On Feb 15, 11:11*am, JS wrote:
* I want a SPOT or APRS with me, not in the glider. My parachute
rigger added a webbing strap to the left shoulder flap of the
container. This puts the SPOT (which is in the pouch from an old
Personal ELT) in a perfect position and does not interfere with
deployment of the parachute. The flap has Velcro on one side and opens
to allow the risers out. The right side is near the gooseneck
microphone, perhaps not as good.
Jim

Actually I want the SPOT mounted in the glider where it has a great
sky view and be in tracking mode. I love SPOT tracking. And I want a
406MHz PLB and the resources of the USAF coordination center and all
the other SAR organizations behind it when the crapola really hits the
fan. I've flown with that exact configuration from when SPOT
messengers were first available.

It is great to see increased awareness of devices like the SPOT
messenger. Unfortunately the AOPA articel does a pretty poor job of
explaining this technology, especially vs. PLB and ELT devices.

1. It confuses 406 MHz PLB and SPOT messengers, calling the SPOT a
PLB.

2. It does not discuss (or even better emphasize) the benfits of SPOT
tracking - which to me is the "killer app" of this device.

3. The article did nothing to explain the termination of 121.5MHz
SARSAT monitoring etc, and 406 Mz vs. 121.5 Mhz ELTS etc. In fact the
article has people describing problems locating ELTs -- what I suspect
are old 121.5 MHz only ELTs without making clear that that modern 406
Mhz ELTS and PLBs (with or without GPS output) are far superior. The
article also mentioned termination of 121.5 MHz SARSAT monitoring
without explaining that 406 MHz ELTs are monitored via SARSAT and
vastly superior to the old 121.5 MHz only ELTs.

I understand the desire to base around a human interest story but they
could have done a lot better explaining the technology and mentioning
other options. Fellow AOPA members can read the article online here -
http://www.aopa.org/members/files/pi...ture_spot.html

BTW on Jim's comment about how he *properly* mounting his SPOT on his
parachute harness strap. Allen Silver who rigs many glider parachutes
has been quite concerned about SPOT messengers mounted incorrectly on
the parachute shoulder strap in such as way that they could prevent
the risers deplying properly. He has seen some very unsafe things
done. See this PDF on Allen's Web site.
http://www.silverparachutes.com/file...ce_2009-07.pdf

Darryl