SPOT GPS

[jeplane]

Anyone using the spot satellite messenger while flying or else?
Pro? cons?
Thanks
www.findmespot.com

Richard Depinay
Phoenix, AZ

[Paul Remde]

Hi Richard,

There have been numerous posts about that SPOT product and service on this
newsgroup recently. I recommend you do a search of past posts. A good way
to do that is at:
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.aviation.soaring/topics

Good Soaring,

Paul Remde

"jeplane" > wrote in message
...
> Anyone using the spot satellite messenger while flying or else?
> Pro? cons?
> Thanks
> www.findmespot.com
>
> Richard Depinay
> Phoenix, AZ

[[email protected]]

Check this out: http://www.darrylramm.com/

[[email protected]]

On Jan 28, 10:13*am, " > wrote:
> Check this out:http://www.darrylramm.com/

Or this:
http://solution.allthingsd.com/20080130/phoning-home-without-a-phone/

[chris]

On Jan 31, 8:38 am, " > wrote:
> On Jan 28, 10:13 am, " > wrote:
>
> > Check this out:http://www.darrylramm.com/
>
> Or this:http://solution.allthingsd.com/20080130/phoning-home-without-a-phone/

Maybe we should set up a public access email address for all glider
pilots to send Spot messages to.
Something like a Gmail ".
Every pilot could include this address to get the tracking info [in
addition to their friends & family].
Then if a pilot goes missing we could all log into the email account
[shared password] and look for messages from the missing pilot's Spot.

We would all know at least 1 place to go get the info.

Or maybe we could at least set something like this up for contests, or
clubs. But 1 central resource would help a lot.

Chris

[Darryl Ramm]

What and have any random joe delete emails or find out where peoeple
are?

People who are clever enough to buy a SPOT should be able to work out
how to send emails messages to one or more friends (or their local FBO/
glider port operator can provide an email address) nothing that
actually needs any central coordination. And see Tom Serkowski's (5Z)
earlier SPOT email filter comments.

And importantly again, automatic tracking messages don't get sent to
via email or SMS messages. Those are the most interesting to me and
many other users. For those you need to provide whoever is going to be
tracking you login access to your SPOT account. Having to provide this
login into your main account is an oversight with the SPOT service and
something they need to change.

Darryl

On Jan 31, 4:29 pm, chris > wrote:
> On Jan 31, 8:38 am, " > wrote:
>
> > On Jan 28, 10:13 am, " > wrote:
>[i]
> > > Check this out:http://www.darrylramm.com/
>
> > Or this:http://solution.allthingsd.com/20080130/phoning-home-without-a-phone/
>
> Maybe we should set up a public access email address for all glider
> pilots to send Spot messages to.
> Something like a Gmail ".
> Every pilot could include this address to get the tracking info .
> Then if a pilot goes missing we could all log into the email account
> [shared password] and look for messages from the missing pilot's Spot.
>
> We would all know at least 1 place to go get the info.
>
> Or maybe we could at least set something like this up for contests, or
> clubs. But 1 central resource would help a lot.
>
> Chris

[5Z]

On Jan 31, 10:15*pm, Darryl Ramm > wrote:
> And importantly again, automatic tracking messages don't get sent to
> via email or SMS messages. Those are the most interesting to me and
> many other users. For those you need to provide whoever is going to be
> tracking you login access to your SPOT account. Having to provide this
> login into your main account is an oversight with the SPOT service and
> something they need to change.

All owners need to send requests for this change to be implemented.
IMHO, this is very important to make the live track really useful, and
that means providing a "read only" login.

I've also asked for a method to fetch live tracks with automated
software so I or someone could create a website that would fetch
multiple tracks and display them on a single map. This would be
invaluable for clubs and FBOs to be able to track their pilots.

-Tom

[chris]

On Feb 1, 10:26*am, 5Z > wrote:
> On Jan 31, 10:15*pm, Darryl Ramm > wrote:
>
> > And importantly again, automatic tracking messages don't get sent to
> > via email or SMS messages. Those are the most interesting to me and
> > many other users. For those you need to provide whoever is going to be
> > tracking you login access to your SPOT account. Having to provide this
> > login into your main account is an oversight with the SPOT service and
> > something they need to change.
>
> All owners need to send requests for this change to be implemented.
> IMHO, this is very important to make the live track really useful, and
> that means providing a "read only" login.
>
> I've also asked for a method to fetch live tracks with automated
> software so I or someone could create a website that would fetch
> multiple tracks and display them on a single map. *This would be
> invaluable for clubs and FBOs to be able to track their pilots.
>
> -Tom

and evenually this could be how contests are scored too. [would need
shorter interval but the idea/system is all there now]
Chris

