View Full Version : SPOT price increase ......
Ron Gleason
May 1st 18, 05:03 PM
Just received this email from SPOT
Hello Subscriber,
This email is to inform you of upcoming changes to your SPOT service plan(s):
We are continuously making network upgrades to ensure the best possible service for our SPOT customers. To help fund these efforts now and in the future, upon renewal a Network Maintenance Fee will be implemented on all SPOT subscriptions: Monthly $2.49/MO; Annual $24.99/YR; 2 Year $49.99/2YR.
If you have any questions please contact Customer Care at 855-769-6954.
Thank you for choosing SPOT.
SPOT LLC
So a $25 price increase!
I signed on to my account and here is what I have been paying
06/14/2010 PAYMENT $117.98
07/05/2011 PAYMENT $167.97 42.7% increase
07/08/2012 PAYMENT $167.97
07/06/2013 PAYMENT $167.97
07/07/2014 PAYMENT $167.97
07/02/2015 PAYMENT $167.97
07/07/2016 PAYMENT $177.97 6% increase
07/06/2017 PAYMENT $182.97 +$25 - 17% increase
Heading to the InREach page now
Or you can combine a PLB for emergency alert via satellites (about $250 to buy, about $100 for battery replacement every 5 years, no annual fee) and a smartphone-based tracking method (e.g., IGCdroid) for real-time tracking, automated emails, and backup logging ($10 to buy app, no annual fee).
Duster[_2_]
May 1st 18, 05:36 PM
Last year, Globalstar (parent of SPOT, possibly being purchased by Thermo) hinted at a "NextGen Spot". In April of this year (2018) a corporate release disclosed a "Two-Way SPOT".... "to be released 2018", so one might want to wait a bit to see what this product might offer. On the fence for a tracker or PLB?, review previous threads on RAS re SPOT 3 v InReach. Seems there are more complaints about "spotty" SPOT performance. Someone recently mentioned InReach Explorer was down to $200 at Cabellas + subscription. I own a SPOT.
Duster[_2_]
May 1st 18, 05:40 PM
Last year, Globalstar (parent of SPOT, possibly being purchased by Thermo) hinted at a "NextGen Spot". In April of this year (2018) a corporate release disclosed a "Two-Way SPOT".... "to be released 2018", so one might want to wait a bit to see what this product might offer. On the fence for a tracker or PLB?, review previous threads on RAS re SPOT 3 v InReach. Seems there are more complaints about "spotty" SPOT performance. Someone recently mentioned InReach Explorer was down to $200 at Cabellas + subscription. I own a SPOT.
https://www.globalstar.com/Globalstar/media/Globalstar/Downloads/IR/Combination_Materials_FINAL.pdf
Duster[_2_]
May 1st 18, 05:42 PM
Last year, Globalstar (parent of SPOT, possibly being purchased by Thermo) hinted at a "NextGen Spot". In April of this year (2018) a corporate release disclosed a "Two-Way SPOT".... "to be released 2018", so one might want to wait a bit to see what this product might offer. On the fence for a tracker or PLB?, review previous threads on RAS re SPOT 3 v InReach. Seems there are more complaints about "spotty" SPOT performance. Someone recently mentioned InReach Explorer was down to $200 at Cabellas + subscription. I own a SPOT.
https://www.globalstar.com/Globalstar/media/Globalstar/Downloads/IR/Combination_Materials_FINAL.pdf
Dan Marotta
May 1st 18, 05:52 PM
I found it was really difficult to cancel my Spot service plan. There
was no way to do it on line a couple of years ago and it was a long
process to get someone on the phone to get it cancelled.Â* Maybe things
have improved since then.
On 5/1/2018 10:03 AM, Ron Gleason wrote:
> Just received this email from SPOT
>
> Hello Subscriber,
> This email is to inform you of upcoming changes to your SPOT service plan(s):
> We are continuously making network upgrades to ensure the best possible service for our SPOT customers. To help fund these efforts now and in the future, upon renewal a Network Maintenance Fee will be implemented on all SPOT subscriptions: Monthly $2.49/MO; Annual $24.99/YR; 2 Year $49.99/2YR.
