Updated SPOT web site

[Paul Remde]

Hi,

I just noticed that the SPOT web site was updated in the last few days.
http://www.findmespot.com

The new product overview videos are very nice.
http://spot.whiteboardagency.com/files/SPOT_Tour/SPOTTour.html

I have also updated all data on my SPOT web page.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/spot.htm

I am a huge fan of this product.

Sincerely,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com

[nimbusgb]

On 22 Mar, 03:02, "Paul Remde" > wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I just noticed that the SPOT web site was updated in the last few days.http://www.findmespot.com
>
> The new product overview videos are very nice.http://spot.whiteboardagency.com/files/SPOT_Tour/SPOTTour.html
>
> I have also updated all data on my SPOT web page.http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/spot.htm
>
> I am a huge fan of this product.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Paul Remde
> Cumulus Soaring, Inc.http://www.cumulus-soaring.com

Being a global system will a US unit ( bought and paid for in the US )
work in Europe?

I only ask because I am p******d off at the typical pricing strategy
being applied.

US price $200 plus subs of $100 plus $50 for tracking upgrade.

Euro prices E200 plus subs of E100 plus E40 tracking upgrade

At the current exchange rates 1 Euro = $1.6

If I put a unit on my Amex card next time I'm in the US no one would
be any the wiser!

Pity theres so little African coverage. It could be a HUGE benefit
there! I know of several challenges just asking for this technology!

[[email protected]]

One of the new features for SPOT will be the ability to monitor
multiple gliders as they fly cross country flights.

This has obvious safety implications, but it can also provide a very
interesting display in our gliderport office for the non-soaring
pilots visiting the gliderport.

Those of you who are considering SPOT are encouraged to purchase one
from your local gliderport operator who can use the support during the
present economic downturn.

Tom Knauff
Ridge Soaring Gliderport
Knauff & Grove Soaring Supplies
http://www.eglider.org

[Paul Remde]

Hi,

It is my understanding that you can buy and use them anywhere. The
spokesperson on the SPOT web site travels around the world with his and it
works fine.

So far I have exported one unit to Australia and the customer has not
complained about any issues with using it there.

I'd be glad to sell you one of course.

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com


"nimbusgb" > wrote in message
...
> On 22 Mar, 03:02, "Paul Remde" > wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> I just noticed that the SPOT web site was updated in the last few
>> days.http://www.findmespot.com
>>
>> The new product overview videos are very
>> nice.http://spot.whiteboardagency.com/files/SPOT_Tour/SPOTTour.html
>>
>> I have also updated all data on my SPOT web
>> page.http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/spot.htm
>>
>> I am a huge fan of this product.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Paul Remde
>> Cumulus Soaring, Inc.http://www.cumulus-soaring.com
>
> Being a global system will a US unit ( bought and paid for in the US )
> work in Europe?
>
> I only ask because I am p******d off at the typical pricing strategy
> being applied.
>
> US price $200 plus subs of $100 plus $50 for tracking upgrade.
>
> Euro prices E200 plus subs of E100 plus E40 tracking upgrade
>
> At the current exchange rates 1 Euro = $1.6
>
> If I put a unit on my Amex card next time I'm in the US no one would
> be any the wiser!
>
> Pity theres so little African coverage. It could be a HUGE benefit
> there! I know of several challenges just asking for this technology!

[Eric Greenwell]

nimbusgb wrote:
>
> Being a global system will a US unit ( bought and paid for in the US )
> work in Europe?

When I bought and registered mine (USA), there were no restrictions, no
request for citizenship or place of residence. It's supposed to work
anywhere there is coverage.

Creating the account during registration did require an address and
phone numbers. I don't know if the price changes with address location.
It's worth a try. Or, you could start off with an USA address and phone
number, then change it later, after the account is activated and you've
determined the unit is sending messages properly.

>
> I only ask because I am p******d off at the typical pricing strategy
> being applied.
>
> US price $200 plus subs of $100 plus $50 for tracking upgrade.

US price is $150. Now you should be really ticked!

> Euro prices E200 plus subs of E100 plus E40 tracking upgrade

Yikes!
>
> At the current exchange rates 1 Euro = $1.6
>
> If I put a unit on my Amex card next time I'm in the US no one would
> be any the wiser!
>
> Pity theres so little African coverage. It could be a HUGE benefit
> there! I know of several challenges just asking for this technology!

