On Mar 30, 2:41*pm, "Paul Remde" wrote:
Hi,

The first batch of SPOT Connect units just arrived today.http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/spot.htm

You can see details on the related iPhone and Android apps hehttp://findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=119

It looks like a very nice system. *I like that you can send any 41 character
message (or multiple 41 character messages) through the SPOT Connect using
your smart phone. *That could be very handy in an emergency.

Good Soaring,

Paul Remde

Paul,

Very interesting. This could easily overcome one of the major
objections to the normal SPOT-1/2 - the fixed 10-minute interval
between tracking messages, assuming the smartphone app can be
configured to send tracking messages more often. However, this could
get a bit pricey, as a 1-minute repetition rate would cost about $30/
hour at the .50/message rate, and $6/hour at the $49.95 for 500
message bulk rate. Not to mention the problem of what to do when the
smartphone battery dies - all you have left is the 911 option. And
one other problem - it appears there is no external power input for
the Connect - is that correct? If not, then a more rapid transmission
rate would tend to drain the batteries faster - oops!

Still, this would make a very good option for the 2012 worlds - with a
reasonable number of these devices, we could equip the top 3-4 gliders
in each class with a smartphone/Connect pair, and program the
smartphone for a 2-5-minute transmit rate.

Just some thoughts

Frank (TA)