who is picking me up that particular day.

This concern should be particularly easy for the Spot folks to address.

My wife's computer at work, and another one in her home office, uses my password for SPOT. This makes all the options available on three different computers. We use the 24 hr., as well as "unchecking" previous SPOT transmissions on the same trip.

L.Adamson

Originally Posted by Geico266

The "Help" button will only send an e-mail to those you have chosen to get the "Help" message, just like the "Okay" button.

I agree SPOT increases your chances, just don't rely on it.

It will also send a "text" message with coordinates to cell phones that you select.

L.Adamson

[tommylewis]

My spot worked well again yesterday as we made a flight from Branson, Mo to Nashua, NH with stops at Frankfort, Ky and Dubois, Pa. Worked well for us. Check out the link on my signature line. The SPOT worked well riding on top of the bags in the back of an RV7a.

A note about our trip. We climbed to 9500 feet out of Branson and picked up a slight tailwind, according to our GRT, of about 5 mph. Ran the IO360 at full throttle and 2400 rpm, leaned LOP to 7.2 gal/hr at 185 mph true at about 25mpg. Had a smooth ride over a scattered layer to Frankfort, Ky. After fuel, we climbed back up to 9500, same power setup, and got a better tailwind of 10-15mph. However, we had considerably more clouds, broken or overcast, but our destination of Dubois, Pa was good for a letdown. After a late lunch and fuel, we filed IFR to Nashua, NH because NY and NH were overcast. So we filed and climbed to 11000 for a direct IFR flight, leaned again LOP for 6.7 gal/hr. Ajpproach provided vectors as we let down through the overcast for a visual approach 20 min before sunset.

RV's are great traveling machines. We are enjoying the grand kids.