SPOT Connect Units now in stock

[Paul Remde]

Hi,

The first batch of SPOT Connect units just arrived today.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/spot.htm

You can see details on the related iPhone and Android apps here:
http://findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=119

It looks like a very nice system. I like that you can send any 41 character
message (or multiple 41 character messages) through the SPOT Connect using
your smart phone. That could be very handy in an emergency.

Good Soaring,

Paul Remde

[Frank Paynter[_2_]]

On Mar 30, 2:41*pm, "Paul Remde" > wrote:
> Hi,
>
> The first batch of SPOT Connect units just arrived today.http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/spot.htm
>
> You can see details on the related iPhone and Android apps here:http://findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=119
>
> It looks like a very nice system. *I like that you can send any 41 character
> message (or multiple 41 character messages) through the SPOT Connect using
> your smart phone. *That could be very handy in an emergency.
>
> Good Soaring,
>
> Paul Remde

Paul,

Very interesting. This could easily overcome one of the major
objections to the normal SPOT-1/2 - the fixed 10-minute interval
between tracking messages, assuming the smartphone app can be
configured to send tracking messages more often. However, this could
get a bit pricey, as a 1-minute repetition rate would cost about $30/
hour at the .50/message rate, and $6/hour at the $49.95 for 500
message bulk rate. Not to mention the problem of what to do when the
smartphone battery dies - all you have left is the 911 option. And
one other problem - it appears there is no external power input for
the Connect - is that correct? If not, then a more rapid transmission
rate would tend to drain the batteries faster - oops!

Still, this would make a very good option for the 2012 worlds - with a
reasonable number of these devices, we could equip the top 3-4 gliders
in each class with a smartphone/Connect pair, and program the
smartphone for a 2-5-minute transmit rate.

Just some thoughts

Frank (TA)

[Steve Koerner]

And for that matter, smartphones know your altitude. A message every
5 minutes that includes altitude would be dramatically more useful
than what we have with Spot 1/2 and only cost $1.20/hr. My Spot
connect should arrive in a couple days. I'll try to assess if there
is a flaw in this idea.

You can always power the phone from the ships battery. I understand
that the Spot Connect unit returns to AA batteries instead of the
stupid AAA batteries that were used in Spot 2 so I wouldn't think that
Spot Connect battery life will be an issue -- Spot 1 lasts quite well
on the AA lithium batteries.

[Steve Koerner]

Actually 41 characters is plenty of room for a status vector that
includes more than altitude. The phone's GPS sensor also can yield
cruise track direction and cruise speed over the ground; it might also
include current or last average climb rate, etc. If the phone is
also running a glider navigation program, then there would be other
interesting things to include like the current destination waypoint.
Perhaps a bluetooth link to Spot Connect could be a feature of an
Android glider nav program, or for that matter, any other glider
navigation computer that is provided with a Bluetooth add-on.
Wouldn't it be cool if ClearNav, for example, spoke directly to Spot
Connect; then the phone could remain off and stashed.

[MarkH]

Sorry Guys but a quick perusal of the manual shows that track mode for
this is exactly the same as Spot 1/2. Every 10 mins for 24 hours,
then you have to reset it to start the 25 hour period. No way to set
that value less than 10 minutes.

Now if someone were to hack the app......ok I won't go there. :-)

-Mark
On Apr 1, 12:31*am, Steve Koerner > wrote:
> Actually 41 characters is plenty of room for a status vector that
> includes more than altitude. *The phone's GPS sensor also can yield
> cruise track direction and cruise speed over the ground; it might also
> include current or last average climb rate, etc. * If the phone is
> also running a glider navigation program, then there would be other
> interesting things to include like the current destination waypoint.
> Perhaps a bluetooth link to Spot Connect could be a feature of an
> Android glider nav program, or for that matter, any other glider
> navigation computer that is provided with a Bluetooth add-on.
> Wouldn't it be cool if ClearNav, for example, spoke directly to Spot
> Connect; then the phone could remain off and stashed.