Another (yaawn...) Spot question..

pierre smith · #1 10-19-2009, 02:04 PM

..from a newbie Spot user.

I thought that I had configured my Spot Share page to automatically send emails to me and other friends whenever we activated it and started a trip. Jenny and I flew to Ocean Isle, N.C. on Sunday with the spot blinking green under the OK button, so I figured all was well. Well, nobody, including me, received an email message nor any tracking info.

How do I fix this? I'm having a heckuva time opening my account...it's either the wrong password or some other gremlin

Thanks,

flion · #2 10-19-2009, 02:10 PM

If you go to the share page, is the track there? Unless something has changed, I don't recall any notification being sent for normal tracking, only when you press the check or aid buttons.

vic syracuse · #3 10-19-2009, 02:42 PM

Pierr, I have the older spot, and to get personal tracking messages sent I just push the button to the right of the on/off button, and it sends out the notification. Then after a while, I hold that same button down for about 7 seconds, and when both it and the on/off button blink together about once per second, I know it is sending tracking info. Sometimes I have to do the first one, and then I power it on and off to get the tracking to work.

Vic

Ironflight · #4 10-19-2009, 02:44 PM

I have never seen an automatic email sent when you start it tracking Pierre. What Louise does is send an "OK" message upon turning it on, then puts it in "Track" mode when she takes off. I get an "OK" email telling me she is ready to depart, and then I can go to the shared page to check her progress.

Paul

RV8iator · #5 10-19-2009, 04:18 PM

Like Vic said Pierre, on mine I have to hold down the OK button until both green lights flash and then it is in track mode.

By the way, good seeing you at Boshears show Saturday. Weather really stunk didn't it?

Louise Hose · #6 10-19-2009, 04:21 PM

Actually, I do what Vic describes. When I first arrive at the plane, I turn the Spot on (left-center) and, once it is ready (take maybe 5 seconds), I push the right-center button. Both center lights will start blinking green (unfortunately....and one of my biggest gripes...the exact same thing that happens when you start it "tracking"). One of two things can and do go wrong at this point: 1. I try to push the check-in (right-center) button too early (or don't hold it long enough...both cause problems) and it doesn't "take. For this reason, I try to confirm success by checking the lights; 2. I hold the button too long and it goes into track instead of check-in mode. No way to detect this problem until you get home (or find the light still blinking 20 minutes later).

Once I'm through pre-flight, taxi, and run-up, I go to track mode. If I have taken long enough and the right-center light has quit blinking, I just hold the right-center button more than 6 seconds and start tracking. Most of the time, I'm ready to take-off before check-in mode stops and I have to turn the unit off, wait, turn it on, then start track mode. Again, because the blinking lights are identical for both check-in mode and tracking mode, I try to remember to check that both lights are still blinking after 10 minutes (or so) of flight.

Like some people I know, the Spot can be pretty annoying but I've found it worth putting up with for the positive traits it offers.

gasman · #7 10-19-2009, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pierre smith

..from a newbie Spot user.

I thought that I had configured my Spot Share page to automatically send emails to me and other friends whenever we activated it and started a trip. Jenny and I flew to Ocean Isle, N.C. on Sunday with the spot blinking green under the OK button, so I figured all was well. Well, nobody, including me, received an email message nor any tracking info.

How do I fix this? I'm having a heckuva time opening my account...it's either the wrong password or some other gremlin

Thanks,

Pierre........... Your password is caps on or off, don't mix em.

LOG ON..... GO TO.. MY SPOT DEVICES. THEN PICK.... EDIT PROFILE.

At this point you can choose e-mail and or cell phones to contact for the OK message when it is sent. That list will stay till you change it.

As for tracking, You must set that up each time (see correction at bottom) before you depart. Spot will give you an address to where your track will be found. You e-mail this address to the people that you want to see your progress.

GOOD LUCK!...................

PS. BUT ANYTIME you start the unit tracking, it will create the track in your file that only you can see by going into SPOT with your password. So you can do many tracks over several days, and they will be in your file.... Anyone with your share address can also view this without a password.

CORRECTION........ Paul brought this to my attention........ Once you set up your share list and get the address from SPOT, it is good to use forever..

Louise Hose · #8 10-19-2009, 04:55 PM

I have a permanent page that shows my Spot tracks to anyone who want to look (http://share.findmespot.com/shared/f...6jrMhQyl4oO0dD). I certainly don't have to set up anything for each flight except hit the track button (properly). I think it keeps tracks for something like 7 days. Pierre, you can see my check-in messages for the two flights I've made over the last few days. In all four cases, e-mail messages were sent to Paul, as well.

L.Adamson · #9 10-19-2009, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gasman

As for tracking, You must set that up each time before you depart. Spot will give you an address to where your track will be found. You e-mail this address to the people that you want to see your progress.

GOOD LUCK!...................

PS. BUT ANYTIME you start the unit tracking, it will create the track in your file that only you can see by going into SPOT with your password. So you can do many tracks over several days, and they will be in your file.

I'm not sure I follow you on the tracking. We just tell our kids that we're off on a flight, and they use our original login/passwords to track our flight. We don't do anything before departing. Of course, if you're talking about something else....

And BTW---- it worked flawless for the last four days. My daughter even called within minutes of landing for a restroom stop. She thought we had problems or something. She's the nervous type...

L.Adamson --- RV6A

gasman · #10 10-19-2009, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L.Adamson

I'm not sure I follow you on the tracking. We just tell our kids that we're off on a flight, and they use our original login/passwords to track our flight. We don't do anything before departing. Of course, if you're talking about something else....

And BTW---- it worked flawless for the last four days. My daughter even called within minutes of landing for a restroom stop. She thought we had problems or something. She's the nervous type...

L.Adamson --- RV6A

That is why I added the PS to my post above. It will always track to your file, but you need your password to see it.

But if you want others to see it and don't want to give out your password, then you must do it the other way and use the SHARE tab to set it up.