Spot Satellite Messenger

[Jerry]

Thanks for the article on the Spot Satellite Messenger. I was all revved up to order one immediately, but had to calm down a little when I read they would not be available until November of this year. What a great idea. No matter how much effort a person puts into making their touring vehicles safe and dependable; equipping themselves with extensive retrieval gear; making sure they have the most reliable radio and telephone equipment; and carrying well stocked first aid kits, sometime, somewhere, circumstances will necessitate calling for emergency help. Now I know what to tell my wife what I want for Christmas.

[Steve]

If it is as good as it sounds, its a great alternative to a satellite phone (and cheaper too).

I also like the idea that the family can check my location/status via the Internet.

By the way, if anybody missed it, the original post of this is at http://www.pnwadventures.com/web/spo...ite-messenger/.

Steve

[OlympiaFJ60]

Has any one given this a try yet? I was looking into getting one for this summer when my son and I go camping. My wife would really appreciate the ability to "check in" with an I'm ok message daily and knowing that if we ran into trouble we could let her and rescure know (if needed).

One article I read didn't like the sat phone network it used, but admited it was a different portion of the network and "shouldn't" be an issue.

[Jerry]

I am slowly, in my own time, comparing Spot to satellite phones. I'd take the phone over Spot depending on total annual cost and justification of same. It's the justification part that I am pondering.
Jerry

[Jerry]

Two different groups with the Northwest Overland Society have been traveling in SE Oregon and sending back signals with their Spot Satellite Messenger units. Both groups have been traveling way off the beaten path and it is quite interesting to see where they are each day. Craig, owner and moderator of the forum (as well as a member of this forum) has been posting their progress on Google.Maps. With that system you can select Google.Earth aerial views or ground maps. It's is really cool. One group is exploring around Steens Mountain and the Alvord Desert while the other group is exploring the Owyhee Uplands. Of course the real advantage of the system is that it can send emergency signals and that goodness they haven't had to test that function.
Jerry