[Bill Daniels]

"chris" > wrote in message
...
On Feb 1, 10:26 am, 5Z > wrote:
> On Jan 31, 10:15 pm, Darryl Ramm > wrote:
>
> > And importantly again, automatic tracking messages don't get sent to
> > via email or SMS messages. Those are the most interesting to me and
> > many other users. For those you need to provide whoever is going to be
> > tracking you login access to your SPOT account. Having to provide this
> > login into your main account is an oversight with the SPOT service and
> > something they need to change.
>
> All owners need to send requests for this change to be implemented.
> IMHO, this is very important to make the live track really useful, and
> that means providing a "read only" login.
>
> I've also asked for a method to fetch live tracks with automated
> software so I or someone could create a website that would fetch
> multiple tracks and display them on a single map. This would be
> invaluable for clubs and FBOs to be able to track their pilots.
>
> -Tom

and evenually this could be how contests are scored too. [would need
shorter interval but the idea/system is all there now]
Chris

Yep. Track all contestants at > 1sec intervals and post scores on the
internet within seconds of the last finisher (or landout).

Bill D

[[email protected]]

To all,

Following the suggestion by 5Z to contact a SPOT TRACKER
representative, I received positive response to two suggestions aired
on this forum. The company is currently testing their computer
programs with these changes. The tests might last up to two months.

1) Allow access to your live tracking without the need to share your
special and private password, and

2) Provide the ability to view multiple live tracks at the same time.

This is the latest update. I don't know any of the details.

Raul Boerner
LS6-b DM

[chris]

On Feb 1, 12:15 am, Darryl Ramm > wrote:
> What and have any random joe delete emails or find out where people
> are?

Instead of an open email account where someone's data could be deleted
we could have it set up as a yahoo group [or other bulletin board].
The trusted owner would be the only one able to delete messages, but
everyone could view the data from all participating pilots. That way
if someone went missing anyone could log on and see their location,
for retrieve or rescue.

Chris

[JS]

SPOT enthusiasts:
I have made a few flights with SPOT in Australia, and it works there
too. Just using the OK feature so far.
Tom (5Z) set up a database for me, so the messages read distance to
home base of Lake Keepit and the nearest point in the database. That
worked very well. The Google maps link was accurate.
There seemed to be no interference with the radio, GPS or FLARM.
Unfortunately, getting information on e-mail addresses of cell
phones in Australia proved difficult. In the USA I send messages to a
couple of Verizon phones ). Telstra weren't at all
helpful.
Have not yet subscribed to the "Spotcasting" service, waiting for
them to get their act together on that.
Until Spotcasting is able to be monitored as suggested in this
thread, I'd suggest clubs and FBOs set up a retrieve e-mail address
and monitoring it, for example or
something similar, which can be on the recipient list of OK and HELP
messages..
Jim

[Darryl Ramm]

On Feb 3, 12:07 pm, JS > wrote:
> SPOT enthusiasts:
> I have made a few flights with SPOT in Australia, and it works there
> too. Just using the OK feature so far.
> Tom (5Z) set up a database for me, so the messages read distance to
> home base of Lake Keepit and the nearest point in the database. That
> worked very well. The Google maps link was accurate.
> There seemed to be no interference with the radio, GPS or FLARM.
> Unfortunately, getting information on e-mail addresses of cell
> phones in Australia proved difficult. In the USA I send messages to a
> couple of Verizon phones ). Telstra weren't at all
> helpful.
> Have not yet subscribed to the "Spotcasting" service, waiting for
> them to get their act together on that.
> Until Spotcasting is able to be monitored as suggested in this
> thread, I'd suggest clubs and FBOs set up a retrieve e-mail address
> and monitoring it, for example or
> something similar, which can be on the recipient list of OK and HELP
> messages..
> Jim

G'day Jim

I think SPOTcasting (automatic position reports) is still very
useful. Having to give open access to your account, having to have
one web login/session active for each flight, the manual selection of
messages and pressign a button to generate each map, the session
timeouts, etc. are all poor oversights and a pain but I'm still hoping
they are workable for this coming season. And I don't have a problem
giving select
FBOs my personal account info for now. We all need to keep bugging
SPOT on usability of SPOTcasting.