It may be a limitation imposed by positions of the satellites for the
phone system. It might still be worth complaining to them about it.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
* Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

* Updated! "Transponders in Sailplanes" http://tinyurl.com/y739x4
* New Jan '08 - sections on Mode S, TPAS, ADS-B, Flarm, more

* "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org

[[email protected]]

> Being a global system will a US unit ( bought and paid for in the
US )
> > work in Europe?
>
Son, Jason, just took a SPOT to Iraq during 10 days of temporary
duty. Worked great there and Kuwait.

Think wave,
Jim Payne

[JS]

On Mar 21, 11:38 pm, nimbusgb > wrote:
>
> Being a global system will a US unit ( bought and paid for in the US )
> work in Europe?
>
> I only ask because I am p******d off at the typical pricing strategy
> being applied.
>
> US price $200 plus subs of $100 plus $50 for tracking upgrade.
>

I have used my US-registered SPOT in Australia without a problem, so
you can buy one for $160 and use it in Europe.
However, those of us getting paid in crummy US currency have to buy
glider parts in Euros, so can you please hook us up with a similar
deal of paying $ instead of E?
Thanks in advance,
Jim

[Steve Koerner]

Spot is a pretty cool gadget except that its buttonology sucks. To
deal with that, I created a concise abstract of the Spot facts and
instructions that prints onto a 3"X5" card to be conveniently carried
in the cockpit. I suspect this could be useful to other Spot
owners. Download at: www.wingrigger.com/wingrigger4_004.htm

Steve Koerner
GW

[[email protected]]

On Mar 24, 8:13*pm, Steve Koerner > wrote:
> Spot is a pretty cool gadget except that its buttonology sucks. *To
> deal with that, I created a concise abstract of the Spot facts and
> instructions that prints onto a 3"X5" card to be conveniently carried
> in the cockpit. *I suspect this could be useful to other Spot
> owners. * Download at:www.wingrigger.com/wingrigger4_004.htm
>
> Steve Koerner
> GW

Looks good, but I have to say the Spot mounted to the back of the
headrest scares me. I wouldn't want it hitting my head at 100kts if I
crash.

[5Z]

And if you would like a more glider friendly position report visit
http://www.serkowski.com/SPOTme.php to set up an email post processor
that will give your crew a distance / bearing to some known waypoints.

I have also worked up a simple procedure to combine live tracking and
the occasional OK position report. It's a lot easier than it
sounds...

Before flight, turn on SPOT and set to live tracking by holding OK
button for 5 seconds - until the green LED goes on solid.

Go fly.

To send a position report:

Press and hold PWR button for 5 seconds (count to 5)
Wait 5 seconds
Press PWR for a couple seconds
Verify power is on by observing LED flashes
Tap OK for a second or so
Verify OK activated by observing both LEDs flashing in unison
Set a timer for 2 - 4 minutes to ensure the OK has been transmitted.
It usually goes within less than a minute, based on how fast my phone
informs me of a new message.
Press and hold PWR for 5 seconds to turn off SPOT
Wait 5 seconds
Press PWR for a couple seconds
Press and hold OK to activate live tracking

The original intent of SPOT is for hikers, so our use as a "reverse"
ELT (track / transmission stops upon crash) is an afterthought. As is
the ability to send an OK while also in live tracking mode. That is
why it's necessary to cycle power to switch between modes.

Perhaps one day, they will come up a more user friendly unit for
aviation use... In the meantime, if my wife is on the road and away
from a computer and out of radio range, I'll use the above process to
keep her appraised of my location.

-Tom

[Ramy]

On Mar 24, 5:40*pm, wrote:
> On Mar 24, 8:13*pm, Steve Koerner > wrote:
>
> >Spotis a pretty cool gadget except that its buttonology sucks. *To
> > deal with that, I created a concise abstract of theSpotfacts and
> > instructions that prints onto a 3"X5" card to be conveniently carried
> > in the cockpit. *I suspect this could be useful to otherSpot
> > owners. * Download at:www.wingrigger.com/wingrigger4_004.htm
>
> > Steve Koerner
> > GW
>
> Looks good, but I have to say theSpotmounted to the back of the
> headrest scares me. I wouldn't want it hitting my head at 100kts if I
> crash.

