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#1
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Good news and bad news about SPOT 2 devices
The good news:
As has already been reported, is the new SPOT 2 devices have a nice 'check-in while tracking' feature that lets you send an OK message while in TRACK mode. The OK message temporarily interrupts the TRACK message mode, sends the message, and goes back to tracking. The new SPOTs have a more powerful transmitter and slightly better patch antenna, for more reliable transmissions. Smaller size, lighter weight. Much easier to get the device into TRACK mode (the old SPOT 1 devices require a very non-intuitive procedure, but once you know the trick it isn't too bad) The bad news: The higher power transmitter and smaller form factor reduces advertised battery life significantly. The old SPOT 1 devices (2 AA lithiums) will go several weeks/months between battery replacement. I think I replaced mine twice last season, and I flew 9 contests and 250 hours. The new SPOT 2 devices (3 AAA lithiums) appear to only last about a week in TRACK mode, so you might have to replace them about every contest. Any SPOT 2 users out there with actual battery life data? TA |
#2
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Good news and bad news about SPOT 2 devices
Are you using the "replacement" or the "original" Spot 2?
One of the reasons for the replacement program was power consumption. I have a replacement unit, but I haven't used it yet. Just curious. |
#3
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Good news and bad news about SPOT 2 devices
On Apr 29, 10:27*am, Westbender wrote:
Are you using the "replacement" or the "original" Spot 2? One of the reasons for the replacement program was power consumption. I have a replacement unit, but I haven't used it yet. Just curious. To be anal-retentive clear on this, I don't believe that the issue was power consumption per se, but rather an incorrect low battery warning so people would be lead to change batteries earlier than necessary. AFAIK there was no mod to improve actual battery consumption (just the apparent consumption). See for example Doug Ritter's comments at http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=172 If somebody knows for sure else wise speak up... It is a pity with the SPOT 2 that the hiker/general user etc. goal of making the device smaller overrode long tracking battery life. I've still got the original SPOT and never really had significant dropped tracking message problems and am not sure I'll upgrade. Darryl |
#4
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Good news and bad news about SPOT 2 devices
My SPOT1 batteries need replacement after more than a year (over 300
hours). So even if SPOT2 needs more frequent battery replacement it may not be a real issue for most pilots. Ramy Darryl Ramm wrote: On Apr 29, 10:27*am, Westbender wrote: Are you using the "replacement" or the "original" Spot 2? One of the reasons for the replacement program was power consumption. I have a replacement unit, but I haven't used it yet. Just curious. To be anal-retentive clear on this, I don't believe that the issue was power consumption per se, but rather an incorrect low battery warning so people would be lead to change batteries earlier than necessary. AFAIK there was no mod to improve actual battery consumption (just the apparent consumption). See for example Doug Ritter's comments at http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=172 If somebody knows for sure else wise speak up... It is a pity with the SPOT 2 that the hiker/general user etc. goal of making the device smaller overrode long tracking battery life. I've still got the original SPOT and never really had significant dropped tracking message problems and am not sure I'll upgrade. Darryl |
#5
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Good news and bad news about SPOT 2 devices
On Apr 30, 5:44*pm, Ramy wrote:
My SPOT1 batteries need replacement after more than a year (over 300 hours). So even if SPOT2 needs more frequent battery replacement it may not be a real issue for most pilots. Ramy Darryl Ramm wrote: On Apr 29, 10:27*am, Westbender wrote: Are you using the "replacement" or the "original" Spot 2? One of the reasons for the replacement program was power consumption. I have a replacement unit, but I haven't used it yet. Just curious. To be anal-retentive clear on this, I don't believe that the issue was power consumption per se, but rather an incorrect low battery warning so people would be lead to change batteries earlier than necessary. AFAIK there was no mod to improve actual battery consumption (just the apparent consumption). See for example Doug Ritter's comments at http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=172 If somebody knows for sure else wise speak up... It is a pity with the SPOT 2 that the hiker/general user etc. goal of making the device smaller overrode long tracking battery life. I've still got the original SPOT and never really had significant dropped tracking message problems and am not sure I'll upgrade. Darryl Hmm, I have no direct experimental evidence regarding SPOT 2 battery life. However, Fernando Silva had a new one at Perry, and he had to replace the batteries after just a few days. The SPOT website quotes a battery life of between 3.5 and 7 days in tracking mode, and the SPOT customer service representative I spoke to acknowledged that the SPOT 2 devices do have shorter battery life 'due to the stronger antenna' (which I interpret as higher transmit power). I am sticking with my old SPOT 1clunker - I know how to get it into track mode reliably, and I only have to change out batteries once or twice per soaring season ;-). TA |
#6
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Good news and bad news about SPOT 2 devices
On Apr 30, 7:34*pm, Frank wrote:
On Apr 30, 5:44*pm, Ramy wrote: My SPOT1 batteries need replacement after more than a year (over 300 hours). So even if SPOT2 needs more frequent battery replacement it may not be a real issue for most pilots. Ramy Darryl Ramm wrote: On Apr 29, 10:27*am, Westbender wrote: Are you using the "replacement" or the "original" Spot 2? One of the reasons for the replacement program was power consumption. |
#7
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Good news and bad news about SPOT 2 devices
While I can't report yet on battery life, I can report after a couple
of 4-5 hours flights with SPOT2 that I have zero misssing trackpoints, although it is strapped to my parachute and do not have a complete clear view of the sky. I used to see at least 10% drop with my original spot. I can't tell if this is thanks to the better transmission/antena, or thanks to sending multiple trackpoints with each transmission. Ramy On Apr 30, 9:57*pm, Ramy wrote: On Apr 30, 7:34*pm, Frank wrote: On Apr 30, 5:44*pm, Ramy wrote: My SPOT1 batteries need replacement after more than a year (over 300 hours). So even if SPOT2 needs more frequent battery replacement it may not be a real issue for most pilots. Ramy Darryl Ramm wrote: On Apr 29, 10:27*am, Westbender wrote: Are you using the "replacement" or the "original" Spot 2? One of the reasons for the replacement program was power consumption. I have a replacement unit, but I haven't used it yet. Just curious. To be anal-retentive clear on this, I don't believe that the issue was power consumption per se, but rather an incorrect low battery warning so people would be lead to change batteries earlier than necessary. AFAIK there was no mod to improve actual battery consumption (just the apparent consumption). See for example Doug Ritter's comments at http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=172 If somebody knows for sure else wise speak up... It is a pity with the SPOT 2 that the hiker/general user etc. goal of making the device smaller overrode long tracking battery life. I've still got the original SPOT and never really had significant dropped tracking message problems and am not sure I'll upgrade. Darryl Hmm, I have no direct experimental evidence regarding SPOT 2 battery life. *However, Fernando Silva had a new one at Perry, and he had to replace the batteries after just a few days. The SPOT website quotes a battery life of between 3.5 and 7 days in tracking mode, and the SPOT customer service representative I spoke to acknowledged that the SPOT 2 devices do have shorter battery life 'due to the stronger antenna' (which I interpret as higher transmit power). I am sticking with my old SPOT 1clunker - I know how to get it into track mode reliably, and I only have to change out batteries once or twice per soaring season ;-). TA- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - I just upgraded to Spot 2 so I'll be able to report on it later, but my manual says 7 days in track mode which is 168 hours, or 30 flights averaging about 5 hours per flight. for someone who fly mostly weekends this means replacing once or twice per season. I hope in reality it will be at least as good as the manual says, in the case of Spot 1 it was even better than the manual.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - |
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