SPoT satellite locator

[Cubdriver]

Has anyone here bitten on the SPoT tracker, which is amazing cheap at
$150 (plus $100/year for basic service)?

I had every intention of buying a Personal Locator Beacon when they
first came out, but the thousand dollars caused me to keep putting it
off.

Blue skies! -- Dan Ford

Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942
new from HarperCollins www.FlyingTigersBook.com

[Vaughn Simon]

"Cubdriver" <usenet AT danford DOT net> wrote in message
...
>
> Has anyone here bitten on the SPoT tracker, which is amazing cheap at
> $150 (plus $100/year for basic service)?

There is a current thread in rec.aviation.soaring. There are some there who
have actually purchased one.

Vaughn

[NW_Pilot]

Cubdriver wrote:
> Has anyone here bitten on the SPoT tracker, which is amazing cheap at
> $150 (plus $100/year for basic service)?
>
> I had every intention of buying a Personal Locator Beacon when they
> first came out, but the thousand dollars caused me to keep putting it
> off.
>
> Blue skies! -- Dan Ford
>
> Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942
> new from HarperCollins www.FlyingTigersBook.com


Yea, I have one going to test it on my upcoming flight this week to Qatar.

[NW_Pilot]

NW_Pilot wrote:
> Cubdriver wrote:
>> Has anyone here bitten on the SPoT tracker, which is amazing cheap at
>> $150 (plus $100/year for basic service)?
>>
>> I had every intention of buying a Personal Locator Beacon when they
>> first came out, but the thousand dollars caused me to keep putting it
>> off.
>>
>> Blue skies! -- Dan Ford
>>
>> Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942 new from
>> HarperCollins www.FlyingTigersBook.com
>
>
> Yea, I have one going to test it on my upcoming flight this week to Qatar.


Oh, I have about 4 slots left for e-mail's I was thinking of finding someone to
write me some code so I can set an e-mail address and pipe it to an application
on my web server and display the google maps link or map.

[James Sleeman]

On Feb 4, 12:19*pm, John Smith > wrote:
> A PLB w/GPS can be purchased for $700, one time purchase price.

You must be able to get a PLB cheaper than that in the states. Here
in NZ, you can get a PLB with GPS for about $700 NZ, which is like 550
USD.

http://www.downunderpilotshop.co.nz/Locator_Beacons__ELTs-price0-p-1-c-449.html

406 ELT/PLB is about to become mandatory here in NZ for more or less
all aircraft in a couple of months so maybe that has pushed the price
down a bit with plenty of demand, but I'd find it hard to believe that
a PLB can be purchased in NZ cheaper than in the states, or almost
anywhere else on the planet for that matter.

[Ron Lee[_2_]]

>> A PLB w/GPS can be purchased for $700, one time purchase price.
>
>You must be able to get a PLB cheaper than that in the states. Here
>in NZ, you can get a PLB with GPS for about $700 NZ, which is like 550
>USD.
>
>406 ELT/PLB is about to become mandatory here in NZ for more or less
>all aircraft in a couple of months so maybe that has pushed the price
>down a bit with plenty of demand, but I'd find it hard to believe that
>a PLB can be purchased in NZ cheaper than in the states, or almost
>anywhere else on the planet for that matter.

One place has it for $550 USD plus free batteries for life:

http://tinyurl.com/26azof

Ron Lee

[Cubdriver]

Okay, I find a PLB for $550 at REI, compared to the SPoT for $131
somewhere or other. To be sure, a PLB is a one-time cost, while the
SPoT carries a basic fee of $100 a year, but I can have it for four
years before the costs match up.

The PLB just sends out an emergency signal. The SPoT does that, plus
it sends two types of text message. They are called Check In and Help,
but you can write any message you want (ahead of time, that is), such
as Meet me at the airport in 30 minutes for pickup darling.

Also SPoT sells a global rescue insurance add-on for $8 (for the first
year only?) worth $50,000.