My Spot is working just fine strapped to the parachute near the
shoulder, this way it will stay with me if I bail. It does occasionly
missing a transmission but I guess this is happening when thermaling
steep.

Ramy

[Darryl Ramm]

On Apr 18, 4:37 pm, Ramy > wrote:
> On Mar 24, 5:40 pm, wrote:
>
> > On Mar 24, 8:13 pm, Steve Koerner > wrote:
>
> > >Spotis a pretty cool gadget except that its buttonology sucks. To
> > > deal with that, I created a concise abstract of theSpotfacts and
> > > instructions that prints onto a 3"X5" card to be conveniently carried
> > > in the cockpit. I suspect this could be useful to otherSpot
> > > owners. Download at:www.wingrigger.com/wingrigger4_004.htm
>
> > > Steve Koerner
> > > GW
>
> > Looks good, but I have to say theSpotmounted to the back of the
> > headrest scares me. I wouldn't want it hitting my head at 100kts if I
> > crash.
>
> My Spot is working just fine strapped to the parachute near the
> shoulder, this way it will stay with me if I bail. It does occasionly
> missing a transmission but I guess this is happening when thermaling
> steep.
>
> Ramy

I'd honesty prefer you had the SPOT mounted on the glider. Instead of
worrying finding about a missing pilot in a parachute we could be
salvaging a nice ASW-27 instrument panel :-)

Darryl

[Steve Koerner]

On Apr 18, 4:37*pm, Ramy > wrote:
> On Mar 24, 5:40*pm, wrote:
>
> > On Mar 24, 8:13*pm, Steve Koerner > wrote:
>
> > >Spotis a pretty cool gadget except that its buttonology sucks. *To
> > > deal with that, I created a concise abstract of theSpotfacts and
> > > instructions that prints onto a 3"X5" card to be conveniently carried
> > > in the cockpit. *I suspect this could be useful to otherSpot
> > > owners. * Download at:www.wingrigger.com/wingrigger4_004.htm
>
> > > Steve Koerner
> > > GW
>
> > Looks good, but I have to say theSpotmounted to the back of the
> > headrest scares me. I wouldn't want it hitting my head at 100kts if I
> > crash.
>
> My Spot is working just fine strapped to the parachute near the
> shoulder, this way it will stay with me if I bail. It does occasionly
> missing a transmission but I guess this is happening when thermaling
> steep.
>
> Ramy

Ramy: I thermal steep too; But I have consistently zero misses with
my mounting location. That means that in reverse ELT operation, my
searchers can be confident that I am somewhere within approx 800
square mile area. That is quite a lot of territory to search. But
in your case, if your searchers don't find you in the first couple
days, wouldn't they be compelled to expand the search area to 3200
square miles? Maybe strapped to your parachute really isn't as good?

John Dow: The mounting location is very nearly touching the back of my
head. I agree that the unit will easily break free of its mounting
but there is no opportunity for a relative velocity to become
established. If it were further aft, that would be a definite
concern.

Steve Koerner GW

[Steve Koerner]

I think I should clarify my point: I have no objection to parachute
mount; that's a good idea. I may experiment with that myself. But,
if you are missing some transmissions, that's bad. Missing some now
and then greatly impacts usefullness of the reverse ELT
functionality. I have now demonstrated that you do not have to miss
any (at least not in AZ).

Steve Koerner GW

[Steve Koerner]

An update: Now after flying for a week in Southern California, I saw
about 15% of the tracking messages were lost there compared to no lost
messages in Central Arizona. So, the performance is very much
geographically dependent. I guess that is not teribly surprising
since the SPOT website does show a coverage map.

Steve Koerner GW

[Ramy]

On Apr 28, 12:27*pm, Steve Koerner > wrote:
> An update: *Now after flying for a week in Southern California, I saw
> about 15% of the tracking messages were lost there compared to no lost
> messages in Central Arizona. *So, the performance is very much
> geographically dependent. *I guess that is not teribly surprising
> since the SPOT website does show a coverage map.
>
> Steve Koerner GW

Thanks for the update. This is about the same percentage of drops I
see, so it is not due to the spot location on my parachute then.

Ramy