SPOT Satellite Messenger

What did you buy? Spill it! Was it good? Suck?

Moderator: hemingray

User avatar
d2photo
Is Totally Obsessed
Posts: 816
Joined: Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:24 pm
Location: You can hear the banjos
Contact:

SPOT Satellite Messenger

Postby d2photo » Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:52 pm

Well, Since this will be the first trip without someone with a sat phone. I decided to purchase one of the SPOT Satellite Messengers.

VERY interested to see how this works. I am going to set up some emails form the group here ( I am able to have 10 people on the list) that will get tracking information and be able to follow me on my trip.

It is supposed to send you links that will show my location on Google maps.

Going to pick it up tomorrow and start testing before the ride in Mina on the 18th.

Priced @ $149 + the 99/year service - I think its very cheap piece of mind for my wife while I'm gone.
D2
www.peta-atv.com

'06 650 V2 Cat (roll count - 3) (rides w/o roll - 40

"You may not be the solution, but you can ALWAYS be part of the problem. It's good to contribute where you can"

User avatar
Ken
Site Admin
Posts: 7501
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 4:23 pm
Location: Auburn, CA
Contact:

Postby Ken » Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:56 pm

Dude.


HAM RADIO. Free. I'm in the class now with Dusty. We'll have our license by April 19.
The last words spoken before a YouTube video is filmed: "Hold my beer, now watch this..."

Regards,
Ken Hower
RTF Director
http://www.rubicontrail.org/

User avatar
d2photo
Is Totally Obsessed
Posts: 816
Joined: Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:24 pm
Location: You can hear the banjos
Contact:

Postby d2photo » Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:26 am

Are the radios Free then.. Not gonna help me when pinned under my quad - (history here). and something I can lend to someone if needed.
D2
www.peta-atv.com

'06 650 V2 Cat (roll count - 3) (rides w/o roll - 40

"You may not be the solution, but you can ALWAYS be part of the problem. It's good to contribute where you can"

User avatar
Ken
Site Admin
Posts: 7501
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 4:23 pm
Location: Auburn, CA
Contact:

Postby Ken » Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:35 am

Well...one would hope when you're pinned under your Quad...that you're not alone. :?

Does the SPOT service know when you're quad is upside down?

No...The radio isn't free. The Hand held recommended by the instructor is around $200. But you have no more fees. All communications...even when using the radio to call a phone number, is free.
The last words spoken before a YouTube video is filmed: "Hold my beer, now watch this..."

Regards,
Ken Hower
RTF Director
http://www.rubicontrail.org/

User avatar
GrizzlyGuy
Forever On The trail - RIP
Posts: 1411
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2007 6:11 pm
Location: Truckee, CA
Contact:

Postby GrizzlyGuy » Wed Apr 09, 2008 2:18 pm

Here is a great thread talking about SPOT:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=282391

One of the *designers* of the thing actually gets involved in the discussion (Spot Maker) and these adventure riders sound like us. I have a SPOT, but haven't tried it out yet.

Hey Ken, if you and Dusty need any ham radio recommendations, let me know. I've been a ham since I was 13 and we've been using 2m radios in hang gliding since the 80's. Hemingray is a veteran too.

P.S. - I just got a Collett Platinum 900 Plus with the ATVObsession frequency in it. I'm scheming up a way to connect it to my Yaesu VX-7R ham radio via bluetooth so I can talk to anyone on any frequency, while not being tethered at all to the ATV. My Yaesu is modified so it even transmits on Forest Service or Police frequencies for emergency use. So by anyone... I mean anyone. :D
TV For Thrill Seekers: http://AdventureWorld.TV
More Videos: http://GrizzlyGuy.TV
Some More Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/ATVGrizzlyGuy
Photos: http://www.GrizzlyGuy.com/ATVs
My quad: Grizzly 700, 25" Bighorns, Bash Plates,
Warn 2500 Winch

User avatar
Ken
Site Admin
Posts: 7501
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 4:23 pm
Location: Auburn, CA
Contact:

Postby Ken » Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:52 pm

Way cool.