Blue skies! -- Dan Ford

Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942
new from HarperCollins www.FlyingTigersBook.com

[Jim Stewart]

Cubdriver wrote:
> Has anyone here bitten on the SPoT tracker, which is amazing cheap at
> $150 (plus $100/year for basic service)?

http://www.ctflyer.com/viewtopic.php?t=1233&highlight=spot

[D.Rizzato]

Well I Did look waht you are purchasing

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.







"Cubdriver" <usenet AT danford DOT net> wrote in message
...
>
> Has anyone here bitten on the SPoT tracker, which is amazing cheap at
> $150 (plus $100/year for basic service)?
>
> I had every intention of buying a Personal Locator Beacon when they
> first came out, but the thousand dollars caused me to keep putting it
> off.
>
> Blue skies! -- Dan Ford
>
> Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942
> new from HarperCollins www.FlyingTigersBook.com

[Jay Maynard]

On 2008-02-05, D.Rizzato > wrote:
> Before you purchase SPOT for you airplane please be aware of the following.

Enough! Please quit spamming these groups with this message. Once per group
was more than enough.
--
Jay Maynard, K5ZC http://www.conmicro.com
http://jmaynard.livejournal.com http://www.tronguy.net
http://www.hercules-390.org (Yes, that's me!)
Buy Hercules stuff at http://www.cafepress.com/hercules-390

[NW_Pilot]

D.Rizzato wrote:
> Well I Did look waht you are purchasing
>
> 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.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Cubdriver" <usenet AT danford DOT net> wrote in message
> ...
>> Has anyone here bitten on the SPoT tracker, which is amazing cheap at
>> $150 (plus $100/year for basic service)?
>>
>> I had every intention of buying a Personal Locator Beacon when they
>> first came out, but the thousand dollars caused me to keep putting it
>> off.
>>
>> Blue skies! -- Dan Ford
>>
>> Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942
>> new from HarperCollins www.FlyingTigersBook.com
>
>

Works Great for tracking over the Ocean at FL130 @ 150knots No Complaints Here.
To bad the controlling airspace will not let us use in in lew of HF Radio.

[Robert M. Gary]

On Feb 4, 8:43*am, Cubdriver <usenet AT danford DOT net> wrote:
> Okay, I find a PLB for $550 at REI, compared to theSPoTfor $131
> somewhere or other. To be sure, a PLB is a one-time cost, while theSPoTcarries a basic fee of $100 a year, but I can have it for four
> years before the costs match up.
>
> The PLB just sends out an emergency signal. TheSPoTdoes that, plus
> it sends two types of text message. They are called Check In and Help,
> but you can write any message you want (ahead of time, that is), such
> as Meet me at the airport in 30 minutes for pickup darling.
>
> AlsoSPoTsells a global rescue insurance add-on for $8 (for the first
> year only?) worth $50,000.

Also, SPOT sends your location *before* you crash. PLB sends your
location *after* you crash. Look at all the guys never found Fosset,
etc who had ELTs and 100's of people looking for them that were never
found.

-Robert

[WingFlaps]

On Feb 4, 9:42*pm, James Sleeman > wrote:
> On Feb 4, 12:19*pm, John Smith > wrote:
>
> > A PLB w/GPS can be purchased for $700, one time purchase price.
>
> You must be able to get a PLB cheaper than that in the states. *Here
> in NZ, you can get a PLB with GPS for about $700 NZ, which is like 550
> USD.
>
> http://www.downunderpilotshop.co.nz/Locator_Beacons__ELTs-price0-p-1-...
>
> 406 ELT/PLB is about to become mandatory here in NZ for more or less
> all aircraft in a couple of months so maybe that has pushed the price
> down a bit with plenty of demand, but I'd find it hard to believe that
> a PLB can be purchased in NZ cheaper than in the states, or almost
> anywhere else on the planet for that matter.

The 406 also carries an aircraft ident and is superior in location
tracking even without the GPS.

Cheers