> If you have any questions please contact Customer Care at 855-769-6954.
> Thank you for choosing SPOT.
> SPOT LLC
>
>
> So a $25 price increase!
>
> I signed on to my account and here is what I have been paying
>
> 06/14/2010 PAYMENT $117.98
> 07/05/2011 PAYMENT $167.97 42.7% increase
> 07/08/2012 PAYMENT $167.97
> 07/06/2013 PAYMENT $167.97
> 07/07/2014 PAYMENT $167.97
> 07/02/2015 PAYMENT $167.97
> 07/07/2016 PAYMENT $177.97 6% increase
> 07/06/2017 PAYMENT $182.97 +$25 - 17% increase
>
> Heading to the InREach page now
--
Dan, 5J
Ramy[_2_]
May 1st 18, 10:52 PM
On Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 9:18:53 AM UTC-7, wrote:
> Or you can combine a PLB for emergency alert via satellites (about $250 to buy, about $100 for battery replacement every 5 years, no annual fee) and a smartphone-based tracking method (e.g., IGCdroid) for real-time tracking, automated emails, and backup logging ($10 to buy app, no annual fee).
Moshe, neither of the devices you listed is a replacement for an automatic satellite based system unless you fly locally and within cell (or gotenna)range, in case of emergency, or even a landout, from the following reasons:
1 - PLB need to be activated, which means it is useless if you are incapacitated. And in case of a landout, you wouldn't want to use your PLB unless it is an emergency.
2 - Cell phone/radio based devices may not have coverage in many areas, especially out west where we fly in the middle of nowhere.
I am paying $25 per month for inReach simply since this is the best method to ensure I can be found, and I can use it to communicate via text with any cell phone from anywhere. Already saved me in couple of landouts.
Ramy
On Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 9:03:28 AM UTC-7, Ron Gleason wrote:
> Just received this email from SPOT
>
> Hello Subscriber,
> This email is to inform you of upcoming changes to your SPOT service plan(s):
> We are continuously making network upgrades to ensure the best possible service for our SPOT customers. To help fund these efforts now and in the future, upon renewal a Network Maintenance Fee will be implemented on all SPOT subscriptions: Monthly $2.49/MO; Annual $24.99/YR; 2 Year $49.99/2YR.
> If you have any questions please contact Customer Care at 855-769-6954.
> Thank you for choosing SPOT.
> SPOT LLC
>
>
> So a $25 price increase!
>
> I signed on to my account and here is what I have been paying
>
> 06/14/2010 PAYMENT $117.98
> 07/05/2011 PAYMENT $167.97 42.7% increase
> 07/08/2012 PAYMENT $167.97
> 07/06/2013 PAYMENT $167.97
> 07/07/2014 PAYMENT $167.97
> 07/02/2015 PAYMENT $167.97
> 07/07/2016 PAYMENT $177.97 6% increase
> 07/06/2017 PAYMENT $182.97 +$25 - 17% increase
>
> Heading to the InREach page now
I just called them and it is worse than that: now it costs $200 plus the $25 network fee for a grand total of $225, which is double what I paid three years ago on a 2 year plan (unavailable now). This is totally unacceptable and I told them so (not that they give a damn). I am switching back to Inreach.
Tom
2 step process. They say they will cancel you over the phone, when your renewal is due spot will charge you anyway. Then you call again and get the charge reversed and cancel.
On Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 12:52:14 PM UTC-4, Dan Marotta wrote:
> I found it was really difficult to cancel my Spot service plan. There
> was no way to do it on line a couple of years ago and it was a long
> process to get someone on the phone to get it cancelled.Â* Maybe things
> have improved since then.
