Spot Device Competition

This looks like an interesting Delorme product that has Spot like features. http://www.inreachdelorme.com/. I assume it uses the same underlying (overflying) satellite system. As I don't have a Spot, I cannot compare and contrast if the Delorme device is better/worse/same. Anyone have one?

Are there other competitors to Spot?

- John

On Sep 6, 1:52*pm, JohnDeRosa wrote:
This looks like an interesting Delorme product that has Spot like features. *http://www.inreachdelorme.com/. *I assume it uses the same underlying (overflying) satellite system. *As I don't have a Spot, I cannot compare and contrast if the Delorme device is better/worse/same. *Anyone have one?

Are there other competitors to Spot?

- John

http://soaringcafe.com/?s=delorme

I participated in the Beta program for the original release of the InReach. Overall I found the device and service to be quite good, but the service is expensive for what we typically need in gliders. The rapid refresh available now is nice, but not really a necessity for typical use.

I consider typical use of SPOT for soaring to be turned on and tracking during flight. Probably an OK message being sent at the end of the flight. This will cost you $150/yr for SPOT.

If I recall correctly, the equivalent package for an InReach is $300/yr.

You get more capability with the InReach since you can connect it to an Android (maybe an IPhone too now, originally just Android) and both send and receive txt messages.

That capability combined with the faster tracking interval might be worth the extra cost to many people.

Size, cost and battery life, the nod goes to the SPOT 2. Capability, I'd give it to the InReach.

Morgan

On Thursday, September 6, 2012 10:56:27 AM UTC-7, Evan Ludeman wrote:
On Sep 6, 1:52*pm, JohnDeRosa wrote:

This looks like an interesting Delorme product that has Spot like features. *http://www.inreachdelorme.com/. *I assume it uses the same underlying (overflying) satellite system. *As I don't have a Spot, I cannot compare and contrast if the Delorme device is better/worse/same. *Anyone have one?



Are there other competitors to Spot?



- John



http://soaringcafe.com/?s=delorme

Aside from the cost disadvantage, InReach provides some nice additional info for each of its tracking points, altitude, speed, and bearing (or heading). I't also pretty much bullet proof in terms of reliability. I've seen 30 minutes or more go by without a successful Spot tracking point getting through. Since InReach is two-way, it simply keeps sending until it gets through. InReach uses Iridium sats, Spot uses Globalstar . . .

Globalstar Phones: Disadvantages
1.Globalstar started to experience premature satellite failures in 2007 and launched 8 emergency satellites in 2008. Currently the system is “up” around 65% of the time, meaning 35% of the time you would have to wait until a functioning satellite is available. Go to www.globalstarusa.com to see satellite availability.
2.Not as much coverage worldwide as Iridium. Little coverage in China and Southern Africa and none at the North or South Poles.

Iridium Phones: Advantages
1.Satellites are available 98% of the time. Almost no waiting to process a call.
2.Coverage better than Globalstar phones. Works in most areas of the world..

bumper

On Sunday, September 9, 2012 2:19:30 AM UTC-4, bumper wrote:
Aside from the cost disadvantage, InReach provides some nice additional info for each of its tracking points, altitude, speed, and bearing (or heading). I't also pretty much bullet proof in terms of reliability. I've seen 30 minutes or more go by without a successful Spot tracking point getting through. Since InReach is two-way, it simply keeps sending until it gets through. InReach uses Iridium sats, Spot uses Globalstar . . .



Globalstar Phones: Disadvantages

1.Globalstar started to experience premature satellite failures in 2007 and launched 8 emergency satellites in 2008. Currently the system is “up” around 65% of the time, meaning 35% of the time you would have to wait until a functioning satellite is available. Go to www.globalstarusa.com to see satellite availability.

2.Not as much coverage worldwide as Iridium. Little coverage in China and Southern Africa and none at the North or South Poles.



Iridium Phones: Advantages

1.Satellites are available 98% of the time. Almost no waiting to process a call.

2.Coverage better than Globalstar phones. Works in most areas of the world.



bumper

Hey bumper,
1)the Globalstar issues you mentioned are old news and only pertained to 2-way voice (Spot data was unaffected). All their next-gen satellites have been now launched.
2) I only fly my glider in the good ole USA and have no need for Spot coverage elsewhere on earth.

