IMOP, important 'SPOT' question for SPOT owners. I need to know why ?

[Twitch]

Remember there is a Spot I and a Spot II, most people will prefer the II, though it uses (3) AAA batteries and they last about 10 days of full use, where the original Spot uses AA batteries and lasts a lot longer. Many of the complaints with the Spot I were about missing pings. Spot II solves this by sending a lot more. They have slightly different features, and the Spot II has covers over the panic/help buttons, whereas the Spot I does not and there were some reported accidental activations.

The smaller size of the newer Spot was a plus, but I also liked the fact that it had a dedicated tracking button (footprint) where the older version seemed to have an oddball way to engage the tracking. Using the Ram strap mount, I can mount the device in places other than the bars. Also, just so everyone knows, an armband comes with the Spot2.

 

[sail2xxs]

In thinking about the mount on bike or carry in a pocket question, I'm wondering if there isn't a way to effectively do both.

For example, the autopilot on my sailboat came with a remote on a lanyard which I wear around my neck or keep in my pocket. There is a proximity sensor (set at 16 feet) on the autopilot which keeps an eye out on the remote's location - if I were to go overboard while wearing the remote when the boat is on autopilot, the remote would automatically tell the autopilot to steer the boat into the wind and "wait" for me to clamber back on board. (Theoretically!)

Another boating related option that might work would be something like the emergency kill lanyard on smaller outboard motors and most jet skis. If you have the lanyard around your wrist and give it a yank as might happen when getting separated from a jet ski or falling overboard, a small plastic clip is released and kills the engine immediately.

If SPOT were to come up with a motorsport oriented device that could mount in the bars, etc. but had a lanyard clip or proximity sensor for the SOS button, separation from the bike would automatically trigger the SOS feature. It might take a little getting used to - like when you first start using heated gear and walk away from the bike while you're still plugged in.

Chris

 

[EricV]

Chris, the airbag moto jackets have a lanyard feature, but it's a really stiff one to prevent accidental deployment when you forget to un-clip before getting off the bike. That would not be possible for the Spot, due to it's size and the nature of it's construction and mounting.

Don't over think it. 99.9% of the time, you're going to want to see the spot and be able to access it's buttons easily so you can send a Ok or Custom ping and see that the unit went into that mode. You have to press and hold the button for 3-4 seconds, so it's not something done by feel alone.

On the Spot 2, you don't have to exit tracking to send Ok and Custom pings, just press the appropriate button, it pings that for 20 minutes, then returns to tracking automatically. On the Spot 1 you had to turn the tracking on again after sending an Ok ping.

Now if you never use the Ok or Custom buttons, it may not be an issue to have it in a pocket or to use the arm band. I use the Ok when I'm stopped for more than 20 minutes and the Custom to let peeps know I arrived at my destination before shutting the Spot off.

 

[sail2xxs]

Eric -

You're right. I was trying to think of a way in which both "camps" could have their needs met by the same device. I don't have a Spot yet, and have been following the various discussions one mounting options, use, etc. with interest.

Chris

 

[3putt]

I use iphone and GPStracking.com. Probably not as robust as the SPOT, but will keep my wife updated to where I am, well close anyway. It showed I was at nearby apartment complex the other day when I was really on the golfcourse playing golf!!!

 

[Poohbear]

How do you guys get away with "playing away from home" (seeing the mistress) if you carry a SPOT around with you whenever you go out on the bike?

 

[elizilla]

I set up a phone with Instamapper, which is like the iPhone tracking Tiger_One describes. It worked fine while I stayed in the 'burbs and on the interstate. But the minute I dove off the interstate and into the twisty backroads, it stopped seeing me. I got a ping every five minutes when I was on the freeway, and then for the next three days I only got a few pings when my route happened to cross an interstate.

 

[Koinz]

How do you guys get away with "playing away from home" (seeing the mistress) if you carry a SPOT around with you whenever you go out on the bike?

After may years of marriage, the SO's encourage it ! ::025:: ::025:: ::025::

 

[Cerenkov]

The argument for NOT keeping it on your person is the same argument for not keeping any hard device on your person, the potential for injury if you fall on it.

That's pretty much the two sides of the argument.

Risk of injury due to Spot device being on you when you fall.

or

Risk of not being near your Spot device when separated from the bike.

 

[dcstrom]

Risk of injury due to Spot device being on you when you fall.

or

Risk of not being near your Spot device when separated from the bike.

Or the risk of BREAKING your Spot as it's breaking your ribs. How annoying would THAT be? More injuries than you would otherwise have, and your device to get help is useless...

I haven't really used mine much yet, but when I do, it will be mounted on the bike. My reasoning is that in most circumstances I'd be able to drag myself to the bike. The main thing that would stop me would be unconsciousness. And if I was unconscious, having the Spot on my body wouldn't help me.

Trevor