>
> On 5/1/2018 10:03 AM, Ron Gleason wrote:
> > Just received this email from SPOT
> >
> > Hello Subscriber,
> > This email is to inform you of upcoming changes to your SPOT service plan(s):
> > We are continuously making network upgrades to ensure the best possible service for our SPOT customers. To help fund these efforts now and in the future, upon renewal a Network Maintenance Fee will be implemented on all SPOT subscriptions: Monthly $2.49/MO; Annual $24.99/YR; 2 Year $49.99/2YR.
> > If you have any questions please contact Customer Care at 855-769-6954.
> > Thank you for choosing SPOT.
> > SPOT LLC
> >
> >
> > So a $25 price increase!
> >
> > I signed on to my account and here is what I have been paying
> >
> > 06/14/2010 PAYMENT $117.98
> > 07/05/2011 PAYMENT $167.97 42.7% increase
> > 07/08/2012 PAYMENT $167.97
> > 07/06/2013 PAYMENT $167.97
> > 07/07/2014 PAYMENT $167.97
> > 07/02/2015 PAYMENT $167.97
> > 07/07/2016 PAYMENT $177.97 6% increase
> > 07/06/2017 PAYMENT $182.97 +$25 - 17% increase
> >
> > Heading to the InREach page now
>
> --
> Dan, 5J
You can get a (very limited) non-emergency messaging option for a PLB, not free, but a lot cheaper than SPOT: http://406link.com/ - these "messages" are content-free, but by pre-agreement with your buddies they could mean "I'm OK but need a retrieve". (I've suggested to them to add some bits to the message data packet to allow selecting between several different preset messages, but they've apparently ignored me.)
Tango Eight
May 2nd 18, 06:03 PM
On Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 12:53:41 PM UTC-4, wrote:
> You can get a (very limited) non-emergency messaging option for a PLB, not free, but a lot cheaper than SPOT: http://406link.com/ - these "messages" are content-free, but by pre-agreement with your buddies they could mean "I'm OK but need a retrieve". (I've suggested to them to add some bits to the message data packet to allow selecting between several different preset messages, but they've apparently ignored me.)
"Note: 406Link.com is a one-way communication tool designed only for Satellite Confirmation testing." So, hack away, but expect to be ignored.
On Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 8:52:28 AM UTC-4, wrote:
> 2 step process. They say they will cancel you over the phone, when your renewal is due spot will charge you anyway. Then you call again and get the charge reversed and cancel.
I tried that but was told I was a few days beyond their cut-off date, so they couldn't reverse the charges - sorry, it is a 'policy thing', I was told.
I asked them to remove my credit card info to prevent another auto-renewal, which he did and I watched out for any future SPOT-charges. There haven't been any since then.
Uli
'AS'
On Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 1:03:46 PM UTC-4, Tango Eight wrote:
> On Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 12:53:41 PM UTC-4, wrote:
> > You can get a (very limited) non-emergency messaging option for a PLB, not free, but a lot cheaper than SPOT: http://406link.com/ - these "messages" are content-free, but by pre-agreement with your buddies they could mean "I'm OK but need a retrieve". (I've suggested to them to add some bits to the message data packet to allow selecting between several different preset messages, but they've apparently ignored me.)
>
> "Note: 406Link.com is a one-way communication tool designed only for Satellite Confirmation testing." So, hack away, but expect to be ignored.
That's the whole point, Evan. 406link.com uses the fact that such messages are ignored by the search and rescue authorities. They (406link) receive those (with their own equipment) and don't ignore them, rather, trigger emails and text messages to your designated recipients. It's reliable enough that they sell this service for a fee. But of course they won't guarantee anything. (If it's a real emergency used the normal function of the PLB.) Disclaimer: I havn't tried it myself.
Also note that a PLB's battery is declared officially dead after a fairly small number (a dozen, IIRC) of these messages if they include the GPS location stamp. This is to ensure there is enough juice left for a long transmission in a real emergency. That means you have to then replace the PLB battery. But you have to do that every 5 years anyway, so you can have two landouts per year with such messages and still not shorten the battery life practically speaking.