That said, I admit having 1 min updates and altitude would be a cool, I don't consider it worth the extra cost for me to switch to an inReach. I have a Spot1 and its battery life is fantastic and I never see 30 min gaps. Maybe those with spotty gaps (pun intended) have their Spot in a side pocket or under their butt. Another mistake some make is not using lithium batteries.. Any other kind seem to be weaker getting the signal out and they die faster. My lithium photo batteries last me all season (about 100 hours).

-Jim

Jim, you wouldn't notice the 30 min gaps unless you monitor your spot in real time. Most gaps are filled by the time you check your spot after the flight. I often see 30-60 min delays when following friends spot in real time, occasionally even few hours of no messages. If the inReach does not have such delays it will make a big difference for real time tracking.

Ramy

On Sunday, September 9, 2012 5:04:19 AM UTC-7, Jim wrote:
On Sunday, September 9, 2012 2:19:30 AM UTC-4, bumper wrote:

Aside from the cost disadvantage, InReach provides some nice additional info for each of its tracking points, altitude, speed, and bearing (or heading). I't also pretty much bullet proof in terms of reliability. I've seen 30 minutes or more go by without a successful Spot tracking point getting through. Since InReach is two-way, it simply keeps sending until it gets through. InReach uses Iridium sats, Spot uses Globalstar . . .







Globalstar Phones: Disadvantages



1.Globalstar started to experience premature satellite failures in 2007 and launched 8 emergency satellites in 2008. Currently the system is “up” around 65% of the time, meaning 35% of the time you would have to wait until a functioning satellite is available. Go to www.globalstarusa.com to see satellite availability.



2.Not as much coverage worldwide as Iridium. Little coverage in China and Southern Africa and none at the North or South Poles.







Iridium Phones: Advantages



1.Satellites are available 98% of the time. Almost no waiting to process a call.



2.Coverage better than Globalstar phones. Works in most areas of the world.







bumper



Hey bumper,

1)the Globalstar issues you mentioned are old news and only pertained to 2-way voice (Spot data was unaffected). All their next-gen satellites have been now launched.

2) I only fly my glider in the good ole USA and have no need for Spot coverage elsewhere on earth.



That said, I admit having 1 min updates and altitude would be a cool, I don't consider it worth the extra cost for me to switch to an inReach. I have a Spot1 and its battery life is fantastic and I never see 30 min gaps. Maybe those with spotty gaps (pun intended) have their Spot in a side pocket or under their butt. Another mistake some make is not using lithium batteries. Any other kind seem to be weaker getting the signal out and they die faster. My lithium photo batteries last me all season (about 100 hours).



-Jim

The cool thing would be to use the 1 min update plus altitude reporting in contests. I imagine you could generate a real-time scores based on progess so far along a task. Scoring issues like devaluation of the day for landouts or short task wouldn't be included until the end, but you'd have a very good sense of who was doing the best at any given point in time.

9B

On 9/9/2012 10:35 AM, Ramy wrote:
I often see 30-60 min delays when following friends spot in real
time, occasionally even few hours of no messages.

My wife does not see this problem when I fly in Washington, Idaho,
Oregon, or a number of other places around the country. She did notice
it a week ago, when I flew a couple flights from Inyokern. I wonder if
the severity of the problem varies with location.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)
- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm
http://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl
- "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation Mar/2004" Much of what
you need to know tinyurl.com/yfs7tnz

On Sunday, September 9, 2012 8:31:58 PM UTC-4, Eric Greenwell wrote:
On 9/9/2012 10:35 AM, Ramy wrote:

I often see 30-60 min delays when following friends spot in real

time, occasionally even few hours of no messages.



My wife does not see this problem when I fly in Washington, Idaho,

Oregon, or a number of other places around the country. She did notice

it a week ago, when I flew a couple flights from Inyokern. I wonder if

the severity of the problem varies with location.



--

Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to

email me)

- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm

http://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl

- "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation Mar/2004" Much of what

you need to know tinyurl.com/yfs7tnz

My crew (aka wife) doesn't see any gaps either in PA/NJ/MA/VAever since I began using lithium batteries and wearing Spot on my parachute chest strap...