SPOT Tracking For 2009 Senior Contest at Seminole Lakes, Florida

As TUNO's awesome analysis document shows, the ability of the device
to transmit is very much dependent on placement and view of the sky
and with the current satellites in view. High up on the shoulder
straps, or even placement elsewhere in the cockpit with a good view
seems best. Down low on your shoulder straps or in the side pocket is
not such a good place. Yesterday and the day before, the posits
seemed to be pretty consistent across the board. Today, a bit
spottier. It is what it is. It's still fun to watch though. :-)

-Mark
Okay, so assuming that the site is working more-or-less correctly,
then it appears that the reliability of the SPOT fixes is a bit
suspect, no? * Out of the dozen or so pilots flying with SPOT, it
seems as if about half of them were not transmitting for fairly long
periods of time or "dropped off" entirely. * Maybe I'm missing the
details of how SPOT works, but I thought it was supposed to be "fire
and forget" - turn it on and it broadcasts your position at defined
intervals. * Of course, it could just be that my ignorance is
showing...

P3