SPOT pricing going up again...

On Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at 5:12:56 AM UTC-7, Sean Fidler wrote:
You also get (with Delorme/Garmin) altitude, speed and heading as part of the tracking for those following you. With Spot, those following don't know if you are circling at 500 ft. AGL or cruising at 17.5 MSL. You also have the option of increasing your tracking interval to 5,2, or even 1 minute with InReach/Garmin. Finally there are enterprise pricing plans that allow for much more data and less texting, encouraging 1 minute tracking in the main flying months. This can be rolled down to $5 per month maintenance plans when not flying.

Sean

The value of altitude information is over-rated, IMO. I tell my ground crew (wife) all you need to know is if I am moving or not (the faster the better); if I stay in a small area for awhile (30 min or 3 fixes) I am having problems and to stay alert. If two or more fixes are in the same spot I have landed and you should start a retrieve.

I know of one crew that did have altitude data; the pilot was very low and struggling (more than once). The pilot saved himself every time and made it back, but the crew was worrying the entire time.

Tom

So Sean, exactly what do you pay a year with going to the 5.95/mo for 5 months a year? I'm still not convinced and believe that the "perceived" value is not worth it. Not trying to convince any one else to switch back. I just know it (spot) works for me. We also have a spot Trace, in our 170b. My partner bought that and it automatically starts tracking when moved. Sends a text to him every time I fly And no one is following my flights, they will look when I'm late or missing. In the 10 years or so I have been using it if it has missed a track I would be able to count them on one hand, also I have had to use the help (not sos) to initiate ground retrieve when flying out of Ely and landing out in remote areas once. Every other land out (about 3 year) I have been able to make contact before landing or after. Ive still sent a help msg just to insure they have my exact location.

A bit of creep, but it is related to 'stuff you can buy to manage adverse contingencies' and InReach.

I was planning to fly gliders outside of North America and shopping for Travel Insurance. I read the fine print of several policies and found that the Medical Evacuation Benefit (and other medical benefits) are EXCLUDED if the accident occurs in a non-commercial aircraft.

Then I found that the policy offered by GEOS (related to the InReach SOS button) INCLUDES incidents that occur in 'licensed aircraft'. That includes sailplanes (but probably excludes paragliders etc.). The price seemed reasonable, (as it also includes medical care to stabilize patient prior to evacuation), and it runs for 12 months (unlike most travel policies), and the benefit is also usable in the USA whenever the incident occurs more than 100 miles from your home.

http://www.geosalliance.com/geos-ser...al-evacuation/

The exclusion for non-commercial aircraft is spelled out in the catch all 'Adventure Sports' exclusion. I found one other Travel Insurance policy that included 'Adventure Sports' (the insurance industry term of art), but it was pricey and only good for 90 days.

YMMV. Heed the fine print. I'm not an 'insurance professional'.