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Old March 25th 08, 02:50 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
5Z
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Posts: 405
Default Updated SPOT web site

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