On Jan 6, 2:08*pm, Darryl Ramm wrote:
On Jan 6, 7:19*am, "Rob.Russell" wrote:

It's only $550, and it lets you send custom text messages through
space to cellphones back home.

It also lets you update your facebook status while soaring. *"ZOMFG, I
just got passed in a thermal by a plastic shopping bag!"

http://www.navigadget.com/index.php/...earthmate-pn-6...

(Updating facebook by satellite while acting as P1 isn't actually
recommended)

First prize to somebody who hacks this to send altitude. I wonder what
the restrictions on message rates are. I'd expect them to be fairly
brutal.

Darryl

It appears from the advertising material that this device is a
combination of GPS engine, map display, and SPOT transmitter. If so,
the texting and 'custom messaging' feature is just what a current SPOT
unit allows, i.e. they are 'custom' in the sense that you can set them
up to send whatever text you want, but they are *not* dynamic - the
message text is set by editing your account information on the SPOT
site.

A typical SPOT unit costs less than $200 (not including the $150-200/
year subscription costs) and includes the GPS engine and the SPOT
transmitter. I'm not real convinced that adding a display increases
the value 250% ;-).

We have been nagging SPOT to include altitude, but so far no
progress. I think it will come, but I don't know when

Regards,

TA