Tango Eight
May 2nd 18, 06:47 PM
On Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 1:40:21 PM UTC-4, wrote:
> On Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 1:03:46 PM UTC-4, Tango Eight wrote:
> > On Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 12:53:41 PM UTC-4, wrote:
> > > You can get a (very limited) non-emergency messaging option for a PLB, not free, but a lot cheaper than SPOT: http://406link.com/ - these "messages" are content-free, but by pre-agreement with your buddies they could mean "I'm OK but need a retrieve". (I've suggested to them to add some bits to the message data packet to allow selecting between several different preset messages, but they've apparently ignored me.)
> >
> > "Note: 406Link.com is a one-way communication tool designed only for Satellite Confirmation testing." So, hack away, but expect to be ignored.
>
> That's the whole point, Evan. 406link.com uses the fact that such messages are ignored by the search and rescue authorities. They (406link) receive those (with their own equipment) and don't ignore them, rather, trigger emails and text messages to your designated recipients. It's reliable enough that they sell this service for a fee. But of course they won't guarantee anything. (If it's a real emergency used the normal function of the PLB.) Disclaimer: I havn't tried it myself.
>
> Also note that a PLB's battery is declared officially dead after a fairly small number (a dozen, IIRC) of these messages if they include the GPS location stamp. This is to ensure there is enough juice left for a long transmission in a real emergency. That means you have to then replace the PLB battery. But you have to do that every 5 years anyway, so you can have two landouts per year with such messages and still not shorten the battery life practically speaking.
Moshe: There is no earthly reason to do this given the recent price reductions for InReach.
Evan
Hey Evan it's your choice. All I said was that the 406link option exists. I chose to buy and carry a PLB, but not to subscribe to 406link at this time. I also chose to (finally) update my phone to one new enough to run IGCdroid, for (optional) cell-based tracking. I think the combination is fairly robust. If I crash and cannot activate the PLB then chances are the Glideport tracking will point out the location, although that is not guaranteed. Nothing is.
Wheaton
May 2nd 18, 10:56 PM
Called Spot, first person barely helpful but learned my June 2018 cost to be $271. Told no price reduction like last year. Called today to cancel. First person responsive but transferred me to "terminations" person. I stated my desire to cancel. She offered a$60 price reduction if I stayed. I declined saying that if the first person yesterday had made the offer I probably would have stayed. I have ordered a replacement device so declined the reduction. This maybe be helpful to others. I had no real problems other than price increase caused me to have another look. I now have a Gen 3 Spot for sale!
JJB
On Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 11:03:54 AM UTC-7, wrote:
> Hey Evan it's your choice. All I said was that the 406link option exists.. I chose to buy and carry a PLB, but not to subscribe to 406link at this time. I also chose to (finally) update my phone to one new enough to run IGCdroid, for (optional) cell-based tracking. I think the combination is fairly robust. If I crash and cannot activate the PLB then chances are the Glideport tracking will point out the location, although that is not guaranteed. Nothing is.
Which PLB did you buy?
Tom
On Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 10:31:48 PM UTC-4, 2G wrote:
> On Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 11:03:54 AM UTC-7, wrote:
> > Hey Evan it's your choice. All I said was that the 406link option exists. I chose to buy and carry a PLB, but not to subscribe to 406link at this time. I also chose to (finally) update my phone to one new enough to run IGCdroid, for (optional) cell-based tracking. I think the combination is fairly robust. If I crash and cannot activate the PLB then chances are the Glideport tracking will point out the location, although that is not guaranteed. Nothing is.
>
> Which PLB did you buy?
>
> Tom
ACR ResQlink+ model PLB-375. It comes in two slightly different versions, the larger one (2881) floats, the smaller one (2880) does not. Several members of our club use this same model.
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