The saftey value of SPOT to me is largely about the automated position
reporting - esp. where you can't get a message off on the ground after
a crash. Even at 10 minutes the last known position/search area can be
pretty large. I'm not going to be sending manual messages anything
like every 10 minutes.


Darryl

[JS]

Looked at my crew's received SPOT messages today. Distance to the
nearest town is now included. It wasn't when SPOT was first
introduced.
Also on the website is an improvement to the "911" function: The
ability to enter a couple of contact names and numbers. Didn't see
that when I first logged on.
Does anyone know the battery life of these things in and out of
"Spotcasting" mode?
Jim

[Darryl Ramm]

On Feb 3, 8:11 pm, JS > wrote:
> Looked at my crew's received SPOT messages today. Distance to the
> nearest town is now included. It wasn't when SPOT was first
> introduced.
> Also on the website is an improvement to the "911" function: The
> ability to enter a couple of contact names and numbers. Didn't see
> that when I first logged on.
> Does anyone know the battery life of these things in and out of
> "Spotcasting" mode?
> Jim

Jim,

Seems many days, I'm still on my first set of Energizer lithium. I
want to put a fresh set in and deliberately run them down and see. But
it was clearly much less of an issue than I was worried about.

Darryl

[D.Rizzato]

My experience
Hi Folks
Before you purchase SPOT for you airplane please be aware of the following.
If your unit is defective even from the first day of purchase you will have
to send
it back to them, they will also charge you for the return shipping.
You may get a return authorization with in 72 hours you may
not see your SPOT for a couple of weeks.

Please spread this around before someone get in trouble because of the
false
security portrayed by SPOT.


The following is a report from COPA Canadian Owner & Pilot Association

Thank you for this report. This is the third one I have received that
SPOT does not work when received. Most people would expect
to return it to the point of purchase for replacement.
It seems strange that they are putting signs about
defective units in the package - you would think they would
test them before they are sent. It should not be a case of
being damaged in shipping - they are supposed to be
built for rugged conditions.

I have copied the manager at Globalstar so he is aware
of this problem, which appears to be more than a
minor one judging by the reports I have received.

Regarding SPOT being a replacement for an ELT,
please see my most recent update on our web site.
Transport Canada has done an about face on
the issue and it looks like we will all have to equip with an ELT.





"jeplane" > wrote in message
...
> Anyone using the spot satellite messenger while flying or else?
> Pro? cons?
> Thanks
> www.findmespot.com
>
> Richard Depinay
> Phoenix, AZ

[5Z]

On Feb 3, 9:11*pm, JS > wrote:.
> * Does anyone know the battery life of these things in and out of
> "Spotcasting" mode?
> Jim

I went through a set of batteries to see how long spotcasting would
last and it was more than 2 weeks of nearly continuous operation. A
few times I forgot to restart, so there were a few 6 - 8 hour
downtimes as the car with SPOT on board sat in the garage or parking
lot at work after the 24 hour timer ran out. The power LED started
flashing red to indicate low batteries, but it continued to work for
over 3 days after this. Amazingly, I was getting spotcasts from
inside the garage.

So if used for soaring, I would turn it on and energize spotcasting
right after assembling the glider, then go fly. At the end of the
flight, turn it off. Since 2 weeks is 336 hours, a set of batteries
should last all season with even the heaviest use possible.

As for the later comment about this not being a replacement for ELT,
that is true. But it certainly does augment it, and IMHO, is not a
waste of money. I'm on business in New Jersey and managed to get a
couple of OK messages sent out from the airliner by holding it against
the window for about 5 minutes just to be sure the message got sent,
and also a couple position reports on either end of the Lincoln tunnel
in Manhattan. So perhaps there are some defective units out there,
but so far mine has worked like a champ.

Below is a track history of my drive in to Manhattan. This is a cut
'n paste from the website. I can also select one or more of these,
then display on a map. Notice that the 11:09 track was never
uploaded. I've noticed that it mostly sends a report every 10
minutes, but seems to drop one every few hours. Not sure if this
because of poor coverage at that time (maybe it took 10 minutes to
make a connection for upload?, so it was already time for the next
report?). Also note the nearest location as provided by google maps
is pretty sparse. At home, it typically gives a street name, but not
address or cross street. That is why I've set up an email filter for
the messages and you can see the two OK messages farther down. I have
Kelly Airpark as my "home" and one of the waypoint I set up is Newark
Airport, so my program displays distance to home and the nearest other
waypoint - just about the right amount of info to send in a TXT
message.

