Spot Satellite Messenger

Hi Bob

A middle of the road choice between satellite phone and EPIRB.

Pros: More versatile than an EPIRB as it can in addition to sending an emergency signal, it can also send set messages of the "I'm OK" and "I need help now" type to pre-selected people.

Cons: Cannot communicate your type of emergency as with a Satellite phone. Annual fees apply.

Good or bad??? You can have your family tracking you (although you are in control).

We do not have one, choosing a satellite phone for emergencies, which proved it's worth with a remote breakdown. We could also make a short call to family to say we're OK but out of range. They also had the security of knowing they could ring us if they had an emergency.

Originally purchased in case of a medical emergency as you can talk to the RFDS and get immediate advice rather than wait for rescue with no reason for the EPIRB being activated known by the rescuers. Fortunately never needed for medical.

Motherhen

Bob,

We have the Spot Tracker and tell friends who want to know where you are the details of how to access it. We have only had it a few months and it is especially handy when you are going to meet them. A girl friend in Sydney was watching our progress and knew that she had plenty of time to go out and return before we arrived.

The friends that we were to meet at a NSW beach watched our progress and when we were about 5km away rang and guided us the final part of the journey.

Our son rang to ask if we were OK because we were a bit late leaving one day.

They can be programmed to dial any email address or mobile number and a pre determined programmed message will be sent to each of the nominated people such as. "We are OK."
Another message button is for when you need help and could have, "We are stuck and need assistance."
and the final RED message button is for life threatening emergencies where the SOS message goes to USA Search & Rescue who would then notify Canberra S&R to get assistance to you.

Each of these messages go out with your exact GPS co-ordinates.

Have a look at the explore OZ site where you can see the tracks of the members who are using them and their current locations.

We plan to take ours with us next year on our trip to Canada and Alaska and our friends will be able to follow our movements each day.

If you are lost and wandering the bush and call for help the rescue services can track your direction as you move whereas with a Sat Phone you would also require a GPS and have to keep giving GPS locations if you moved at all.

The down side is that they tell you to use Lithium Batteries. I thought why keep buying batteries when I could buy a couple of sets of rechargeable AAA batteries and only have the one outlay. WRONG. The3 rechargeable AAA batteries last a few hours while the Lithium last a number of days of continuous use, so now I have rechargeable batteries in anything else that I can find requires AAA's.

I think that they are well worth the money and much better than an Epirb. As for a Sat phone we don't have one but I am of the understanding that they are only set up for use in certain areas whereas the Spot Tracker is world wide.

I bought mine through the BOG shop which then does the purchase at the Explore Oz site and the BOG get a commission from the purchase. If you do happen to buy one through the BOG shop could you please notify the Committee via the TAB at the bottom of a message so that the treasurer can make sure the commission is paid?

Brian

Pro: people know where you are.
Con Other people also know where you are.

I run Ladies Days (4wd trips just for the girls) here in the Blue Mountains and find the things hidden in their vehicles. Their boys - who believe they are secretly "monitoring" the proceedings - panic when it "appears" we are in VERY remote areas for quite some time......I had one Spot in particular (owned by Mr Gadget) relocated to the car fridge (well, it looked like one of those Babybell cheeses!).

They dont work in car fridges....ROFL.

On a more serious note....I can see Insurance companies could convince you in to declaring them as a "plus", then potentially whack you with a extra premium because you're "advertising" either where you are, and/or that you're not at home.

Just be aware who can access to the info.

TTM.