Actually...we bought Radios in the class. The instructors recommended the Yaesu FT-60 hand held. In the class, we got them for $193.
The last words spoken before a YouTube video is filmed: "Hold my beer, now watch this..."

Regards,
Ken Hower
RTF Director
http://www.rubicontrail.org/

User avatar
GrizzlyGuy
Forever On The trail - RIP
Posts: 1411
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2007 6:11 pm
Location: Truckee, CA
Contact:

Postby GrizzlyGuy » Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:37 am

The FT-60 is a nice radio. Dual band, easy to use, 5W output. But it might not be optimal for ATV riding because it isn't submersible. Could be a problem for certain people on this board who spend a lot of time in water :roll:

Image

A VX-170 like Hemingray has might be better for you. It is submersible, easy to use, 5W output, nice big keys that are easy to push with gloves, 2m only. 2m is all you need in the mountains. It goes for $119.95 here (they ship from Las Vegas, you get things in 1-2 days, no sales tax):

http://www.aesham.com/

Submersible is nice, I just rinse my VX-7R in the sink after riding to get the dust off.

The VX-7R is overkill for most people, but a gadget freak like you might like it. $300, submersible, tri-band, dual receiver, tons of memories and you can modify it to transmit on any frequency (like FRS) by just checking a box in software.
TV For Thrill Seekers: http://AdventureWorld.TV
More Videos: http://GrizzlyGuy.TV
Some More Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/ATVGrizzlyGuy
Photos: http://www.GrizzlyGuy.com/ATVs
My quad: Grizzly 700, 25" Bighorns, Bash Plates,
Warn 2500 Winch

User avatar
d2photo
Is Totally Obsessed
Posts: 816
Joined: Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:24 pm
Location: You can hear the banjos
Contact:

Postby d2photo » Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:22 am

This was a test from my mother in laws house - picking up the baby from "Nana Care"

SPOT Check OK. I'm not dead yet.
ESN:0-7354086
Latitude:38.7149
Longitude:-121.4091
Nearest Location: Covered Wagon Cir, Riego, CA, US
Distance: 0 km(s)
Time:04/09/2008 00:08:48 (GMT)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... &z=12&om=1
D2
www.peta-atv.com

'06 650 V2 Cat (roll count - 3) (rides w/o roll - 40

"You may not be the solution, but you can ALWAYS be part of the problem. It's good to contribute where you can"

User avatar
Ken
Site Admin
Posts: 7501
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 4:23 pm
Location: Auburn, CA
Contact:

Postby Ken » Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:49 am

Drop by the range to whack a few?
The last words spoken before a YouTube video is filmed: "Hold my beer, now watch this..."

Regards,
Ken Hower
RTF Director
http://www.rubicontrail.org/

User avatar
GrizzlyGuy
Forever On The trail - RIP
Posts: 1411
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2007 6:11 pm
Location: Truckee, CA
Contact:

Postby GrizzlyGuy » Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:04 am

d2photo wrote: SPOT Check OK. I'm not dead yet.
LOL! That's a great status message. Hopefully the same can be said of the baby after leaving Nana Care and riding with you. :lol:
TV For Thrill Seekers: http://AdventureWorld.TV
More Videos: http://GrizzlyGuy.TV
Some More Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/ATVGrizzlyGuy
Photos: http://www.GrizzlyGuy.com/ATVs
My quad: Grizzly 700, 25" Bighorns, Bash Plates,
Warn 2500 Winch

User avatar
d2photo
Is Totally Obsessed
Posts: 816
Joined: Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:24 pm
Location: You can hear the banjos
Contact:

Postby d2photo » Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:17 am

I might be heading over to Cherry Creek to do Just that in a few weeks.

