On Sep 7, 2:57 pm, Marc Ramsey wrote:
http://www.equipped.org/SPOT_ORSummer2007.htm

Looks interesting. Let us you when you have one Marc!

More info at their web site http://www.findmespot.com

The (very simple) Spot User Guide is available at
http://www.globalcomsatphone.com/man...user_guide.pdf

The "Help" message button could be used to send a message to your crew
you need a retrieve. Looks small enough to put in the luggage shelf
area on most gliders but to reach the buttons or see the status LEDs
probably means the thing is stuck up on the glareshield or maybe
strapped to your leg (if it can get a GPS signal in that position).
Pity they did not design it to sit on a car dashboard - with buttons/
LEDs on one end, and that bright orange reflecting in the canopy will
be annoying. You'll want to be able to see the LED status to be sure
the thing has a GPS signal and is transmitting etc. A 12v external
power input would have been nice. Remembering to press the tracking
button before each flight may be a challenge. I don't see this at all
as a replacement for a PLB - especially since it's not transmitting a
121.5/406 Mhz homing signal but the tracking feature is sexy. I wonder
how long the tracking data is kept online, they seem to imply a long
time.

I also wonder how well these will work given problem Globalstar have
been having with their satellites and service reliability. Any reports
from glider pilots using Globalstar GSP-1700 (or 1600) phones in the
western half of the USA? How have you found coverage and signal
reliability? Yes I know the Spot service is slightly different, but I
was also curious about the sat phones. If they work reliably the newer
more compact Globalstar phones and their lower service prices are
pretty interesting for remote places like the great basin.

Cheers


Darryl Ramm