SPOT Tracking

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 5:09 pm

Hey all, I mentioned last year about the Spot, tracking device. It sends outs a GPS signal you can use for tracking and keeping in touch with family and friends. It'll summon help if you are stranded or in peril. Not exactly a Epirb but good to have for little $$.

I used it last summer and sent out a link for family and friends to view. It's neat to be able to track as you move from port to port, etc.

My friend has mine and is headed back up from Key West this morning via car. I have been able to see his progress online and thought I would share with you what the track looks like. You can zoom and pan and click on the highlited tab and it will give you his Lat and Lon. It updates about every 10 minutes or you can hit F5 to refresh the screen. Check out the menu bar on top right to view in satellite, terrain or map. Pretty cool.

Here is the current track which you can check out. He should be back in Northern, VA tomorrow afternoon.

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... z78Tv1ROsT

And here is the website for the Spot.
http://www.findmespot.com

Rodman · Post by **Rodman** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 5:12 pm

Thanks for the info I was planing on buying one these.

MTP · Post by **MTP** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 5:43 pm

At ten dollars a year for boatus members we would have to be stupid not to get one

captainmaniac · Post by **captainmaniac** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 8:14 pm

I use a similar type of service called Trackem. It can be used for boat, vehicle, or personal tracking (you can wire a little black box in to your 12v system, or run software on most BlackBerry phones to capture your lat/long and send to the server), and has a web site where you can go see where the thing you are tracking is right now, as well as where it has been.

Some companies are using it for fleet management - ie where are all my trucks, and they can get one map up that tells them where everyone is.

It also supports 'GeoFences', Alarming, and Notification - you can specify a radius around a certain position and tell it that you want to be notified by email or text message if your boat / car / truck / piece of equipment , or person enters or leaves that area. You can also set up speed alerts - tell me if they are going more than X mph.

I know this sounds like a commercial announcement, but it isn't really... I was involved in writing the software that runs the service, but our company doesn't sell the service directly. You can get more info through http://www.trackem.com. Their primary customer base is land-based (vehicle and personnel tracking) so thats what the web site focuses on, but the service can be used anywhere you can get GPS and Cell coverage.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:22 pm

MTP wrote:At ten dollars a year for boatus members we would have to be stupid not to get one

Thats $10 aded to the normal spot charge's . I bought a EPRIB myself (realy a PLB ) but may add a spot as a back up .

foofer b · Post by **foofer b** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 10:19 pm

I don't ever get out of cell phone range.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 10:44 pm

So your not going to the Bahamas ?

foofer b · Post by **foofer b** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 6:24 am

Yes but then I will be in vhs range as the CG has a massive tower in south Fl. Plus I shall be going with others and will file a cruise plan .

wingnut · Post by **wingnut** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:57 am

I have a son that will be turning 16 and driving soon.. It would be great if they made one I could have implanted in him...

Mac32 · Post by **Mac32** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 11:28 am

wingnut wrote:I have a son that will be turning 16 and driving soon.. It would be great if they made one I could have implanted in him...

Just pin a tail on him, take him to the vet and call him your new pet LabraPupil, they will hook you up with one of those fancy canine GPS tracking chips.

Oh wait those were banned for fear someone would use them on their kids, Now who would get that idea

Regarding the Spot unit, Isnt the annual subscription fee $100?

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 1:05 pm

foofer b wrote:Yes but then I will be in vhs range as the CG has a massive tower in south Fl. Plus I shall be going with others and will file a cruise plan .

Glad your going with other boats , But remember no mater how big or powerful the C.G. radio station is , you are limited by your VHf's range , you may here them but 25 miles out they won't hear you. Just something to think about.

foofer b · Post by **foofer b** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:31 pm

Good point Prowler, will mull it over.

MTP · Post by **MTP** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 8:23 am

prowlersfish wrote:
MTP wrote:At ten dollars a year for boatus members we would have to be stupid not to get one

Thats $10 aded to the normal spot charge's . I bought a EPRIB myself (realy a PLB ) but may add a spot as a back up .

The way I read the offer BoatUS members pay $10.00 per year for the annual SPOT fee not including the original purchase of the unit. Otherwise why would anyone add it to the BoatUS membership?

g36 · Post by **g36** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 9:11 am

heres a link for those to consider

http://www.findmespot.com/boatus/