Personally I like the "help message better - My mother in-law thought it was funny (Whew)

his is a HELP message. Please send for help ASAP. I am trapped at my mother in-laws and am being sucked into the abyss..

ESN:0-7354086
Latitude:38.715
Longitude:-121.4091
Nearest Location: Covered Wagon Cir, Riego, CA, US
Distance: 0 km(s)
Time:04/08/2008 23:43:10 (GMT)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... &z=12&om=1
D2
www.peta-atv.com

'06 650 V2 Cat (roll count - 3) (rides w/o roll - 40

"You may not be the solution, but you can ALWAYS be part of the problem. It's good to contribute where you can"

User avatar
traildad
Knows UPS driver on a 1st name basis
Posts: 271
Joined: Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:13 pm
Location: Northern California

Postby traildad » Wed Apr 16, 2008 6:53 pm

Ken wrote:Dude.


HAM RADIO. Free. I'm in the class now with Dusty. We'll have our license by April 19.
So will there be a new item in the gear review area? I would love to hear how well they work. I would like to be able to ride away from camp and still be able to talk to my wife back in camp. Calling phone numbers, how does that work?
05 Yamaha Kodiak 450, Mine
05 Yamaha Kodiak 450, Wife's
We love to go Trail Riding and "ATV Backpacking"

User avatar
Ken
Site Admin
Posts: 7501
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 4:23 pm
Location: Auburn, CA
Contact:

Postby Ken » Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:35 pm

You use EchoLink, internet protocols.....VoIP.
The last words spoken before a YouTube video is filmed: "Hold my beer, now watch this..."

Regards,
Ken Hower
RTF Director
http://www.rubicontrail.org/

User avatar
traildad
Knows UPS driver on a 1st name basis
Posts: 271
Joined: Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:13 pm
Location: Northern California

Postby traildad » Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:40 pm

Ken wrote:You use EchoLink, internet protocols.....VoIP.
Oh. :-k :-s
05 Yamaha Kodiak 450, Mine
05 Yamaha Kodiak 450, Wife's
We love to go Trail Riding and "ATV Backpacking"

User avatar
GrizzlyGuy
Forever On The trail - RIP
Posts: 1411
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2007 6:11 pm
Location: Truckee, CA
Contact:

Postby GrizzlyGuy » Thu Apr 17, 2008 9:16 am

traildad wrote:
Ken wrote:You use EchoLink, internet protocols.....VoIP.
Oh. :-k :-s
Hey traildad, it is easier than it sounds if you are in range of a repeater that has what hams call "autopatch".

You basically just push your transmit button, hit a few touch-tone codes on your keypad (like maybe *57 or whatever), release your button, and you'll hear good ole dial tone. Now you transmit again, key in the number you want to call just like usual, release the transmit button, and you'll hear the phone ringing. At that point you've basically got yourself a normal phone call except that only one party can talk at a time (you hit your transmit button to talk, then when you let off the button, the person you called talks and you can hear them).

To do this, you usually have to become a member of the repeater club, maybe pay some annual dues, and you definitely need a license else the repeater geeks won't let you in their club. More info:

http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regula ... patch.html

If I thought my house was reachable via simplex (er, direct) I'd set up a patch here and people could just call through it. But Donner Ridge and Carpenter Ridge have me blocked shooting west to the good stuff. Might be able to go simplex into Verdi Springs and that area, though. Would just need a ham like Ken riding around over there to test the shot back to my house. :-k

Here is some more into info from a San Diego ham club that operates a typical autopatch repeater:

http://www.wb6wlv.com/faq/
TV For Thrill Seekers: http://AdventureWorld.TV
More Videos: http://GrizzlyGuy.TV
Some More Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/ATVGrizzlyGuy
Photos: http://www.GrizzlyGuy.com/ATVs
My quad: Grizzly 700, 25" Bighorns, Bash Plates,
Warn 2500 Winch


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 43 guests