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Old April 6th 17, 03:51 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
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Default SPOT pricing going up again...

On Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at 5:12:56 AM UTC-7, Sean Fidler wrote:
You also get (with Delorme/Garmin) altitude, speed and heading as part of the tracking for those following you. With Spot, those following don't know if you are circling at 500 ft. AGL or cruising at 17.5 MSL. You also have the option of increasing your tracking interval to 5,2, or even 1 minute with InReach/Garmin. Finally there are enterprise pricing plans that allow for much more data and less texting, encouraging 1 minute tracking in the main flying months. This can be rolled down to $5 per month maintenance plans when not flying.

Sean


The value of altitude information is over-rated, IMO. I tell my ground crew (wife) all you need to know is if I am moving or not (the faster the better); if I stay in a small area for awhile (30 min or 3 fixes) I am having problems and to stay alert. If two or more fixes are in the same spot I have landed and you should start a retrieve.

I know of one crew that did have altitude data; the pilot was very low and struggling (more than once). The pilot saved himself every time and made it back, but the crew was worrying the entire time.

Tom