Date(GMT) ESN Message Type Latitude Longitude
Nearest Location
Select 02/05/2008 12:24:34 AM 0-7349736 OK 40.7487 -74.0072
Select 02/04/2008 11:29:27 PM 0-7349736 OK 40.7685 -74.0231
Select 02/04/2008 11:19:44 PM 0-7349736 Track 40.7712 -74.0297
Select 02/04/2008 10:59:44 PM 0-7349736 Track 40.7923 -74.2489 I-280,
West Orange, NJ, US
Select 02/04/2008 10:49:52 PM 0-7349736 Track 40.819 -74.329
Select 02/04/2008 10:41:18 PM 0-7349736 Track 40.8094 -74.3802


At 02/04/2008 23:29:27 UTC
Mon Feb 4 16:29:27 2008 MST
40:46.110N 74:1.386W
1594 sm @ 076 From Kelly
9.1 sm @ 055 From Newark Intl
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=40.7685,-74.0231&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

At 02/05/2008 00:24:34 UTC
Mon Feb 4 17:24:34 2008 MST
40:44.922N 74:0.432W
1595 sm @ 076 From Kelly
9.2 sm @ 065 From Newark Intl
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=40.7487,-74.0072&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

-Tom

[D.Rizzato]

Thanks
maybe all I need is a set of new batteries



"5Z" > wrote in message
...
On Feb 3, 9:11 pm, JS > wrote:.
> Does anyone know the battery life of these things in and out of
> "Spotcasting" mode?
> Jim

I went through a set of batteries to see how long spotcasting would
last and it was more than 2 weeks of nearly continuous operation. A
few times I forgot to restart, so there were a few 6 - 8 hour
downtimes as the car with SPOT on board sat in the garage or parking
lot at work after the 24 hour timer ran out. The power LED started
flashing red to indicate low batteries, but it continued to work for
over 3 days after this. Amazingly, I was getting spotcasts from
inside the garage.

So if used for soaring, I would turn it on and energize spotcasting
right after assembling the glider, then go fly. At the end of the
flight, turn it off. Since 2 weeks is 336 hours, a set of batteries
should last all season with even the heaviest use possible.

As for the later comment about this not being a replacement for ELT,
that is true. But it certainly does augment it, and IMHO, is not a
waste of money. I'm on business in New Jersey and managed to get a
couple of OK messages sent out from the airliner by holding it against
the window for about 5 minutes just to be sure the message got sent,
and also a couple position reports on either end of the Lincoln tunnel
in Manhattan. So perhaps there are some defective units out there,
but so far mine has worked like a champ.

Below is a track history of my drive in to Manhattan. This is a cut
'n paste from the website. I can also select one or more of these,
then display on a map. Notice that the 11:09 track was never
uploaded. I've noticed that it mostly sends a report every 10
minutes, but seems to drop one every few hours. Not sure if this
because of poor coverage at that time (maybe it took 10 minutes to
make a connection for upload?, so it was already time for the next
report?). Also note the nearest location as provided by google maps
is pretty sparse. At home, it typically gives a street name, but not
address or cross street. That is why I've set up an email filter for
the messages and you can see the two OK messages farther down. I have
Kelly Airpark as my "home" and one of the waypoint I set up is Newark
Airport, so my program displays distance to home and the nearest other
waypoint - just about the right amount of info to send in a TXT
message.

Date(GMT) ESN Message Type Latitude Longitude
Nearest Location
Select 02/05/2008 12:24:34 AM 0-7349736 OK 40.7487 -74.0072
Select 02/04/2008 11:29:27 PM 0-7349736 OK 40.7685 -74.0231
Select 02/04/2008 11:19:44 PM 0-7349736 Track 40.7712 -74.0297
Select 02/04/2008 10:59:44 PM 0-7349736 Track 40.7923 -74.2489 I-280,
West Orange, NJ, US
Select 02/04/2008 10:49:52 PM 0-7349736 Track 40.819 -74.329
Select 02/04/2008 10:41:18 PM 0-7349736 Track 40.8094 -74.3802


At 02/04/2008 23:29:27 UTC
Mon Feb 4 16:29:27 2008 MST
40:46.110N 74:1.386W
1594 sm @ 076 From Kelly
9.1 sm @ 055 From Newark Intl
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=40.7685,-74.0231&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

At 02/05/2008 00:24:34 UTC
Mon Feb 4 17:24:34 2008 MST
40:44.922N 74:0.432W
1595 sm @ 076 From Kelly
9.2 sm @ 065 From Newark Intl
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=40.7487,-74.0072&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

-Tom